Hotel review: Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat, Oman

Wedged between the mountain and sea on one of Oman’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, Al Husn provides a private, peaceful and ultra-luxury haven that seems blissfully remote, yet is just a 15-minute drive from Muscat’s old city and 45 minutes from the airport.

 

Transfers can be conducted in helicopters direct to Al Husn’s helipad, or in a luxury limousine or a vintage car, courtesy of the resort’s classic car museum, home to dozens of rare vehicles, including one gifted by the Saudi royal family and a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle.

Al Husn, meaning ‘castle’, is one of three properties that make up this 124-acre resort, Shangri-La’s largest, with beach, mountain and blue sea views as far as the eye can see from its perch on the sandstone heights up above, looking down on sister resorts, Al Bandar (‘the town’) and Al Waha (‘the oasis’).

 

Smug though it sounds, among Al Husn’s greatest attributes is that it delivers you from the family-friendly buzz of the neighbours and lets you relax in peace, though you still have access to their extensive facilities. 

 

Exclusivity is king here, not just in its hilltop setting and size of rooms – on average the biggest in Oman and all with butler service – but in its access to enchanting spaces, from a secluded private beach cove next to natural rock formation, Muscat Arch, to winding pathways that lead to remote clifftop settings, a sought-after spot for marriage proposals.

At Al Husn, guests will find Oman’s heritage alive throughout, from the food to the fort-like architecture and the lavish interiors with soaring arches, water installations, carved wooden doors, framed khanjars (traditional daggers) and statues of indigenous Arabian animals, part of the Zubair family’s extensive art collection.

 

But it’s the people and their passion for authentic Oman that really stirs the soul, from the generous hospitality afforded by the doormen in their sultan-like attire sharing ‘kahwa’ (local, spiced coffee) and stories, to Khalid, Oman’s first Frankincense Sommelier and accredited expert who leads guests on tours of the resort’s frankincense garden and reveals secrets of the resin’s numerous healing properties.

 

Khalid, Oman’s first Frankincense Sommelier

 

Accommodation: Al Husn’s 180 rooms span six categories, all generously sized and thoughtfully designed, with spectacular sea, mountain and pool views from the spacious balcony, bed, sofa and even the bathtub. Décor is palatial and distinctly Arabian, with a sand-coloured palette shot through with gold accents and original local artwork.

 

Bathrooms are superb, marble-clad with twin sinks, deep-soaking tubs and rainfall showers, and supremely comfortable beds come with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and mattresses that mould to your shape. Spoiling luxuries include Nespresso machines, Bose speakers, fresh blooms and a complimentary mini bar.

 

Al Husn Deluxe Sea View room

 

 

The pinnacle though is the palatial Al Husn Royal Suite, which draws inspiration from the sultanate’s 17th-century Jabreen Castle and comes with its own lounge and majlis, a sea-view whirlpool bathtub, private steam room and an oversized balcony. A dedicated butler dishes up daily afternoon tea and sunset aperitifs.

 

Facilities
Exclusive to Al Husn guests, a large clifftop infinity pool overlooking the sea is the main draw, complete with cosy cabanas and in-pool loungers, but the lovely spa, Luban (meaning ‘Frankincense’) is an absolute must, with an array of signature treatments, from wraps to scrubs, that use local ingredients such as frankincense, rose, green herb Sidir and organic Omani honey.

 

Infinity pool overlooking the sea

 

Turtles are a theme here, with Shangri-La’s palm-lined beach among Oman’s top green and hawksbill turtle nesting sites. There’s a dedicated turtle ranger and regular releases, with guests notified via whatsapp when hatchings happen so they can gather to watch the babies race down the beach to the sea. Alternatively, guests can take a midnight turtle adventure with the resort’s ranger.

 

To spot dolphins and whale sharks, guests can take a private yacht or dhow cruise from Al Husn’s private marina or  trip to Fahal Island to snorkel among them. 

 

Beyond Al Husn, guests will find plenty to do next door, from riding camels and horses on the beach to floating along the 500-metre lazy river, playing tennis or unwinding with a beachside massage courtesy of Chi Spa. Concierges are on hand to curate trips with local guides to Muscat’s souk, mosque, archaeological ruins, forts or fishing villages.

 

Private pool at Shangri-La Al Husn with cabanas

 

F&B: A clutch of 13 excellent restaurants across all three properties (three are exclusive to Al Husn) means there’s little reason to leave the resort, with guests feasting on everything from wok-fried seafood at elevated Southeast Asian venue Chow Mee to authentic Italian flavours at Capri Court and 36-hours beef short-rib at Al Husn’s all-day dining venue Sultanah.

 

A whole host of private dining experiences can be arranged, from the clifftop to the beach to the gardens.

 

Private clifftop breakfast overlooking Al Husn’s cove

 

The focus throughout is on Omani dishes and locally sourced produce, from coffee roasted in the sultanate to local fish like grouper and yellowfin tuna delivered straight to Shangri-La’s shores by fishermen three times a week. Guests with reservations at Al Bandar’s Bait Al Bahr, one of Oman’s oldest seafood restaurants, can handpick their catch fresh from the boats the morning they dine. 

 

A minimum 70% of every dish served is made with locally grown produce, including unusual ingredient frankincense, which holds deep cultural significance in Omani culture, and is sourced directly from Boswellia trees grown onsite to flavour dishes, from hummus and smoked chicken, to seafood soup and sweet tarts.

 

Even cocktails come scented with frankincense, best sipped at Si02, Muscat’s only sand-between-your-toes lounge.

 

For guests at Al Husn, complimentary cocktails and canapes are served daily between 6-7pm in the central courtyard, a peaceful space lined with water features and palm trees that turns magical come Happy Hour with twinkling lights, lively conversation and live harp music.

 

Al Husn central courtyard, venue for happy hour

 

Breakfast at Al Husn is a lavish affair and best enjoyed on the terrace at Sultanah with sea views and a mix of buffet and à la carte. For the health-conscious, there’s a generous spread of exotic fruit, including the lesser-spotted lychee, plus detox shots, chia pots and made-to-order white-egg omelettes, while more luxurious dishes include Omani lobster with sturgeon caviar. 

 

Al Husn never fails to surprise or impress, from its preservation of Omani heritage to dedication to conservation, all sprinkled with the levels of luxury and refinement you’d expect from Shangri-La.

 

From US$460 (AED1,690) per night. Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat, Oman. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/muscat/alhusnresortandspa