Fully embracing its beautiful location on Sir Bani Yas Island in the Arabian Gulf, the newly opened Al Yamm Villa Resort was created with sustainability and local culture in mind. The resort has taken steps to minimize its presence on the island’s delicate ecosystem—Sir Bani Yas is home to the Arabian Wildlife Park—and the property was inspired by traditional fishing and pearl-diving communities and their palm-fronded barasti homes.

The resort’s 30 villas come in one- or two-bedroom configurations with spacious outdoor terraces that look out to either the ocean or a lagoon, and some even have their own private pools. Inside, guests will find traditional Arabic elements and cozy rustic appeal mixed with the unmatched comforts and conveniences such as Wi-Fi and a Lavazza coffee machine.

In the resort, there are a number of ways to keep busy on the idyllic island including a full spa doling out signature rituals based on Bedouin culture and dessert tradition. Favorite treatments include the Sands of Time package that involves a sand compress and deep-tissue massage; and the Marma Abhyanga Massage that involves a foot bath and a combination of Ayurvedic-massage techniques. Other activities include horse riding, nature drive and walks where you can see indigenous wildlife like the Arabian oryx and the gazelle, kayaking into saltwater mangroves, and snorkeling in the clear aquamarine waters to see a variety of fish and sea urchins.

(971-2/801-5400; al-yamm.anantara.com; doubles start from US$428)