When visitors come to UAE, they come to see places like Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, or for shopping in numerous malls of UAE, how little do they get to know about UAE’s natural beauty and culture except for a mandatory desert safari? I would say nothing really.
There is so much to explore in UAE on an off-the-beaten-path, read here how you can explore UAE’s natural heritage the beautiful sand dunes, khors and mangroves, and rugged mountains. I am sure you will love the natural beauty of the UAE much more than the urban. So we are bringing you a round-up of our Tribe’s favorite resorts where we went for a staycation over the last few years especially for the natural settings surrounding the resorts.
You will see the below list classified according to the natural landforms which UAE is blessed with.
And don’t forget to get a copy of our UAE Outdoors Scavenger Hunt E-book. This unique ebook will add some fun games to your staycation and will help you connect with nature even better.
1. MAGICAL SAND DUNES AT QASR AL SARAB DESERT RESORT BY ANANTARA
If you want to see the magical sand dunes of Empty Quarter or Rub’ al Khali then you should start by a long drive up to Hameem and then Qasr Al Sarab, on the way you can see changing shades of sand from white to red. The inside road to the resort through the high sand dunes was breathtaking. As the name suggests the resort really looks like a palace in the desert straight from Arabian Nights stories.
We first stayed there back in 2010 but over the years we keep visiting this magical place for our love for the beautiful sand dunes and amazing hospitality by the resort. The rustic and lavish interior of the resort, the amazing views of sand dunes till the horizon, and the tranquil sound of water flowing through a small traditional falaj system around the resort make it the most beautiful resort. Throughout the resort, you can find information about local flora, fauna, and wildlife. Their efforts of saving water, energy, and commitment to sustainability are seen on each step in the resort be it LED lights or the use of native species in the landscape.
If you love pampering like me, then don’t miss the spa experience here. The great massage overlooking pristine sand dunes is just perfect relaxation. We have tried all the restaurants here and the food is always great. The interesting library, swimming pool, and kids club make it the perfect staycation for families. However, the biggest attraction is sand dunes when you step outside the resort. First let me ask you, have you ever played in sand dunes? The sand is super soft in the dunes and you can actually jump, roll, throw yourself without getting hurt. Just make sure you climb a few dunes and go deeper in dunes, of course climbing the soft dunes is not as easy as climbing anything else but it’s worth it. These sand dunes are like Nature’s own soft play area for adults and kids.
The resort has created an oasis-like beautiful pond, during sunset you could see amazing colors in the sky reflected in this pond. The night sky is a delight here, as there is not much light pollution as compared to the city, you can even spot the milky way with naked eyes. I would highly recommend staying here on full moon night to witness the phenomenon of an ever-changing sand dune which can provide you with a great view.
Alternate Sand Dunes Experience:
Al Maha at DDCR
If you want a similar experience closer to home, where you can avoid a very long drive then you can go to Al Maha Desert Resort. It is located in the center of protected The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The dunes are smaller in size as compared to Abu Dhabi but are pristine and as beautiful. The unique experience you can get in this resort is experiencing UAE’s wildlife, read here my experience of Wildlife drive, a better alternative to the usual Desert Safari in The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The resort is dedicated to the conservation of not just the natural environment but also UAE’s Bedouin heritage. You can find their collection of over 2,000 artifacts and antiquities.
2. DESERT WADI AT THE RITZ CARLTON, RAS AL KHAIMAH
Now moving from magical sand dunes we are now talking about desert wadi, where you can find native trees like Ghaf trees and natural plantations because of the presence of groundwater. In desert wadi’s you also find wildlife like Gazels and Arabian oryx. The desert wadies are originally dried up ancient river beds. If you want to stay in desert wadi then you should head to The Ritz Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah.
The resort is located in Wadi Khadeja, a protected nature reserve in Ras al Khaimah. The architecture is Bedouin-inspired, apart from the thoughtful interiors of the resort, you can enjoy the beautiful views of desert wadi from the resort. The sunset from the rooftop restaurant is particularly beautiful. You can enjoy some nature activities like bird watching, horseback riding, camel caravan, nature walks, star gazing at night here. There is also a kid’s recreation center.
This resort also features some amazing sustainability features like a ‘farm to table’ dining experience at their ‘Farmhouse’ restaurant. They also have an Official TESLA destination charging location. If you want to see UAE’s national animal Arabian Oryx basking in sun, then this is the place.
3. BEACH RESORTS
UAE is popular for its beach lifestyle so naturally, there are many beach resorts dotted along the coast of UAE. So finding just one unique beach resort is not that easy therefore I have listed a few beach resorts here based on their sustainability commitments.
A. Fairmont The Palm
This Green Key certified hotel is a great example of how hotels, if not built on green building principles, can still achieve resource efficiency by retrofitting their existing facility. Through various initiatives and their corporate responsibility strategy, they implemented many sustainable features like resort bicycles, LED lights, water flow reducers on the taps, diverting food waste by creating compost for their in-house chef’s garden.
Many hotels and resorts fail to achieve resource management at the operational stage even if they are designed and built with sustainable design practices. However, the figures for resource-saving by this hotel are impressive. The hotel managed to divert the waste from landfills at the rate of 3% in 2014 to 4.5% in 2015. Water conservation was up by 10% in 2015 compared to 7.4% in 2014. The energy consumption was reduced by 30% from 2013 to 2014. So no doubt this is one of the top sustainable resorts in UAE.
