The latest five-star property in Anantara’s global portfolio is its eighth outpost in the UAE.
On the terrace of Qamar, Anantara World Islands’ Arab-Indian restaurant. (All photos: Anantara)
The first hotel to debut on the South American “continent” of Dubai’s World Islands archipelago, Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort beckons with a 2,000-square-meter private beach and uninterrupted views of the Dubai cityscape. The newly minted property is situated on Clarence Island, roughly four kilometers off the coast and accessible by a 15-minute speedboat ride from Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort.
Guests at Anantara World Islands bed down in just 70 suites, beach, and pool villas — all with a balcony, deck, or terrace. The 40 private pool villas also have an outdoor dining area and enjoy direct access to the beach; the two and four-bedroom pool villas can accommodate up to eight or 12 people respectively. Interiors are characterized by a light contemporary feel with rattan detailing and turquoise accents, and some rooms feature outdoor bathrooms.
Must-do experiences include taking in a movie at an outdoor cinema perched at the end of a sandbar, a private candlelit dinner in a bubble on the shoreline. Guests can also relax on their own HamacLand, a floating lounge with hammocks and VIP food and drinks service. Other diversions on the water range from kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to small-boat cruises that allow visitors to explore the surrounding man-made islands.
The living room of an Anantara One-Bedroom Beach Pool villa.
Poolside at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort.
One of the resort’s HamacLands, styled as a floating lounge for guests.
The outdoor cinema at Anantara World Islands is located at the end of a sandbar.
Dining options at the resort include Qamar, an Arab-Indian restaurant with a large southwest-facing terrace ideal for sundowners and shisha. Helios, the property’s casual Mediterranean venue, offers breakfast and beachside all-day dining with an emphasis on freshly caught seafood. Overlooking the resort’s main swimming pool and deck, Grand House is a lobby café that serves coffee, cake, and sandwiches throughout the day, while lounge bar Luna specializes in South American–inspired cocktails and light bites.
Opening this month, the Anantara Spa will feature six treatment rooms and spa cabanas on the beach. Wellness therapies here include traditional Thai treatments — a nod to Anantara’s Southeast Asian roots — and a signature massage that uses hot lava shells to relax the muscles and boost blood circulation. Yoga classes are held in a dedicated studio; there’s also a gym with skyline views.
While the beachfront and landscaped gardens are festooned with more than 4,000 plants, hydroponic and organic fruit and vegetables are grown in an on-site greenhouse for the resort’s restaurants. Sustainability is built into the everyday operations, with a food waste to kitchen gas converter, solar powered water heaters, and an in-house glass bottling plant built to reduce Anantara World Islands’ carbon footprint.
Doubles from US$440; anantara.com
A private-dining bubble on the beachfront.
Inside an Anantara One Bedroom Garden Pool villa.
The Dubai skyline as seen from the private beach of Anantara World Islands.
