Make the most of Summer at Rixos Bab Al Bahr, where beachside days, family fun, dining, pools, and relaxed resort moments come together on Al Marjan Island. From sunrise by the sea to evenings filled with flavour and energy, every stay brings more for the whole family to enjoy. Reserve your stay now
16 10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT SUMMER IN THE
After reading our list, you’ll agree, too.
20 RAK NATURES TREASURES
A place that defies categorisation.
42 STAYCATION SPOTLIGHT
We spend the weekend at a family- friendly all-inclusive resort.
Got 72 hours in RAK? We’ve got the best food-related itinerary for you.
28 NEW & TRENDING
What’s being served up in the region.
Rising temperatures doesn’t mean you should slow down on your wellness routines.
Stay in the know on what’s happening.
Our stunning website is packed with news, restaurants, culture, shopping, sport and spas. It’s your online destination for stuff to do in the UAE. Get clicking.
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| WHATSON.AE
47 YEARS OF BOREDOMBUSTING
Fourty-seven years. It’s really rather remarkable. I still remember sending that first issue to press as a 22-year-old, with the kind of optimism that only someone who has never actually run a magazine could muster. That was 1979. We had a dream and very little else. Today, seeing issue 579 go to press a couple of days short of my 70th birthday, I can afford the time to pause, to take stock of how far this country – and this magazine –have come.
What’s On was never supposed to be a legacy. It was supposed to solve a problem. Dubai and Sharjah, where our adventure began, were buzzing with life, but had almost no media to speak of. No platform for the restaurants, the hotels, the performers quietly building something extraordinary in the desert. So, we built one – and it has been our privilege to keep building it ever since, along with a proudly diverse multi-media platform across the entire region.
I have always said that none of this would have been possible without the support and generosity of the UAE’s leadership. The Emirates gave people like me something genuinely rare: the freedom to try, to be bold, and to belong. That feeling has only grown in time.
From having interviewed the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali, in 1992, to watching 10,000 people fill a concert venue with Liam Gallaher for the What’s On Party in the Park in 2017, the memories are extraordinary. But what I’m proudest of isn’t any single moment, it’s that we’re still here, still relevant, and still, I hope, genuinely useful to anyone trying to make the most of life in this remarkable place.
To our readers and colleagues who have been part of this journeythank you. You are the reason What’s On exists. You always have been. Here’s to another 47 years of never being bored.
IAN FAIRSERVICE Managing Partner & Group Editor Motivate Media Group
Meeting boxing legend Muhammad Ali for an exclusive interview in November 1982. Top right: What’s On, the region’s first English language magazine, is launched in 1979.
WORDS:ALICEHOLTHAM
yoursummerwiththese family-centricstay cations
RAS AL KHAIMAH
Waldorf Astoria
Ras Al Khaimah
A palatial stay on the beachfront in RAK, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is a luxurious spot for a family stay. Rooms are all adorned in modern, neutral tones, with plenty of space to spread out and balconies that gaze out over the Arabian Gulf and Hajar Mountains – so even as the temperatures creep up, you can still enjoy the scenic views. While little ones burn off some steam at the ocean-inspired kids and teens club or make a splash at the kids’ water playground, adults can enjoy pampering spa treatments or embrace the serenity of the adults-only infinity pool.
Special mention: Kids under 5 eat free with a paying adult, while travellers aged six to 11 get a 50% discount on dining.
Rates: From Dhs700 per room, per night. Book: hilton.com, @waldorfastoriarak
The
Cove Rotana
For a tranquil escape, head to The Cove Rotana Resort. Set along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, the resort offers a secluded retreat framed by lush landscapes, swaying palms, and uninterrupted sea views. It offers tropical gardens where you soak in the green, and a private beach where you can sink your feet in the sand and enjoy the gentle waters. Book their staycation deal and enjoy a complimentary upgrade to half board, a free upgrade the next room category, and the added relaxation of knowing you can check out late. Kids stay and dine for free, making your short-haul escape that little bit sweeter. Special mention: The aqua fun waterslides are a brilliant addition to the family-centric pool scene.
Rates: From Dhs525 per room, per night.
Book: rotana.com, @thecoverotanaresort
Mövenpick Resort
Al Marjan Island
There’s lots to love about this familyfriendly stay on Marjan Island. Its pet-friendly policy, its rooftop bar, its beachfront suites with private pools. And this summer, it’s rolling out the red carpet for UAE residents to enjoy all its best bits for as little as Dhs850 per night. You’ll get an overnight stay, a big buffet breakfast for two at The Market, plus a dinner set menu at boho-chic Ula, with two cocktails included for the adults. Young travellers can spend their days burning off steam with access to all the recreational facilities, including Wibit, RAK’s largest overwater floating park, the Xscape Teen Zone and Xplore Arcade Room.
Special mention: This deal includes a free upgrade to a beachfront junior suite with terrace, giving you more space to spread out and chill out.
Rates: From Dhs850 per room, per night
Book: movenpick.accor.com, @movenpickalmarjan
Sofitel Al Hamra
Lacing a little bit of modern French luxury into an Arabian-inspired retreat, Sofitel Al Hamra is the perfect spot to switch off and make memories with the fam. All rooms and suites feature a private balcony or terrace, while some even come with private plunge pools –perfect to book for extended stays or big group getaways. There are four swimming pools to cool off at, including a splash and slide zone, seven restaurants and bars that offer cuisines to suit all tastes, plus a Sofitel Spa with Clarins, to treat yourself to a little ‘me time’. Book by June 30 for reservations until September 30 and you’ll snag 25% off a two- to 10-night stay.
Special mention: The super-sized lagoon pool is the longest in the Northern Emirates, making this the perfect place to cool off in the summer.
Rates: From Dhs900 per room, per night.
