Easy escape

THE PROPERTY

Nestled near a mangrove forest between the ancient Hajjar mountains and the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, Anantara Mina Al Arab’s picturesque setting is its main calling card. As I step into the lobby, I’m immediately enveloped in a sense of calm, thanks to the brand’s warm, classic Asian décor, high-ceiling and elegant light fixtures. After a refreshing welcome drink and a friendly chat with the staff, I’m given a quick tour of the property in a buggy en route to my weekend abode.

With 174 rooms, suites and overwater villas spread across its lush, manicured grounds, private beaches and mangroves, the resort offers plenty of space for long, quiet walks. Take one at dawn or dusk and you will be treated to a symphony of birdsong as flocks of wading birds greet and bid farewell to each day. The overwater villas offer delightful views of flamingoes, storks, herons, crabs and fish. Being relatively far from city lights also means a gorgeous night sky – on my first evening I spot Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, along with dozens of other constellations – all with my naked eye.

STAY

A nod to the Maldives, the overwater villas are sumptuously designed with spacious halls, dining areas and bedrooms. Each room is decorated in earthy tones with tasteful pops of colour from the cushions or rugs to break the monochrome. The bedroom opens out onto a wooden deck with views of the sea or mangroves. Don’t forget to take advantage of the pillow menu on offer – with options to support side, back and stomach sleepers.

The expansive bathroom features a marble drop-in bathtub next to a floor-to-ceiling window, along with an open-air shower. Here too, you are spoiled for choice with a six-option natural soap menu.

EAT

With seven food and beverage outlets on the property, every taste is catered for. The Lobby Lounge and Waves Café serve a variety of teas, (the Oriental Spice tea is a must-try), pastries and “the best coffee in town” according to F&B manager Navneet Sharma. The coffee in question is sourced from Mattina Roastery, an artisan coffee shop in Dubai, which prepares small batches for the resort to ensure quality, freshness, aroma and flavour.

The Anantara brand’s signature pan-Asian restaurant Mekong has already won a few awards since it opened in January 2024. Set in a standalone building by the water’s edge, Mekong has an open-plan kitchen and cosy booths surrounded by channels of flowing water, giving guests the illusion of dining on a boat on a river. The welcome drink is a refreshing lemongrass, ginger and mixed berry concoction that tastes like a citrus-berry cake.

Dishes from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia dominate the menu. Being a fan of dumplings, I can’t resist the Mekong boat, which is a selection of 10 chicken shumai, prawn hargao, lobster and scallop dumplings, and more. The crispy sea bass salad has lightly pickled red onions, roasted cashews for texture, crisp bite-sized pieces of fish and shredded raw papaya with a bright, zesty dressing. The classic mango sticky rice is always a great choice to round off a meal. However, I’d also recommend the mango yuzu inspiration with its delectable layers of almond dacquoise, yuzu cream and mango marmalade that blend nutty, citrusy and sweet flavours.

The Mediterranean-themed Beach House opens for lunch and dinner service, as well as brunch every Saturday from 12pm-3pm with a live DJ. Don’t miss chef Leandro’s sea bass ceviche – aside from the freshness of the fish, the dressing is so delicious I am tempted to drink it straight from the bowl!

Head to Sea Breeze for breakfast. On offer is a varied and generous selection of Arabic, European, Indian and East Asian fare, along with made-to-order eggs, crêpes, waffles and gluten-free options. They also whip up a smashing cup of masala chai if you prefer one.

REST AND REJUVENATE

While breakfast in bed is a tempting option to begin the weekend, consider starting the morning greeting the sun with an hour of yin yoga at the yoga pavilion, which sets the tone for the rest of the day. Lisa, the in-house teacher, guides guests through a series of gentle stretches to awaken the body, with a long savasana at the end to ease you into your day.

You could also head to the spa for the Anantara signature massage, which blends Eastern and Western techniques.

Families will love the large pool, and the host of water sports options from kayaks to jet skis and motor yachts for hire.

This resort is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Flamingos make their way here in the winter, their pink plumage in stark contrast to the sober hues of the mangroves. Western reef herons hunt for fish in the shallow waters in the morning and evening while bee-eaters, kingfishers and Kentish plovers are easy to spot in the gardens. Birdwatching tours and kayak rides will soon be on offer.

For more information, visit anantara.com