Abu Dhabi’s hottest hotel: Qasr Al Sarab vs. the desert

Barry Neild
By Barry Neild, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 9:21 AM EDT, Tue June 13, 2017
<strong>Abu Dhabi's Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort:</strong> Perched on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert, the Qasr Al Sarab Resort offers guests the chance to explore one of the world's great wildernesses.
Abu Dhabi's Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort: Perched on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert, the Qasr Al Sarab Resort offers guests the chance to explore one of the world's great wildernesses.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Fortress in the desert: </strong>The resort, modeled after an Arabian fortress, is about two hours' drive from downtown Abu Dhabi, just a handful of miles from the border with Saudi Arabia.
Fortress in the desert: The resort, modeled after an Arabian fortress, is about two hours' drive from downtown Abu Dhabi, just a handful of miles from the border with Saudi Arabia.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Luxury oasis: </strong>The resort has 154 guestrooms and 52 villas. At the heart of the complex is a palm-lined swimming pool that resembles an oasis.
Luxury oasis: The resort has 154 guestrooms and 52 villas. At the heart of the complex is a palm-lined swimming pool that resembles an oasis.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Empty Quarter: </strong>Beyond the Qasr's walls are miles and miles of sand. The resort offers several excursions allowing guests to explore the landscape.
Empty Quarter: Beyond the Qasr's walls are miles and miles of sand. The resort offers several excursions allowing guests to explore the landscape.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Dune-bashing: </strong>Four-wheel drive cars take guests on exhilarating dune-bashing rides up and down vertiginous sand slopes. It's advisable to avoid eating up to an hour before this stomach-flipping experience.
Dune-bashing: Four-wheel drive cars take guests on exhilarating dune-bashing rides up and down vertiginous sand slopes. It's advisable to avoid eating up to an hour before this stomach-flipping experience.
Qasr al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Camel treks:</strong> A more sedate and traditional option is camel-trekking around the dunes.
Camel treks: A more sedate and traditional option is camel-trekking around the dunes.
Qasr al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Sunset tea party:</strong> Both the dune-bashing and camel trek excursions end with a dune-top tea party as the evening sun melts behind the dusty horizon.
Sunset tea party: Both the dune-bashing and camel trek excursions end with a dune-top tea party as the evening sun melts behind the dusty horizon.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Colorful display:</strong> The desert sand is tinted red and green by particles of iron and copper. At sundown the colors are even more spectacular.
Colorful display: The desert sand is tinted red and green by particles of iron and copper. At sundown the colors are even more spectacular.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Pool villas:</strong> The resort has more than 50 villas with private pools. All face west to catch the setting sun.
Pool villas: The resort has more than 50 villas with private pools. All face west to catch the setting sun.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Desert fog:</strong> The sun doesn't always beat down on the Qasr Al Sarab. In winter, mornings can be foggy, adding an eerie atmosphere to the silent desert. It doesn't stick around long. The sun soon burns off the cloud.
Desert fog: The sun doesn't always beat down on the Qasr Al Sarab. In winter, mornings can be foggy, adding an eerie atmosphere to the silent desert. It doesn't stick around long. The sun soon burns off the cloud.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Fat-tire biking:</strong> A popular way to explore the dunes is by fat tire bike. Rides start at dawn to avoid the desert heat.
Fat-tire biking: A popular way to explore the dunes is by fat tire bike. Rides start at dawn to avoid the desert heat.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Here comes the sand: </strong>Keeping the resort from being swallowed by the desert is a constant battle. The Qasr has bulldozers on standby to clear the sand.
Here comes the sand: Keeping the resort from being swallowed by the desert is a constant battle. The Qasr has bulldozers on standby to clear the sand.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Precious resources:</strong> The hotel recycles much of its water and pumps in supplies from elsewhere to avoid depleting precious desert aquifers.
Precious resources: The hotel recycles much of its water and pumps in supplies from elsewhere to avoid depleting precious desert aquifers.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Rising from the sand:</strong> Construction began on the resort in 2007. The architecture was designed to minimize the extreme winds that can be thrown up by desert sandstorms.
Rising from the sand: Construction began on the resort in 2007. The architecture was designed to minimize the extreme winds that can be thrown up by desert sandstorms.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Sandy citadel: </strong>Nearly two million cubic meters of sand were moved to construct the hotel. Many of the retaining walls were built using bags filled with local sand to reduce the amount of concrete needed.
Sandy citadel: Nearly two million cubic meters of sand were moved to construct the hotel. Many of the retaining walls were built using bags filled with local sand to reduce the amount of concrete needed.
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Film star: </strong>Opened in 2009, the sprawling resort is in regular demand for glossy magazine shoots and by TV and film crews using the nearby desert as a location -- most notably 2016's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Film star: Opened in 2009, the sprawling resort is in regular demand for glossy magazine shoots and by TV and film crews using the nearby desert as a location -- most notably 2016's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Qasr Al Sarab/Anantara
<strong>Sheer beautiful nothingness:</strong> For all its luxury trappings, the Qasr Al Sarab's best asset is the empty, silent wilderness that lies beyond its doors.
Sheer beautiful nothingness: For all its luxury trappings, the Qasr Al Sarab's best asset is the empty, silent wilderness that lies beyond its doors.
Barry Neild/CNN
Abu Dhabi's hottest hotel: Qasr Al Sarab vs. the desert

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