Al Sahel Resort Villas, Sir Bani Yas Island

If you are used to spending more than $300 per night in luxury hotels, you can expect top-notch service and exemplary personal service. While hotel groups are building luxury resorts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to disproportionately welcome the world's new rich, Anantara has had the good idea to build a very small, all-villa hotel in the heart of the Animal Park of Bani Yas Island.

The island, as large as the city of Abu Dhabi, is accessible only to Anantara hotel guests, with transfer by ferry or plane. Created by Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, a great visionary and nature lover, the island of Sir Bani Yas has been closed to the public for decades, and entirely devoted to the protection of animal species on the way to disappearance. On the death of the Sheikh, the island has gradually opened to foreign visitors and the Thai luxury hotel chain Anantara is a major player in the island's tourism development. Within a decade, ships will pour thousands of tourists every day on the island, but in the meantime, the island is still a haven of peace frequented by rich tourists looking for peace and harmony with nature.

Al Sahel Villas Resort features 30 luxury villas only, one bedroom or two bedrooms. All villas have a terrace, and some have a small heated pool the size of a large Jacuzzi. The interior of the rooms is very luxurious with a large bathroom with copper bathtub.

The main building houses the reception and a restaurant that serves breakfast buffet, and other a la carte meals. The hotel is equipped with a modest sized outdoor pool, a gym and meeting rooms.

Hundreds of gazelles, fallow deer, peacocks and other animals roam freely around the villas. At breakfast time, they are visible in large numbers from the restaurant. Be sure to close the doors of the villa to avoid having unwanted visitors!

The Odyfolio team had the opportunity to spend a night in a villa, and we highly recommend the experience. As a couple it is the insurance to relax in peace. With children, it's guaranteed wonderment.

To see more reviews about the hotel (pool, food, service and activities), book or just inquire about prices, check out the Anantara Al Sahel villas resort hotel info sheet.

The animal park, partly visible from the villas of Al Sahel, deserves an excursion by participating in the activity Safari Wild Nature Drive. Other activities are proposed: for more information check out our article about Bani Yas Island which gives many explanations about the island.

The island of Bani Yas has two other hotels to date: Anantara Desert Island which is a beautiful five-star hotel with fairly large capacity on several floors, and Al Yamm Villas, which follows exactly the same principle as Al Sahel Villas, but there is no African bush or animals, but a beach with a view of the sea or the mangrove.

Note that you can benefit from a free transfer to other hotels to go to the beach, to the large swimming pool of Desert Island, or to dine at another restaurant.

The three hotels are very beautiful, and Al Sahel and Al Yamm are the most exclusive, perfect for rejuvenating couples and why not celebrate a special occasion. It can be interesting to compare the prices because sometimes there is a low price difference between the hotel desert island and Al Sahel, and in this case you should go at Al Sahel.

Read our article on the island of Sir Bani Yas Island to know how to access the island (boat or plane).

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