Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Qasr Al Sarab—'palace of mirages'—appears exactly as its name promises: a walled, fort-like settlement of towers and battlements materialising from the apricot dunes of the Rub' al Khali, the Empty Quarter, roughly two hours' drive from Abu Dhabi. Since opening in 2009 it has become the definitive Arabian desert resort, and the first sight of it across the sands is a moment few guests forget.

Interiors honour Bedouin material culture—woven textiles, aged brass, carved screens—without tipping into pastiche, and rooms open onto terraces where the dunes roll uninterrupted to the horizon. Villas add private pools behind their own walls. The essential rituals here are simple: dawn camel treks along the ridgelines, falconry displays, dune drives, and sundowners as the sands shift from gold to deep red.

The main infinity pool, aimed straight at the dune sea, is among the most photographed in the Emirates, and dining ranges from rooftop Middle Eastern grills to candle-lit tables set out in the desert itself. This is a destination in its own right rather than a base for the city—come for two or three nights, surrender to the silence, and let the Empty Quarter do its work.