UAE's Aldhafra Resort opens on edge...

Abu Dhabi hotel offers an immersive desert experience

Abu Dhabi welcomes a new luxury destination with the opening of Aldhafra Resort, Vignette Collection, marking the first desert resort for the IHG brand.

To celebrate the launch, guests can enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner on overnight stays with breakfast from 10 March to 30 September 30 2025.

Situated in Liwa’s Madinat Zayed City, the 110-key resort is nestled at the edge of the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali), the world's largest sand desert.

Accommodations include 92 deluxe rooms, 13 suites and five villas with private plunge pools, sweeping dune views and interiors that combine local craftsmanship and Arabian design motifs.

Aldhafra Resort suite

Currently, desert experiences on offer range from camel trekking and falconry displays, to archery, stargazing and watching movies under the stars.

The resort's central courtyard is home to an outdoor infinity pool, and there’s also a fitness centre and billiards table.

A kids’ club is scheduled to launch in October 2025 with a programme of activities, and this will be followed in December by a spa, offering a menu of desert-inspired massages and aromatherapy steam sessions.

Three distinct dining options include Al Badiya restaurant, an all-day venue combining garden views with authentic Arabic flavours, with dishes including beef with a date and nut salsa and a camel milk dessert with pistachio praline.

For drinks, speakeasy-style cocktail lounge Layali Bar serves handcrafted cocktails infused with Arabic spices.

In line with Vignette Collection’s focus on responsibility, Aldhafra Resort has partnered with the Liwa Date Festival to promote local agricultural practices, and guests are served traditional Arabic coffee and dates throughout their stay.

"Our destination is infused throughout every touchpoint of the guest experience, from the scenery that surrounds us, to the design details within our places and spaces, through to the menus we serve and the experiences we foster," said Haitham Khalil, General Manager, Aldhafra Resort.

Characterised as authentic and experiential, IHG’s Vignette Collection brand is rapidly expanding across the Middle East, with Aldhafra Resort marking its third property in the region. Since launching in 2021, the brand has grown to include 20 hotels with 35 more in development.

Notably, Ciel, Vignette Collection in Dubai Marina, is set to become the world's tallest all-hotel tower when it opens later in 2025.

The UAE capital is seeing a surge in new hotel openings in 2025, with Ennismore's Mondrian Abu Dhabi set to make its debut on a crystal-clear lagoon with 221 rooms and 80 serviced apartments.

Other future openings include Al Nawras Island, LXR Hotels & Resorts, an all-villa resort experience accessible by boat that is expected to debut by the end of 2025.

For more information, visit www.ihg.com/vignettecollection/hotels/us/en/abu-dhabi

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