Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesAl Ruwaida
Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection
Modernist desert sanctum
Al Ruwaida Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
Sharjah CollectionModernist desert sanctum
Weathered Corten steel meets raw stone masonry in an ultra-private five-room desert enclave tucked below Mount Alvaah.
“Eschewing the new-build model that prevails in the region, the eco lodge has been repurposed from two 1960s buildings…”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Corten steel interventions, raw stone masonry, and bedside stargazing skylights framed against desert dunes.
Notable
Five intimate rooms offering private buyout seclusion, bespoke dune dining, and dedicated desert stargazing decks.
Notable
A self-guided thermal suite featuring a Himalayan salt room, herbal sauna, and open-air saltwater pool.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and Wallpaper*.
Each of the five rooms is a compact but luxurious little modernist haven, and all of them share a saltwater pool...
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Red sand dunes stretch toward the crags of Mount Alvaah and prehistoric Fossil Rock in the quiet Mleiha Desert.
The rooms
Minimalist bedrooms feature skylights cut directly above the beds, framing clear desert night skies and rugged limestone ridges.
The saltwater pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Perforated Corten steel screens frame the open-air, 10-meter saltwater pool as it looks out across desert dunes.
The spa
Ergonomic loungers face glowing Himalayan salt brick walls inside the self-guided thermal suite, which includes an herbal sauna.
Mavia Restaurant
Set inside a repurposed 1960s stone building, the restaurant serves regional grills beside mature desert olive trees.
Design firm Anarchitect transformed the plot into the five-bedroom Mysk Al Faya Retreat, incorporating the original buildings into the final design.
At the table
Open-air tables and glass-walled dining rooms host private chef-prepared meals under the desert night sky.
How it began
Studio Anarchitect repurposed two 1960s stone roadside buildings, once a clinic and grocery store beside an early petroleum pump.
Good to know
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Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.