Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort And Spa

Consider somewhere else..

I had a thought of spending  the end of 2011 in a romantic desert resort. However, the travel agency made a faulty reservation in the resort I wanted, so I ended up staying in this resort. I don't know how was this resort rated as 5* hotel ! I totally do not understand how it won many awards since 2006!
For me, this resort is an average or less than average. Starting from the  hotel personels from  the receptionest -who was not hospitable at all- to the lazy waiters in the restaurants. Their service was poor overall. 
The rooms were small and the furniture and the decoration was ugly and silly. Being an arabian lady who knows the desert and arabian traditions very well. I would say this reseort was designed to fool the foreign people about the arabian heritage. The decorations and furniture were selected from the cheapest pieces in the iranian market. Some of the patterns use the star of David which has nothing to do with arabic or islamic arts. The beds were comfortable thought. But I never thought there are 5* resorts in this world are still using the ugly box old TVs -not LED, LCD or Plasma- nor flat screen. The entertainment system is retarded.  The TV chennels are few, no on demand movies nor DVD player. Forget about finding and ipod dock. The lightening is poor. The bathroom was nice. They serve you with a shower cap, cotton buds, cotton pads, shaving kit, dental hygiene kit even bath salt! However, no shampoo, conditioiner nor shower gel!!!
Dining does not taste like 5* hotels. I had my breakfast there for 3 days in Al-Forsan restaurant. By the 3rd day I couldn't eat it. The coffee is served cold usually. I couldn't find fresh juices. The quality of food is less than average and the arabian food like Loqaimat and Aseeda were poor. I had dinner there once too. It was worse than the breakfast experience. I remember trying several dishes, their best -the ones I could eat- were average. I remember I tried one kind of dessert and the blackberry on top smelled stinky. I think it was frozen next to the sea food.
Al-Hadheera, the 5* desert restaurant and show. The huge buffet which has the same quality of Al-Forsan retaurant. The food had good variety but an average taste. The show that included a band, belly dancer, andalusian band and a singer. The shaw was very cheep, I was surprised how stiff was the belly dancer. The andalusian show was messy and the singer was a piece of noise. All what I noticed was that all of the show personels were photograph oriented. Their show takes 5 mins max and then they start rotating from one table to another seeking for people to buy photos with them! 
The most inconvenient thing I experienced their was wi-fi. They mantioned they have internet in their rooms and I needed to use whatsapp to communicate with my family and office. Unfortunately, the internet they provide in the rooms is ethernet! No laptop thought! And wi-fi is available in the pool area, retaurants and reception. The connection was poor everywhere. 
I have one advice to the tourists. Just consider somewhere else, or cancel and save your money..