ENJOY the thrills of the Abu Dhabi desert and the safari spills of its neighbouring islands says DANNY LEDGER

Glitzy  Dubai may grab all the headlines, but its neighbour Abu Dhabi is a close contender for the title of hot holiday hotspot in the Middle East. Ticking all the same boxes as Dubai in terms of lavish hotels, shopping malls, sandy beaches, souks and spas, Abu Dhabi is also making a name for itself by offering once-in-a-lifetime adventures. There’s the vast desert – perfect for adrenaline-pumping Jeep safaris – plus visitors can enjoy an African safari-style experience on Sir Bani Yas island, which has been transformed from a barren island dotted with salt mines, into a stunning nature reserve.
Lonely Planet has said it’s one of the must-see countries of 2010, so OK! went to see what all the fuss is about.

WHAT STARS MIGHT I SEE?
Beyoncé was in town to perform at last year’s inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix, while Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger was there to cheer on her boyfriend Lewis Hamilton. Star spotting is easy at the Emirates Palace hotel. Justin Timberlake has performed here, Rihanna did a New Year’s Eve show, while Bill Clinton and Pamela Anderson have stayed at the hotel.

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WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
After landing in Abu Dhabi, OK! was whisked by seaplane to Sir Bani Yas island, 8km off the Abu Dhabi coast. During our 50-minute trip we soaked up the amazing views of the coastline and the new Grand Prix track, before landing on the Arabian Sea. Sitting next to a sheltered lagoon on the island’s north coast, the Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa, with 64 luxury rooms and beach villas, is the first five-star hotel to open on this island wildlife sanctuary. Our modern suite, decorated in warm earth tones, featured a vast walk-in shower and a private balcony with views of the infinity pool and sea beyond. At the resort you can chill out by the pool or have an indulgent treatment in the spa. After a bergamot and sea salt foot ritual, OK! enjoyed our best-ever massage using almond oil infused with ginger and lemongrass.

Although the hotel offers the pool-side Samak Seafood Grill, which has been voted one of the top five in the Gulf, OK! loved the local Arabic dishes at The Palm. We devoured chicken shawarma – tasty, spicy chicken breast wrapped in baked Arabic bread – and enjoyed it so much that we signed up for a cookery lesson. Patient chef Shreedh Aran showed us how to make an eggplant and tahini dip, prawns cooked in a spicy tomato sauce and a puff pastry hot pudding with pistachios and milk-soaked raisins. We reckon we could give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money!

WHAT CAN I DO ON SIR BANI YAS ISLAND?

Over half of the 87 square kilometre island is a protected wildlife reserve, home to thousands of free-roaming animals and birds. Aboard an open-top safari Jeep on a sunrise game drive, OK! spotted giraffes, deer, ostriches, peacocks, sand and mountain gazelles. We also saw an Arabian white oryx antelope – 30 years ago there were just four, now there are more than 400.

Other popular island pursuits include kayaking through the mangroves, hiking and mountain biking. OK! decided to work off one long lunch by taking a tough but scenic cycle trek along off-road routes and over some of the world’s largest salt-dome hilltops. We also tried our hand at archery and surprised ourselves that within an hour of bowing arrows we were hitting bullseye targets with relative ease! It’s not all land-based activities, however, as you can snorkel for hours over the island’s coral reefs. Look out for dolphins, turtles and stingrays.

The island is a work in progress. Anantara will add two eco lodges this year, an equestrian and watersports and dive centre will also open and there’s an animal breeding and planting programme.

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WHERE CAN I STAY IN THE DESERT?

It may be less than two hours’ drive from skyscraper-lined downtown Abu Dhabi, but OK! felt like we’d landed on the moon when we reached the Empty Quarter, the name given to the vast expanse of rugged desert landscape that was to be our temporary home. We hoped the building we saw in the distance wasn’t a mirage and luckily the Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort – a magnificent fortress-style hotel with a flame-lit entrance, turrets, courtyards and archways – was definitely stone and marble and not a figment of our imagination.

The five-star resort, comprising 154 rooms, 42 villas and ten royal villas, a meandering pool and a luxury spa, features rich-coloured local fabrics and jewel-embedded silver and bronze chandeliers creating stunning silhouettes against the gilded mosaics. OK!’s bedroom had a wonderful over-sized bath tub and stunning desert views from the balcony. The suites and villas are ideal for families as they come complete with a lounge, dining area, plunge pool, terrace, butler and a chef service.

WHAT MUST I DO?

If you want to live out any Lawrence Of Arabia fantasies make sure you take a camel trek across some of the world’s tallest sand dunes. During our journey we stopped off at a Bedouin-style tent for a delicious Arabic dinner under the stars.  Relaxing on low-slung cushions we feasted on stuffed vine leaves, slow-cooked lamb and grilled fish served with rice and flatbread followed by pistachio biscuits and a glass of mint tea. Truly a feast fit for an Arabian prince.

If you want to soak up the sheer vastness and silent beauty of the landscape, take one of the organised sunrise desert walks. A keen adrenaline junkie, OK! preferred the thrills and spills of a 4x4 Jeep safari, known as dune bashing. This seemed to involve a hair-raising rollercoaster ride over the sand dunes at speed. A word of warning – don’t try this straight after breakfast, as OK! did!

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways.com; 0800 731 9384) flies from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi 21 times per week and from Manchester seven times per week. Prices start from £378 in economy and £1,689 in business, including taxes.

Rates at the Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa (email dirs@anantara.com; www.anantara.com) start from £230 per night for a deluxe seaview room.

Price includes breakfast. Prices at the Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort (email infoqas@anantara.com; www.anantara.com) start from £235 per night for a deluxe room. Price includes breakfast.