4 new hotels in Oman you'll want to visit in 2017
Expect to be hearing a lot more about Oman in 2017. With new flight routes from Heathrow and Manchester and the construction of several stylish new hotels, Oman’s rugged landscapes, sandy beaches, and diver-drawing seas are becoming even more appealing (and easier to get to) than ever before. From luxurious mountain retreats to opulent developments in Muscat, here’s our roundup of four new five-star hotels you’ll want to visit in 2017…
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
Perched on the rim of an enormous craggy canyon, this resort is one of the highest hotels in the world. As you’d expect, the views are spectacular. The hotel welcomed its first guests just last week, and first reports coming in on social media have been overwhelmingly positive. Highlights include a cantilevered deck which protrudes into the canyon (arguably the best place in Oman to watch the sunset), a sparkling infinity pool and friendly, infinitely accommodating staff. Its mountain location facilitates a host of adventure sports (rock climbing, hiking and biking), making a refreshing change from coastal resorts. It’d be ideal for a twin-centre holiday, combined with a beach hotel as the first leg.
Anantara Al Baleed Resort Salalah
Due to open in a couple of weeks time, this highly-anticipated hotel will be the first luxury villa resort of its kind in Salalah, in the south of Oman. It boasts a unique location: fronted by the ocean with a mountainous backdrop, a freshwater oasis on one side and a UNESCO world heritage site on the other. With around 30 rooms and 100 villas, the accommodation promises to be comfortable and opulent: think marble-clad bathrooms and contemporary Arabian styling, with private plunge pools accompanying most of the villas. Team this with a blissful spa, tantalising dining options at three restaurants and a range of activities from desert safaris to sailing. Al Baleed Resort Salalah is set to become a coveted Omani escape.
Kempinski Hotel
A new Kempinski hotel is currently being built as part of The Wave development along the Muscat coastline – tipped to open early next year. The Wave complex will contain a mix of residential properties, shops, restaurants, and luxury hotels, interspersed by landscaped parks and a series of waterways. Overlooking a 2km sandy beach and the luxury marina that borders the oceanfront, the hotel itself will feature around 310 rooms. They’ll be three swimming pools, ten dining venues and access to The Waves’ 18 hole PGA standard golf course (designed by former world #1, Greg Norman).
dusitD2 Palm Mall Muscat
The Thai hospitality brand Dusit is scheduled to open an upscale offering as part of the Palm Mall Muscat development, which is due for completion this time next year (construction is currently 70% complete). The Mall will offer Oman’s first snow village – yes, actual snow – in a place where summer temperatures regularly top 39°C. You’ll be able to go tobogganing, ice skating, tubing and have fun on a range of icy amusement rides at the indoor complex. Palm Mall will also feature a massive aquarium, and plans show some of the hotel’s most exclusive rooms looking directly into the water – offering fascinating views of the marine life. They’ll also be a gym, spa, and several restaurants at the hotel, as well as easy access to all the mall’s amenities.
Spencer Groves is Commercial Director at letsgo2.
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Wow, Oman looks like the place to go next year. What do you think will be the main draw for British tourists outside of the resorts?
Hi Patrick, thanks for your comment. There are loads of things to do outside of the resorts in Oman. The rugged mountain landscapes lend themselves well to adventure sports (mountain biking, trekking, climbing etc). There’s also wadi-bashing, where you bounce through pools and streams over rocks and boulders in a 4×4, and dune-bashing (similar, driving over sand dunes in the desert). Or you could have a more sedate experience camel riding and staying overnight in a Bedouin style desert camp.. or stick to the town and have a wander through the old souks at Muscat… or take a day cruise along the coastline (if you’re lucky, you’ll spot dolphins)… Plus – the weather is very pleasant over the winter months (guaranteed sunshine, but not too hot) making Oman the perfect place to go to escape the dull and dreary British winter. Added bonus – it’s only a 7 hour flight.
Hi Spencer,
Your comments on the outdoors adventure potential of Oman tick a number of boxes for me! Having bush-trekked, track-blasted and canoed in Australia’s Northern Territory, I like the sound of being able to do similar things a mere seven hours flying time from the UK! Can you tell me anything about the wildlife I might encounter in Oman? I have a curious liking for reptiles and spiders!
Hi Spencer
Thank you for your interesting information about new luxury hotels in Oman. Something is going on in Oman when it comes to luxury hotels! I am looking forward to my upcoming stay there, but once again “only” in Muscat, at Shangri-La Hotel Al Husn. But I’d like to return to Nizwa. I stayed there some 15 years ago, but there was not a wide selection of quality hotels at the time. And I really want to get to know Salalah, but so far I haven’t found the “hotel scene” there very appealing. Now, these things seem to change. That’s really good news!
Best regards, Franziska
Hi Oliver, you’re right – the short flight time is very appealing. Regarding your question about wildlife, do you scuba dive? There are some decent diving sites off the coast of Oman, where you’ll find colourful corals, tropical fish, eels, both green and hawksbill turtles and so on. If you’re lucky and time it right, you may be in with a chance of seeing a whale shark. I’m not a big expert on Oman’s reptile scene, but an internet search has found Oman is home to about sixty-four species of reptile so I’m sure you’d have no trouble finding some scaley friends if you went looking for them!
Hi Spencer,
Many thanks for reply. I guess I’ll be looking under rocks – carefully! ;) No, I don’t scuba dive, but have been meaning to learn. Can you recommend any good dive schools?
Part of me is happy to see Oman getting more luxury hotels but part of me is selfishly sad too. I’ve been to Oman many times, usually wild camping in the mountains or desert and hiking in the mountains. I love that the Omanis are such friendly people and the country has not seen any negatives from being over-run by tourists and I hope it remains that way. I certainly like the look of the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
It’s a fantastic country with such a lot to offer in terms of scenery, outdoor activities, history and culture.
Hi Spencer,
Any news on the opening of the Anantara Al Baleed Resort in Salalah?
This venture sounds like it is going to be unmissable!
Hi Jane, thanks for your comment.
The first reports coming in from the first guests at Anantara Al Baleed Resort have been unanimously good. People have been praising the high levels of personal service, the lovely villas and the quality of the food. Take a look on TripAdvisor for more!