If the idea of breaking your fast on the shores of the Aegean Sea, with the tiers of Santorini's whitewashed buildings serving as a backdrop, is a bucket-list meal, there is a destination closer to home serving exactly that this Ramadan.
While a trip to the Greek island should remain firmly on travel 'to do' lists, visiting the Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat for a sunset feast is a more realistic approach for most budgets.
This week I swapped Aegean backdrops for the Arabian Gulf, for a Ramadan Designer Dining iftar at the Ghantoot hotel.
First impressions
After turning off the E11 and winding my through the roads of Ghantoot for about 15 minutes, I arrived at the hotel. It was my first visit to the 22-room resort, which opened in early 2024, and to say the entrance rendered me speechless isn't hyperbole.
Arriving in time for iftar ensured I was there for the sky's dazzling sunset display. Watercolour-perfect hues of red, orange, blue and purple greeted me as I stepped into the lobby and continued to impress as I wandered through the winding passages of the hotel, which was built to resemble a charming Greek town.
Throughout Ramadan, the hotel is hosting a daily iftar poolside at Arabic restaurant Oia Oasis. An oud player serenades guests as they dine from the expansive buffet selection and admire views over the swimming pool and the sea. The hotel is also hosting Ramadan Designer Dining packages upon request, which take iftar out of the restaurant and down to a private cabana on the beach, for a truly special Ramadan meal.
My friend and I were shown down to the beach, where we wandered through the sand and arrived at our private dining destination for the evening, an intimate majlis, set up with cosy sofas and a round table looking out to the sea.
Breaking fast
The table was laid with bottles of water and a bowl of dates, ready to be eaten as the sun set. What followed was a set menu, with culinary highlights from across the Middle East and North Africa.
It wasn't long before our friendly waiter, Myo, had crossed the beach with a tray of mezze dishes. Served in small bowls, we dined on tabbouleh, hummus, fattoush, vine leaves, labneh and mutabal. A second tray then followed with speciality dishes from Morroco. The zaalouk, an aubergine and tomato dish, was a personal highlight, while my friend particularly enjoyed the charmoula baby marrow – mini root vegetables, stuffed and marinated in garlic, cumin, coriander, oil and lemon juice. A warming lentil soup followed, which was a welcome treat as the breeze on the beach had a sharp edge.
For mains, we dined on meat and fish prepared on a charcoal grill. Shish taouk, beef kebabs, harissa-marinated lamb cutlets and enormous Gulf king prawns adorned the table. My personal highlight was the prawns, which were smoky but succulent. The lamb chops had a delicious kick.
The feast did not end there. A beef tagine was then brought to our table, with cinnamon and almond couscous, with a moussaka. I went in for seconds of the warming moussaka, prepared with layers of aubergine, chickpeas and sliced tomato, warmed up with fragrant allspice and cinnamon. The only negative of the beachside dining location is the distance from the kitchen. It's a fair walk for the team and the breezy night meant that some of the food was on the cooler end of the scale by the time it had arrived at the beach.
No Arabic iftar is complete without Umm Ali for dessert. The homely classic dessert was packed full of dried fruit. Despite being full to the brim, I had a generous second serving over a cup of peppermint tea.
The setting
In terms of convenience, the Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is a box-ticker for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents, roughly located halfway between the two emirates. I felt like I had been on holiday, despite being little more than a 30-minute drive from my house.
The intimacy of the Ramadan Designer Dining package will appeal to small groups or couples, looking for a private iftar experience. For me, it was a lovely space to catch-up with a friend, while taking in the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi's beaches.
How much it costs
Oia Oasis is a crowd-pleasing iftar, which serves up classic Arabic dishes, with a generous helping of Santorini-dupe views. Both the Oia Oasis and Ramadan Designer Dining iftars are running nightly from sunset to 9pm until March 29. Oia Oasis costs Dh400 per person, and the Ramadan Designer Dining packages cost Dh2,500 per couple, accommodating up to 10 people in the private cabana. A Dh400 suhoor follows at Apollo Bar from 9pm until 1am.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
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8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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