Book: sofitel.accor.com, @sofitelalhamra
InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina
Al
Arab Resort & Spa
Indulge in an unforgettable escape at InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah. Put your wallet away and bask in sun-soaked days with the all-inclusive offer, where dining and activities are all taken care of. You’ll get to start each day with a generous buffet breakfast at Saffar Restaurant, plus either a buffet dinner or Dhs120 dining credit to enjoy at à la carte restaurants Levant & Nar or NoHo Bar & Grill – plus young travellers up to aged six dine for free. Spend your days enjoying complimentary access to the Health Club, whirlpool and sauna, while little ones get creative at Planet Trekkers Kids’ Club and Aqua Fun.
Special mention: The all-inclusive package includes unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks at selected restaurants.
A sprawling beachfront playground on Marjan Island, the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island is the UAE’s award-winning family resort – and it’s not hard to see why. Rooms and villas blend Arabianinspired touches with modern comforts, with balconies that gaze out over the Arabian Gulf or lush resort gardens. Seven temperature-controlled pools – including a dedicated indoor pool and two children’s pools –plus a 650-metre stretch of private white-sand beach means there’s no shortage of space to splash and unwind. Young guests will be kept well entertained at Chuckles Kids Club, with its outdoor playground, climbing wall, ball pit and Pirate Boat Aqua Zone complete with water slides and sprinklers. Meanwhile, the Xplore Arcade and a lineup of 13 restaurants and bars – from global buffet spreads to rooftop shisha and Asian specialities at Sanchaya – ensure there really is something for everyone. Special mention: Every guest is welcomed with a warm, freshly baked cookie at check-in – proof that the best things really are the simple ones.
Rates: From Dhs850 per room, per night.
Book: hilton.com, @doubletreemarjanisland
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
Embrace desert dwelling and escape to the tranquillity of RAK’s golden dunes with the Family Adventure Package at this five-star resort. You’ll check into one of the luxe private pool villas, which vary from the more traditional Arabian style to the chic new one- and two-bedroom abodes that provide a more contemporary backdrop to your stay. Everything has been crafted with families in mind, with daily breakfast and dinner included –keeping you and your crew energised, plus a choice of desert-inspired activities, from night walks and stargazing to wildlife feeding and horse riding. Valid on minimum two-night stays, use code FML when booking.
Special mention: Little ones will love meeting the resort’s falcon at breakfast.
Rates: From Dhs2050 per room, per night.
Book: marriott.com, @ritzcarltonalwadidesert
Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort
It turns out the Maldives isn’t a four-hour flight away. In fact, you can reach it in just a short drive to Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah. With its tropical aesthetic and overwater villas, this Ras Al Khaimah retreat feels worlds away from home. Nestled on a private peninsula between the Arabian Gulf and a serene mangrove lagoon, experience the ultimate in seclusion and luxury. As a UAE resident, you’ll save up to 18% across rooms and villas, kids stay and dine for free if they’re under 11 (up to 2 children), and there’s 10% off dining at the resort restaurants. Minimum two-night stay required for weekend bookings.
Special mention: Book one of the overwater villas – complete with private pool – for a taste of luxury resort living.
Rates: From Dhs734 per room, per night.
Book: anantara.com, @anantararasalkhaimah
Rixos Bab Al Bahr
READ OUR FULL REVIEW ON PAGE 42
Bold in architecture and generous in spirit, the pyramid-style Rixos Bab Al Bahr rises dramatically from the white sands of Marjan Island for a family staycation that ticks every box. The resort operates on an ultra all-inclusive basis, meaning dining across 15 restaurants and bars – from the lavish international buffet at Seven Heights to five à la carte options – is all taken care of, as are unlimited drinks. Young travellers are exceptionally well catered for: the Rixy Kids Club offers supervised daily activities, interactive games and shows in a safe, creative environment, while the dedicated Teens Club gives older children their own adults-free space to socialise and unwind. Two children under 12 stay free, and guests booking a minimum threenight stay will enjoy a complimentary room upgrade. Parents, meanwhile, can make the most of spa treatments at Avitane Spa, fitness classes, or simply a sun lounger on the private beach.
Special mention: Evening entertainment and live shows are included in the all-inclusive package, so the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.
Rates: From Dhs549 per room, per night.
Book: rixos.com, @rixosbabalbahr
AJMAN
Al Zorah Beach Resort
Perched on the edge of an 18-hole Championship golf course, the Al Zorah Beach Resort is perfect for couples and families seeking a luxurious beach escape. Entry-level rooms boast secluded gardens or sea-view terraces, while the premium villas come with private pools. Modern Italian architecture is a striking contrast to Ajman’s leafy landscapes, which is where you’ll find many of the hotels’ leisure experiences, including watersports and a stretching swimming pool. Make the most of a minimum two-night stay and enjoy early check-in, a complimentary upgrade to the next room category, daily breakfast, welcome drinks at Aquario Bar, 20% off additional dining and spa treatments, and late check-out.
Special mention: A chocolate tasting and workshop is available every afternoon if you’re looking for a sweet addition to your stay.
Rates: From Dhs1050 per room, per night.
Book: alzorahbeachresort.com, @alzorahbeachresort
Ajman Saray
A lovely traditional beachfront resort in the tranquil emirate of Ajman, the Ajman Saray is a great place to retreat from the city for a slower pace of life. The collection of rooms and suites all gaze towards the sea or creek, while leisurely days can be spent soaking up the sun on the golden beach or at one of two swimming pools. Six restaurants, which include a beach grill, a signature Indian restaurant, and an equine-themed bar, mean you don’t even need to venture off property. There are half-board, full-board and all-inclusive packages available, which include meals at Vista all-day dining restaurant.
Special mention: The kids club has activities indoor and outdoor, and leads out to a children’s pool that’s nicely shaded.
Rates: From Dhs554 per room, per night.