B. Jumeira Al Naseem
Jumeira Al Naseem is home to the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP), by Dubai’s Wildlife Protection Office. Till now this project has overseen the release of over 560 rescued sea turtles back into the waters around Dubai. The Hawksbill turtle, native to this region, is critically endangered with only about 8,000 nesting females remaining worldwide. The DTRP, working with the Jumeirah Group, aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release back into the wild any sea turtles that are found sick or injured throughout the region, monitor the success of rehabilitation through satellite tracking, and educate local children and international guests about sea turtles and their habitats. Rescued turtles, many of which are treated by the team at the Burj Al Arab Aquarium, are transferred to the Turtle Rehabilitation Sanctuary at Jumeirah Al Naseem, where the purpose-built sea-fed lagoon enables staff to monitor the animals prior to their release. You can also visit the rehabilitation enclosure is open to the public daily, with scheduled sessions where children can feed the turtles each week. To read more about UAE’s turtle breeding season, click here.
Turtle rehabilitation enclosure
C. Park Hyatt Saadiyat
If you are looking for a beach resort in Abu Dhabi then Park Hyatt is great, located on Saadiyat Beach which is a natural habitat for coastal dune vegetation. This sensitive ecosystem, vital for the emirate’s native flora and fauna and providing natural coastal defenses, has been safeguarded by the creation of the Saadiyat Dune Protection Zone, giving access to the beach via specially designed boardwalks. Home to gazelles, birds, reptiles, and small mammals, the Protection Zone is also a nesting site for the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle. The coastal waters off Saadiyat Island are crucial for native species including Indo-Pacific humpback and bottlenose dolphins, green turtles, stingrays, and blacktip sharks. This 8km stretch of protected white sand beach is the setting for the contemporary Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas: a low-rise urban resort, it is carefully integrated into its natural surroundings and the design gives a strong sense of place, reflecting the arts and culture of the Middle East. The resort is working toward its LEED silver certification and, inspired by its location, is developing education programs around the local habitat.
Arabella Willing, a very inspiring resident marine biologist of the resort, who is also known as The Turtle Lady has recently won the Pride of Abu Dhabi Award for her work. Guest can join her for organized wildlife talks and beach walks, or on boat tours through the mangroves or in Dolphin Bay, to learn about the marine ecosystems of the UAE.
D. Jebel Ali Beach Hotel
I have experienced personally the sustainability commitment of this Green Globe-certified property. From the waste segregation bins right in your room to the Farm to Table concept through their own edible garden and very sustainable aquaponics system (you can read more about it in this post). This resort and their neighboring property also offer great activities like some watersports and petting zoo and pony rides for kids. So if you can’t travel far and especially for visitors who want to stay near to the city, this one is a great option.
D. Pristine Beach at Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort
If you are looking for an unspoiled pristine beach and far away from the crowd then look no further just head to Danat Jebel Ali resort. The beach and seawater here were so clean, you can rarely find such clear water in UAE these days. We were able to see the seabed very clearly.
The resort is not very new but well kept, the staff is friendly and you can have great fun here with family and kids. The food was great too. I didn’t find very unique sustainability features in this resort but I will give them a big thumbs up for leaving the beach alone just as it is instead of setting up a restaurant or bar like many hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi where people make so much noise or sheesha and you can hardly enjoy a relaxing beach time.
Sunrise at Jebel Dhana
Another great point is the resort footprint is well inside the land and a big stretch of beach is left open. Well, our search for pristine beach stopped here, as we found what we wanted.
From here you can also do a day trip to Desert Island of Sir Baniyas, which is just a short boat ride from here. Sir Baniyas Desert Island Resort by Anantara is on my staycation wishlist for a long time now. There are plenty of ways to enjoy nature and wildlife here which include camping, cycling, safari, etc.
4. MANGROVES AT EASTERN MANGROVE HOTEL
Many years back before the development around the Eastern Mangroves of Abu Dhabi, we went for a kayaking tour (read here about kayaking in Eastern Mangrove), so since the opening of Eastern Mangrove Hotel by Anantara, it’s on my wishlist.
It is located on the shores of Abu Dhabi’s protected Eastern Mangroves National Park. Covering thousands of hectares along the UAE coast, mangroves are a critical part of the region’s ecosystem, and are home to turtles, snappers, grunt fish, sea bream, crustaceans, and 60 species of birds. The mangroves protect coastal shorelines from erosion, provide sheltered areas for native fish to breed, act as carbon sinks, and are destinations for migratory birdlife including flamingos. Committed to creating luxury travel experiences that also benefit the environment and local communities, and resolving to reduce water and energy consumption and waste, Anantara’s sustainable management projects include its global 365 Days of Good Deeds program, which has successfully undertaken mangrove planting in the UAE.
Other notable properties across UAE, which have a great sustainability commitment are listed below,
- Pullman Deira by Accor Hotels: This property takes special efforts to reduce food waste with the help of technology, read here more about it.
- Easy Hotel, Jebel Ali: If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel, UAE’s 1st LEED Gold certified hotel is the best eco-friendly budget hotel.
- There are many Green Globe certified hotels in UAE including some high-end luxurious properties like Burj Al Arab and some mid-range properties like Movenpick hotels.
If you haven’t yet then join our tribe here. And to find more about sustainable tourism in UAE, read here.