Vida Beach Resort, Umm Al Quwain

Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain is H2R’s first 5* interior design project for a luxury resort. Along with the other Vida Hotels, the brand requested an upscale, lifestyle resort that reflected the natural beauty of the region combined with neutral colours and artistic, design-led spaces to create a sleek yet relaxing atmosphere.

Guided by H2R’s founders Hasan and Husain Roomi, the award-winning team worked in tandem with Emaar Hospitality Group to craft a unique destination for guests looking for a peaceful and memorable getaway. The first five-star resort in Umm Al Quwain, Vida Beach Resort features 135 rooms and suites, eight two-bedroom chalets located directly on the beach, an all-day dining eatery, a social rooftop bar, and an abundance of leisure spaces including an infinity pool, spa, and dedicated pet-friendly areas.

The resort is just a stone’s throw away from Umm Al Quwain’s most popular tourist attractions such as the UAQ Corniche and the UAQ National Museum which offers an invaluable collection of artefacts that were excavated from nearby sites. Guests can also explore the Umm Al Quwain Coastal Mangrove just nine minutes from the resort and paddle the serene waters of the Mangrove inhabited by flamingos and cormorants.

Spanning 11,800 square metres, the project began in May 2017 and was handed over in February 2021. The ongoing Covid-19 situation and its restrictions provided several challenges throughout the project, with the completed and hand-over date being impacted due to procurement and labour. Thankfully, a paperless system that the contractor provided helped the design team continue to support the site team on a remote-basis to aid with any issues.

As the name suggests, Vida, meaning ‘life’ in Spanish, was the inspiration behind creating a stimulating atmosphere with socially responsible spaces throughout. In line with both their and Vida’s shared ethos, the H2R team strived to use sustainable materials where possible such as reconstituted stone, tiles, and furnishings fashioned from recycled contents. In addition, non-toxic paints have been used to add a pop of colours to walls and ceilings, while solid timber and wood veneer used for joinery and ceiling slats are all FSC-certified timbers.