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Average
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About
4.5
#1 of 3 hotels in Sir Bani Yas Island
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.7
Value
4.3
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Observe elegant gazelles and Arabian Oryx as they make their way through the lush savannah. Located on the remote island of Sir Bani Yas, Anantara Al Sahel Villas are an intimate cluster of 30 luxurious villas, inviting you to embark on an authentic wildlife experience.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Nestled on Sir Bani Yas Island, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort is lauded for its cleanliness and tranquil atmosphere, with guests often remarking on the immaculate villas and wildlife-friendly environment. The staff's attentive and professional service earns high marks, contributing to the personalized care guests receive.
Although opinions on value vary, with some questioning the cost, the resort's high-quality amenities, including pristine pools and a variety of dining options, generally impress visitors. However, a few guests suggest the rooms, while clean and beautifully adorned, could benefit from an update.
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Stylish
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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You hotel room is the best place good service hospitality is sooooooo gooooooooood and all the best place of all time it’s amazing 5 star ⭐️ good food is is the Best island of all time it’s the most beautiful place of all places and time perfectly
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Management Team, Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Oct 6, 2023
Dear Mahayh79 Thank you for your kinds words, we are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and hope to welcome you back again soon. Best Regards, The Management Team
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Having spent a few days in Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island was an incredible break in the peace and quiet!
Sir Bani Yas is a natural island which has been developed into a wildlife reserve and conservation area. As I understand it, there are 3 hotels on the island all under the Anantara brand. We stayed at the Al Sahel Villa Resort which was exactly what we wanted. It has only 30 villas set within the bush, so you are surrounded by stunning wildlife. We had a Pool villa, where we could sit in the pool enjoying a cocktail early evening and watch the various small mammals a stone's throw away.
You can go out on a guided safari, which was amazing, although somewhat surreal, as the animals in the reserve are not native to UAE. It's not like your big game safari in Africa, however there is the opportunity to see the likes of Giraffe, Buffalo and big cats.
The villas and communal areas are finished to a very high standard and immaculately clean. As with most experiences I have had in the region, the service was equally high quality. The villas are spacious and we had a bedroom area as well as a lounge area and a small dining area and a large bathroom. On our deck, beside the pool, there are also a couple of seating areas under the shade of the canopy.
There is also a large communal pool with some sun loungers adjacent to the main hotel building. As with the rest of the hotel, it's a lovely spot and well maintained.
The food in the restaurant was very good and in a beautiful and relaxed setting overlooking some bush land. You can also use the restaurants in the other hotels on the island and the hotel will provide a free shuttle service. We took advantage of this one evening and enjoyed a seafood meal at Desert Island Resort & Spa... although happy we made the right choice to stay at Al Sahel!
It is by no means a cheap accommodation, however we felt it was well worth the cost and would happily return. We paid £550 per night.
As you would expect, alcoholic drinks etc are not cheap... if you're a fan of a pre-dinner G&T I would suggest taking advantage of Duty Free as you arrive!
If you found my review useful, please follow me @Memories_Not_Things
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Date of stay: November 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LightPacker741974, Manager at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Mar 10, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Warm Greetings from Sir Bani Yas Resorts by Anantara, Thank you for taking the time to complete the review in such a beautiful and elaborated version following your recent stay with us. We were delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were particularly pleased by the hospitality and genuine service from our team members and we will definitely recognize their excellent job. The team and I are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts in the near future for another memorable experience. Sincerely, Rachid Bakas Director Of Rooms
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Awesome place, superb staff, stunning accommodation, great food, impeccable service...what more could you ask for! From the check in at the jetty (on the main land before you take the boat over to the island), you are well taken care of.
We stayed in a villa at al Sahel (safari themed) with a plunge pool and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The villa is gorgeous, the bed feels like your sleeping on a cloud and I wish there was a way to take the bathroom home with me! It’s decor goals! ❤️ we took one of the shuttle cars to and from The Palm Restaurant which is in the hotel (10mins drive away) for the buffet dinner, which was fab. The ribs deserve a special mention as do the chefs on the outside BBQ station, all meat was cooked to perfection.
Definitely a highlight of the trip was the horse ride into the safari. It’s pricey but we got fab photos up close to the giraffe and it made this birthday trip a once in a lifetime experience.
