Luxury escapes for UAE National Day 2025

For UAE residents looking to extend the National Day weekend, an array of close-to-home luxury escapes for UAE National Day await. Whether it is an island retreat surrounded by coral reefs or a desert hideaway framed by sandstone cliffs, these destinations promise privacy, stillness, and a change of pace within just a few hours’ flight. From romantic island sanctuaries to remote conservation lodges, each experience is designed for those seeking tranquillity and the rare privilege of unhurried time.

This season’s luxury escapes for UAE National Day span turquoise archipelagos, mist-tipped jungles, and dramatic desert valleys. From the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Peninsula, these stays combine architecture and nature with understated elegance. Each property has been chosen for its distinctive sense of place, where thoughtful design and local character create a retreat that feels both intimate and extraordinary, offering the perfect pause before the festive rush of December begins.

Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles

Occupying just one-third of private Félicité Island, this ecological sanctuary features 30 spacious pool villas surrounded by dramatic granite boulders and coral-fringed beaches. Outside the cyclone belt, the island enjoys perpetual summer where hawksbill turtles nest in daylight and endemic Coco de Mer palms thrive. Guests arrive via exhilarating 20-minute helicopter flights over verdant islands, landing at the resort’s private helipad for the ultimate castaway escape.

Quick Summary:

🏝 Location: Félicité Island, Seychelles
🏡 Villas: 30 private pool villas
🚁 Access: 20-minute helicopter flight from Mahé
🌿 Highlight: Endemic Coco de Mer palms

sixsenses.com, @sixsenseszilpasyon

Amanwella, Sri Lanka

Set beside an 800-metre crescent of golden sand on Sri Lanka’s sun-drenched south coast, Amanwella embraces Geoffrey Bawa’s tropical modernism across 30 contemporary suites. Each features private plunge pools and terraces overlooking the Indian Ocean through floor-to-ceiling glass. The 47-metre infinity pool stretches toward palm-fringed shores, whilst nearby national parks reveal elephants, leopards and migratory whales between November and April.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Tangalle, Sri Lanka
🏡 Suites: 30 with private pools
🐘 Nearby: Yala and Udawalawe national parks
🌊 Highlight: 47-metre infinity pool

aman.com, @aman

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island

The sole resort on this captivating coral island, Four Seasons Desroches offers castaway seclusion across nine miles of untouched beaches. Reached by scenic 35-minute flight from Mahé, the resort features spacious pool villas scattered along white sand shores. Giant tortoises roam freely whilst pristine reefs teem with marine life just offshore. Guests embrace barefoot luxury through sunset yoga, Creole cooking classes and exploring fourteen kilometres of bicycle-friendly paths.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Desroches Island, Seychelles
🚲 Experiences: Cycling, diving, yoga
🏡 Villas: Beachfront and overwater options
🐢 Highlight: Giant tortoises on-site

fourseasons.com, @fsdesroches

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Embracing the circle of island life, this architectural masterpiece features 100 villas set above azure waters or nestled along beach coves. Seven restaurants span from Southern Italian La Locanda to Cantonese Summer Pavilion, whilst the award-winning spa floats over lagoon waters. Each villa includes private infinity pools, dedicated Aris Meeha butlers and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment programme fostering marine conservation through immersive experiences.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: North Malé Atoll, Maldives
🍽 Dining: Seven restaurants
💆‍♀️ Wellness: Overwater spa
🐠 Highlight: Marine conservation programme

ritzcarlton.com, @ritzcarltonmaldives

Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka

Perched atop a dramatic clifftop rising 40 metres above the Indian Ocean, this Relais & Châteaux property features 39 standalone villas and suites across 12 landscaped acres. Named after Ceylon explorers and writers, each residence includes private butler service and dedicated spa facilities. The iconic 60-metre crescent-shaped Moon Pool commands 270-degree ocean panoramas, whilst whale-watching excursions reveal blue whales migrating past between December and April.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Weligama Bay, Sri Lanka
🌅 Highlight: 60-metre Moon Pool
🐋 Season: Whale-watching (Dec–Apr)
🏡 Style: Relais & Châteaux resort

resplendentceylon.com, @resplendentceylon

Cheval Blanc Randheli, Maldives

This ultra-luxury island sanctuary in the pristine Noonu Atoll features 46 overwater and beachfront villas designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The resort’s dedicated island houses Cheval Blanc Spa featuring treatments by Guerlain, whilst Diptyque provides bespoke fragrances for each villa. Four distinctive restaurants include the signature Le 1947 serving contemporary French cuisine. Guests access endless water sports, the resort’s marine biology centre and personalised island-hopping aboard traditional dhonis.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Noonu Atoll, Maldives
🍽 Dining: Le 1947, Diptyque, and more
💆‍♀️ Wellness: Guerlain spa treatments
🌊 Highlight: Private island setting

