There's something about Zighy Bay. Pool villa resorts in the UAE and Oman.
Plus a special edition twist on my Where Restaurateurs Eat column.
I have one prerequisite for a staycation. A pool villa. An added bonus is a beach-fronted pool villa with the mesmerising sound of the sea lapping the shore. And that’s one of the many reasons I have returned countless times to Six Senses Zighy Bay on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula since my first visit in 2012 with my parents. Sometimes with loved ones for leisurely jaunts, and sometimes on press trips - most recently last month. Mind you, work trip itineraries are always jam-packed, pool time is limited.
Aside from the five-star product, and the mere two and a half hour drive from Dubai, what’s so special about Zighy, affectionately named after the village that the resort supports with employment and sustainability donations?
Something new…
A brand new dhow. For much more than sailing around the Musandam Peninsula. Champagne sundowners with canapés. A modern Middle Eastern menu by Syrian head chef Hassan Faisal. Think local sheri fish ceviche atop tabbouleh. And the finale, a fascinating stargazing session with the resort’s very own astronomer.
Something sustainable…
I’ve written plenty on the resort’s admirable sustainability credentials before - here and here. Yet it has launched something new called Hay Day. A fun name for a fun experience. With no rolling in the hay required. At its very own Dibba Farm, half an hour from the resort, you get to act like a farmer for three hours roaming the fruit-rich orchard. Frolicking with goats, cows and chickens. Harvesting organic veggies from the greenhouse. Cheese-making using milk from the goats and cows. Culminating with lunch on the veranda including a cheeseboard brimming with the resort’s eight cheeses. A thyme-infused goat’s cheese, and a cow’s milk Camembert-style are my faves. There’s even halloumi, albeit not as authentic as the real Cypriot deal 😜
Local produce extends to the seafood served across Zighy’s restaurants including Summer House which makes for a lovely, relaxed lunch venue overlooking the main pool.
Spice Market is reserved for breakfast, where traditional manakeesh is served straight from the saj. The chilli-spiced shankleesh filling is my go-to.
Something breathtaking…
Sense On The Edge, perched nearly 300 metres above sea level offers 180-degree valley vistas of Zighy Bay. Currently a tasting menu concept, however please note the summer closure from June.
Something rejuvenating…
I am a sucker for an outdoor shower in my private villa, the ultimate in understated luxury.
Long walks on the pristine white sandy beach, just footsteps away from the villas, are mandatory.
The spa regularly flies in alternative health practitioners, and massages aside, the 90-minute hammam treatment leaves me with baby soft skin.
Something heartwarming…
The smallest of gestures always leave the biggest impact, like a Zighy bookmark slipped into my new book on my bedside table at turn-down service.
Or the natural, organic sleep-aid concoctions left on my bed with a hand-written note by Alex, the resort’s wellness director.
And personalised touches, like the welcome signage, and initials on the bike, which, incidentally, I have never ridden. It’s so much easier to walk around this resort.
Something pricey…
Zighy does not come cheap, so for most of us, it’s a special occasion treat. Summer rates are slightly more wallet-friendly with this package offering a 15% saving. More info on villa room types HERE.
And because I love to give you choice…
Tried and tested resorts with pool villas in the UAE and Oman.
You may want to escape over the upcoming Eid, but as all resorts jack up their rates over peak holiday periods, I would recommend picking another date.
I am a big fan of the Anantara brand, and have visited this trio:
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar: This Omani mountain resort, a five plus hour drive from Dubai, is always a minimum of ten degrees cooler than Dubai, so go in the heat of the summer like I did here.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara: A snippet here from my last visit to this desert resort, a three hour drive from Dubai.
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara: You need a flight for this tropical beach-fronted destination brimming with banana plantations in Oman. Where Mr S proposed 😉
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa: The OG of desert resorts, less than a hour’s drive from Dubai.
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert: I last visited for my 50th getaway, before the roll-out of a new pool villa product.
Any other pool villa resorts you’d like to recommend?
Where Restaurateurs Eat…
Our co-host over this press trip, Dr Naim Maadad, is the chief executive and founder of Gates Hospitality (think Folly, Bistro Des Arts, Jardin Des Arts, and Reform) - as well as a partner in the owning company of Six Senses Zighy Bay. So I made an executive decision to interview him for my Where Restaurateurs Eat column. Consider this one a special edition twist 😜
Top three go-to, favourite restaurants in the UAE:
Mama’esh: There’s something deeply grounding about the Palestinian eatery Mama’esh with branches across the UAE. It's authentic and consistent, offering value not just through its food but in the experience it creates. Every meal feels like a nod to a culturally rooted story - one that speaks of shared tables, time-honoured recipes, and true Middle Eastern hospitality.
Dai Pai Dong: This quiet achiever in Abu Dhabi is a lesson in restraint and refinement. It doesn't need to shout - its consistency, authenticity to Cantonese cuisine, and great design speak volumes. With seamless service and genuine value, it brings together heritage and modernity in the most effortless way.
La Niña: Elegant, refined, and elevated - yet to me it never feels like it tries too hard. It has that rare balance: sophisticated without being pretentious. Everything from the interiors to the Spanish-Portuguese menu exudes confidence, making it a standout in Dubai’s ever-evolving culinary scene.
One home country restaurant:
1918 Bistro & Grill: Tucked away in the heart of Australia’s wine country, 1918 Bistro & Grill feels like coming home. It’s where comfort food meets a deep respect for the land - local produce, seasonal harvesting, and a genuine farm-to-table philosophy. Run by locals, for locals (and anyone lucky enough to stumble in), there’s something incredibly grounding here. Every dish tells a little story of the Barossa Valley - warm, honest, and full of soul.
One restaurant located elsewhere internationally:
Lisboeta: Every time I visit Lisboeta in London it feels like somewhere familiar. There’s a kind of understated magic in the way they bring Portuguese home-style cooking to life - fresh, vibrant, and full of soul. The team is warm, attentive, and genuinely proud of what they’re sharing with you. It’s the kind of place where you sit back, relax, and feel like you’ve been invited to someone’s table.
You may have missed…
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My 2025 Dubai restaurant guide to where I dine out. A record 47 homegrown concepts. Paid subscribers also receive a PDF of this guide and a private Google maps link with all restaurants mapped out.
My ten-page story celebrating Dubai’s homegrown restaurant scene, my favourite subject in the print issue of Conde Nast Traveler USA - and also repackaged for both the UK edition, and the Middle East.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book with new finds every month.
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Not a staycation but possibly the best pool villa ever in Manta on Pemba Island in Tanzania, have a look