Having been on a few safari holidays in 3 different countries in Africa, this is the next best thing! Very authentic feeling. I loved sitting in/beside the pool and watching all the types of deer/gazelles walk past, the peacocks strutting their stuff and the hyrax sprinting after each. So many birds too!
There was a huge selection for breakfast, with live cooking station for pancakes, waffles and eggs. The staff are very attentive and you can enjoy watching the wildlife walking around you as you sip your morning coffee.
A truly special travel destination. Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Feb 18, 2021
Dear rjh3232, Warm Greetings from Sir Bani Yas Resorts by Anantara, Thank you for taking the time to complete the review following your recent stay with us. We were delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were particularly pleased by the hospitality and genuine service from our team members and we will definitely recognize their excellent job. The team and I are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas in the near future for another memorable experience. Sincerely, Rachid Bakas Resort Manager
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Really did, but unfortunately that did not happen. We wanted to try this hotel after hearing so much about how great the property is, but having a lovely property in a beautiful location is only half the deal, the other half has to do with the level of services you provide, the food you serve, and how safe and well cared for you make your guests feel, especially during the pandemic. And in these three areas the hotel has a lot to work on. From the stale taste of old oil in fried food and serving half cooked sausages and samosas, to the lack of adherence to the regulations that require every person, whether staff or guest, to wear a mask at all times, the list goes on. To top it all off, upon check-out, we were cramped into an almost full bus to take us to the departure point, no social distancing, no option of cars, nothing but the bus. On the bright side, the rooms are clean, the staff are friendly, the views are beautiful and the animals are a delight to see and hear.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Feb 13, 2021
Dear Mayyouch, Thank you for choosing our hotel and taking the time to share your feedback about your experience with us. Myself and the team are happy to see that you have enjoyed many aspects of the experience and rest assured that we will convey your nice words to the concerned sections. In another hand, i was very surprised to read your comments on the health and safety precautionary measures knowing that we have covered every corner of the 3 resorts when it comes to the DOH (Department Of Health) and DCT( Department Of Culture and Tourism) requirements. In addition we had many inspections where we have scored 100% and we have been GO SAFE certified by the local authorities. It is very sad to learn that some of our guests are not wearing their masks as you have stated .However, our team is always advising guests to respect the measures and we have boxes of Masks in every guests contact points ( Unlike in many other establishments where guests have to ask for masks). Before i continue with the bus and boat procedures , i would like to reiterate on the fact that we have won many sustainability awards and we will always do. Commuted transport is a must within the island knowing it is a natural reserve and whole concept is about wildlife and nature. It is absolutely out of reason to provide a private car for every single guest (124 units) . Thank you again for your time. We look forward to welcoming you back to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts Sincerely, Rachid Bakas Resort Manager
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An Unforgettable Getaway is the Experience @anantarasirbaniyas ❤️
It's a beautiful resort located in @sirbaniyasae, which is a 3.5-hour drive from Dubai, but it's totally worth it.
Upon arrival, leave your car for valet & refresh yourself at the welcome centre until your jetty(boat ride) is ready (you need to choose timings while booking)
You would reach the island in 20 mins & then there was a transfer to the hotel. Ours was Desert Islands Resort and Spa 😍
Smooth check-in with refreshments upon arrival 👌🏻 Hospitality throughout our stay is outstanding of the entire team.
