The UAE is much more than just its magnificent retail malls, majestic hotels, and soaring skyscrapers. A completely different experience can be had camping out beneath the sun, the sky, and the stars.
Camping is an enjoyable pastime with a variety of alternatives and locations to pick from and varied terrains and vistas to explore. Indeed, you will be spoilt for choice in the UAE, which offers everything from the most testing and challenging sites to those of cheery, visual charm. Here, we have listed some of the most popular destinations; we leave you to decide how adventurous you want to be!
Sand and more sand stretch into the distance
From Wi-fi and Bathrooms to Total Solitude
Situated in Ras Al Khaimah, the Banan Beach Resort is an exuberant, beachfront venue where an overabundance of coloured tents welcome you. But this is not exactly an orthodox camping site, with luxuries such as a BBQ station, wi-fi, and bathrooms; there is even a provision for dining! There are a host of water activities too, not to mention moonlight yoga sessions. It’s all a little bit ‘scripted’, but it does mean you need to put in minimum effort to get maximum pleasure.
Ideal for beginners and fairly close to local habitation and facilities, Lahbab Sands Camping in Dubai, while not being nearly as ‘civilised’ as the Banan Beach Resort, does require a laid-back approach. Renowned for its Bedouins and dazzling red sand, it is also known for dune bikers and dune bashers (driving at various speeds over the soft dunes of Dubai), with ‘The Big Red’, an enormous 300-foot dune, one that every ‘basher’ want to master. Regularly inundated with groups of enthusiastic tourists, Lahbab Sands Camping is great for novice campers.
When compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Quwain is frequently disregarded. The Umm Al Quwain beach, however, is one of the top camping locations in the country. Many campers choose to set up their tents close to the water, and if you decide to do so, it is essential to check the tides before choosing a spot! Fishing, kayaking, and bird-watching are all enjoyable activities here, with frequent flamingo sightings. This is a comfortable and distinctive camping experience by the sea.
If you fancy something a little wilder and off the beaten track, head for the Hajar Mountains
If you fancy something a little wilder and off the beaten track, head for the Hajar Mountains, where you can twist and turn your way from small villages below to the rocky summit, with the camping site giving you bird’s-eye views of the surrounding countryside. The path is uneven, so be ready for some trekking before you set up camp. If you’re tenacious enough, you can also visit the spring waters at Masafi. Favoured by more experienced campers, think about going as a group with tour guides to have the best first encounter.
For the more hardy traveller, the ‘Empty Quarter’ is a genuinely remote area where sand and more sand stretch into the distance. This is stimulating but challenging camping, so plenty of water, GPS, and maps are essential. Don’t forget to refuel your car; the locations are dispersed and it’s simple to get lost in this area.
Perhaps it’s best to get a little training under your belt first, and where better than Sani Resort, one of the world’s leading family and beach resorts, with pine-fringed beaches, the Sani Forest, and Sani Wetlands? From here, you can embark on the Bear Grylls Survival Camp Bear Grylls Survival Camp, where you learn navigation skills, spear making, stalking, and tracking; all adding up to an exclusive family bonding experience. Build a fire, a raft to escape, try catching some wild food of your own, and then settle down for the night. It’s a unique vacation, and at night you’ll learn astronavigation and toast marshmallows on the campfire. Oh, and following this, you’ll be far safer if you decide to tackle the Empty Quarter!
If you fancy something a little wilder and off the beaten track, head for the Hajar Mountains
Glamping Taken to the Next Level
Nothing could be any further, figuratively speaking, from the Empty Quarter than The Nest, desert glamping that is billed as an exclusive, unique, and eco-friendly overnight experience. This is five-star luxury under the stars.
Guests stay in private ‘nests’ that have been imagined and created by architect Gianni Ranaulo. Each nest features a magnificent bedroom area, a private en-suite bathroom, an outdoor majlis, and your own devoted Mudeef who will make sure you have the most amazing time imaginable.
The 14 nests blend organically into the Arabian Desert, sitting peacefully nestled amongst the dunes of the surrounding Dubai Conservation Reserve
With opulent lodging and fine dining, this elevates the concept of ‘glamping’ to an entirely new level, with wood-oven-cooked pizzas, wagyu beef sliders, and seafood from the Mediterranean all available on the menu.
The 14 nests blend organically into the Arabian Desert, sitting serenely nestled amongst the dunes of the surrounding Dubai Conservation Reserve. And if all that were not enough, there’s the opportunity to book a ‘sky safari’ – an evening tour of the stars and constellations with an on-site astronomer. The whole experience sounds a little out of this world!
Prices
So there you have it, outdoors family fun for everyone, from those who want a real challenge quite literally in the middle of nowhere to others who prefer nibbles and Champagne under the heavens. The choice is yours.