Umm Al Quwain’s first five-star resort Vida Beach Resort, which opened its doors in March, aims to live true to its name offering a unique lifestyle experience by the beach. Vida, meaning ‘life’ in Spanish, was the inspiration behind creating a stimulating atmosphere with socially responsible spaces throughout, says its Dubai-based designer H2R.

With this project, the young, progressive interior design firm has made its interior design debut of five-star luxury resorts.

Situated along the northern emirate’s breath-taking coastline, Vida Beach Resort Umm Al Quwain features 135 rooms and suites, eight two-bedroom chalets located directly on the beach, an all-day eatery, a social rooftop bar, and an abundance of leisure spaces including an infinity pool, spa, and dedicated pet-friendly areas.

Vida Beach Resort features 135 rooms and suites and eight two-bedroom chalets.

Guided by H2R’s founders Hasan and Husain Roomi, the team of the award-winning design firm worked in tandem with Emaar Hospitality Group to craft an upscale lifestyle resort for guests looking for a peaceful and memorable getaway.  The hotel reflects the natural beauty of the region combined with neutral colours and artistic, design-led spaces to create a sleek yet relaxing atmosphere, according to the interior design and branding studio, which is based in both London and Dubai.

In line with both Vida’s and its shared ethos, the H2R team strived to use sustainable materials where possible such as reconstituted stone in the joinery countertops and non-toxic paint on the walls and ceilings. The solid timber and wood veneers also used for the joinery and ceiling slats are all FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified timbers.

Vida Beach Resort welcomes guests via its abstract dhow installation which can be found at the front of the hotel – paying homage to the emirate’s role as a key dhow building centre on the UAE’s coastline.

Stepping into the light-filled lobby, guests are greeted by an artistic map of the UAE fashioned from circular wall pieces in coastal colours, pinpointing the location of Umm Al Quwain with a glow, providing guests with a sense of place from their very first moments within the resort.

Origins’ open ceiling in a deep blue shade works in harmony with the off-white walls

Guests can then embark on a visual journey with the Heritage Wall – a curation of historical narratives about local culture tied together with modern details. Curated by the team at 17A Art Consultants, the wall showcases commissioned pieces by Dubai-based artist Muhanad Al Nassiri – a historic dhow boat and fort surrounded by palm trees – as well as ornaments made by local crafters.

Another part of the visual journey are the Instagramable oversized, round mirrors with merging imagery of land and sea. Coastal patterns and accents of blues and beige with touches of warm wood and hints of greenery can be found throughout the resort, representing the sea, sand and natural surroundings, while wooden strips on the ceiling add a touch of warmth.

Among the dining spaces at the property is Origins Umm Al Quwain, a sequel to the Vida Emirates Hills dining space, which offers a resort-like feel in a modern contemporary and organic setting with indoor or outdoor seating options. Origins’ open ceiling in a deep blue shade works in harmony with the off-white walls and wide windows that look out to the expansive terrace. Complete with lush greenery, each and every designs details connects the space back to the coastal environment.

The suspended handmade baskets display above the seating area serves as a link to the timeless trades of fishing, while the pottery display in the middle offers a glimpse of the past, a nod to the ancient crafts within the emirate.

A social space at Vida Beach Resort.

Speaking on the project, Husain says: “As our first five-star resort project, we dived head-first into Vida’s vision as well as the essence of the unique destination of Umm Al Quwain – an emirate named after the ‘Mother of Two Powers’, land and sea. Our ambition was to provide an authentic connection for travellers to immerse themselves in local culture, recharge in a relaxing environment and engage with the welcoming interiors – something we are proud to have brought to life for Vida.

“The transition into hotel interior design has allowed us to showcase the full breadth of multi-disciplinary services and we look forward to supporting the delivery of more creative and unique customised concepts like Vida Umm Al Quwain in the future,” Hasan adds.

Supported by a team with broad global experience, H2R Design maintains a diverse commercial portfolio with primary focuses in the hospitality, F&B and retail sectors. H2R has made its mark in creating spaces with significance, influence and soul in the region including Al Alamein Hotel, Cassette cafe/bistro at The Courtyard Dubai: Two at Symphony, Dubai Mall; Rose Poudre, salon in Galleria Mall Abu Dhabi; and Rove at the Park hotel at Dubai Parks & Resorts.