ANANTARA RETREAT SANTORINI ABU DHABI REIMAGINES DATE HARVEST SEASON

This summer, Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi, operated by Minor Hotels, invites guests to discover a different side of its serene coastal sanctuary as it celebrates its annual Date Harvest Season. From July to September, the luxury retreat’s 450 date palm trees bear around six varieties of dates, inspiring curated guest experiences that celebrate the UAE’s treasured fruit through farm tours, culinary creations, botanical beverages and wellness.

At the heart of the season is the Date Farm Tour, led by in-house Retreat Date Storyteller, Nadia Bouassia, where guests explore the palm farm, learn about the harvest and taste freshly picked dates. In the lobby, a curated date display extends the experience with a seasonal tasting station on arrival.

Guests can experience the harvest beyond the palm farm through a curated selection of optional culinary and beverage offerings, including culinary classes featuring the retreat’s signature date pudding and Jewel of Al Jarf, a botanical drink made with dates, tamarind and honey. At breakfast, date seed coffee offers a thoughtful expression of the season, with seeds carefully air-dried, roasted, ground and brewed to showcase the harvest in a distinctive new way.

The season’s most distinctive wellness highlight is the Tamr Al Nakheel Ritual (Dates of the Palm Ritual), a 90-minute spa journey featuring dates harvested from the retreat’s own palm trees. The ritual celebrates the fruit’s natural richness in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals. Designed to hydrate, soften, and revitalise the skin, the experience begins with a nourishing body wrap made with freshly harvested dates and milk, accompanied by a relaxing head massage. Following a refreshing shower, guests continue with a soothing full-body massage using rich shea butter to deeply moisturise and replenish the skin. The ritual concludes with the retreat’s signature Golden Harvest Elixir, crafted from its own dates for a naturally energising finish.

“It is amazing to see how the fruit of these precious trees has inspired experiences across the retreat, from arrival and dining to beverage and now spa and wellness,” said Rachid Bakas, General Manager of Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi. “Every summer, we harvest more than 3,200 kilograms of dates, and this has become an integral part of our sustainability initiatives. Beyond creating meaningful guest experiences, the harvest also allows us to give back to the community. While we are a Greek-inspired luxury retreat, we are deeply connected to our setting in the Emirates, and celebrating the date harvest is a beautiful way to honour the destination we proudly call home.”

Inspired by the effortless elegance of the Greek islands, Anantara Retreat Santorini Abu Dhabi is an adults-only luxury retreat set along the coastline between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Home to just 22 keys, including a royal suite, the retreat offers an intimate escape defined by sea views, curated dining, wellness experiences and personalised hospitality. Blending Mediterranean-inspired design with the warmth of its Emirati setting, the retreat is a soulful hideaway where privacy, tranquillity and destination-led experiences create a distinctive coastal sanctuary in the UAE.