Anantara Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort

On the upper floors in each corner, Deluxe Terraces sleep two adults in a comfy king-size and have room for a cot. Huge, part-shaded terraces offer panoramic desert views and there’s an outdoor eating area and day-beds for snoozing in solitude. All rooms have Arabic decor and dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and are equipped with a flatscreen TV, iPod dock, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle and free bottled water. Luxurious bathrooms have oversized deep round baths big enough for two, separate walk-in rain showers, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

Anantara Suites sleep up to three adults and offer separate living rooms and kitchenettes. There’s a wide patio with an eating area and chairs for lounging and soaking up uninterrupted dune views. For families that need it, these suites can connect to a twin room. The suites combine Arabic decor with dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and are equipped with a flatscreen TV, iPod dock, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle and free bottled water. The luxurious bathroom has an oversized deep round bath big enough for two, a separate walk-in rain shower, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

These luxurious butler-serviced villas each have a bedroom with a king-size bed and space for a cot, as well as a separate living area and kitchenette. Outside there’s plenty of room to admire the dunes from sun loungers, a plunge pool big enough for two, an outdoor shower and plenty of shade as well. The villa has Arabic decor with dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and is equipped with a flatscreen TV, iPod dock, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle and free bottled water. The ensuite has an oversized deep round bath big enough for two, a walk-in rain showers, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

Ideal for a four-person family (with space for a cot, too), these butler-serviced villas include a master bedroom with a king-size ensuite bedroom plus a twin bedroom, as well as a separate living area and kitchenette. Outside there’s plenty of room to admire the dunes from sun loungers, a plunge pool big enough for two, an outdoor shower and plenty of shade as well. Bedecked with bejewelled silver and bronze chandeliers and divided by floor-to-ceiling wooden doors, each villa has Arabic decor with dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and are equipped with a flatscreen TV, iPod dock, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle and free bottled water. The ensuite has an oversized deep round bath big enough for two, a walk-in rain showers, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

Sleeping two adults in a comfy king-size and with room for a cot, these big rooms have ample private balconies overlooking the incredible desert valley. All combine Arabic decor with dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and are equipped with a flatscreen TV, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle and free bottled water. Luxurious bathrooms have oversized deep round baths big enough for two, separate walk-in rain showers, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

Sleeping two adults in a comfy king-size and with room for a cot, these spacious ground-floor rooms each have a private outdoor seating area and a small garden with uninterrupted views of the dunes. All rooms have Arabic decor with dark wood furniture, marble floors and neutral earth tones and are equipped with a flatscreen TV, iPod dock, free WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, CD/DVD player, pillow menus, air-conditioning, black-out curtains, a Nespresso machine, kettle, black-out curtains and free bottled water. Luxurious bathrooms have oversized deep round baths big enough for two, separate walk-in rain showers, double sinks, fluffy robes and Elemis bath products.

A neutral palette – sand-hued walls, with cream and copper shades – and subtle hints of Moorish design, with decorative lanterns and furnishings, give these villas understated chic. The focus is largely on the spectacular desert views, with floor-to-ceiling dune-facing windows and a terrace with a plunge pool and day beds. There’s a kitchenette, a separate living area, king-size bed in the bedroom and an ensuite with a rain shower and a very large bath tub. Guests staying here are attended to by one of the hotel’s butlers and enjoy luxurious extras including sundowner canapés and cocktails, a meal in the restaurant (or cooked by a chef in your villa), and a choice of two activities: sunrise or sunset desert walk, archery, quad biking, landsailing, a camel trek or falconry session, or a saluki dog show. A flatscreen TV, DVD player, Nespresso coffee machine, pillow menu, air-conditioning and free WiFi are included.

Each of these 210sq m villas has a spacious living area and a private terrace with a plunge pool, alfresco dining area and shady cabana overlooking the rolling dunes. Two of the bedrooms have king-size beds, the third has twins. All three have ensuite bathrooms with large freestanding bath tubs and walk-in rainfall showers. Every villa has a personal host; free WiFi; a flatscreen TV; minibar; coffee machine; tea kit and free bottled water.