Inside our Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island staycation

Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island proves luxury and conservation can coexist, with villas beside the sea and wildlife roaming the savannah

The stay

The journey begins at Jebel Dhanna Ferry Terminal, where a 30-minute boat ride carries you across to Sir Bani Yas Island. We left just before sunset, the mainland shrinking behind us, the sky turning syrupy gold. Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island is a 30-minute ride away, but it feels further. The kind of further that resets your breathing. We split our weekend between Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort and Anantara Al Sahel Villa Resort. One on the beach, one deep in the wild. Two very different moods. Both unforgettable.

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The setting

Sir Bani Yas is the UAE’s largest natural island and home to more than 11,000 free-roaming animals. It sounds like a marketing line until you see an Arabian oryx stroll past your vehicle like it owns the place. Because it does. This island is one of the region’s great conservation stories. What was once barren land is now a protected reserve where endangered species are bred and released.

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The room

Al Yamm sits right on the beach with the ocean on your doorstep. Our villa had a private plunge pool and a deck made for slow mornings with coffee. It feels private in the best way. No noise. No rush. Just sea and sky.

Al Sahel is a different world. Tucked into the savannah, it feels like a safari lodge. Earthy tones, wide wooden decks and wildlife wandering past as if on cue. You wake up, pull back the curtains and there are gazelles grazing a few metres away.

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The food and drink

Dinner at Olio on the first night was all Italian comfort with a sea view. Fresh pasta, good olive oil, the kind of meal that signals the weekend has officially begun. But the standout was Savannah. Lunch was lively, with gazelles and peacocks wandering near the terrace as if they had reservations, too. Breakfast the next morning came with the same audience. Coffee in hand, watching a peacock strut past your table is not something you rush. Then there was the Boma dinner. Open flames. Meat grilled properly. The smell of smoke in the air. It was warm and unpretentious and quietly perfect.

The activities

The wildlife drive is non-negotiable. Our guide took us across dunes and through open plains where Arabian oryx, addax and blue wildebeest roam. It is humbling to sit still while a giraffe decides whether to acknowledge you. We did an early morning kayaking session through the mangroves. The water was calm, birds lifting off in small flocks as we glided past. It was gentle exercise, the kind that makes you feel virtuous without trying too hard. Everything here circles back to conservation. From rare species encounters to mangrove restoration and sustainability projects behind the scenes, this is luxury with a conscience.

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The experience

This weekend was about contrast. Beach to bush. Salt air to dry desert wind. It was about watching the sun dip below the horizon from a boat deck and realising you have not checked your phone in hours. About breakfast with gazelles. About remembering that wild spaces do something to you that no five star lobby ever can. The staff strike that perfect balance: present, warm, never intrusive.

The costs

Villa rates vary by season, but expect beachfront villas at Al Yamm and safari style villas at Al Sahel to sit firmly in the luxury bracket. This is a special occasion stay.

At Al Yamm, beachfront and pool villas can start around Dhs1190 to Dhs1400 per night.

At Al Sahel, villas in the savannah sit in a similar range, from about Dhs1190 per night.

The final say

Sir Bani Yas Island is a reminder that the UAE has wild corners that surprise you. You leave a little windblown, a little sun kissed, and quietly grateful. For the animals and the silence. Watching the island fade into the distance on the boat ride back, you’ll, already plan your return.