Huge room with Breathtaking sea view from our balcony with Lounge Bed to Chill 🥰
Loved the Decor of each nook & corner of the hotel as it brings in the complete desert feel 😍
We had an amazing experience during our lunch at Olio & Dinner at Savannah (Stay tuned 😉)
The Island has almost 11,000 animals & different species & hence we decided to do the wildlife drive Safari (Must try) & spotted Up & close up with Giraffes, Arabian Gazelles, Black Buck, Spotted Deer, Cheetah & many more animals & birds ❤️
Loved the fact that you encountered peacocks come so close to you and also encountered some cute animals like Hedgehog & Hirax 🦔
They have huge pool & beach access where you could do some water activities or just sit and relax 😌
This Holidays get yourself booked at this beautiful resort as your #getaway destination & you are gonna relax, rejuvenate & recharge ❤️
Check out their offers where you could get a discount up to 30% 😮
Overall Experience - Room Views, Ambience, Cleaniness, Amenities, Beach Facilities, Hospitality, Value for Money, Decor, Food Quality, Quantity, Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#lavrecommends💯💯
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Must visit place to Relax Rejuvenate & Recharge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Management Team, Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Mar 4, 2023
Dear Lavya2017 Warm Greetings from Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts We would like to thank you for rewarding us with such a good review and for choosing us during your recent getaway. It is so nice to see how the team looked after you from the start till the end and we all appreciate the nice words rest assured that your feedback will be conveyed to the team and everyone will be recognized for their excellent job. We are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts soon for another memorable experience Sincerely Management Team
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We stayed at Al Sahel again - we think for about the 5th time. The staff are superb and really make you feel welcome. The pool villa as always was spotless and being surrounded by the wildlife really makes you feel like you are somewhere special. As close to Africa as you can get without being there.
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Review collected in partnership with Minor Hotels
Date of stay: March 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Mar 24, 2021
Dear John L, Warm Greetings from Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts, We would like to thank you for rewarding us with such a good review and for choosing us during your recent getaway. It is so nice to see how the team had looked after you from the start till the end and we all appreciate the nice words and rest assured that your feedback will be conveyed to the team and everyone will be recognized for their excellent job. We are all looking forward to welcoming you back soon and I will be very happy to assist you with any further arrangements. Warm Regards Rachid Bakas Resort Manager
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Around 2.5 hours drive from Business bay Dubai (Google map 3.5 hours), we arrived the ferry terminal earlier than I expected. The resort's environment is very comfortable and relaxing, peacocks and deers were roaming around the house and also our private pool. Food is delicious, we paid for all inclusive meals, and most of the time the foods are enough for my family (with 2 kids). We ordered room service at the final night because it was heavy rain (it is not included in all inclusive), really appreciate staffs delivered my dinner in that bad weather, thanks again! We joined 2 activities which are horse riding and wildlife drive. 2 daughters (6yrs, 12yrs) and I joined the horse riding, it is much better than I expected because this activity is basically for beginners, it is better for my little girl, and the trainer also guide me and my elder daughter to have some challenges (because this is not our first ride). The most memorable activity is wildlife drive, staff introduced the animals and also the sir bani island wildlife project. In the safari, we saw leopards and giraffes that we were delighted. I highly recommend this island, it is amazing that resorts can maintain this big island with animals. This is the best experience we meet in UAE.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Management Team, Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Feb 24, 2023
Dear Extraordinary288202 Warm Greetings from Sir Bani Yas Resorts Thank you for taking the time to complete the review following your recent stay with us. We were delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were particularly pleased by the hospitality and genuine service from our team. Your encouraging compliments are certainly appreciated and have been passed on to our team who were thrilled to learn about your great experience and appreciative comments. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. We are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts soon for another memorable experience. Sincerely, Management Team
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While the brand and prices make you expect a high-end experience, we found several flows during our stay. Communications from the staff upon arrival, coordination for the activities, presentation of options and organization of the departure were definitely scarce although we visited the hotel during the week and occupancy was quite low. In particular, the general dining experience was terrible. Let aside the need to chase waiters while at the pool to place orders, the food quality and selection was way below the expectation and the price we paid.
We staid at the African Villas (Al Sahel) which are nice as a concept, but not secluded as shown in pictures (you can actually see other villas from your windows) and the landscaping around the villas could use quite a bit of maintenance. Private pools are the sie of a large bathtub plus the pumps are terribly noisy. Last but not least, beds aren't the most comfortable you could think of: way too soft for our taste.
