There’s a sanctuary just a couple of hours off the western coast of Abu Dhabi’s Al Gharbia region. This island, known as Sir Bani Yas, boasts rugged, natural landscapes and a luxury resort and spa managed by Thai hospitality group, Anantara. It’s also teeming with endangered animals and home to a spectacular wildlife reserve that dates back more than four decades.
The island’s name comes from its original inhabitants, the Bani Yas tribe. The late ruler and founder of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, transformed the property into a reserve in 1971, before opening it to visitors in 1990s. Under his patronage, millions of trees were planted and thousands of animals – over 30 species in all – were introduced to the island, amongst them the nearly extinct Arabian Oryx – the island’s herd of over 500 is one of the largest in the world.
There are also sand gazelles, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, Blackbuck antelopes, Urial sheep and hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous bird species, like flamingos, ostriches, falcons, pintails, shoveller ducks, black-winged stilts and grey herons.
Of course, it’s not like you’ll be brushing shoulders with the animals. More than 50 per cent of the island is a dedicated space for the wildlife to roam freely, functioning as a park that provides an authentic environment, where restrictions include a speed limit of 50km/hour (the running speed of the slowest gazelles) to protect the animals when they cross the roads. The resort itself is tucked away from the wildlife, preserving both them and the guests.
Later this year though, once the Al Sahel villas open, guests will have the opportunity to get much closer. Until then, the resort is offering a taster of what’s to come with their latest additions to the existing 58 rooms and 6 villas, with Al Yamm, a new 30-villa extension on the water’s edge, overlooking the surrounding mangrove forests.
Inspired by the wooden-framed barasti homes of the fishermen who once lived on the island, they may look simple from the outside, but the one and two-bedroom villas – which come with the option of a private plunge pool - are spacious 50 to 160 square-metre luxury retreats.
Tasteful and chic, the colours of the interior furnishings merge seamlessly with the environment in sandy tones of beige, off-white and deep blue. The large beds come with down duvets and crisp Percale cotton linen, while rooms are air-conditioned, with overhead fans to protect against the heat. You’ll also find a lot of wicker and wood and, to remind you of where you are, and perhaps an abstract painting of a peacock or ostrich on the wall.
With your rainforest shower, separate bathtub, high-tech facilities and six restaurants on the island to choose from, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re in a luxury hotel room. That is, until you spot the wildlife guide by your bed or sink your feet into the sand outside your private hideaway to watch the flamingos feed at sunset.
