If you’ve lived in Dubai for a while, you may be familiar with The Oberoi, located in Business Bay. This group of five-star hotels has properties around the world, including in India, Mauritius, Egypt and Indonesia. Recently, it added its second UAE property; the gorgeous Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah.

Situated in Ajman amongst mangrove forests and white sand beaches, The Oberoi Beach Resort Al Zorah is all about nature and luxurious surroundings. BCME’s founder, Rio, her husband Adam, and baby Kai were lucky enough to spend two nights there during the summer. Below, you can read all about what the property has to offer, whether you’re looking for a romantic staycation or a wedding venue. There are also some gorgeous images of Rio and her family courtesy of Enchanté Studios. Enjoy!

Location

Our drive to the resort from Silicon Oasis in Dubai took approximately 45 minutes, and with a 6-month-old baby in tow, we appreciated the relatively quick and painless drive! I don’t think Google Maps has quite got the location right, however, as we ended up on the opposite side of the resort by a desalination unit. However, with some quick thinking and common driving sense, we were back on the road and at the venue within minutes. The venue is in the emirate of Ajman, in the middle of an up and coming area called Al Zorah, which is a luxury eco-destination with a beautiful long beachfront, azure lagoons and lush mangroves.

Check-In & Lobby

Once we arrived, we were assisted with our bags by the bell staff and were welcomed with a cool juice and cold towels. The lobby interior is striking and the space is drenched in natural sunlight. It’s bright, airy and ultra-modern. After a very quick check-in, we were shown to our suite for the weekend.

Kohinoor Suite & Private Terrace

Our accommodation for the weekend was the impressive Kohinoor Suite and Private Terrace. The interiors are what struck me the most; contemporary and ultra-modern, yet warm and inviting. Statement pieces of furniture and pops of colour featured throughout our suite and inspired me with many ideas for my new home.

Our suite was huge! The balconies offered amazing views directly onto the gigantic pool and the Arabian Sea. The bathrooms featured large sink-in tubs and state of the art walk in showers.

One thing that slightly irked me was the fact that it took a full day for us to realise that there was a kitchen, fully equipped with a baby steriliser (bonus). I had spent the first day constantly boiling water and cleaning my baby’s bottles. We were not given a detailed tour of the suite upon arrival, which would have been appreciated.

Awaiting us in our gorgeous suite was a large fruit hamper and delectable chocolates, plus a hand-written note from management. The hubby wasted no time in getting acquainted with our home for the weekend and baby Kai was in his element. We also had the luxury of bringing our nanny along for the trip, so we could properly review the resort. Her sleeping area was close but separate enough for us to enjoy some privacy.

The Kohinoor Suite included:

• Total Suites: 2 units
• 1 King Bedroom and 1 Twin Bedroom
• Furnished Terrace overlooking the Arabian Sea
• 2 bathrooms, one with separate shower and bathtub, 1 additional guest toilette
• Living Room and Dining Room with LCD screen TV, docking system with iPod connectivity
• Fully equipped private bar, safe
• WLAN, Wi-Fi
• Maximum occupancy: 6 persons with maximum 4 adults (12 years and above)
• Suite surface including terraces – 346 sqm

Dinner at Aquario

After settling the little one to sleep and leaving him in the good care of our nanny, the hubby and I headed out for a rare dinner alone. The restaurant of choice was Aquario, a seafood restaurant located close to the beach. Being the peak of summer, we chose to be seated indoors. Guests can choose to sit indoors or outside, while savouring freshly-caught, responsibly sourced seafood from local and international waters, cooked using methods that retain the authentic flavours and nutrition. The in-house ‘Fish Sommelier’ at the resort would be happy to help diners choose a tasty catch from the live seafood counter.

The attached bar is an elegant, relaxed space where guests can enjoy expertly crafted eclectic cocktails, with an offering of fine gins mixed with our specially flavoured in-house tonic waters. The hubby and I treated ourselves to a few delicious cocktails, and why not?

The menu for us that evening included calamari, black ink risotto and the fresh ‘catch of the day’.

Aquario is open for both lunch and dinner, whilst the bar is open from 11 am to 1 am.

Breakfast and Dinner – Vinesse

Seemingly afloat on the body of water that surrounds it, Vinesse at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah occupies a spectacular, ultra-contemporary indoor and al fresco glass island. From the restaurant’s elevated position, guests can enjoy uninterrupted ocean views while savouring the finest authentic world cuisine, hand-crafted by chefs in their gourmet theatre show kitchens and finished to perfection at the guests’ table.

The breakfast buffet option was not the largest I have experienced in the UAE, but to me, this is a positive thing. After all, it means less waste and less confusion when deciding what to eat.

