The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah

You might not think it, but it actually took many trips to Dubai, staying either downtown or on the Palm, to acclimatise ourselves to the all-out luxury of its hotels, restaurants, bars and malls. Even so, not much could have prepared us for the (pardon the cliché, but nothing else here will suffice) pure relaxation of the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah.

Situated a 30-minute taxi ride from Dubai airport and an hour from central Dubai, this Oberoi is in Ajman, one of the smaller of the UAE’s seven emirates. The hotel takes its name from the surrounding coastal suburb of Al Zorah, and lies at the end of an immaculate tree-lined driveway, which can’t be easy to maintain under the year-round, 30-degree-plus sun. It was only 10am and baking hot, but the perfect arrival awaited us: chilled welcome drinks and a fragrant ice towel to be enjoyed in an air-conditioned reception. Bliss.

And, despite our early arrival, we were promptly checked in to our room, a deluxe suite which looked out onto the grounds and sea. Modern in design with stylish, contemporary furniture and fittings, it was comfortable in the extreme – comfort par excellence – tempting us to lounge here indefinitely.

So, with breakfast being served until 11am, we decided we would vacate the bedroom for the a la carte and buffet-style breakfast at the Vinesse restaurant. Fresh fruit, warm pastries and local and international breakfast cuisines provided plenty of choice. We went for the eggs royale and French toast – both delicious. A surprise bowl of fresh, warm almond croissants was served with our coffee and were mouth-wateringly good. 

The urge to return to the room was strong, but the beach looked equally tempting, so we decided to walk off breakfast with a stroll along perfect white sand, lapped by a gentle, bath-temperature tide. And this is one of the quirks of holidays in the UAE: we couldn’t be sure if the beach was man-made, but if it was, we couldn’t argue with its flawless design. And this is what I mean when I say ‘pure relaxation’: no sooner than we’d arrived, we were brought cold towels, water sprays and mango ice lollies, which we chose to melt into an ice-cold smoothie. 

Effort, as you could guess, is at a minimum here, and it took very little to decamp to the spa to finish our day with a couple’s massage. The spa itself is like a tropical otherworld. We sauna’d, steamed, and had our feet bathed with rose petals before our massage: the staff recognising our anniversary with a single red rose stem laid out on the treatment table. Even the refreshing green tea with honey was pitch perfect.

That wasn’t the end of our anniversary treats, either. When we finally did arrive back at the suite, our room had been decorated with red rose petals and Jeff Koons style red balloons. Rose petals in the bath and a chocolate cake on the table added the final touches to what felt like being totally spoiled.

We chose to have dinner in the fish restaurant Aquario by the beach, which we were driven to by a buggy waiting in reception. We decided to sit outside in the garden where we ordered the tuna tartare and the beef with scallops. The cocktails were delicious and the waitress perfectly paired wines with each course, ensuring our glasses were topped up throughout the meal.

We didn’t think it possible, but the next day we expended even less energy that the day before. We spent it by the pool, which at this hotel appears to stretch for miles. Again, our waiter kept us fed and watered with cocktails and chilled beers, until we fell almost into a stupor of (you guessed it) ‘pure relaxation’.

With its excellent staff and attentive service, gorgeous landscapes and comfortable interiors, the Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah reminds you how easily other hotels get it wrong – by getting everything completely right.