Book: marriott.com, @ajman_saray
Fairmont Ajman
In sleepy Ajman, the regal-looking Fairmont hotel is one of the most popular spots for retreating to the beach for laidback relaxation. The hotel’s décor is charmingly traditional, and there’s an instant on-holiday feel to the guest rooms that come with balconies that gaze out towards the sea. For leisure, enjoy strolls along the hotel’s 200-metre private beach, then cool off in the expansive pool at the heart of the resort, where you can enjoy refreshing serves at the swim-up pool bar. There are plenty of summer staycation offers designed for families, whether you want to go all-inclusive with the ultimate resort experience or book the family beach escape with 15% off the best available rate. Special mention: Football fan in the group? XOLO sports bar is the place to catch the World Cup action this summer. Rates: From Dhs570 per room, per night. Book: fairmont.com, @fairmontajman
FUJAIRAH
Naäma Beach Villas & Spa, Fujairah
Unrolling against the backdrop of the Hajar mountains and the west coast of the Indian Ocean on Fujairah’s East coast, Naäma Beach Villas & Spa is a stunning stay, upping the luxe in Fujairah. The 44 villas are finished in calming shades of caramel and cream, and range in size from one- to four-bedroom, and all come with private pools. To cater to guests’ every whim, dedicated butler service ensures every stay is five-star. Book and stay by June 30 to avail a whole host of benefits, including daily breakfast, Dhs300 resort credit, a welcome bottle of house wine and kids’ cookie selection, plus activities like archery and padel.
Special mention: There’s daily yoga, meditation and beach wellness sessions, perfect for those looking to fully switch off.
Rates: From Dhs3900 per villa, per night.
Book: naamavillas.com, @naamabeachvillasspa
Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
This popular resort is a long-standing family favourite on Fujairah’s East Coast – and with good reason. They recently renovated the accommodation, giving it a modern makeover while still inviting guests to enjoy the same lovely ocean views. Book and stay by September 30 and enjoy a coastal escape complete with daily buffet breakfast, 20% off dining across restaurants, and 50% off at Spa Al Aqah experiences. Children can stay and dine for free, too. Use promotional code 11P when booking.
Special mention: The all-inclusive package includes unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks at selected restaurants.
Rates: From Dhs633 per room, per night. Book: marriott.com, @lemeridien_alaqah
Fairmont Fujairah
With its Arabesque-meets-art-deco design, Fairmont Fujairah is a colourful base for your family retreat. Many of their summer hotel deals are designed for families, including The Complete Resort Escape, where two children stay for free until August 31, with allinclusive dining plus unlimited house drinks included. Enjoy relaxed days by the sea and balmy evenings framed by the Hajar mountains, knowing all your culinary needs are taken care of.
Special mention: The all-inclusive dining covers all restaurants – so say goodbye to boring buffets.
Rates: From Dhs729 per room, per night. Book: fairmont.com, @fairmontfujairah
InterContinental Fujairah
If you’re planning a big group getaway or bringing the extended family along, a stay at InterContinental Fujairah just got more affordable. When you book any room type, from their choice of sea- or garden-facing rooms or spacious suites, you’ll get the second room half price. Set on the gloriously golden Al Aqah Beach, spend days enjoying five-star seaside living, with full access to the resort’s private beach and temperature-controlled infinity pool. Plus, up to two children under six stay and dine for free, with 50% off for travellers aged six to 12.
Special mention: Book a club access room and enjoy afternoon tea and a special happy hour in the private club lounge.
Rates: From Dhs744 per room, per night. Book: intercontinental.fujairah.com, @lemeridien_alaqah
Sandy Beach Resort
A firm favourite with long-standing UAE residents, Sandy Beach Resort has been the base of choice for families seeking a no-frills beach retreat, party people heading over for the regular Snoopy Beats music festivals, and watersports enthusiasts alike. Facing Fujairah’s unmistakable Snoopy Island, its simplicity is part of the appeal, and after checking in to one of the rooms or bungalows, head straight to the shorefront for a dip in the infinity pool, snorkelling around Snoopy Island, or sundowners with your toes in the sand. Stay mid-week and when you book three nights, you’ll get the fourth for free. Or go on the weekend, and get three nights for the price of two.
Special mention: Watersports are what this resort is famous for, so be sure to get your aqua-based thrills.
Rates: From Dhs734 per room, per night.
Book: sandybeach.ae, @sandybeachresort
Palace Beach Resort Fujairah
Enjoy a coastal escape that pairs elegant beachfront living with all the thoughtful family-centric touches you and your crew could want this summer. Save up to 20% across all rooms and suites at this palatial seafront address, plus wake up to a daily breakfast to fuel you for the day ahead. Whether you’re unwinding by the sea or booking a spa treatment with up to 20% off, adults can truly switch off. But young guests aren’t forgotten; there’s plenty of fun to be had for them at the Qix Club.
Special mention: We love the poolside cabanas for a day of sun-kissed relaxation.
Rates: From Dhs359 per room, per night.
Book: addresshotels.com, @palacefujairah
UMM AL QUWAIN
Casa Mikoko
Part of the rustic, Zanzibarinspired Kite Beach Umm Al Quwain is Casa Mikoko, a glamping experience of five chalets set against the backdrop of the mangroves. The chalets all come with thoughtful amenities like a tea and coffee bar, hairdryer and slippers, and plenty of privacy too, all while looking out over the calm natural waters. Three of the five come with their own plunge pool, and all boast an African-inspired aesthetic that offers a tropical, instant on-holiday feel. If you’re looking for a staycation with a bit of a difference, then this is it.
Special mention: Proximity to water means you can enhance your stay with fun family activities like kayak mangrove tours and stand-up paddle boarding.
