Bab Al Shams
Mod-Moorish desert village. Think arched doorways, textured sandstone walls, dark woods, and lantern-lit corridors — but the rooms are sharp, modern, and genuinely comfortable. The vibe is slow-paced Arabia with world-class food and service underneath.
Book a table near the stage at Al Hadheerah — and go early so you don't miss the opening performances
Why It Matters
The only desert resort in Dubai, operating inside a nature conservation reserve. A Michelin Key holder. Completely redesigned and relaunched under Kerzner International in 2023. The Al Hadheerah open-air dinner experience — with live Sufi dancers, belly dancers, camel riders, and oud players — is unlike anything else in the UAE.
Bab Al Shams — Arabic for 'Gateway to the Sun' — is Dubai's only desert resort, sitting in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve about 45 minutes from the city. Originally built in 2004 to resemble a fortified rural Arab village, it was taken over by Kerzner International in 2023 as the first property under their Rare Finds brand, then fully renovated and relaunched. The result is a low-rise sandstone complex with 115 rooms and suites, a collection of Bedouin-inspired private pool villas, seven dining venues, and a rich programme of desert experiences — from falconry at sunrise to stargazing after dark.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Classic Desert View Room
Desert-facing standard room with golden dune views through large windows. Comes with a built-in window seat, a spacious bathroom, and a refreshment station. King or twin bedding options available.
King or Twin
Deluxe Courtyard View Room
Opens onto the resort's palm-shaded courtyard garden. Same modern-Arabian interior as the desert-view category, with a spacious bathroom, window-side nook, work desk, and well-equipped refreshment station. King or twin.
King or TwinDeluxe Desert View Room
Upgraded desert-facing room with large windows looking straight over the dunes. The standout feature is an extra-deep circular stone bathtub — one of the best bathtubs at any Dubai property. King bed, walk-in shower, work desk, and window-side nook.
King or Twin
Deluxe Suite
The largest standalone suite in the resort. Plush sitting area and a broad private terrace. Rich Arabian interiors with dark woods and traditional textiles. Separate living and sleeping spaces.
KingFamily Suite
Two connected rooms — a deluxe suite with a king bed and an adjoining standard room with twin beds — linked by a private hallway. Designed for families who want the generous living space of the suite while keeping separate sleeping quarters.
King + TwinJunior Suite
Elevated suite category with more generous living space than the deluxe rooms. Well-appointed with Arabian design details, sitting area, and private balcony. Reviewers note it runs on the compact side for a suite, but is very well finished.
KingOne-Bedroom Desert Pool Villa
Part of the new collection of eight Bedouin-inspired villas added in the 2023 renovation. Minimalist raw aesthetic with full-length glass doors opening onto a private deck with a pool, outdoor dining table, and fire pit seating area. Desert views completely unobstructed. Comes with in-villa check-in, a dedicated villa host, and a curated itinerary of desert experiences. Kitchenette with microwave included.
KingTerrace Garden View Room
Ground-floor room with direct terrace access onto the garden — the kind of room where morning coffee under the palms is genuinely possible. Walk-in shower, sitting area, and soothing desert-toned palette. Wheelchair accessible.
King or TwinTwo-Bedroom Desert Pool Villa
The larger villa option, designed for families or groups wanting maximum space and seclusion. Private pool, fire pit, outdoor dining terrace, and dunes between each villa for genuine privacy. Same barefoot-luxury Bedouin aesthetic as the one-bedroom, with expanded living and dining areas.
King + Additional BedroomThe Property
Eat & Drink
7 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Hands-on class in traditional Arabic coffee preparation — part of the resort's broader schedule of cultural programming.
Daily complimentary falconry demonstration included with all room rates. Private falconry sessions — where you handle the bird yourself, learn its history, and interact with falcons and hawks — are available as a paid upgrade. Show typically runs 7:30–8:30am.
Evening stargazing sessions with a guide, away from city light pollution. Advance booking required.
Archery sessions in the desert landscape. Popular with both adults and older children.
Short camel rides are complimentary (included with room rates). Longer guided camel treks across the Al Marmoom dunes are available as a paid experience.
Guided off-road drive into the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve in a Land Rover with a skilled guide. Good chances of spotting Arabian oryx, gazelles, and hares in their natural habitat. Highly rated by guests as a highlight of the stay.
Guided horseback riding tours through the desert. Stable tours include visits to Arabian horses, ponies, camels, and peacocks. Pony rides available for younger children.
Off-road fat bike tour through the desert terrain, guided and suitable for adventurous riders.
Surfing the dunes on a board — a surprisingly good workout and genuinely fun. Part of the resort's desert adventure programme.
Guided walk through the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve with chances to spot oryx, hares, and gazelles.
Firelit evening with a local Emirati storyteller sharing age-old Arabian yarns. Part of the resort's rotating cultural events calendar.
Private hot-air balloon flight over the Margham desert, offering a bird's-eye view of the wave-like dunes and surrounding landscape. Must be pre-booked through the resort's experience centre.
Free daily kids' club (9am–6pm) for children aged 2–12, with supervised arts and crafts, nature trails, swimming games, and themed days. Indoor and outdoor playground. Zip line is a crowd favourite.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Bicycles available to hire for exploring the surrounding landscape.
On-site meeting rooms with conference equipment and photocopier.
Complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout all resort areas and rooms.
Private dining experiences available around the resort for birthdays, anniversaries, and proposals. Requires advance arrangement through concierge.
Separate room service menu available around the clock.
Available on request with 24 hours' notice. Charged at AED 100 per hour.
Airy gym kitted out with Technogym equipment. Fitness classes and personal trainers available. Open daily 9am–10pm.
Complimentary covered private car park with valet service.
Desert-flanked infinity pool open to all guests. Dramatic dune backdrop. Plush daybeds. Open 8am–8pm. Pool staff bring complimentary iced mint-lemon water popsicles on hot days.
Shaded family pool with a full-time lifeguard on duty. Also a separate shaded children's pool. Open 8am–8pm.
Separate adults-only pool with a working swim-up bar. Open 8am–8pm.
Lobby boutique open 9am–9pm daily. Stocks souvenirs, books, newspapers, spa products, and Bab Al Shams branded merchandise.
BUILD YOUR BAB AL SHAMS, A RARE FINDS DESERT RESORT, DUBAI PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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