Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert
The highlight of our trip beyond Dubai. The expansive desert setting, opportunities to explore by bicycle and encounters with wildlife made it a memorable family escape.
OUR DUBAI
More than the city.
We've visited Dubai several times, but one of our favourite trips took us beyond the city to Ras Al Khaimah. At the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert, the landscape and pace of life felt completely different from the Dubai we already knew.
We explored the huge desert resort by bicycle, encountered wildlife along the way and watched the kids fly owls and birds of prey. Camels and other desert animals brought the landscape to life. We also headed out in buggies across the dunes.
Evenings were just as memorable: dinner in a Bedouin setting, outdoor cinema beneath an extraordinary night sky and the sort of silence that makes you realise how far you've travelled from the city.
Back in Dubai, Atlantis brought the excitement of the city and the extraordinary experience of diving in its aquarium, while One&Only Royal Mirage offered a more elegant, relaxed side of Dubai.
FROM OUR CAMERA
Dubai, as we see it.
THE DESERT
A different side of the UAE.
Leave the skyline behind and the landscape opens into a quieter world of desert, scrub and distant mountains. At Al Wadi, the surroundings became part of the experience rather than simply a view from the resort.
ON FOUR WHEELS
Out into the dunes.
Driving buggies through the desert gave us a completely different perspective on the landscape. Away from the resort, the open terrain and changing light made the adventure as much about the setting as the ride itself.
AL WADI
Space to slow down.
The Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert is a very different proposition from a city hotel. The scale of the property, the open landscape and the opportunity to explore on foot or by bike made it easy to settle into a slower rhythm.
WILDLIFE
Look a little closer.
Cycling around the property became an adventure in itself. Camels and other animals brought the desert surroundings to life, and there was always something worth stopping to look at.
BIRDS OF PREY
A memorable family experience.
One of the experiences the kids remember most was flying owls and birds of prey. Seeing these birds up close added another dimension to our time in the desert and made the landscape feel even more connected to the wildlife around us.
AFTER DARK
A sky full of stars.
The desert was just as memorable after sunset. We enjoyed dinner in a Bedouin setting and watched an outdoor film beneath the night sky. With so little light around us, the stars were extraordinary. It was a lovely reminder that the best evenings don't always need a city or a crowded restaurant.
BEST TIME
Winter months
The cooler months are particularly good for exploring Dubai and spending time outdoors in the desert. Days are generally more comfortable for activities away from the city.
THE CITY
Bigger than life
Dubai brings together extraordinary hotels, restaurants, beaches and a constantly evolving skyline. It can be as energetic or as relaxed as you choose to make it.
BEYOND DUBAI
Ras Al Khaimah
Heading north opens up a different side of the UAE: desert landscapes, wildlife and a sense of space that feels a world away from the city.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Places we loved.
Birds of prey
Flying owls and birds of prey was a real highlight for the kids. It was an unusual way to experience the desert and one of the activities that made the stay feel distinctive.
Desert buggies
Getting out across the dunes by buggy was an exhilarating change of pace. The open landscape made the experience feel very different from anything we did in Dubai itself.
Bedouin dinner
Dinner in a Bedouin setting was one of those experiences that made the trip about more than the hotels. It brought us closer to the atmosphere and traditions associated with the desert.
Outdoor cinema under the stars
Watching a film outdoors beneath the desert sky was a memorable evening. The darkness, quiet and extraordinary stars made it feel far removed from everyday life.
Atlantis
A recognisable Dubai landmark and a memorable family stay. Diving in the aquarium was a particularly unusual experience, offering an underwater perspective without heading out to sea.
One&Only Royal Mirage
A more understated side of Dubai, with elegant surroundings and beautifully landscaped spaces. It offered a different atmosphere from the scale and energy of Atlantis.
Explore Al Wadi by bicycle
Take time to cycle around the property rather than rushing between activities. It is a wonderful way to discover the surroundings and notice the wildlife that makes the resort special.
FROM THE JOURNAL
Beyond the skyline.
Dubai is easy to associate with its skyline, enormous hotels and constant ambition. We've enjoyed that side of the UAE on several visits, staying at Atlantis and One&Only Royal Mirage, and even diving in the aquarium at Atlantis.
But one of our favourite trips took us away from the city to the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert. We cycled around the property, encountered camels and other wildlife, and watched the kids fly owls and birds of prey. Then we headed into the desert in buggies.
The evenings were just as memorable. A Bedouin dinner, an outdoor cinema and a night sky filled with stars created a sense of stillness we hadn't expected. It was a reminder that the UAE has a quieter, wilder side beyond its extraordinary cities.
MORE FROM OUR CAMERA
Beyond the city.
OUR MAP
Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah.
From the energy of Dubai to the open desert, memorable wildlife encounters and evenings beneath the stars, this was a different way to experience the UAE.