My mobile phone rings. It’s 15 minutes before 11am and the driver from The Oberoi Beach Resort in Al Zorah, Ajman, is on the other line, greeting me good morning and telling me he has come to pick me up in a black Audi that’s waiting outside my building. His punctuality is impressive.
Normally, I would have just driven to Ajman myself but this time I opted for the five-star resort’s chauffer service for a real 48-hour weekend getaway that didn’t involve getting lost in an unfamiliar place. “Plus, you can never find your way around Ajman,” my travel companion told me. “But what if I want to drive out to the city?” I thought.
A few minutes later as we stepped into the car, I knew it was a decision I wouldn’t regret. “Maam, I’ve prepared bottles of water for you in case you were thirsty. There’s Wi-Fi in the car as well, in case you need it. Please tell me if you need anything else,” the smiling driver told us as we began our journey.
The drive to Al Zorah, Ajman’s newly-developed resort area, was rather pleasant and surprisingly quick. In 30 minutes, we were already pulling up the driveway of the recently opened luxury destination in the emirate.
A few minutes later, we were escorted to the beautiful, sun-lit reception area that featured a high ceiling. I could not wait to start my weekend getaway.
The villa
After a quick check-in, we were taken to our beautiful two-bedroom villa via a golf cart — the most convenient way to get there since it was a scorching hot day in the UAE.
“Now this is exactly what I want when I build my rest house back home,” I told my companion. The modern beachfront villa featured floor to ceiling glass panels for impressive views of the sea. If you want privacy, all it takes is the touch of a button to draw the curtains.
I loved the modern, minimalist interior design that really focused on space. There’s enough room here — 2,820 square feet to be exact — to host a big party.
The dining area has a beautiful table that can seat six people, while the expansive living room featured a TV that can project images onto a white wall over the modern fireplace.
There’s also a mini kitchen and guest toilet in case I wanted to invite friends over.
The villa has a king and twin-sized bedrooms that can be sectioned off for privacy with cleverly designed sliding doors that blend into the walls.
Each room has its own walk-in closet, amazing bathrooms, and outdoor showers with direct access to the beach in case I wanted to shower off before heading inside. The twin-sized bedroom even had its own outdoor receiving area.
But the best part of the villa has got to be the large terrace, complete with lounge chairs, four-poster sunbeds, an outdoor dining area and my own temperature-controlled private infinity pool. Within minutes, I was already out of my work clothes and into my bathing suit for a nice soak.
What to do
On the second day of our weekend getaway, I was supposed to be up and about for a yoga session at the meditation room next to the gym at 8am, but I had such a good night’s sleep I couldn’t think of anything else but have a lazy morning in bed. It was great great views of the terrace and pool area against the cool backdrop of the Arabian sea.
I did not skip, however, the massage at Sensio Spa. Interestingly, I was led into a labyrinth of open air corridors and into a private treatment room with an in-suite toilet and shower room. After a warm foot bath, it was off to a relaxing 60-minute signature Oberoi massage that was a perfect stress reliever.
Not that I was ever in the mood to leave the villa, but there was more to explore in the resort, starting with the Olympic-sized pool. The resort also has a beautiful library and outdoor seating areas next to a big, modern pond. Even just looking at the contemporary view was relaxing. Exercise buffs will also probably like its well-equipped 24-hour gym. There was an outdoor pingpong table as well.
I wanted to have some fun in the sun on the expansive private beach but it was too hot and windy, so I had to begrudgingly give the idea a skip.
Where to eat
Lunch was a lovely, laid-back affair at Aquario, the seafood restaurant by the beach. Service here is quick and friendly and the food is Michelin-star level.
I highly recommend the seafood and meat platter - which is big enough to be shared by two people and features fried or grilled delights fresh from the sea — including delicious crispy fried young crab — and some perfectly grilled beef medallions and lamb.
For breakfast and dinner, the all-day dining restaurant Vinesse provided a more fine dining setting.
I could not help but order a delicious platter of nigiris from the sushi bar before diving into the menu specially curated by the masterchef. Ever the steak lover, I ordered the angus steak, which was served perfectly medium done. A delight with every bite.
What we recommend
The best part of having a beachside villa with your own pool is the ability to host a party on the terrace anytime. Do ring up room service and try breakfast, lunch or dinner at the comfort of your own villa. You can also call any of the restaurants to set up a special menu for you and they’ll have it beautifully laid out anywhere you like in your weekend home.
Also, before you even begin your trip to this piece of heaven in Ajman, ditch your car and book a two-way chauffer service. You know when I wondered earlier if I would ever need my car to explore the city? Turns out I never got the urge to leave the resort after all.
Ratings
Rooms 5/5
Service 4.5/5
Value 4.5/5
Cleanliness 5/5
Location 4/5
Details
A premium two bedroom villa costs Dh4,460 per night and includes breakfast for four people
