Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa

GAVIN HESTER

5 star architecture with 3 star service. The location and hotel itself are beautiful and the staff are genuinely friendly. However the experience/stay didn’t leave up to the reputation nor justify the price. The food is ok, nothing exceptional for Dubai. Check-in took 25 minutes, the receptionist didn’t go by the queue of guests as they arrived, just picked people at random. Multiple items from the pool bar menu were not available, and the cocktails we did order were poorly made. Martinis were not great, especially given the price. Rang room service twice, phone rings out and no follow up. No TV or screen available to show the champions league final, for a “5 star” resort this is a reasonable expectation. Won’t be coming back in a hurry. There are much better value experiences in Dubai.

Yuan Chin Soh

We had a really wonderful time here! Really enjoyed the dining options (every single restaurant we tried here was good) and the activities. The free camel ride was quite good. Free falconry show was decent. The paid activities are excellent. We did the private falconry as well as the desert drive. Learnt about falconry and the history, as well as the chance to interact with a falcon and a hawk. The highlight for us though was definitely the desert drive. Super fun (and we had to tone it down since the wife was pregnant, so I can only imagine how thrilling it can be if we didn't). The guide, Umar, was very kind and helped to take memorable photos of us too. Our son had a wonderful time on the desert drive. The spa is excellent too, did both the massage and the hammam and it's so relaxing. Finally, the staff at the hotel were all very friendly and helpful. Great stay and definitely the highlight of our Dubai trip!

Vanessa Frei

We had an absolutely phenomenal stay at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort, and it exceeded our expectations in every possible way. From the moment we arrived, everything was flawless — the immaculate cleanliness, the beautifully maintained grounds, and the outstanding food across all restaurants made every day feel special. But what truly makes this resort extraordinary is the people. The entire staff went above and beyond to ensure we had the most exceptional, warm, and effortless stay. We genuinely felt cared for at every moment — not just as guests, but as people. A very special thank you to Rishap, May, and Salim, who truly made us feel at home. Their kindness, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality turned a wonderful stay into an unforgettable one. They are an absolute credit to the resort. Bab Al Shams is a place we will return to again and again — a rare combination of luxury, authenticity, and heartfelt service. We couldn’t recommend it more.

WeiChin Chen

First time here, and would come back. I stayed in their new 1 bedroom desert villa and their junior suite. The Junior Suite is Abit on the smaller side but well appointed, and would highly recommend the newly built Villas. The design and Hardproduct of the villas rivals Amans and is perhaps one of my favorite villas so far. The location is excellent, as you’ll see gazelles, birds, rabbits, and oryx. I don’t think I would stay in Dubai city anymore, and hotel has become my favorite. It is about an 45-60 min away from DXB. Food is delicious, and they have a variety of restaurants (Mediterranean, Asian, Indian, and North African) and highly recommend the lamb tagine for lunch, and their North African restaurant. The Indian restaurant was okay, but preferred the North African one much more. The staff were all friendly, professional, and courteous. Almost at the level of Amans. Activities are wonderful here: dune bashing, sand boarding, camel rides, falconery, and archery to name a few. They have an excellent gym too! I would highly recommend!

Dani ela

This hotel is definitely an impressive place, with a beautiful and well-maintained property that leaves a strong first impression The rooms are very nice, clean, and comfortable, and the pool area is nice, although it does show some wear in parts, such as torn umbrellas and some dirty sunbed cushions. Our luggage was handled quickly and efficiently, which we really appreciated. The restaurant service team deserves special mention: the staff were consistently kind, attentive, and polite. The food itself was excellent in both taste and quality, with a good variety of dishes to choose from. The chefs and bakers were extremely friendly and helpful, always happy to answer questions and assist with anything food-related. At times, however, there were very large group travelers, which could make certain areas feel crowded. The check-in experience unfortunately lacked warmth; some of the reception staff appeared rather distant and not as welcoming as we would have expected from a hotel and experienced from other hotels in this price range. The check-in situation was a bit confusing (probably a lot of check-in and check-outs at the same time!?) and the process took quite a longer time. All in all, this is a special and impressive place, but it does have some weaknesses when measured against other hotels within the same price segment.