Desert Islands Resort and Spa by Anantara

Rhishab Nair

An amazing experience for sure. Had a warm welcome from the staff from the minute we parked our car at the dock and the awesome service till we reached back. There was a nice Indonesian lady at the reception who accomodated all our needs with great professionalism. The rooms were great with an awesome view of the ocean. The safari is "A MUST". Jonathan our guide did an amazing job giving us insights about the island and the animals. The animals were the highlight and waking up with the view of a deer prancing around the garden was so refreshing compared to the bustling city life. A must visit resort for those in the country and those visiting too. Kudos to the team!

faiz

The worst experience despite paying 25000 AED 3 nights for a private villa with pool. The moment we arrived at the resort around 430 pm the manager surprised us by saying the villa was not yet ready. Offered free lunch bcas of delay. Again great disappointment once we got the access to the villa by 6 pm. Very bad smell like it has not been rented or cleaned for a long time. Few more issues as listed below - curtains for all rooms not closing properly. - bathroom showers despite normal setting gives you a very hot bath suddenly. - no direct beach access as mentioned in booking - swimming pool dirty - breakfast in palms very bad and the supervisor from Italy very bad behaviour. I would recommend to go for al yammam or sahel villa as if spending so much money Only good thing is location and privacy. -

Albert Einstein

There is a certain level of quality for Anantara. This falls short in some key places. Swimming pool is not chilled. Lost a star for this. Food quality on the beach pool was aweful. We sent it back. Over fried fries. Burned nuggets. Chicken Caesar salad with no chicken. It was literally lettuce bread and sauce. Also the place was a ghost town despite there being a big event on. We were day tripping there from the sister resort where the food was much better. The beach is rocky. Why they built it there I have no idea. We come from Dubai so I know are standards are high but this place is scrapping 5 stars. Staff on the other hand are brilliant. The place needs a revamp.

dilek tarkan

We recently stayed at Anantara Desert Islands Resort on Sir Bani Yas Island. While the setting is unique and the concept of a desert island retreat is appealing, our experience had several ups and downs. Due to bad weather, ferry services were cancelled, and we ended up stuck at the hotel. Unfortunately, the reception team seemed unprepared and lacked proper communication and organization during this time. Clearer updates and better coordination would have made a big difference. Only one restaurant was open for lunch and dinner, which limited dining options and variety. Because of strong winds, the beach was also closed, leaving us with few things to do. The safari drive was the highlight of our stay—beautiful scenery, knowledgeable guide, and a memorable experience overall. That said, the hotel itself feels a bit old and in need of maintenance and refurbishment. Certain areas could really use an upgrade to match the standards expected from a resort of this caliber. The Kids Club and Teen Club are in separate buildings, quite far from each other and from the main hotel. While buggy rides are offered, the distances make it less convenient for families with children. Also worth noting: nearly every activity at the hotel comes at an extra cost. Considering the isolated location and limited entertainment—especially during weather-related delays—it would be nice if a few complimentary activities were included to keep guests engaged. In summary, while the resort offers some unique experiences, it would benefit from better service, refreshed facilities, and a more guest-friendly approach during unexpected situations.

Nagielyn Casala

Desert Island is way beyond our expectations. We had a very relaxing and chill experience. Many thanks to Ms. Michelle and Ramesh who assisted us during our stay. High recommended especially the one bed room villa. Safari is one of the highlight. Worth a try. We will Definitely recommend this place to our family and friends. We will come back again for sure 😎