It has been a long time coming, but Dubai’s World Islands is finally up and running with the arrival of the first luxury resort on the 300-island archipelago.
Located in the Arabian Gulf, approximately 2.5 miles off the coast of Dubai, Anantara’s new island resort is the first hotel in the South American continent of the development and offers guests a new luxury destination in Dubai and a unique perspective on the city.
A one-bedroom beach pool villa at Anantara World Islands Resort and, below, the villa’s living room
The island sanctuary offers a total retreat from the buzz of Dubai, where guests can opt for views of the iconic cityscape, including the famous landmarks of Burj Khalifa and Burj al Arab, or a combination of island and sea views.
The resort is accessible by a 15-minute luxury speedboat ride from the jetty at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort.
But what was once one of the United Arab Emirates’ most ambitious projects, launched at the turn of the century, looked likely never get off the ground because of global financial struggles that so heavily impacted Dubai.
Now Anantara has arrived boasting a wide selection of accommodation options across 70 suites, beach and pool villas – all with a balcony, deck or terrace and offering plenty of space to unwind and relax.
The 40 private pool villas have an outdoor dining area and direct access to the beach, with the two and four-bedroom pool villas offering an abundance of space and able to accommodate up to eight or 12 guests respectively.
Interiors have a light contemporary feel with rattan detailing and turquoise accents, and many rooms have outdoor bathrooms.
The resort’s unique location on the World Islands also brings complete tranquillity to the guest experiences. Cinema under the Stars can be enjoyed in total peace and privacy, at the end of a sandbar, while Anantara’s signature Dining by Design has a special home in a bubble on the shoreline, with candle-lit romance set to a soundtrack of lapping waves.
Shoreline bubbles offer romantic candle-lit dining to a soundtrack of lapping waves
For experiences on the water, Anantara World Islands is the only hotel in Dubai where guests can relax on their own luxurious HamacLand, a unique floating lounge with hammocks and VIP food and drink service for guests to recline and enjoy a new perspective on the city.
Dining options at the resort include Qamar, an Arabic-Indian restaurant with a large southwest facing deck, perfect for sundowners and shisha. Helios is a casual Mediterranean restaurant open daily for breakfast and beachside dining.
Offering elevated panoramic views of the Dubai skyline is Luna, a stylish bar lounge for cocktails and light bites inspired by South American cuisine. Grand House is a lobby cafe serving coffee, cake and sandwiches throughout the day, overlooking the resort’s main swimming pool and deck.
