Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Qasr Al Sarab, the palace of mirages, sits on the edge of the Rub al Khali, the Empty Quarter, roughly three hours inland from Abu Dhabi. The dunes here are among the highest in the world, and the resort is built as a sprawling ochre fort with towers, courtyards and a long infinity pool looking out over an unbroken sand horizon.

Rooms are in the main fort; the villas, in a separate walled compound, have private pools and butlers. The scale of the setting does most of the work, particularly at dawn and dusk when the dune shadows shift by the minute.

Activities are properly desert-flavoured: camel treks, falconry, archery, dune drives, sunset walks with a guide and overnight desert dining. There is a large Anantara spa and a hilltop lounge for stargazing. The drive from Abu Dhabi, through the Liwa oasis crescent, is worth doing in daylight.