TDIC appeals to all travel tastes at World Travel Market in London

The Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, in the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali) of the Western Region, is one of the major highlights at WTM. The five-star resort. Wowed by the magnificence of its fort-inspired design and the beauty of the surrounding Liwa desert (the world's largest stretch of uninterrupted desert), guests have travelled from across the globe to experience the magnificence of Qasr Al Sarab.

With its superb architecture and an ambience reflected through the culture and roots of the UAE, Qasr Al Sarab delivers an authentic Emirati experience enlivened by warm hospitality and the region's deep-rooted traditions. The destination is rich in history with settlements in the area dating back to as far as 7,000 years ago. The resort is situated in the tranquillity of the 9,000-square kilometre desert landscape and protected wildlife reserve.

Offering 154 rooms, 42 villas and 10 royal villas resembling majestic palaces with spacious living and dining areas, private pools and outdoor terraces, Qasr Al Sarab is a haven of exceptional comfort and pure extravagance. Guests can also enjoy its luxury health spa, conference centre, outdoor pool, children's playground and adventure excursions including camel rides across its rolling sand dunes.

With a successful track-record of desert tourism in the Western Region, Desert Islands celebrated its first year of operation this month having welcomed over 25,000 visitors to Sir Bani Yas Island. Future developments on Sir Bani Yas include four new nature lodges - two will be completed in 2010 and another two in 2011 - providing guests with stunning views of the island and up-close-and-personal animal experiences. The lodges will offer an additional 190 hotel rooms to guests who will also be able to enjoy its new conference centre, environmentally friendly tourism initiatives, diving and sports centre, equestrian centre, and a youth education and outdoor camp set up as a non-profit adventure education programme.

Saadiyat Island was showcased at the exhibition as a destination for all travel tastes embracing the true beauty of Arabian living, with unspoiled beaches, iconic landmarks, signature sports facilities and unrivalled cultural attractions. The island is gearing up for exciting launches in the following months. TDIC recently announced that the opening of the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club will take place in January 2010 and will be marked by a top-tier international charity golf tournament, the Saadiyat Beach Classic. The stunning 18-hole Saadiyat Beach Golf Club designed by golfing legend Gary Player, is the Arabian Gulf's first and only ocean-front course, and is organically designed so that golfers don't ever have to play the same hole twice.

The 'Saadiyat Beach Classic' will be hosted by Gary Player on January 27-28, 2010 and has already attracted interest from major golfing and non-golfing celebrities around the world.

Saadiyat Island will offer leisure and entertainment facilities across the various districts such as the Saadiyat Marina and Saadiyat Cultural District which will host the world's largest concentration of premier cultural institutions. In November, TDIC will welcome visitors to Manarat Al Saadiyat, a state-of-the-art visitor's centre in the island's Cultural District to showcase Saadiyat's exciting projects and feature international exhibitions from around the world.