Rates: From Dhs1200 per chalet, per night. Book: casamikoko.ae, @casamikoko.uaq
Vida Beach Resort
A seaside retreat that’s got all the ingredients for an idyllic stay in quaint Umm Al Quwain, this boutique property is painted in Vida’s signature white colouring, with palm trees and an open terrace that leads down to the pool and beach. Rooms offer either sea views or city views, and range from entry-level deluxe rooms up to the executive one-bedroom suite. For the ultimate luxury, book the two-bedroom beach chalet. There are plenty of facilities at Vida Beach Resort, from a fitness centre to a spa, tennis court, swimming pool, water sports and a kids’ club. Book and stay by October 15 and there’s 20% off every room category, with daily breakfast included and late check-out subject to availability.
Special mention: There’s a collection of pet-friendly rooms, so four-legged family members don’t have to miss out on the fun.
Rates: From Dhs300 per room, per night. Book: vidahotels.com, @vidahotels
THINGS WE RATE ABOUT
THE UAE SUMMER
UAE summers > winter almost everywhere else...
WORDS: MILES BUCKERIDGE
Alarge part of the way you experience life, along with the meaning and enjoyment you extract from it, comes down to perspective. You can actively choose the lens through which you encounter events and emotions, you can always make a conscious decision to opt for love, light, positivity or tacos. You might feel that this is all a little too deep and unnecessarily preachy for what is supposed to be a lighthearted look at the reasons why this time of year really isn’t so bad. But that’s a choice, and we defend your right to make it. And so, with our rose-tinted sunnies firmly on, we’re going to wax whimsical about what we love most about Dubai summers.
The quick-dry effect
Four words, one hyphen: temperature-controlled outdoor pools. Whether you’re chilling in the shallows with a good book, casually propped against the swim-up bar of some bougie resort, or gently drifting along the weaving rapids of a waterpark’s lazy river – there are few summer leisure pleasures quite as exquisite as those found in the cool of the pool. The added bonus of peak dip season, of course, is the speed at which you dry off after exiting the pool, especially on low humidity days, the atmospheric conditions behave in much the same way as one of those Dyson AirBlade hand dryers.
The green miles
With morning school runs stemmed to a trickle, a significant chunk of the country’s workforce on summer holidays, and fewer than usual mass-attended events, the UAE’s road network can be cheerily quiet over the summer months. Even the infamous DIFC restaurant rush hour is given a stopwatch reprieve, and you genuinely can get pretty much anywhere in the city within that oft-quoted journey time of 30 minutes. Google Maps is light on those triggering red lines, vehicle pollution rates are cut, and parking becomes significantly less of a combat sport.
Summer staycay deals
You know when you hit the supermarkets just before they close, and you walk around picking up all those wild discounts? 12kg of sweetcorn for Dhs20? Don’t mind if I do. Well, it appears to be the same pricing model that the UAE hotels base their summer deals on. You can pick up some scandalously good rates on international class, five-star, leisure palaces and all within an easily commutable distance.
Shopping run
They say only mad dogs and shoeless men run in the midday sun. Which is why Dubai’s jogging community take their PB-chasing indoors for the summer months. Last year’s hugely popular inaugural Mallathon took place across multiple retail hubs in the city, allowing everyone, of all ages, abilities, split times and Whoop recovery scores to run inside before the shops of the mall opened. Courses are set up to allow easy distance tracking, and weekly timed competitions. Casual runners can choose their own distance goals, from a journey of a few steps to an undercover ultra. The great news is that it will return for a thrilling, second billing in 2026 now bigger, longer and (unless you miss a few corners) relatively uncut. Precise details of the participating malls are still under wraps for the moment, but we do know it’s expected to be a multiple month affair between June and September.
Board meetings
Morning water sports without the ice bath if you capsize. The UAE’s summer sea temperatures aren’t the ideal salve for midday’s solar scorch, but they’re the perfect crash mat for early birds catching currents on stand-up paddle boards. These sunrise SUP sessions are a popular pursuit during this time of year, burning calories, exploring waterways and allowing you and your trusty paddle to farm zen straight from the briny blue below.
Beach please
We haven’t done an audit of the number of beach clubs in Dubai, but it certainly feels like no exaggeration to say if you ranked UAE population composition by ethnic group, beach clubs could make it into the top 10. Despite the density of this diaspora, the UAE’s near-perennial sunshine and sheer volume of sun-seeking sojourners, ensures lounger occupancy rates remain high for most of the year. But as the mercury rises, the shoreline sun traps that remain open are compelled to lure in prospective punters with more persuasive packages. Prices are slashed, redeemables are made yet more (often fully) redeemable, and freebies are frisbee’d into waiting tote bags.
Inbox relief
As with highways, so with the Information Super Highway. That’s what they used to call the internet, right? And just so we’re clear, we’re not talking about the whole internet – although, those scary summer engagement figures... Amirite marketing managers? We’re speaking specifically about the blissful drop in the number of emails landing in our inbox in the hope of finding us well, enquiring about our meeting availability, or attached to hyperbolic press releases.
Prized Surprises
The annual retail and entertainment festival where the city goes full Oprah Winfrey – you get a sale, you get a discount, you get some prizes, everybody gets a car (not legally binding, please see terms and conditions for full giveaway details). This year, Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) will begin putting smiles on faces on July 2, and the big finalé is due to take place on August 30. Dubai-wide sales have seen outlets offering up to 90 per cent off every conceivable item from fresh sneakers to stereo speakers; there have been shop-and-win promotions where cards charged with Dhs10,000 worth of spending have been given away every day; the return of Modhesh World and the bingeable bargains of Restaurant Week; kids go free promotions; and concerts from international recording artists (@Davido). DSS really has been our favourite summer fling.
Mosquito nett
The joy of AC Wait. Hear us out. That moment you hit the AC’s invisible breeze after being out in the big scorch, is the most rapturous sort of joy. The flood of dopamine, the prickle of glistening sweat, the choir of saintly voices soaring in your frontal lobe. Light can only exist with the express blessing of dark.
