Master planned by Solidere International and the Government of Ajman, Al Zorah is an area of the UAE to watch – very closely at that. There’s already a Nicklaus Design championship 18-hole golf course – the undulating fairways reminiscent of Scotland – with luxury residential projects taking shape, a marina, all surrounded by one million square metres of natural mangrove wetlands home to around 60 species of birds. But of most interest to luxury travellers is the new The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah.
Milan-based architect and designer Piero Lissoni was behind the design and his skills are on show at the main entrance, which has a contemporary aesthetic with light-filled separate buildings, inner courtyards and walkways that lead across shallow water pools to Vinesse, the main restaurant. It melds Japanese serenity and Palm Springs chic with Indian touches – mostly in the form of antique furnishings and artworks – in the lobby.
Designed to make the most of the long stretch of near-deserted beachfront – the views unsullied by construction – the resort has a modern aesthetic. Seaview suites face the ocean on the elevated portion, while one-, two- and three-bedroom villas line the beachfront, some with temperature-controlled swimming pools and direct beach access. There’s a 24-hour gym and a separate yoga shala for complimentary classes in the morning, but the resort’s pièce de résistance is the pool. At 80 metres, it’s more than decent to do laps in, with plenty of sun loungers for read-by-the-pool afternoons.