Options included pastries, yoghurts/cereals, fresh fruit and a hot cooked breakfast (both western and Indian). Our lovely waiter for the morning surprised us with the chef’s speciality Indian dish. Called a ‘dosa’, it was a crispy pancake served hot along with sambar, stuffed with potatoes or paneer and chutney. It was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend it for those who like a little spice.

During our second night’s stay at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zohra, we enjoyed dinner at Vinesse.  My steak-loving husband was very impressed with the restaurant’s black Angus short ribs, and I tucked into a hearty Awadhi dumb biryani.  We both went all out and concluded our food hangover by enjoying their New York cheesecake and Crème Brulee.

The restaurant’s dishes are made using locally sourced produce which is cooked using authentic methods from around the region.

Vinesse is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the bar is open from 1 pm to 1 am.

Sensio Spa – Hot stone massage

During our stay, I was lucky enough to be treated to a wonderful 60-minute ‘Hot Stone’ massage at the resort’s Sensio spa, a tranquil oasis with private therapy suites. Upon arrival to the spa by buggy, I was greeted by my therapist and led through an open-air maze into my private treatment room for the hour. The treatment room included its own shower room and toilet and exuded a warm ambience.  I was told to place my feet into an intricate and ornate looking footrest fit for a queen before being given a wonderfully warm foot bath, which instantly made me feel at relaxed and at ease.

Once my massage commenced, my lovely therapist made sure to ask me if the pressure was OK and got to work on my tired mummy muscles, using heated stones as she massaged my body using Swedish massage techniques.

I kept my phone on during my massage, as I always need to be on call now I have a baby, just in case. Unfortunately, throughout the massage I received lots of calls and messages with bad news related to a member of my family. My therapist was amazing, tentative and compassionate and really helped me calm myself given my situation. I’d like to personally thank her for her care.

Pool & Beach

One thing that stood out for me was the resort’s Olympic sized pool. I could not wait to jump in and casually swim its length! With a baby, we had to be wary of the midday heat, and so we chose early morning and late afternoon to take a dip.  Kai absolutely loved it! There is also a sheltered children’s pool located just behind the adult pool, but we chose for our baby to get some vitamin D and play in the adult pool with Mummy and Daddy. Poolside staff were attentive and regularly offered us cold drinks, ice lollies and cooling Evian face spray.

At the time it was far too hot for me personally to enjoy the venue’s beach, but from a distance, it looked stunning! I can’t wait to return in cooler temperatures to enjoy the beach properly.

The Poolside Bar offers a selection of refreshing beverages and an array of light snacks and admission to the swimming pool is complimentary for all in-house guests. Lifeguards are always on duty.

Private Villa Tour

I really wanted to check out one of the resort’s private villas while there and I am so glad I did. Just steps from the beach, the Grove Premium Two Bedroom Villa with Private Pool (2,820 square feet/262 square metres) is the ideal setting to relax and unwind. The villa has king and twin-sized bedrooms with magnificent bathrooms and outdoor showers that can be accessed by guests directly from the beach. With floor to ceiling glass windows, there is lots of natural light and an idyllic view out onto the pool and beach.

As with the Kohinoor Suite, the interiors, designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, are out of this world; modern and inviting, simply picture perfect! Whilst we were totally spoiled having the Kohinoor Suite for the weekend, I was slightly envious of those enjoying the villa’s expansive terrace, featuring four-poster sunbeds, lounge seating, a dining area and a temperature-controlled private infinity pool.

Staying in one of the resort’s villas would certainly be a treat for any loved-up couple or young family like mine.

Wedding Venue Tour

As with all our venue press trips and reviews, we were taken on a personal tour of the resort, to see the venue through the eyes of a bride.

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah offers private meeting rooms and a 4600 square feet ballroom which can host up to 250 guests for weddings and social events. The adjoining outdoor garden area is ideal for pre-dinner mocktails or cocktails. The ballroom can be divided into two independent soundproofed sections for more intimate wedding events.

The al fresco venues on the beach and the poolside lawn are perfect for hosting exclusive cocktail parties or receptions for up to 120 people. Couples can also experience a private candlelit dinner, served by their own personal butler at the resort’s outdoor dining venues.

Another lovely option for vow renewals and very intimate wedding celebrations, as well as romantic staycations and honeymoons, are the resort’s gorgeous private villas.

In Short

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah is a modern and luxurious hotel that gives guests the chance to enjoy a different emirate. Only a short drive from Dubai, it is perfect for couples who want a romantic yet convenient staycation. It is also in a great location if you are having wedding guests flying in from overseas. The food is divine and the rooms and suites are the epitome of pure luxury with gorgeous unspoilt beachfront views.

To inquire about booking your wedding event at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, visit the resort’s weddings & events page here for more information. Interested in celebrating your anniversary or honeymoon at the resort or simply want to organise a luxury staycation? Click here to make a booking.

Looking for more of our reviews? Click here.