Abu Dhabi

Since we were in Dubai for only a few days, we decided make a day trip out of visiting neighbouring emirate Abu Dhabi. It is an hour and a half by taxi from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai to the largest mosque in the country in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Like many things in the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is extremely lavish and extravagant. You can see that every detail was scrutinized and a lot of money was spent on bringing the late UAE president's vision to life. The mosque is meant to be enjoyed by the people, so entrance and an hour-long guided tour are free. 

As it is a mosque, you are expected to wear loose clothing that covers your arms and legs, and women should also cover their hair. Abayas and kandouras are provided in case you don't have anything with you to cover up.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi museum had recently opened when we were there. Artwork from around the world are featured, including some important works on loan from its namesake in Paris. The building itself is a work of art; it appears as if it is a large dome floating on water. Light filters through the patterned dome meant to represent sunlight passing through date palm leaves. 

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa

The desert lies just outside the city of Dubai. We got on the highway and less than an hour later we were driving on sand. We arrived at a gate where we gave our names and were allowed to pass. After another ten minutes we finally reached the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. 

The resort consists of a series of suites styled as Bedouin tents, each with a private plunge pool facing the desert. All the suites are large and luxurious. The stay is full-board and you can choose to have any of the three meals per day in your suite or at the restaurant. They also provide snacks in the morning before breakfast and afternoon tea by the reception.

Al Maha is situated in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and has private access to these pristine dunes. At times it felt like we had the whole desert to ourselves. Another benefit of staying in the reserve is the close proximity to wildlife. Two of the most common animals we saw roaming on the property were gazelles and the Arabian oryx. They would even go up to our plunge pool for water.

The stay includes two desert activities per day; usually done in the early morning and late afternoon. We enjoyed the camel trek into the desert for sundowners at sunset. Other activities include falconry, horse riding, dune-bashing, archery, and guided walks. But perhaps what we liked most was just wandering into the desert on our own and getting lost in the dunes. 

al-maha.com