Few travellers in Qatar stray beyond the glitzy skyline of Doha, but for those with a nose for getting away from it all, the Our Habitas Ras Abrouq is as remote as it gets in this corner of the Arabian Gulf. The journey there is even part of the adventure, as you head west of Doha for an hour, then veer off-road and into the desert. Before long, the city becomes a distant memory.
Besides passing the odd herd of oryx, there is little else around, and after half an hour of driving into nothingness, you might even begin to think that you’re lost. It’s then that the cream-coloured tented canopies of Our Habitas Ras Abrouq first crest the horizon of Qatar’s west coast. They blend so well into the landscape that I wondered if my eyes were deceiving me for a split second, but no, they were not a mirage.
For ten years, the only lure this far west in Qatar was Richard Serra’s acclaimed East-West/West-East art installation, which is an easy detour to or from Ras Abrouq (just 10km from the resort). Now, after opening earlier in the year, this far-flung stay hopes to draw more intrepid visitors to one of the country’s least-visited regions.
I can confirm the journey is worth it, especially for those who want to experience an analogue lifestyle, says the writer of Wanderlust magazine. With its nearest neighbour being the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Al Reem, you’re more likely to encounter gazelles and Arabian oryx than people. The resort certainly leans into its setting, with stays geared around learning more about traditional life in Qatar. Its 42 earth-coloured villas, set snugly among the limestone dunes, felt more like luxurious Bedouin tents. Inside, their textiles, handicrafts and artwork have all been sourced from local souks and artisans. And if you want to learn more about these crafts, you can join the resort’s in-house Sadu weaving workshops.
The Bedouin, whose camps the resort draws inspiration from, live in tight communities, and stays here nudge you to do more than linger in your room. There are no TVs in the villas, and the culinary offering at the resort’s only restaurant, the farm-to-table Qissa, errs towards sharing plates piled high. I found plenty of vegetarian options too.
From the long main pool, guests can gaze out over the shimmering waters of the Arabian Gulf, while strolls along the pebbled beach leave plenty of time to ponder the wilderness surrounding you and the culture that emerged here. If possible, try to time your sojourn for dusk to witness one of the most vivid sunsets in Qatar.
The resort’s fleet of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards invite you to do more than just stare at the sea. Don’t paddle too far, though, otherwise you’ll cross the border into Bahrain – I was told that one local accidentally did this prior to the hotel’s construction. It just reminds you how remote the Our Habitas Ras Abrouq is, and how far you are from the skyscrapers of Doha. It’s definitely a location to treasure. In the end, sometimes the greatest luxury of all is solitude.
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