How much does Qasr Al Sarab cost per night?

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara starts from approximately AED 2,500 per night for a Deluxe room as of 2026. Pool villa rates start at around AED 5,500 per night. Rates peak in December–February (high season) and dip significantly in April–October, though the extreme summer heat makes those months unsuitable for most guests.

Is Qasr Al Sarab worth the price?

For the specific experience of isolation in the world's largest sand desert — yes, if the budget fits. There is no other hotel in the UAE where every view is pure dunes. The activities programme is strong and mostly included. For equivalent luxury closer to Abu Dhabi city, you would spend similar rates at Emirates Palace. The difference is what you are buying: city grandeur versus total desert immersion.

What activities are available at Qasr Al Sarab?

The resort's activity programme includes guided dune bashing in modified 4WDs, camel treks at sunrise and sunset, falconry demonstrations, sandboarding, guided nature walks with a naturalist, stargazing sessions, archery, and pool and spa access. Most are complimentary or included in room rates; some specialised tours are charged separately.

What is the difference between Qasr Al Sarab and Tilal Liwa Hotel?

Qasr Al Sarab is a full luxury resort — international brand (Anantara), multiple restaurants, spa, pool, and 206 rooms. Tilal Liwa Hotel is a mid-range property in the Liwa Oasis town with basic facilities. Qasr Al Sarab costs roughly three times as much. For those primarily wanting access to the Liwa dunes rather than hotel luxury, Tilal Liwa is a practical base.

Liwa Desert Resorts | The UAE Guides

Q: How do you get to Qasr Al Sarab?

Qasr Al Sarab is approximately 210 km southwest of Abu Dhabi city, around 2 to 2.5 hours by car. The resort offers private transfers from Abu Dhabi at approximately AED 900–1,200 one-way as of 2026. Self-driving is straightforward — the final stretch of the Liwa road takes you directly to the resort entrance.

The UAE has no shortage of luxury hotels. What it has relatively few of is luxury hotels where the surrounding landscape is genuinely extraordinary. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is the most dramatic property in the country — built into a dune ridge in the Liwa region, 210 km southwest of Abu Dhabi, with nothing visible in any direction except the orange sand of the Empty Quarter.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Setting and Overview

The name translates as “Palace of Mirage,” and the approach lives up to it. As you drive the final kilometres through the Liwa desert, the resort materialises on the horizon like a fortified hilltop town rising from a sea of dunes. The architecture — crenellated towers, sandstone-coloured walls, arched doorways — references the traditional desert forts of the region without being kitsch about it.

The resort occupies a prime dune ridge position that gives almost every room an uninterrupted dune view. At sunset, the light turns the sand a deep amber-orange, and the experience of watching this from a private terrace or pool is, by any honest assessment, one of the better things you can do in the UAE.

Rooms and Rates

Deluxe Room: From approximately AED 2,500/night as of 2026. The entry-level rooms are spacious (68 sqm) with private terraces and desert views. Interiors are warm and traditional in palette — dark wood, sand-toned fabrics, Moroccan-influenced tile work.

One-Bedroom Pool Villa: From approximately AED 5,500/night. Private plunge pool, butler service, separate lounge. The pool position on the dune-side terrace is a genuine differentiator — swimming while surrounded by nothing but desert is the Qasr Al Sarab experience in its purest form.

Two-Bedroom Royal Tented Pool Villa: From approximately AED 8,500/night. Canvas-and-stone hybrid design, the largest sleeping capacity for families or groups who want genuine privacy.

High season: December through February. Rates increase by 30–50% over UAE National Day weekend (2–3 December) and the Liwa International Festival in January. Book at minimum six weeks ahead for December dates.

Low season: June through September. Rates can drop to approximately AED 1,500/night for Deluxe rooms — but ambient temperatures exceed 45°C during the day. The pool and spa are usable; outdoor activities are limited to early morning before 08:00.

Dining

Al Waha Restaurant: The main all-day dining space, with a broad menu of international and Middle Eastern dishes. Breakfast buffet (complimentary with many rate plans) is extensive.

Ghadeer Restaurant: Fine-dining option with table service and a focus on Arabic cuisine — mezze spreads, grilled meats, slow-cooked dishes. Appropriate for a celebratory dinner.

Al Falak Ballroom: Available for private dining and events.

The remote location means there are no alternative dining options nearby. Budget accordingly — food and beverage spend adds meaningfully to the total cost of a stay.

