The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, Ajman

BACKGROUND One of two Oberoi properties in the UAE, Oberoi, Al Zorah, has been open for just over three years. Surrounded by nothing but beach and natural mangroves, it is an urban retreat and well branded as “The UAE’s best-kept secret”.

- Melanie Swan

WHAT’S IT LIKE? There is so much attention to detail, from the hand-crafted wooden furniture and fabrics to wood carvings. There is not an inch of ground uncultivated into breathtaking landscaping. With contrasting textures from wood to concrete, grass to stone, it is a patchwork of high-end architectural design, inside and out. While modern, it stays authentic to its Indian roots, with nods here and there paying homage to the brand’s essence. Trees are resort feature, from olive trees to magnificent towering palms, all interwoven with broad geometric waterways.

WHERE IS IT? 40 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International airports, the resort is located on the outskirts of Ajman, the smallest of the UAE’s seven emirates.