Al Shams: Island-Style Dining on the North Shore of Sir Bani Yas

An island restaurant shaped by the shore

Al Shams sits on the north shore of Sir Bani Yas Island at Desert Islands Resort by Anantara, and the setting is central to its identity. The current hotel page describes a bright, breezy restaurant looking towards the Gulf, with dining that can move from the air-conditioned interior to the poolside and outdoors. That makes it less formal than the resort’s destination dinners and particularly useful after a safari, beach session or afternoon by the pool. Transfers from elsewhere on the island are available through the resort, so the restaurant also works as part of a wider Sir Bani Yas itinerary rather than only for guests staying in the main building.

The menu changes gear between lunch and evening

The food is deliberately broad but not anonymous. Anantara highlights burgers and salads at lunch, then mezze and curry at dinner, with a dedicated children’s menu and desserts including ice cream and halva. Drinks continue by the pool, and the bar gives sunset a natural place in the day. The resort’s current dining roster lists lunch from noon to 4 pm, dinner from 6 pm to 10.30 pm, bar service from 9 am to midnight,ght and pool-and-beach service from 9 am until sunset. That long rhythm explains Al Shams better than a single cuisine label: it is part beach bar, part relaxed restaurant and part evening gathering point.

Why it belongs in the guide

Sir Bani Yas is one of Abu Dhabi’s most unusual leisure destinations, combining wildlife, archaeology, beach and resort hospitality on a single island. Al Shams reflects that relaxed sense of movement. It is not a city fine-dining room transplanted into a resort; it is designed around sun, pool, sea breeze and the practical appetites of people spending a day outdoors. Current Anantara pages explicitly list the venue, hours, and contact details, while a current 2026 Tripadvisor listing continues to identify the same Desert Island address for visitors staying on the island; that makes Al Shams a dependable, low-formality option with a genuine sense of place.

Practical details

Location: Desert Islands Resort by Anantara, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: International with Middle Eastern dishes
Telephone: +971 2 801 5400
Email: experience.sby@anantara.com
Hours: Lunch 12 pm-4 pm; dinner 6 pm-10.30 pm; bar 9 am-midnight