Beyond Ordinary: The Coolest and Most Unique Hotels in the Arab World
Ready for a stay like no other? The region has been climbing up the ranks when it comes to how over-the-top it can get with its hotels.
These hotels defy expectations and truly bring up the wow factor, whether through their hype architecture or their smart use of the surrounding landscape. Take a journey with us as we meet the craziest, wildest, and coolest hotels across the region.
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert (UAE)
Are you craving a serene and intimate vacation? How about the ultimate escape from the city at a 1,235-acre gated private nature reserve?
That is the world you will experience at the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, where 108 private villas, each featuring their own terrace and pool, are located.
Each of these villas is perched amongst the sands of the Arabian desert with a backdrop of the Al Hajjar Mountains.
It is the ultimate lavish desert adventure. Along with that, guests get to completely unwind at the Rainforest, a rejuvenating Asian-inspired hydrothermal experience enhancing mind, body, and skin.
Habitas, AlUla (Saudi Arabia)
Merging luxury and nature, Saudi Arabia also has its own collection of hotels that make the most of the country’s natural landscapes. Meet Habitas, the sustainable resort nestled among AlUla’s ancient desert landscape.
The hotel defies the norm when it comes to how it is set up. From its infinity pool looking out to the Ashar Valley’s striking landscapes to the outdoor villas nestled on the sands.
They have a wide range of villas, including the Celestial villas, which host spacious areas for lounging, entertaining, and absorbing the dramatic views of burning sunsets amongst sandstone cliffs.
There are also the Canyon villas, which are settled amongst the ancient oasis of the Asher valley. Nature is everywhere you look.
Dar Ahlam (Morocco)
Want to feel like a royal Moroccan? Sitting on the fringes of the Sahara is a champagne-colored 200-year-old restored kasbah (Moroccan citadel). The desert hideaway houses just 14 luxurious suites, each decorated with neutral and earthy tones, antiques, and open fireplaces.
In that setting, you’ll have access to a wide range of activities, including a trek into the Valley of Roses or, right at dusk, a drive to a 12th-century Berber village for a traditional tea ceremony.
Dining is also special as it takes places at unique private settings rather than a traditional restaurant or bar.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Oman)
Standing high on the edge of a dramatic canyon in the Omani desert, Anantara Al Jabal Akhdar is considered the highest world-class hotel. It offers a majestic view of Nizwa, better known as the fabled ‘Green Mountains’ of Oman.
With it sitting above the mountain tops, it is the ultimate place for relaxation and serenity, offering holistic wellness exercise, landscape painting sessions, and much more.
The dining is also exceptional, especially Diana’s Point, a canyon-edge platform that Princess Diana visited back in 1986.
Petra Capsules (Jordan)
Unlike the rest of this collection, the Petra Capsules are set up as a hostel, not a hotel, and it is definitely not a place for the faint of heart.
The hostel is in the heart of the new town, Wadi Musa, and brings about a unique concept. The rooms are set up as capsules made of a giant bed surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides with views of the overlooking Wadi Musa.
You’ll get a majestic view especially during the sunset when the sun dips down and travels through Wadi Rum.
Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Lodge (Egypt)
Continuing the theme of majestic views and natural landscapes, Egypt’s Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Lodge introduces you to one of the country’s most majestic oases. The private reserve offers a charming simplicity to life.
This Sanctuary offers an endless landscape of dunes, historical relics, and Saharan fortresses far away from urban life.
Taking inspiration from local villages, the Sanctuary was built using natural materials and primitive construction methods to become an eco-lodge.
It is home to 20 rooms and suites equipped with custom-made lamps, carpets, and ceilings of interwoven palm leaves.
All these exquisite hotels help you escape the hustle and bustle of city life while introducing to you unique and wild ways of experiencing hotel life.
