Hawar Resort by Mantis
A Bahraini island resort inside a wildlife reserve of dugongs and oryx.
Hawar is the main island of an archipelago off the west coast of Qatar but belonging to Bahrain, reached by ferry from Bahrain. The islands are a protected area of international importance for birds — cormorants and flamingos in large numbers — and the waters hold one of the world's largest dugong populations. Arabian oryx were reintroduced on the island itself.
The resort is the only accommodation on Hawar, at around seventy rooms, run under Mantis. The proposition is wildlife and quiet rather than luxury in the Gulf sense: the archipelago is flat, hot and empty, and the reason to come is what lives around it. This register holds it in the Core Collection while noting that the product is modest against its regional neighbours.
Dugongs in numbers found almost nowhere else. The herd in these waters is among the largest recorded anywhere, and the reserve exists for it.
Wildlife rather than resort. Hawar is a nature destination with a hotel on it, which is the reverse of most Gulf island properties.
Who it is not for
Hawar is wrong for guests expecting Gulf luxury standards, which this property does not offer. It is wrong for travellers wanting activity and dining choice, as there is little. And it is wrong for anyone visiting in high summer, when the heat is extreme. And it is wrong for guests who need a choice of restaurants or a spa culture. Those wanting a Gulf island resort at a higher level should look at Zaya Nurai or Banana Island Doha.
Sources
- Mantis Collection — around seventy rooms, Hawar Islands, Bahrain
- Room count, reserve status and dugong figures unverified. Confirm before publication.
Booking
Private Island Resorts arranges each stay on request, quoting the rates available for the island and dates. No benefit should be assumed unless it is confirmed in writing for the individual reservation.
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