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Review collected in partnership with Minor Hotels
Date of stay: April 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded Apr 7, 2021
Dear Lorenzo, First of all, i would like to thank you for sharing your feedback following your recent visit at our resorts. It is very surprising and disappointing to see the inconveniences you have highlighted and i am very sorry if you felt we have not lived up to your expectations. We will definitely look into the corrective measures to ensure those shortfalls are not repeated again. However, there are few clarifications that i would like to make and one of them is the wide varieties we have when it comes to the dining options as we are running 5 different restaurants for a 124 keys which is honestly far enough to cater every taste. One additional note is that the emails exchange are about the pre booking arrangements as we do not want you to face any challenge with the availabilities especially in some slots. Though this is not an excuse, i would like to let you know that the resort was on a full house so did the other 2 resorts in the island during your time and it was mainly due to the spring school holidays. Hence , the team wanted to make sure every arrangement is made in advance. Al Sahel villas are very unique when it comes to the setting, location and surroundings. The fact of being secluded was never focused at in all our ads and publications. Your booking was for a 1 bedroom villa which comes with no pool. However, Al Sahel villas are all equipped with a small plunge pool for guests to enjoy nature and wildlife while relaxing at the said plunge pool. A bigger pool is available in 1 bedroom pool villas which you have not booked unfortunately. Once again , i sincerely apologize and i really hope you can give us a chance to welcome you back and restore your faith in Anantara Hospitality. Best Regards Rachid Bakas
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My new favorite hotel in the UAE. Due to the pandemic I have not left the UAE for nearly 2 years and have thus spent my free time on staycations and this is by far the best one I have done. Whilst all the other nice hotels in the UAE are luxurious they become repetitive whilst when you stay at Al Sahel you feel like you've gone to another country.
The pool villa is incredible, having animals roam around your villa, being able to feed peacocks from your plunge pool is just indescribable and an experience I will always remember. Looking out at a beach/sea is obviously nice but again, gets boring/repetitive but when you have animals roaming around you don't know what you're going to see next and its amazing.
Service - excellent. Massive thank you to Preeti and Santosh at the resort, Saeed as the driver and Ali who was our safari guide. Each and every one was extremely friendly and helped make our stay a great one.
Only thing which was slightly disappointing in the hotel was the food choice for vegetarians. The falafel sandwich at the Arab restaurant was terrible, you could tell the falafel hadn't been cooked fresh by its taste it was cold and stale. The Italian was a lot better but for people who like spicy food there wasn't any options. However the dessert choice in both places was fantastic, as was the service.
I highly recommend this hotel, especially for those who love nature and also to those currently in the UAE and feel like they need to experience something "new" but cant due to the pandemic.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Pool villa suggested
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded May 12, 2021
Dear elf19872018, Thank you for taking the time to complete the review following your recent stay with us. We were delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were particularly pleased by the hospitality and genuine service from our team. Your encouraging compliments are certainly appreciated and have been passed on to our team who were thrilled to learn about you great experience and appreciative comments. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. The team and I are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts in the near future for another memorable experience. Sincerely, Rachid
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We visited the property for 2 nights, 3 days and were so happy with the location, customer service and uniqueness of the stay. The island is phenomenal and rooms are super spacious. For a family of 5 we got 2 rooms and the space was great! Just outside your room you will see peacocks, gazelles and deers which we didn't get tired of 3 days later as well.
The best part of the trip was not the beach, room, or activities but it was in fact the chefs that made our stay! Special shout out to chef Mbye who made us a specially curated meal to accommodate our likes and prepared his food with so much love and attention! In fact, my mom simply showed him a picture of an Ethopian dessert she had a few days ago and Mbye actually took the liberty to prepare it for us for lunch the next day! Shout out to chefs Mahmood & Khalid as well, who were so caring and very dedicated to their art.
Thanks to Anantara for a great Eid break, I'd definitely recommend this property to nature and luxury lovers!
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Review collected in partnership with Minor Hotels
Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Management Team, Other at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
Responded May 12, 2022
Dear 465vidushij Warm Greetings from Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts Thank you for taking the time to complete the review following your recent stay with us. We were delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were particularly pleased by the hospitality and genuine service from our team members, and we will recognize their excellent job. We are very much looking forward to welcoming your return to Anantara Sir Bani Yas soon. Best regards, Management Team
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates151 contributions52 helpful votes
Hi, the boat to reach the hotel is free of charge. The Anantara hotel has his own boats. You have to ask for the timings before so you don't have to wait for the next boat as they are only every 30 min if i remember well.
There are more places to choose from in the Sir Bani Yas Island area.
PRICE RANGE
$346 - $585 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United Arab EmiratesEmirate of Abu DhabiSir Bani Yas Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
30
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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