Desert Resorts & The Empty Quarter

Venturing into the immense sea of drifting dunes that virtually envelop Dubai and Abu Dhabi on a 4WD desert safari is an unmissable highlight on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and an experience that can only eclipsed by the experience of spending a night (or longer) in the desert. Visitors can choose to spend a night at a luxurious private mobile camp or relax in style for a couple of days at a magical desert resort that ranges in style from uber-luxury to glamping and rustic.

The Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali) is the largest sandy desert on Earth and was once the exclusive preserve of the Bedouin tribes and of desert explorers, including Bertram Thomas, St John ‘Jack’ Philby and Wilfred Thesiger. Coloured in soft pastel shades from apricot to flaming salmon, the shifting desert sands present incredible ever-changing and varied vistas. In places, such as Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis, the dunes rise up to 300 meters in height. The luxurious Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara is surrounded by breathtaking dunes and is one of our most popular desert resorts in Abu Dhabi, while if you are looking for a more rustic Arabian feel, accommodation at Abu Dhabi’s Arabian Nights Village is in recreated Emirati houses.

Further north, in Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, the sands are lower and punctuated with green gaf trees, which present a beautiful contrast with the geometric waves of the dunes. Outside Dubai, at the opulent Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa within the Dubai Conservation Reserve, all Bedouin Suites come with their own private pools. Nearby, The Nest by Sonara has just 14 dune-shaped ‘nests’ and is a wonderful option to consider if you want a single peaceful night in the desert from sunset to sunrise with activities. In the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, the Moon Retreat offers a rustic traditional desert glamping and is attractively priced, while further out in the desert of central Sharjah, the architecture of the luxurious award-winning Al Badayer Desert Resort has been inspired by an ancient caravanserai.