If you’re one of those people reading this and thinking “but there aren’t any mosquitos in the UAE” how does it feel to be the universe’s favourite? Because there are mosquitos, there quite demonstrably are and that will likely be confirmed by the poor soul standing next to you with a plague-aesthetic carpet of itchy bumps on their arms and ankles. But the summer temperatures seem to force them into aestivation (the summer version of hibernation, the more you know...) or maybe they fly north for the season to go and bug their European neighbours. And it’s not just mozzies that buzz off, the same can be said for the country’s other flying (still admittedly less numerous than most other warm-climate regions) mini-beasts. All hail the no-fly zone.
TREASURE HUNTING
Where taxidermied pheasants, rescued donkeys and gas canister art live in weird and wacky harmony
WORDS: LAURA COUGHLIN
There are places in the world that defy easy categorisation. RAK Natures Treasures is one of them. Is it a museum? A farm?
A sculpture park? A sanctuary?
A cabinet of curiosities that sprawls across two warehouses in Ras Al Khaimah farmland? Yes to all of the above… and then some.
About 20 minutes outside Ras Al Khaimah city, the approach alone sets the tone. The drive from the main entrance looks like a California sculpture park. Colourful, abstract forms line either side of the path, among them a giant dragon constructed entirely from painted metal scraps and old gas canisters.
The whole extraordinary endeavour is the brainchild of local Tariq Al Salman, a man whose childhood passions – collecting gemstones, fossils and skulls, growing things, loving animals – escalated. “I have a hobby since I was a child,” he tells What’s On, with the slightly bemused air of a man watching his own enthusiasm become a landmark. “I like to plant, I like to collect unique things like gemstones and fossils.” Growing up, he returned to this land and asked himself a simple question: “Why don’t I do something unique that Ras Al Khaimah doesn’t have?” And so RAK Natures Treasures was born.
THE MUSEUM
On the left of the entrance – which opens, as all good things should, into something resembling a secret garden – lies Al Salman’s “natural history museum”. Over 2,500 items are collected here: preserved gemstones, fossils, seashells from improbable corners of the world, herbs and spices. Then the taxidermy. Taxidermied deer, foxes, pheasants. There are birds frozen midpose in glass cases, insects pinned with the precision of a Victorian naturalist, reptiles that make you jump on first glance. “Some fascinating, others freaky,” Al Salman acknowledges cheerfully, a man entirely at peace with the fact that his life’s collection is not for everyone.
Next door, a natural salt cave offers an unexpected palate cleanser. Step in, breathe slowly, and let halotherapy do its ancient work.
THE ANIMALS
Wander further in and you’ll encounter donkeys, goats, ostriches, peacocks, turtles and flamingos. There are koi fish, pigeons, and a parrot that sits on a big outdoor dining table waiting for someone to feed him corn on the cob. They rescue many of the animals here, too. “We have many dogs that people have left, and we take them in.”
There’s something radical about that ethos, nothing wasted, everything given a second life, whether it’s a gas canister transformed into sculpture or an abandoned dog given a paddock to call home.
THE CHILDREN’S PARK
Even the children’s play area follows the philosophy of the place. Built from reclaimed materials, it’s inventive and slightly ramshackle in the way that only adds to charm of the place. Small humans tend to love it immediately.
THE FARM
Wander into the greenhouse and vegetable plots and you’ll find corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and bottle gourds. The farm also operates as a homestay, meaning you can, if you choose, simply stay. Wake up surrounded by nature, with no sounds other than the animals and visiting birds.
RAK Natures Treasures won’t feature on any conventional must-see list. There are no infinity pools or sea views. What there is, though, is a place built by one person’s genuine, unfiltered passions – part museum, part ark, part art installation – that makes for wonderfully fun, albeit eccentric, detour.
RAK Natures Treasures, Al Manamar Road, Ras Al Khaimah, Wed to Mon 4pm to 8pm (summer timings, Tue closed). Tel: (0)55 750 5556. @raknaturestreasures
3 MORE TO TRY
Unique RAK attractions worth a detour
House of Pearls
Tucked away in the quiet fishing village of Al Rams, Suwaidi Pearls is the UAE’s last remaining pearl farm, and one of Ras Al Khaimah’s most unexpectedly fascinating days out. Founded by Abdulla Al Suwaidi to keep his family’s centuries-old pearling legacy alive, the farm takes visitors on a traditional boat ride through scenic mangroves before revealing the surprisingly captivating world of pearl cultivation, all with stunning Hajar Mountain views as a backdrop.
@suwaidi_pearls
UAE Flower Farm
There’s nowhere else in the UAE quite like the UAE Flower Farm. Hidden in Wadi Asimah, this Emirati-owned gem packs in over 30,000 blooms grown from seed, all framed by sweeping Hajar Mountain views. At Dhs15 entry with pick-your-own stems at just Dhs5 each, it’s one of the better-value days out in the emirate, and with roaming animals, a laid-back café, and cooler mountain air thrown in, you’ve got a pretty solid afternoon sorted.
@uae_flower_farm
Banan Beach
Part Greek island, part Gulf glamping, Banan Beach is one of RAK’s most distinctive stays, a bohemian beachfront resort on Al Marjan Island where whitewashed walls, colourful A-frame tents, and in-pool swings set the scene for a seriously good weekend. There are spots for BBQs, bonfires at sunset, pool parties on Fridays, and Palestinian food at the alfresco restaurant, oh, and you can bring the dog.
@bananbeach
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Got 72 hours in RAK and need to make every meal and snack count? Wonder no more
WORDS: LAURA COUGHLIN
To many, Ras Al Khaimah means a long weekend – desert, beach, mountains, resort pool, repeat. But a growing number of people are deciding to stay. As the emirate quietly builds a permanent population of residents who live
here, work here, and eat here, the dining scene is following suit.
