Anantara Al Sahel Villa Resort

A beautiful island with enormous potential but unfortunately, a very disappointing experience. I had always looked forward to visiting Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort, expecting the exceptional standards associated with the Anantara brand. Sadly, the reality fell far below those expectations. Despite booking a two-bedroom villa, the rooms were dusty and the private pool was full of sand. Service was average, with excessive rules and bureaucracy that seemed to take priority over guest satisfaction. Dining options were extremely limited, with only two restaurants available, both very expensive especially when guests have no alternatives outside the resort. The resort also offers very little for children. There is no proper kids’ area, and some activities have age restrictions, leaving families with few options. The safari was the only truly enjoyable part of our stay. Most disappointing was the lack of visible leadership. The General Manager, Lilian, was neither present to welcome us nor available to support us during our concerns. The front desk and duty manager deep tried to help, but they were clearly limited by the resort’s policies and constraints. I booked for three nights but decided to leave after only one. It is genuinely disappointing to see such a beautiful island and remarkable location not being used to its full potential. I sincerely hope this feedback reaches Anantara’s senior management and leads to meaningful improvements because this property has everything needed to become a truly elite resort, but it is far from that standard today.

This was my second Anantara stay — I visited Al Yamm in 2024 and had a great experience, so I expected the same from Al Sahel. Unfortunately, the service was very slow, and the pool was full of bugs despite requesting it to be cleaned. There was also very little flexibility. I asked three times to have my coffee served at the nearby restaurant, which has a much more open and pleasant setting, and only then was it served. The breakfast situation was even more disappointing. We missed the buffet with our two kids and simply requested cereal and croissants. We were initially told nothing could be provided because the kitchen was preparing for lunch. It was only after my husband called twice that they eventually sent breakfast. Considering the resort is on a separate island with no other dining options, and given the prices charged, I expected a much higher level of service, flexibility and guest care. Sadly, this stay did not meet the standard I expected from Anantara.

I had the best time ever. I’ve been a resident of the UAE for 14 years and this is the most exceptional experience I ever had - in the UAE and elsewhere. The energy is very serene with nature coming to the forefront in everything, the quiet coexistence truly made me pause and reset. Manish was the duty manager who took care of my stay - absolutely friendly, reliable, hard-working and knowledgeable. He made everything easy and smooth for me. Sasand as well, always smiling and warmly asking questions on how to enhance my stay, always saying “don’t worry, we got it taken care of”. I didn’t have to do a thing! Nann Chit was the staff member I met at the restaurant, absolutely friendly and cheerful. She approached my table as I was eating alone and kept me company with curious facts about the island and her experience, while simultaneously serving other guests (wow!). Desak gave me the most incredible massage to the point where I fell asleep mid-way. Sanad was the best tourguide, enriching the morning nature walk with fun facts, immersive stories and friendly anecdotes. An absolute gem of a guide! Gerard took me to the monastery and showed me a few island gems along the way, sharing stories and making it such a humane experience for me. I loved every second of my experience - from the people to the animals and the nature itself. All the colors of the island were truly shining and I understood the vision just by being there and seeing it all come together with my own eyes.

We had an exceptional stay at the resort from start to finish. David reached out to us shortly after our booking and thoughtfully explained everything about the stay, which made us feel welcomed even before arriving. Daniel at reception was incredibly warm, helpful, and ensured our entire experience was smooth and comfortable. A special mention to Jaison at Olio restaurant, who took wonderful care of us throughout our meals, and to Jonathan, our guide for the wildlife drive, whose knowledge and passion made the experience truly memorable. In fact, every single staff member we interacted with was kind, attentive, and genuinely hospitable. One of the most magical parts of the stay was waking up to gazelles, deer, and peacocks right outside our door. I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a peaceful and unique escape from the city life.