Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) has launched the new Qasr Al Sarab resort in the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Located within one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the new resort boasts 154 guest rooms, 42 villas, an Anantara spa and a swimming pool complex, as well as 10 royal villas and a fitness centre. The Anantara spa features five desert-view treatment rooms, a Moroccan-style Hammam, double heated marble beds, whirlpools, steamrooms and an ice cave, as well as a Vichy treatment room and a whirlpool bath.

A range of face and body treatments offered by the spa have been based on traditional Arabian rituals and tranquil Thai methods, using ingredients indigenous to the region - including dates, sand, honey and olives. Facilities at the Qasr Al Sarab resort also include banquet and ballrooms, two meeting rooms, tennis courts, a swimming pool complex, a business centre and four food and drink outlets, as well as a fitness centre offering a yoga and aerobic studio and a weights and cardio room.

The resort's Desert Experience Centre provides guests with a number of traditional activities, including falconry, camel riding, archery, stargazing navigation and desert trekking, while an adjacent 9,000sq km (3,475sq mile) wildlife reserve is home to a range of native Arabian species. Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, TDIC managing director and director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said: "The launch of this destination resort will ensure that visitors will have the opportunity to experience the true culture and rich history that the UAE has to offer.

"Every element of Qasr Al Sarab, right down to the finest detail, has remained faithful to Arab culture while embracing the rich history and heritage of the UAE. TDIC chief executive officer Lee Tabler added: "As with all our developments, we remained focussed on protecting the natural environment and ensuring sustainable design, build and maintenance."

Construction work on the Qasr Al Sarab Resort by Anantara got underway in September 2006 and was built by Abu Dhabi-based company Al Jaber Engineering and Contracting to incorporate eco-friendly measures, such as efficient water consumption and recycling and sustainable lighting.