09/23/2024
10 stunning desert resorts in the UAE
1. The Nest by Sonara Camp
Just under an hour away from Dubai’s bustling city centre lies The Nest by Sonara Camp. This luxurious glamping retreat begins with a seamless door-to-door experience, complete with a Landcruiser chauffeur service to whisk you to the serene Arabian dunes. As you gently traverse the crimson sands to this serene oasis, guests are welcomed to their dune-shaped sanctuaries, meticulously designed by architect Gianni Ranauslo. Each Nest pays homage to the landscape, cocooning guests in rustic earthy tones, adorned with elegant rattan accents. Expect plush double beds and ensuite facilities, with the option for an additional bed, accommodating up to two adults and two children comfortably. The glamping experience extends to The Nest’s inviting lounge and bar, where breakfast is served against the backdrop of the awakening desert dawn. Alongside this, Sonara Camp offers an array of experiences to elevate your adventure. Indulge in additional dining options and entertainment enhancements, including dune-bashing expeditions, camel rides, or drifting through the desert skies in a hot air balloon. Romy Hunt
2. Moon Retreat by The Sharjah Collection
Just an hour's drive from Dubai awaits Moon Retreat, hidden amidst the red-hued desert dunes of Sharjah. True to its name, The Sharjah Collection's Moon Retreat boasts surroundings that echo the vastness of the lunar landscape, with majestic crimson rock formations surrounding the camp, enveloping guests in a sense of serene isolation. Choose from ten domes and six private tents, each of which comes with a terrace, barbecue facilities and a private swimming pool, providing the perfect oasis to unwind and cool off. This exclusive glamping retreat offers a more intimate experience compared to traditional resorts, without any communal areas and restaurants – instead, guests are provided with fresh ingredients to prepare their meals on the barbecue.
3. Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi
Rising from the desert like a mirage, Al Wathba reflects traditional Bedouin villages of yesteryear, though slick facilities catapult it seamlessly into the 21st century. Just 45 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and close to Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, the desert resort sprawls across two hectares and is split across 13 villas with private pools and more than 90 rooms. Guests have the chance to learn more about UAE heritage through falconry and camel riding experiences, before relaxing in the resort’s Saray Spa. Extending over 2,200 square metres and featuring 11 treatment rooms, hammams, salt rooms and snow caves, the focus here is firmly on wellness through a combination of nature, tradition and tranquillity.
4. Bab Al Shams, Dubai
Bab Al Shams, Dubai’s longest-running desert resort, recently reopened with a new lease of life as part of Kerzner International’s Rare Finds collection. The original resort launched in 2004 as quarters for Dubai’s equestrian set and bustled with the clamour of a working stable. Today, the serenity of the desert blends with all the modern trappings of a luxury resort. There are 115 guest rooms and suites housed across two 16-storey buildings, with subtle Moorish nods and tropical gardens that transport guests to a different time and place – although the oasis-like infinity pool and swim-up bar are decidedly Dubai. The resort’s original Middle Eastern restaurant Al Hadheerah has been spruced up with a new menu, while new all-day dining restaurant Zala dishes up plates inspired by Ottoman and Greek cuisine. There’s also plenty to keep children entertained with belly dancers, musicians, falconers and a caravan of pet camels waiting in the wings.
5. Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Translating as “the oryx”, Al Maha is named after the UAE's national animal – and dozens of them roam freely on the resort's grounds, unafraid to come and say hello. They are joined by camels and bold gazelles, which often wander up to tented villas to sip from the private infinity pools. Located an hour outside of Dubai, in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the romantic eco-resort is a modern take on Bedouin living, with stand-alone tented villas interspaced between rolling sands. The main resort area is home to all-day dining restaurant Al Diwaan, while the Timeless Spa offers signature treatments that draw on Middle East and Southeast Asian aromatherapy traditions. Activities range from archery and nature walks to falconry and camel trekking.
6. Terra Solis, Dubai
Dubai’s newest glamping experience Terra Solis is helmed by the same people behind world-famous electronic dance festival Tomorrowland, arriving in Dubai South’s sandscapes in 2022 with a string of high-profile DJs in tow. Terra Solis Dubai brings poolside beats and day-to-night parties, set amid 37 hectares of secluded dunes. The upscale resort features 48 opulent tents, 20 lodges and six poolside cabins. Music fans should keep an eye on the lively events calendar, while gourmands can indulge in a sharing platter from its restaurant Mesa, inspired by Tomorrowland’s “Tastes of the World” cuisine.
7. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Abu Dhabi
When a resort is commissioned by the royal family, you know service will be fit for a king (or queen). Constructed in just 650 days by order of the UAE’s rulers, the kingdom-like fortress emerged from the Rub Al Khali desert in 2007 as a grand smorgasbord of Bedouin heritage and Emirati opulence. With 207 rooms, suites and pool villas, Qasr Al Sarab becomes increasingly beautiful as the sun begins to set. Movie fans may recognise the vistas from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, while the cast of Oscar-winning dystopian sci-fi hit Dune also stayed here while filming nearby. The drive from Abu Dhabi takes about two hours, although the scenery en route is beautiful, and a trip to the resort’s plush spa is the perfect way to unwind on arrival.
8. Telal Resort Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
Telal Resort rolls back the sands of time with uninterrupted views of deep caramel dunes stretching for miles. Tucked within the peaks of Remah Desert, the boutique hotel is set on the former stomping grounds of nomadic Bedouin tribes and has a rich history that can be explored through the hotel’s heritage and culture packages. The property has kept its traditional charm, with elaborately carved furniture, authentic woven fabrics and Arabesque artworks sitting side by side with extravagant private pools, Jacuzzis and saunas. An 80-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the hotel offers uninterrupted vistas of a natural conservation area and glimpses of wild desert animals are not uncommon, though distractions emerge in the form of zip-lines, quadbikes, sand zorbing and archery.
9. The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, Ras Al Khaimah
Spanning 200 hectares, the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert has more than 100 villas dotted through the protected Al Wadi Nature Reserve, complete with polished interiors inspired by heritage materials and designs. Each tented villa comes with a private pool and a sundeck cabana, perfect for spotting free-roaming wildlife patrolling the Wadi Khadeja valley. Desert activities on offer include nature walks and horse riding, while wellness is also set firmly on the agenda. Hit The Rainforest hydrothermal suite to experience 16 sensory stations, including the Igloo overflowing with crushed ice and a pebble foot spa. For something special, guests can opt for a desert dining experience under a starlit sky at the hands of a personal chef and private butler.
10. Mysk Al Faya Retreat, Sharjah
In the 1960s, a British-style petrol station, health clinic and supermarket were built on an empty road in a desolate corner of Sharjah. The single-storey concrete blocks were eventually abandoned, destined to fall into ruin – until the Sharjah government stepped in. Design firm Anarchitect transformed the plot into the five-bedroom Mysk Al Faya Retreat, incorporating the original buildings into the final design. A spa, pool and terrace restaurant were added to the plot, along with a unique hands-free spa featuring a herbal room, salt pool and tropical shower walk. Today, the secluded resort bears no resemblance to its humble beginnings, aside from a lone BP pump in the forecourt. The surrounding Mleiha desert, meanwhile, was found to hold some of the region’s most important archaeological discoveries, including Bronze Age tombs, and was recently nominated for UNESCO Word Heritage status.
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