Desert Islands nature resort debuts in Abu Dhabi

Desert Islands Resort and Spa, a new nature-based, 64-room boutique resort located offshore of Abu Dhabi’s Al Gharbia, has opened its doors to travelers from around the world. Designed as a showpiece in sustainability, the Desert Islands is made up of Sir Bani Yas Island, Dalma Island and a range of rocky outcrops know as the Discovery Islands.

Long known as a unique sanctuary of natural beauty, the island of Sir Bani Yas is unlike any other destination in the Arabian Gulf. Indigenous Arabian wildlife from the Arabian National Park roam next to turquoise island waters, the result of a successful breeding programme undertaken by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Traces of seafaring folklore from bygone days of sultans and explorers surround the island in exotic mystery. Stone Age ruins dot the island’s rugged landscape, footprints of previously undiscovered civilizations.

Resort guests are offered a variety of adventure and nature-based activities, including 4×4 guided tours of the Arabian Wildlife Park, mountain biking and hiking on the island’s rugged salt domes, kayaking through its lush mangrove reserve, home to over 60 species of migratory bird life, and snorkelling in the marine-life rich waters off the island which are inhabited by dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles.

Sir Bani Yas Island is one of eight natural islands which make up Desert Islands and is being developed by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) – a master developer of major leisure, residential and tourism destination within Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

“The launch of Desert Islands’ first phase is a milestone, not only in TDIC’s history, but in that of Al Gharbia,” said Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC. “As the first TDIC proprietary product to come on line, the opening up of Sir Bani Yas Island has given us a great sense of satisfaction, particularly as it has been achieved in less than three years of the company’s launch. It is also a flagship development for Al Gharbia and a paradigm of how the great potential of this region can be leveraged in a solid, sustainable manner.”

Originally conceived as a wildlife reserve to protect the region’s most endangered species, Sir Bani Yas Island plays host to the the Arabian Wildlife Park. The park, home to various free roaming animals, spans three quarters of this 87 square-kilometer island.

For more information, visit http://desertislands.anantara.com.