In search of where the locals and long-timers really go, we spent three days exploring Ras Al Khaimah city, ate constantly, and came back with this list…
CAFES
Risers House
Before even stepping inside, the car park tells you a lot: a cluster of blacked-out SUVs idling outside a chic bungalow beside the golf course. This is Risers House, and it is the café conversation in RAK right now. Step inside and it’s buzzing: vinyl records line the coffee counter, light floods in, and there’s a pastry selection that could hold its own in any European capital. The clientele is almost entirely Emirati, which is stellar endorsement. If you can, nab a seat outside overlooking the golf club lake, with a proper flat white in hand. It’s a quietly perfect way to spend a RAK morning.
@risershouse
Al Hish Farm
About 25 minutes from the city, Al Hish Farm earns its detour. It’s a tranquil, unhurried kind of place – horse carriage rides, a scattering of old vehicles for children to clamber over, a playground, and plenty of wide open space. At the centre of it all sits a gorgeous little A-frame café serving karak, coffee and juices, and one of the better chocolate brownies in the emirate. The service is warm and genuinely meant. A lovely place to exhale.
@alhishfarm
North Café
Cyclist Café
You won’t find Cyclist on instinct alone, as it’s tucked down a steep hill, invisible from the road (of course, to make it that much harder to locate), but the cluster of Deliveroo riders parked outside gives the game away. This is a working neighbourhood café: bright, unpretentious, strong coffee, acai bowls and poke bowls for the health-conscious, and a small bike shop in the corner that quietly suggests repairs are available if you ask the right person.
@cyclecafe.ae
There are cafés with nice views, and then there is North Café, positioned next to a working stables so that guests eat their eggs and drink their single-origin pour-over to the sight of Shetland ponies doing absolutely nothing stressful whatsoever. The coffee is serious, the food simple, and visitors are welcome to wander the stables after, where thoroughbred Arabian horses rest in their stalls with the particular quiet dignity of animals who know how prized they are. An easy favourite.
@northcafe.uae
Risers House
Cyclist Café
Risers House
North Café
Al Hish Farm
HIGH-END RESTAURANTS
Farmhouse by Syrco
Reach it by golf buggy from the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi, past freeroaming gazelles and oryx, and you’ll already be in the right frame of mind. Farmhouse by Syrco is executed with precision by head chef Florian Van Dillen (known, affectionately, as Chef Flip), who draws on local influences, seasonal produce, and sustainable sourcing to turn out dishes that lean fine dining in technique but carry a vivid, garden-fresh lightness in the eating. The interiors could do with a bit of modernising (though we’re told this is in the works), but the ambitions and skill of the kitchen are worth the trip.
@farmhousebysyrco
Bar du Port Beach
Zuma
The newest arrival on the RAK dining scene and already its most ambitious. Chef Hadi Saroufim’s Bar du Port Beach sits on its own stretch of beach beside the InterContinental – a sprawling, beautiful thing of swaying lampshades, a vast oval bar, and an open kitchen built around a state-of-the-art pizza oven. The fish display alone is worth a detour. The Mediterranean plates coming out of that kitchen are seriously good, and the whole operation – beach cabanas, pool, weekly events included – carries itself with confidence. The fact that it sits entirely outside a hotel only adds to the appeal.
@bdpbeachrak
Ula
Technically within the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, Ula has the rare quality of feeling like it’s independent from the hotel. The aesthetic does a lot of heavy lifting – neutral tones, rattan, pampas grass, swings at the bar, bohemian umbrellas – and lands somewhere between Mykonos and Tulum without feeling derivative of either. The Mediterranean menu, which leans pleasingly Greek, is broad: sharing dips, gyros, fresh pasta, and tapas bits. Come for the cocktails and the cabanas – stay considerably longer than planned.
@ulabeachrak
The pop-up that doesn’t feel like one. Zuma’s outpost at the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert –open until April 2027, extended by popular demand – occupies a two-level space with a rooftop terrace looking out over rolling dunes. The menu is faithful to the brand’s greatest hits: sushi, robata, sharp cocktails. What elevates it here is the setting, firepits and desert silence do considerable work alongside the food. A complete experience, as billed, though the dunes probably deserve some of the credit.
@ritzcarltonalwadidesert
Lexington Grill
Some restaurants earn their longevity through reinvention. Lexington Grill earns it through consistency. The New York steakhouse format – serious cuts, confident seafood – has been executed here with enough conviction to remain a reliable favourite in a landscape that keeps changing around it. Not the most surprising meal in RAK, but quite possibly one of the most satisfying.
@lexingtongrillandbar
Farmhouse by Syrco
Bar du Port Beach
Ula
Zuma
TIP-OFFS
(FROM LONG-TIME RESIDENTS)
Qasr Al Afghan
Another tip, this time from Chef Flip of Farmhouse by Syrco, and another reminder that the people cooking the best fine dining in a city usually know exactly where to eat on their night off.
Qasr Al Afghan sits just off the main motorway, easy to miss and entirely worth finding. Inside, the restaurant unfolds as a maze of small carpeted rooms divided by thick stone walls, low and intimate, where diners sit cross-legged on the floor around plastic sheets laid with enormous shared platters. Grills, kebabs, succulent lamb chops eaten with the hands – it’s communal and fun.
@qasr_al_afghan_restaurant
Mannoor
Reputedly the oldest café in the UAE, it sits by the Creek in a state of magnificent, unironic time-warp: a few benches, majlis-style cushions, old men in kanduras locked in backgammon games that appear to have been running for decades. Outside, cars beep their horns to order karak tea –because why park when you can honk? – and nobody thinks this is unusual. It is a living document of a place. A reminder that RAK has a rich before, and it’s well worth sitting in it for a while.
