Two nights in Dubai, then a week in Baa Atoll
Break the flight with two nights on the beach in old Jumeira, then seven nights on a barefoot island in Baa Atoll with a large kids club and a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the doorstep. Good for families.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Private-pool suites inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with Arabian oryx and gazelle on the dunes around you.
Why we love it
Al Maha is the counterweight to the city. It sits inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve off the Dubai to Al Ain road, and it is a guest-only resort, so there are no day visitors. Every suite has its own temperature-controlled pool and a wooden deck looking over the dunes, and you may well see Arabian oryx and gazelle from it.
Days are built around the desert. Two desert experiences a night are included in the stay. The programme runs from wildlife drives, camel treks at sunset, archery, guided nature walks, dune drives in a private 4x4 and stargazing. Horse riding lessons are charged separately. Each suite even has an easel and paints if you fancy trying to capture the view.
It works best for two or three nights at the end of a city stay, and for couples rather than young families. It is expensive, the desert is very hot from late spring to early autumn, and there is no beach. If you want sea and sand in the same place, this is not it.
Rooms and villas
Bedouin Suite
A one-bedroom suite of about 75 square metres with king-size or twin beds, a big bathroom with walk-in shower, and a private pool and deck facing the dunes.
Royal Suite
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms across about 175 square metres, with a private pool and terrace. Good for friends or a family with older children.
Presidential Suite
Three bedrooms and three bathrooms over about 530 square metres, with a majlis sitting room, Arabian antiques and a private pool.
Dining
Al Diwaan is the main restaurant, serving international cooking with seats on the veranda looking out over the reserve. Hajar Terrace Bar does cocktails as the sun goes down over the dunes.
Wellness
Al Maha Spa is the resort's own spa, with treatments drawing on Middle Eastern and South East Asian traditions, including massages, scrubs, wraps and Ayurvedic therapies. There is a gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, cold plunge pool and an outdoor pool with desert views. Treatments must be booked by phone.
Children and families
The resort is set up for couples and quiet stays. Its official pages do not publish a minimum age for children, so we confirm the current policy and any child supplements with the resort before we book a family.
The facts
| Setting | Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, on the Dubai to Al Ain road |
|---|---|
| Suites | Bedouin, Royal and Presidential, all with private pools |
| Restaurant and bar | Al Diwaan and Hajar Terrace Bar |
| Spa | Al Maha Spa |
| Included activities | Two desert experiences per night |
| Wildlife | Arabian oryx and gazelle on the reserve |
Where it is
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Dubai
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in Dubai.
Old Dubai by abra and on foot
Start in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a knot of wind-towered coral-stone houses, small museums and cafés on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek. Then cross by abra, the wooden water taxis, to the spice and gold souks of Deira. Go in the late afternoon, when the souks wake up after the midday lull. A local guide earns their fee at the food stops.
A quiet night in the desert reserve
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, under an hour inland, protects red dunes where Arabian oryx and gazelle graze in the open. Staying inside it is nothing like the convoy dune drives sold in town: a camel walk at dawn, falconry at dusk and a very dark sky. One night is enough, between October and April.
Kayaking and hiking at Hatta
Hatta sits in the Hajar Mountains near the Omani border, about an hour and a half by road. You can kayak on the turquoise reservoir at Hatta Dam, walk or cycle the marked trails, and see how mountain families lived in the heritage village. Leave early and take plenty of water.
Journeys in Dubai
Ask about Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
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