Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dining guide
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa Dining Guide
Al Maha has one restaurant, Al Diwaan, and one named bar, Hajar Terrace Bar. Al Diwaan serves international food indoors and on a reserve-facing veranda every day: breakfast 7:00–10:30 AM, lunch 12:30–2:30 PM and dinner 7:30–10:00 PM. Hajar serves cocktails and curated beverages on its desert-view terrace Monday–Thursday and Sunday 12:30–11:00 PM, and Friday–Saturday 12:30 PM–12:00 AM. Neither venue publishes a weekly closure. The resort also supports private dining without turning each arrangement into a pseudo restaurant: Dune Dining for two, a private-chef BBQ Dune Dining Experience, tailor-made Deck Dining outside the villa, In-Villa Dining, an Exclusive Sundowner & Falcon Show, and floating breakfast or lunch in a villa pool. Only the sundowner publishes a reservation lead time—24 hours—and none of these private-service descriptions publishes regular operating hours. Meal inclusion depends on the booked channel and rate: Emirates' official channel terms say breakfast, lunch and dinner are included under that rate, while Marriott says breakfast at Al Diwaan is available for a fee. The house does not establish either statement as a universal resort policy. Festive services are calendar-bound offers, not permanent venues: private group meals run 13–23 December, Winter Warmth at Hajar runs on evenings from 20–26 December, festive afternoon tea runs 20 December–1 January, Christmas Eve dinner begins at 7:00 PM, and the 2026 New Year's Eve gala begins at 8:00 PM. New Year's Day breakfast is 7:00–11:00 AM and brunch 12:30–3:00 PM. Official pages disagree on the child gala charge and whether the mandatory gala is included under the booked rate or charged to staying guests. The festive page also follows its Welcome 2027 gala with brunch copy that says Welcome 2026.
Before you book dinner
- Al Diwaan is the one restaurant and Hajar Terrace Bar is the one named bar; dune, deck, floating and in-villa arrangements are services, not additional venues.
- Al Diwaan: breakfast daily 7:00–10:30 AM, lunch 12:30–2:30 PM and dinner 7:30–10:00 PM. Hajar: Monday–Thursday and Sunday 12:30–11:00 PM; Friday–Saturday 12:30 PM–12:00 AM.
- Reserve the Exclusive Sundowner & Falcon Show at least 24 hours ahead. No lead time is printed for Dune Dining, BBQ Dune Dining, Deck Dining, In-Villa Dining or floating breakfast and lunch.
- Meal inclusion is channel- and rate-dependent: Emirates' official channel terms include breakfast, lunch and dinner under that rate, while Marriott says breakfast at Al Diwaan is available for a fee; neither is a universal resort rule.
- The mandatory 2026 New Year's Eve gala has conflicting official child charges and conflicting inclusion language; confirm the complete room-and-gala terms in writing.
- The current festive page labels the New Year's Day brunch after the Welcome 2027 gala as Welcome 2026, an apparent year conflict that should be confirmed.
- Private group meals run 13–23 December; Winter Warmth at Hajar runs 20–26 December evenings; festive afternoon tea runs 20 December–1 January. They are dated offers, not year-round venue cards.
- Christmas Eve dinner begins at 7:00 PM; the New Year's Eve gala begins at 8:00 PM; New Year's Day breakfast runs 7:00–11:00 AM and brunch 12:30–3:00 PM.
| Venue | Meals / availability | Reservations | In the rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Diwaan | Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily | Dining reservations by the published hotel telephone number or dining email | Channel- and rate-dependent: Emirates' official channel terms include three meals under that rate; Marriott says breakfast is available for a fee |
| Hajar Terrace Bar | Cocktails and curated beverages on a desert-view terrace | Hotel telephone number published; no advance-notice requirement stated | Beverage inclusion is not published; the conflicting meal terms do not establish a universal bar inclusion |
In-Villa Dining
Freshly prepared meals can be served in the villa and tailored to taste. The resort publishes no hours, menu limits, advance-notice period or inclusion terms. Deck Dining is a separate private setup immediately outside the villa, while floating breakfast or lunch is served in the villa's private pool.
Al Diwaan
International
Daily: breakfast 7:00–10:30 AM; lunch 12:30–2:30 PM; dinner 7:30–10:00 PM
Al Maha's only restaurant serves international food in an indoor dining room and on an alfresco veranda overlooking the desert reserve. Exact official hours are breakfast daily 7:00–10:30 AM, lunch 12:30–2:30 PM and dinner 7:30–10:00 PM; no weekly closure is published, and the dress code is smart casual. Emirates' official channel terms say all three meals are included under that rate, while Marriott says breakfast is available for a fee, so neither position should be applied to every booking. Festive programming uses this same restaurant for dated group meals, Christmas services, the New Year's Eve gala and New Year's Day services rather than creating separate venues.
Full guide →Hajar Terrace Bar
Handcrafted cocktails and curated beverages
Monday–Thursday and Sunday 12:30–11:00 PM; Friday–Saturday 12:30 PM–12:00 AM
Hajar Terrace Bar is the resort's named bar, overlooking the desert from a smart-casual outdoor terrace and serving handcrafted cocktails and curated beverages. Exact official hours are Monday–Thursday and Sunday 12:30–11:00 PM, and Friday–Saturday 12:30 PM–12:00 AM; no weekly closure is published. Beverage inclusion is not stated, and the conflicting Emirates and Marriott meal language does not settle the bar terms. The festive page shortens the name to Hajar Bar for Winter Warmth on evenings from 20–26 December; that is a seasonal service at this bar, not a second venue.
Full guide →Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa dining FAQ
- How many permanent dining venues does Al Maha have?
- One restaurant, Al Diwaan, and one named bar, Hajar Terrace Bar. Private dune, deck, floating and in-villa meals are services rather than separate venues.
- What are Al Diwaan's meal hours?
- The official dining page lists breakfast daily from 7:00–10:30 AM, lunch 12:30–2:30 PM and dinner 7:30–10:00 PM.
- Are breakfast, lunch and dinner included?
- It depends on channel and rate. Emirates' official channel terms include all three meals under that rate, while Marriott says Al Diwaan breakfast is available for a fee.
- What private dining can be arranged?
- Published options are Dune Dining, private-chef BBQ Dune Dining, Deck Dining, In-Villa Dining, a private sundowner with falcon show, and floating breakfast or lunch.
- How far ahead should private dining be reserved?
- Only the Exclusive Sundowner & Falcon Show publishes a requirement: at least 24 hours ahead. The other private services publish no lead time.
- Is the New Year's Eve gala included?
- Official sources conflict. Marriott describes a mandatory charge for staying guests, while Emirates rate terms say the gala dinner is included. Obtain written confirmation.
- Do official pages agree on the child gala terms?
- No. Two Marriott pages publish different child charges, and broader official age policies also conflict. The numeric prices are intentionally omitted here.
- Is the Ghaf Oasis barbecue a restaurant?
- No. It is a dated festive group offer for 15 to 30 guests, not a year-round restaurant or a permanent venue card.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated August 2026