@qahwat.mannoor
Fanar Bakery
The best tips always come from people who’ve been somewhere long enough to stop going to the obvious places. A long-time RAK resident pointed the way to Fanar – past garages and electronics stalls, down a dusty street just off the main city thoroughfare – and what a find it was. The kiosk is barely a kiosk: a deep pit oven, a young man taking orders, a couple of broken chairs outside for anyone who wants to eat bread while it’s hot. Watch the dough get stretched into an oblong, slapped against the sides of the vertical oven, and stuffed with cheese – an Afghani calzone of sorts, and at Dhs3.50, an entirely unreasonable amount of deliciousness for the money. Order it stuffed with Omani chips or honey if cheese isn’t your thing. Tel: (0)50 3729664
Qasr Al Afghan
Mannoor
Fanar Bakery
The Char’d Club
A fire-forward dining destination that’s well worth your attention, The Char’d Club is turning up the heat for diners in Aljada. The just-opened restaurant draws on live-fire cooking traditions from South African braai, Argentinian parrilla and Australian barbecue culture, with an open-flame kitchen at its theatrical heart. The menu is built for sharing: standouts include the signature Old School Burger made from 250-day aged O’Connor beef, slow-smoked short rib, and fire-grilled king prawns in Thai red curry, rounded off by the S’more Fondant with torched marshmallow. After 10.30pm, the space shifts into a late-night dessert lounge, making it as much a destination for the evening as it is for dinner.
@chard_club
GREAT PLATES
Three new openings at Aljada to sink your teeth into WORDS: ALICE HOLTHAM-PARGIN
Isabella’s Street Kitchen
Bringing a new rhythm of everyday dining to Aljada is Isabella’s Street Kitchen, the sister restaurant to the much-loved Isabella Cucina Italiana at Vida Emirates Hills in Dubai. Designed to feel like a contemporary Italian courtyard with its terracotta tones, aged timber, handcrafted tiles and climbing greenery, the space centres around a copper-clad wood-burning pizza oven and an open kitchen, where ovens glow and dishes come together in full view. The menu is simple, comforting and built for sharing: highlights include spicy rigatoni rosa, a Diavolo pizza with San Marzano tomato and hot honey, and the Isabella steak Tagliata (AED 250). There’s also a refreshing alcohol-free beverage programme inspired by Italian aperitivo culture, perfect for sipping through the summer. @isabella.isk.uae
tashas
The tashas café mantra is simple: serve great food, take good care of people, and make sure they always come back for more. And that’s exactly what the just-opened eatery is now bringing to Vida – 04 in Sharjah’s Aljada. Beloved around the UAE, tashas cafes invite people to come together for nourishing meals in beautiful settings. The cafes all have the same warm and inviting feel, but each has its own unique identity, which in Aljada means a suspended book installation, adding a subtle nod to storytelling and heritage within the space. The classic menu – served across all locations – is familiar and unfussy, inspired by timeless classics and decadent twists on wholesome comfort food: think brioche French toast, Texas salad and salmon teriyaki. But each location also has exclusive creations, so expect to discover some only-inSharjah staples too.
@tashascafeae
ART | THEATRE | FILM | MUSIC
CLASS IN SESSION
Unleash your inner artist, learn a new skill, or tune into your creative side with these cool classes and workshops
WORDS: ALICE HOLTHAM-PARGIN
This summer, we’re committing to a season of trying something new. And thanks to a rising constellation of cool classes and creative spaces across the Northern Emirates, that’s easier than ever. Whether you want to needle-stitch a photograph, throw a pot on a wheel, learn Arabic calligraphy from a master, or find out whether you can hold a note, there’s a creative corner waiting for you.
PERFORMING ARTS: FINDING YOUR MOVEMENT, VOICE & CREATIVE INSTINCT
Performing arts – dance, music, visual art – share something important: they ask you to be present, expressive, and willing to look a little uncertain in front of other people. That vulnerability is also what makes them rewarding. Anqa, based in Fujairah, has built its offering around making that experience feel welcoming for all ages and abilities. The studio covers dance (Bollywood, hip-hop, contemporary, fusion), music training including keyboard, guitar, drums, and vocals, plus drawing and painting. Monthly creative camps – running through summer – bring the disciplines together in a format that’s structured but playful, and online classes are available for those who can’t make it in person. No prior experience is assumed or required. anqaarts.com
LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT: THE DISCIPLINE (AND JOY) OF MAKING MUSIC
There’s a reason people say learning an instrument changes you. It trains your ear, demands patience, builds coordination, and eventually – if you stick with it – gives you something you can return to for the rest of your life. Music Zone, the Northern Emirates’ first dedicated music school and recording studio when it opened in 2020, has built its curriculum around exactly that kind of long-term progression. Classes run from classical piano and violin to guitar, drums, oud, and Arabic singing, pitched at children and adults, beginners and advanced students alike. A one-toone lesson is the fastest way to make real progress; the band programme offers something different – the experience of learning within a group, listening to others, and making music together. Summer is as good a time as any to begin. music-zone.org
ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY: THE LIVING ART OF THE WRITTEN WORD
Arabic calligraphy is one of the world’s most revered visual art traditions –a discipline that treats writing as a form of beauty in itself, with centuries of masters, schools, and scripts behind it. Learning it begins with learning to hold the qalam correctly, understanding the proportions that govern letter forms, and developing an ear for the subtle differences between scripts. The Sharjah Art Foundation’s Open Studio calligraphy basics sessions at Al Dahaid Art Centre are designed to make that foundation genuinely accessible: structured enough to give beginners real footing, open enough to welcome the curious as much as the committed. Sessions are free to attend, with current schedules and registration details on the Foundation’s website. sharjahart.org
EMBROIDERY MEETS PHOTOGRAPHY: THE CRAFT OF STITCHING ON IMAGE