Activities Programme

The activities programme is one of the more comprehensive at any UAE desert property:

Dune bashing: Modified Toyota Land Cruisers with experienced desert drivers. Sessions run at 16:00–17:30 to catch the late afternoon light. The dunes adjacent to the resort — reaching 100+ metres — are considerably more dramatic than the standard safari dunes near Dubai.

Camel trekking: Guided rides at sunrise (approximately 06:30 in winter) and late afternoon. The sunrise trek — camels moving through the low light with long shadows — is the most photogenic experience the resort offers.

Falconry: Live demonstrations daily with the resort’s resident falcons, including the option to handle birds. More substantive than the brief displays at most Dubai camps.

Sandboarding: Boards and guides provided. The learning curve is quick and the descent on a good dune face is genuinely fast.

Stargazing: Structured astronomy sessions from 21:00–22:30 on clear nights, with telescopes and a guide. The absence of light pollution at Qasr Al Sarab is exceptional — the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye on good nights from November through March.

Spa: The Anantara Spa has desert-themed treatments including a traditional hammam. Half-day packages available. Full spa menu is separately priced; budget approximately AED 500–900 for a signature treatment.

Tilal Liwa Hotel

Located in the Liwa crescent oasis town itself, Tilal Liwa is the only mid-range option in the immediate Liwa area. It is a conventional hotel building — no attempt at desert architecture — but the location at the edge of the Liwa Oasis means dune views from the upper floors and direct access to the surrounding landscape.

Rates: From approximately AED 700–1,100/night as of 2026, depending on room category and season.

Facilities: Swimming pool, one restaurant, basic business facilities. Limited compared to Qasr Al Sarab, but sufficient for a two-night stay focused on exploring the area independently.

Best for: Guests with their own 4WD who want to self-drive the Moreeb Dune area and the broader Liwa crescent. The hotel serves as a practical base for desert exploration rather than a destination in itself.

Arabian Nights Village

A step between camp and hotel, Arabian Nights Village is a permanent glamping operation in the Abu Dhabi desert (closer to Abu Dhabi city, approximately 120 km from the centre — a different location from Liwa).

Rates: From approximately AED 800–1,200 per person per night as of 2026, typically inclusive of transfers, activities, dinner, and breakfast.

Tents: 30+ canvas units with air conditioning, varying from standard double tents to premium private units with en-suite bathrooms. The premium category is genuinely comfortable; the standard tents are more camp-like with shared facilities.

Activities: Dune bashing, camel rides, falconry, sandboarding, stargazing, traditional music and dance in the evening — a full programme packed into one afternoon/evening/morning.

Best for: Guests who want the overnight desert experience without the commitment of the Liwa drive. The Abu Dhabi desert dunes here are smaller (20–40 metres) than Liwa’s mega-dunes, but the package provides a solid desert immersion within 2 hours of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Comparing the Three Options

Property	Location	Approx Rate	Best For
Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara	Liwa (210 km from Abu Dhabi)	From AED 2,500/night	Full luxury, genuine dune immersion
Tilal Liwa Hotel	Liwa Oasis town	From AED 700/night	Self-drive base, budget-conscious
Arabian Nights Village	Abu Dhabi desert (120 km)	From AED 800/person	Convenient overnight, full activities

All rates are as of 2026 and should be verified directly with the property before booking.

When to Go

Peak season (November–March): Ideal conditions. December and January offer the best stargazing, comfortable temperatures for all outdoor activities, and the Liwa International Festival in January. Book well ahead.

Shoulder season (October, April): Warm but manageable. April can feel hot for afternoon activities. Good value rates.

Summer (May–September): Only Qasr Al Sarab and Tilal Liwa maintain normal operations. Activities move to early morning. Pool and spa remain the main draws. Significant rate reductions; suitable for guests who genuinely want to experience the desert heat as an extreme landscape.

Getting There

Self-drive from Abu Dhabi: Take the E11 toward Al Ruwais, then south on the E45 toward Liwa. For Qasr Al Sarab, follow the signs from the Liwa junction — the resort’s access road branches off before reaching Liwa town. Total: approximately 210 km, 2 to 2.5 hours.

Self-drive from Dubai: Head to Abu Dhabi first on the E11, then continue as above. Total: approximately 300 km, 3.5 to 4 hours.

Private transfer: Qasr Al Sarab offers transfers from Abu Dhabi at approximately AED 900–1,200 one-way. Book when reserving the hotel. Third-party transfer operators typically charge AED 500–800 from Abu Dhabi.

GetYourGuide lists private day trips and overnight desert packages from Abu Dhabi for those who prefer not to self-drive.

Liwa Desert Resorts: Qasr Al Sarab and the UAE's Best Desert Stays