Check in to an oasis of luxury
Dubai’s best kept secret Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa is a 30- minute drive fromthe city
Ihear the nice crunch of dirt before my fat bike groans as I reach a sandy terrain. I pedal harder as I navigate through the dunes, breathtaking views of the desert unravelling before me. Not far away, I see a camel handler walking the gentle giant.
Only an hour ago Iwas hitting the gas pedal on the concrete jungle that is Shaikh Zayed Road, now here Iwas exploring the terrains of Al Qudra desert surrounding Bab Al Shams Desert Resort& Spa, my beautiful home for the weekend.
Dubai’s best kept secret? Definitely. The five- star desert resort takes you to a different world that you quickly forget you are actually just 30 minutes away fromthe city centre.
THE ROOM
The resort ismade up of one- and two- storey villas inspired by traditional Middle East architec- ture. Myroom— one of property’s 115 rooms and suites— made me feel like a shaikha with its soft bed, intricately designed heavy wood furniture and stucco walls in warm yellow colour. Even the Moroccan inspired bathtub did not fail to impress. One look at the uniquely designed bedroom slippers made of coconut fibre and I knew that they’ve thought of even the smallest details.
WHAT TO DO
There’s surprisingly a lot to do here, depending on one’s adrenaline levels: camel rides, horse rides and other adventures. I was Katniss Everdeen
( HungerGames, of course) for two hours as I took my first date with the bow and arrow with a 60- minute archery class. Itwas super fun, and the instructor was exceptionally kind even as I kept missing the target.
I unwinded with a soothing massage at the Satori Spa, which smelled really good and delivered an exceptionally relaxing massage. Bliss in 60 minutes.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to check in the scenic relaxation room before you leave and get a free cup of their invigorating ginger- lime infused tea.
The resort’s pools are also a must- visit. I loved cooling in the twin inifinity pools with fantastic views of the dunes and Jacuzzi spots in shaded areas. Justwatch your steps as you wade in ( the floor rises and falls in two different places).
Head up to the elevated relaxation pool for some privacy aswell as a bird’s eye view of the pool area.
Iwas also pleasantly surprised to hop on a desert ride on an opentop Land Rover Defender where I got to see desert gazelle and Arabian Oryx before we went on a roller coaster ride through the dunes. And I thought I had to drive all theway to Hatta for these things.
But what I enjoyed the most was the fat bike ride through the desert, which allowed me to pedal my way through the nearby horse and camel stables, explore the desert and recapture my childhood love for cycling.
WHERE TO EAT
My firstw orry about staying in a resort literally in the middle of nowhere was where to eat. But it turns out I need not have worried as there are plenty of restaurants here.
At the all- day dining Al Forsan, I enjoyed an international breakfast buffet with views of the greens overlooking the desert. Its kitchen also serves the pool bar if you’re feeling hungry after wading through the infinity pool. Prices are reasonable and themost expensive item on the menu is perfectly grilled steak for Dh175.
Myall- time favourite place to dine is Al Hadheerah, the open- air dining spot that has everything I love about desert entertainment and food. I keep coming back here for that classy taste of Arabia, with its five- starbuffet, live cooking stations and live entertainment.