Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah.

Rising like a desert palace between the Hajar Mountains and the Arabian Gulf, this resort swaps standard hotel aesthetics for grand Arabian architecture. The scale is intentionally imposing, centered around a lobby featuring a six-meter gold and mother-of-pearl clock—a nod to the brand’s New York roots. Each of the 346 rooms starts at a generous 56 square meters, featuring high ceilings and marble bathrooms that look out over a private white-sand beach or the adjacent Peter Harradine-designed championship golf course. Outside the water-sports-heavy shoreline, the property functions as a self-contained village with two temperature-controlled pools, an underwater-themed spa, and eight distinct dining venues, including the New York-style Lexington Grill and the elegant Peacock Alley.