The desert on the outskirts of the UAE’s capital city is an attraction by itself. Neha Gupta Kapoor suggests activities and festivals to partake in when here
The highway that connects Abu Dhabi to Dubai cuts right through Liwa Oasis of the Al Dhafra neighbourhood. It is on the smooth sand waves outside this southernmost settlement of Abu Dhabi, and consequently of the UAE, where tourists can enjoy the thrill of desert life. One can either opt for a leisurely stay at any of the luxury desert resorts here or dive into a weekend of adventure sports.
Rev and Relax
Rub’Al Khali, also known as Empty Quarter, is commonly described as the world’s “largest contiguous sand desert”. At the opening of this empty landmass is Liwa Oasis. Driving down from here, in the opposite direction of Empty Quarter takes you to the famous Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. Each accommodation category is dressed in Arabian and modern decor, designed in sepia shades and dark wood, and has a clear view of the desert sands. This is the best way to get a quick taste of desert life, albeit luxuriously. When you’re not swimming or getting a spa treatment, try your hand at archery — a sporting tradition of Arabia. Views of the desert can be enjoyed from camel backs; alternatively, walking through the sands with a guide can be equally thrilling. The more adventurous can indulge in fat biking or dune bashing.
A fat bicycle has larger than usual wheels that allow riding on snow, sand or mud. While this vehicle is entirely in your control, with dune bashing you’re at the mercy of your driver. The latter is a lot like off-roading, but specifically on sand dunes. A lightweight 4×4 drive fares best in such situations. The level of thrill really depends on how far you want to go. It can either be a leisurely drive carefully manoeuvred over/around the dunes or right through them.
There are a number of desert packages in Abu Dhabi that one can choose from, and can be planned by your hotel. As an example, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort’s Desert Discovery includes a minimum of two nights’ accommodation for two people with daily buffet breakfast and two desert activities per person per stay (AED 50,08,831/₹8,74,60,099 onward).
Another entertainment to try is sand-boarding. It isn’t restricted to this region because just like how you need snow for snowboarding, you need sand for sand-boarding. What makes it fun on Abu Dhabi’s dunes is that you’re struggling much like the others who aren’t as familiar with manoeuvring themselves on this grainy terrain (and you don’t need to go looking for a tall sandhill). Here too you need to strap your feet onto a board and slide down slopes, sideways. Unlike on snow, you need to be lighter on the board as the dunes aren’t as slippery as ice. Higher the dunes, more the intensity.
Party Dunes
Abu Dhabi’s official tourism website (visitabudhabi.ae) says, “For a real taste of the UAE’s most adventurous off-road driving and some of its most incredible and dramatic scenery, including the biggest dunes this side of the Sahara, take a trip to Al Dhafra — the emirate’s western region.” This desert that makes up over two thirds of Abu Dhabi, eventually meets the sea. It has seemingly endless kilometres of beaches, beyond which are small islands.
Being able to enjoy the desert and the beach at the same time can be a different kind of thrill. Imagine driving down a road flanked by nothing but sand on both sides, only to arrive at a beach from where you can take a snorkelling trip. Other sports include kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing and jet-skiing. A day out fishing can also be planned.
In fact, many tour operators start a day/night at the desert from Al Dhafra. Packages range from full-day (eight hours), half-day (four hours) and night desert safaris. These include dune bashing, sand-boarding, body painting with henna, barbecue on the sands, interactive belly dancing performances, dinners around bonfires and decorated tents that make you feel like you’re in one used by the Bedouin people (nomadic tribe of the Middle Eastern deserts).
Al Dhafra is also known for its numerous events and festivals held through the year. The ten-day Al Dhafra Water Festival (alghabriawatersports.ae) hosts competitions from kite flying and windsurfing to dhow (traditional Arabian boat) racing and swimming. Beach concerts and the traditional food market are other reasons to attend. This year it took place in April and dates for 2018 are yet to be announced. Adventurists needn’t wait long for the Liwa Sports Festival — Moreeb Dune 2017 to be held this December. The dunes are known to reach heights of up to 300 metres at an incline of about 50 degrees — making the sporting event even more thrilling.
It is on the edge of Empty Quarter that the Al Dhafra Festival (December 14-27) is held each year. It’s a cute sight to watch camels dressed in their best parade for the beauty crown. Photographers especially will find a lot of inspiration here — various village tribes from parts of Arabia with all their idiosyncrasies, and live food stalls with typical Arabic fare. Also held at the border of this uninhabited desert is Liwa Date Festival — it may interest a few, if not all, but one must certainly invest dirhams in buying the fresh produce. Farmers bring their fruit here directly from their plantations, which are sold at wholesale prices. Auctions, lectures, poetry sessions and games make the evening most entertaining.
Liwa has one of the world’s largest date palm plantations with more than 1,00,000 trees. Rows of these palms continue endlessly on sandy terrain. Look upward when standing below a date tree that has blossomed and you’ll see clusters of fresh dates hanging from where the leaves stem. Ancient hydrology has propelled the growth of this date grove into being the centre of date production (along with the Al Ain oasis) in the emirate. Such is its importance that Liwa has been recognised by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a reservoir of biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Arabian Holiday
Drive the short distance of about 130km from the heart of Abu Dhabi to Arabian Nights Village to sample the Bedouin lifestyle. Much before you approach the property, the city views slowly blend into empty expanses of the desert. An aerial view of this “settlement” looks like structures rising from the sand, in the middle of nowhere. Entrance to the 85,000 sqm property is through a courtyard overlooked by two traditional-styled watchtowers — Zakher and Al Manhal — named after residences of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, father of the UAE.
Guests walk into a lobby that smells of Bakhoor, a fragrance that is typical to the region. During check-in, fresh cardamom-spiced Arabic coffee and dates are offered. The swimming pool is designed to emulate an oasis with the surrounding palm trees, beyond which is the desert. Describing its tents, rooms and suites, the website reads: “Skilled artisans, engineers, architects and hospitality professionals, have faithfully recreated traditional Emirati houses.” All have a desert-view and mirror Arabic designs.
Arabian Nights Village also organises desert safaris that include dune bashing, quad biking, sand surfing, camel riding, falconry (time with the birds), henna painting on the body, live traditional music and belly dancing.
