Picolo recommends · Hotel in Liwa desert, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Qasr Al Sarab
Towers and walls rising from tall red dunes in the Liwa desert, with nothing but sand beyond the pool and a sky full of stars at night.
From the pool, the view is sand and more sand, in every direction. Qasr Al Sarab is shaped like a fort, with towers and thick walls, set among the high red dunes of the Liwa desert.
The drive from Abu Dhabi takes around two hours. Once you arrive, the days fill with cycling, camel rides and walks into the dunes, and the nights are silent under a sky thick with stars.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Qasr Al Sarab
It is our romantic choice: save it for the last few nights of your trip. Few places make the desert feel this close while keeping every comfort within reach. The silence alone is worth it.
It is remote. You will not pop into the city for dinner, so treat it as a destination of its own. If you only have a weekend in Abu Dhabi, the drive eats into it.
What you get
- Pool facing the dunes
- Cycling in the desert
- Sunrise walks into the sand
- Fort-style architecture with towers
- Restaurants on site
A day at Qasr Al Sarab
- Morning
- A walk into the dunes at sunrise, before the sand heats up.
- Midday
- Cycling or a camel ride with the light still soft.
- Afternoon
- The pool, with sand on every horizon.
- Evening
- Dinner outside, then the stars.
Location
Liwa desert, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Open in MapsQuestions about Qasr Al Sarab
How far is Qasr Al Sarab from Abu Dhabi?
Around two hours by car. It lies deep in the Liwa desert, so most guests arrive by transfer or rental car and stay put.
What can you do at Qasr Al Sarab?
Guests go cycling, take camel rides and head out on foot over the dunes as the sun comes up, then retreat to the pool when it gets hot.
How many nights should you stay at Qasr Al Sarab?
Two or three nights works well. Because of the distance, a single night leaves little time to enjoy the desert itself.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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