chevalblanc.com, @chevalblancrandheli

Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea

Opening along Saudi Arabia‘s untouched Red Sea coastline, this desert-meets-ocean sanctuary blends Bedouin-inspired architecture with Six Senses’ wellness philosophy. Villas cascade across windswept dunes overlooking pristine coral reefs, whilst the signature spa integrates ancient Arabian healing traditions. Guests explore one of the world’s last pristine marine environments through diving expeditions, whilst evenings unfold beneath star-scattered skies with traditional music and contemporary cuisine celebrating regional heritage.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
🏡 Villas: Desert and ocean view
💆‍♀️ Wellness: Arabian-inspired spa
🌌 Highlight: Starlit desert setting

sixsenses.com, @sixsensessoutherndunes

One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius

Occupying a private peninsula on Mauritius’ eastern coast, this legendary resort has defined island luxury since 1975. Recently reimagined, 169 rooms and suites blend contemporary elegance with tropical surroundings across lush grounds bordering two beaches. Seven restaurants span from fine French dining to beachfront grills, whilst the One&Only Spa offers transformative treatments in secluded garden pavilions. Championship golf, world-class water sports and access to nearby islands create the ultimate Mauritian escape where barefoot sophistication meets refined service.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Belle Mare, Mauritius
🍽 Dining: Seven restaurants
🏌️‍♂️ Activities: Golf, water sports
💆‍♀️ Wellness: One&Only Spa

oneandonlyresorts.com, @oolesaintgeran

City hotels that promise the most discreet luxury

Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia

Nujuma reveals itself as a private island sanctuary within Saudi Arabia’s untouched Red Sea archipelago. Featuring overwater and beachfront villas designed with contemporary Arabian elegance, the resort embraces coral-fringed lagoons and pristine marine reserves. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s intimate approach ensures personalised experiences from private diving expeditions to sunset dhow cruises. Guests discover ancient spice routes reimagined through innovative cuisine whilst embracing conservation efforts protecting endemic species.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Ummahat Islands, Saudi Arabia
🏡 Villas: Overwater and beachfront
🚤 Experiences: Diving and dhow cruises
🍽 Dining: Spice route-inspired cuisine

ritzcarlton.com, @nujumareserve

Aman-i-Khás, India

Between October and April, ten luxury tented pavilions emerge in the wilderness bordering Ranthambore National Park, creating an intimate safari camp devoted to tiger encounters. Each Mughal-inspired tent features king beds, freestanding bathtubs and private dining areas opening onto the forest. Twice-daily game drives venture into the park’s ancient ruins and tiger territories, whilst evenings unfold around the fire with traditional Rajasthani performances. The seasonal camp exemplifies Aman’s philosophy of dramatic locations paired with understated luxury and unparalleled wildlife experiences.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Ranthambore, India
🦁 Wildlife: Tigers, leopards, deer
🏕 Tents: 10 luxury pavilions
🔥 Highlight: Evenings by the fire

aman.com, @aman_i_khas

&Beyond Bateleur Camp, Kenya

Nestled in the Masai Mara‘s private Kichwa Tembo Conservancy, this intimate tented camp features just 18 canvas suites beneath ancient trees. Named after the bateleur eagle, the camp overlooks the Mara’s wildlife-rich plains where the Great Migration thunders through between July and October. Each suite combines 1920s safari romance with contemporary comforts including freestanding bathtubs and private decks. Expert guides lead twice-daily game drives revealing lions, leopards and cheetahs, whilst walking safaris and starlit dinners immerse guests in Africa’s untamed beauty.

Quick Summary:

📍 Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
🦓 Wildlife: Lions, leopards, cheetahs
🌌 Experiences: Game drives and walking safaris
🏡 Suites: 18 canvas suites

andbeyond.com, @andbeyondbateleurcamp

Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Rising from AlUla’s dramatic desert landscape, this sanctuary blends contemporary architecture with ancient Nabataean heritage. Villas cascade across rust-coloured sandstone cliffs overlooking palm-filled valleys where rock formations glow at sunset. The signature spa draws upon Arabian wellness traditions, whilst restaurants celebrate regional flavours through farm-to-table cuisine. Guests explore UNESCO heritage sites including Hegra’s tombs, experience stargazing in the world’s darkest skies and discover millennia of civilisations carved into AlUla’s monumental landscape.