It might be simple to mistake this resort for Bali or the Maldives when stepping off the speedboat onto the silky white sand dotted with luxuriant tropical flora.
It is actually a part of Anantara World Islands, the newest eye-catching mega-project in Dubai, which is tucked away just 15 minutes from the city’s coastline.
The resort is the first to open on the World Islands, a group of 300 islands that, as their name suggests, are shaped like the globe. Think of Dubai as having its own Persian Gulf Hamptons.
Anantara Islands World After its first resort on Palm Jumeirah, the artificial island created by developers Nakheel, Anantara now operates Dubai Resort, the city’s second resort. It is every bit as opulent as befits the glamorous metropolis, which is now home to some of the most lavish hotels in the world.
The resort on “South American” Coronation Island is completely isolated, in contrast to Palm Jumeirah, and is only accessible via James Bond-style motorboat ride.
Every visitor, including royalty, must register their passport in order to enter the island, ensuring that they have the highest privacy and protection. Also shortly to open on the island will be a helipad.
The resort, which has become the newest ultra-private playground for the affluent and famous, is beautiful and modern, fusing the chain’s Thai heritage with the best of Emirati culture. Landscape design was done with no expense spared and has natural finishings.
A total of 850 coconut trees, 500 palm trees, and at least 4,000 other species of native tropical and desert flora have been imported from Oman. In addition to the 12 feisty peacocks strutting around the property, a big bird cage is now home to over 200 tropical birds to breed the island’s own native colony. A greenhouse is also cultivating a variety of tropical fruit trees.
The sexiest new address in Dubai
In the pergola building where new visitors are greeted, a massive chandelier composed of hundreds of oyster shells hangs majestically, sparkling in the wind and paying homage to the UAE’s pearl-diving past.
The hotel contains 70 keys, 40 of which are for pool villas. Despite the fact that there is a lot to do here, including tennis, spa treatments, a cutting-edge gym, movies under the stars, and water sports, our guide, Dev Panjala, informs us that the majority of visitors come to eat, rest, and relax. For those who can, he describes it as an urban getaway.
The accommodation, the pool, and the beach are all enjoyed by visitors, he claims. It’s all about unwinding, she said.
The World project has been under development for about two decades. It was first announced by Nakheel in 2003, and although construction was finished in 2008, there were a number of setbacks, including the global economic downturn and logistical issues with transporting water and electricity to the islands.
The multi-billion dollar mega-project was the vision of Dubai mogul Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman and CEO of DP World, who also has a property on the island. However, everyone may enjoy Dubai’s hottest new address; not just the affluent and famous.
The new Anantara resort’s pricing, which start at $440+ for ocean view rooms with balconies, are comparable to those of many upscale hotels in the area, yet every accommodation is located just steps from the beach.
Visitors can reserve one of the 424 square meter, four bedroom Beach Pool Villas, which cost up to $9,800 per night, for a taste of ultra-luxury. The quiet seaside properties give visitors the impression that they are on a private island rather than at a hotel.
simplicity and peace
sunset dining outside.
The resort offers a calm and simple atmosphere on the night we visit, in contrast to the city’s other island hotspots, which continue to prioritize extravagance above atmosphere. Instead, the resort is lined with sand walkways and cottages made of bamboo and palm fronds.
Birdsong fills the air instead of automobile horns as the spectacular Dubai cityscape fades into the horizon in this otherworldly natural wonderland, whose lights are hardly discernible from the Dubai shoreline.
According to resort manager Giacomo Puntel, it’s a “refined” approach to island living and “for Dubai, this is what makes this place distinctive.” “The only sounds you can hear in this area are the birds and the water. In Dubai, you won’t find that anywhere else.”
What will draw visitors who can experience a taste of the tropics right outside their door is offering an island getaway away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
“People come here because there are no automobiles, the air is clean, and it is tranquil. It is a small taste of the Maldives without having to leave the house. We want to achieve the same feeling, experience, and level of relaxation that you would find in the Maldives.”
He claims that the establishment’s significantly lower capacity makes it a pleasant departure from the UAE’s abundance of big hotels, where each guest is greeted by name and provided with personalized room service.
Each of the islands, which were formed from sand dredged from the Gulf and are supported by millions of tons of rocks, has an area between 250,000 and 900,000 square feet, and the total group is about 5.4 miles across.
The affluent and famous from all over the world have purchased properties around the development, including entire islands. Now that it is officially open, it will undoubtedly become the newest destination for Dubai’s long list of VIP and celebrity guests.
Following their performance at Dubai Expo 2020, The Black Eyed Peas recently visited the resort for dinner.
There is still much to come for the resort, including glamping experiences, “bubble dining” on the water in floating plexiglass orbs, and additional eating establishments.
Currently, Qamar, an Arabic-Indian restaurant where you can enjoy gourmet cuisine and shisha, and Helios, a laid-back Mediterranean beachside restaurant with views of the city’s spectacular cityscape, including the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, are the top places to eat.
The lobby also features a South American bar and lounge called Luna as well as a cafe called Grand House with views of the resort’s main pool and deck.
The islands are now home to one of the largest coral nurseries in the world as marine ecologists grow a fresh new marine ecosystem in an effort to counteract the damage caused by building to the region.
The resort is making attempts to be more sustainable by reducing the use of plastic, implementing a recycling program, and installing solar-powered pool cooling systems.
Puntel affirms, “We are truly doing what we can to ensure that we keep things as sustainable as possible.
