Bab Al Shams Desert Resort to join Atlantis and One&Only hotel group
One of Dubai’s longest-running desert escapes is set to receive a new lease of life. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort is closing its doors on Sunday, and will reopen next year as the first Rare Finds, a new collection of hotels by Kerzner.
The parent company of ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts and Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm, Kerzner will relaunch Bab Al Shams early next year after a complete renovation.
Keeping its well-known moniker, the resort will be centred on food and drink offerings, including a pan-Asian rooftop restaurant with sunset views, The Desert Spa and an upscale alcohol-free bar.
Experiences and entertainment will also lie at the heart of the renovated family-focused property, with guests able to stargaze alongside in-house astronomers, enjoy fireside storytelling or soar above the sand dunes on hot air balloons.
The resort, owned by Meydan, has been one of Dubai’s leading desert escapes for nearly two decades. “I am excited to welcome Bab Al Shams Desert Resort to the newly introduced Rare Finds collection,” says Philippe Zuber, chief executive of Kerzner International. “Anyone living in Abu Dhabi or Dubai ends up, at least once, at Bab Al Shams as it’s iconic, it’s very special and unique, and Kerzner can bring something new to that place.”
Kerzner will start work on Bab Al Shams shortly after Eid to position the property as entry-level five-star luxury. “May 8 is the closing date, so now we are in the last few weeks of Bab Al Shams in its current version. We will be doing a full renovation starting with the rooms, and we will be adding a spa and completing a total redefinition of the food and beverage offering with the aim to reopen the entire resort in Q1 2023.”
Often described as an oasis in the desert, Bab Al Shams will retain its much-loved desert infinity pool. Upgraded earlier this year, the pool will be further “uplifted” and complemented by new “unique features”.
One of those will be its connection to the resort’s new all-day dining space. This family-driven restaurant will have a bespoke design and offer theatrical dining with lots of opportunities for al fresco eating.
It has not yet ben decided who will lead Bab Al Shams’s new food and beverage operations, says Zuber, but a celebrity chef could be in the mix, with Kerzner known for its global partnerships with famous chefs such as Gordon Ramsay at the Bread Street Kitchen in Dubai and Enrique Olvera at the One&Only Mandarina.
No matter who takes the reins, travellers can be assured of a strong Middle Eastern element that makes sure the resort retains its sense of place. Kerzner will also add a bespoke cigar room and an upscale non-alcoholic bar serving a creative list of cocktails and drinks.
The existing Al Hadeerah restaurant will be redefined and will serve modern Arabic cuisine with a focus on responsibly sourced ingredients and there will be a new licensed bar. The current sunset deck is being transformed into a pan-Asian rooftop lounge with dishes from across the continent, coupled with outstanding entertainment and classic desert sunset views.
Guests can indulge in both traditional and contemporary treatments, such as hammam and hot sand therapy at the Desert Spa.
As the city of Dubai expands, the resort is also set to cater more for residents living in and around Dubai South. “It will be much more a place for the people living in the neighbourhood … to come have a drink, have a bite and really use that unique space,” says Zuber.
Issam Galadari, chief executive of Meydan City Corporation, says Bab Al Shams “is the original immersive desert experience in Dubai, having first opened its doors in 2004”.
“We are looking forward to working closely with the Kerzner team to bring their exceptional service standards and renowned expertise to invigorate and breathe new life into this resort, that holds a special place in the hearts of UAE residents and visitors alike,” he says.
And Bab Al Shams is only the first in Kerzner’s Rare Finds collection, which Zuber says is set to “expand extremely fast”.
There are plans to grow the portfolio with carefully curated international properties, each of which will have a strong brand identity that “can then be elevated by Kerzner International’s knowledge, the way that we’re doing business, and our unique approach”.
And it’s not the only big news for the hotel group this year. The brand is also gearing up to open the much-anticipated Atlantis, The Royal Resort and Residences in October.
“Everything is on track and we are now close to the date for the delivery of the building to us as operator … it’s extremely exciting times,” says Zuber.
Bab Al Shams is the original immersive desert experience in Dubai, having first opened its doors in 2004 ISSAM GALADARI Chief executive, Meydan City Corporation