What happens when you hand someone a needle, thread, and a photograph, and ask them to add to it? The answer, it turns out, is something entirely new. Embroidering directly onto printed photographs –layering texture, colour, and stitch over image – is a practice that asks you to slow down, make deliberate marks, and rethink what both the photograph and the thread can mean. The Sharjah Art Foundation’s Stitched Perspectives workshop, hosted at Kalba Art Centre on June 7, frames this as contemporary visual art practice as much as textile craft. The Kalba setting – unhurried, architecturally considered – is part of what makes it special. The session is free to attend with all materials provided, but pre-registration is required. sharjahart.org
POTTERY: THE ANCIENT SKILL OF SHAPING CLAY WITH YOUR HANDS
Throwing clay on a wheel is one of the more humbling things you can attempt – and one of the most satisfying once you start to get it. The process of centring, opening, and drawing up a wall of clay demands concentration, patience, and a willingness to start over. But it also produces something genuinely yours. Creative Hands, Ras Al Khaimah’s new ceramics studio, covers the full spectrum: wheel throwing and hand-building for those who want to make something functional, bisque painting for a more accessible entry point, and quick ceramic keychain sessions if you’re after a satisfying afternoon without the learning curve. Kids’ workshops, couples’ sessions, and family events round out the offer. All materials are provided and instructors are well-versed in guiding first-timers from chaos to something they’ll actually want to display. creativehands.ae
THE ART OF CANDLE MAKING: FRAGRANCE, FORM & THE PERFECT POUR
Candle-making sits at the intersection of chemistry and artistry – choosing fragrance, understanding how wax behaves, and shaping something that looks as beautiful as it smells. La Plume Candles has turned that process into an afternoon worth savouring. Drawing on French dessert culture as its creative framework (think Canelé-shaped candles, swirled whipped wax, glassware as elegant as any pâtisserie window), the studio’s intimate public workshops walk you through blending your own scent from premium French perfume oils, pouring natural soy wax, and finishing your candle to take home. The format is deliberately social and relaxed – no prior experience needed, a drink of your choice in hand – so the emphasis lands equally on personal expression and technique. Sessions run across Ajman and Sharjah, with two-hour workshops priced at Dhs229 in Sharjah and Dhs250 in Ajman. laplumecandles.com/pages/public-workshops
SPORT | FITNESS | WELLBEING
Summer wellness tips
Staying on track as the
RESET THE
Five ways to move, recover and eat well – without making summer harder than it needs to be
WORDS: LANA DU
As the temperatures rise, the long, sunny days can leave energy levels a little lower, and the temptation to stay indoors as motivation dips and somehow the answer always ends up being another iced coffee and a very long scroll. But there’s a version of summer where you come out the other side feeling sharper, lighter and quietly smug about it. Here’s where to start.
01
Power through the ice
Working out in Ski Dubai at 6am on a Sunday morning in late June is unique to say the least, which is exactly why it works. The HYROX-style session pairs running, ski and row erg stations with strength and bodyweight work – all in actual sub-zero snow. It’s hard, it’s cold, and you’ll be talking about it for weeks. Bring gloves.
Where: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates
When: Sunday, June 28 at 6am
Cost: Dhs157.50 per person
Contact: premieronline.com
02
Celebrate International Yoga Day
SEVA is one of those places Dubai genuinely does well –a proper yoga studio that isn’t trying too hard, with a real range of classes from Kundalini to Ashtanga that cater to people who know what they’re doing and people who absolutely don’t. The garden is worth lingering in, and the plant-based café attached –the first of its kind in the Middle East – is good enough to visit even if you skipped the class entirely.
Where: Villa 5 1/B, Street 27B, Jumeirah 1, Jumeirah Beach Road
When: Daily 9am to 10pm
Cost: Starting from Dhs88 per class
Contact: @sevaexperience
04
Kickstart your summer nutrition
Meal planning sounds deeply unsexy until you’re three weeks in and your jeans fit differently. Colour My Plate’s Fit for Summer plan runs for 21 days and does the thinking for you – balanced, nutritious meals that are genuinely designed around the heat and what your body actually needs in it. Al Quoz location, which is very on-brand for anything wellness-adjacent and worth your time in this city.
Where: Warehouse TAQ #12, Al Quoz
When: Daily, 8am to 6pm
Cost: Dhs142 per day
Contact: colourmyplate.ae
05
Boost your circulation
03
Glow and restore with a traditional hammam
The hammam at Talise Spa inside Madinat Jumeirah is one of the better ones in the city – unhurried, properly traditional, and sequenced the way it should be: steam room to open everything up, black soap cleanse, kessa scrub to take the summer off your skin, then a body mask, hair cleanse and hydrating oils to finish. You’ll leave looking like a different person. In a good way. Book ahead.
Where: Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim St
When: Daily 11am to 9pm
Cost: Dhs1000 for 60 minutes
Contact: @talisespa
The lymphatic drainage massage has had a bit of a cultural moment, and for good reason –it actually works. The Mandarin Oriental Downtown’s version layers drainage techniques with antioxidant oils into a 90-minute Brazilian sculpting treatment that addresses circulation, puffiness and that general feeling of heaviness that accumulates in summer. It’s indulgent, yes. It’s also genuinely effective, which earns it the price tag.
Stretch, tone, and recentre at the reimagined Altitude. This ladies-only fitness space housed inside Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club adopts a results-driven approach to wellbeing across state-of-the-art equipment and thoughtfully zoned spaces. Book a Pilates class, designed to challenge, recalibrate and bring a sense of calm, while supporting physical strength and mental balance. All abilities welcome.
Where: Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Book: golfandshootingshj.com/altitude
Drip into wellness at Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah
Anantara Mina Al Arab’s IV therapy menu reads like a wellness wish list. Choose from over a dozen targeted drips to suit your goals, whether that’s the Thunder Buzz for hangover recovery (Dhs1,325), the antioxidant-packed Ce La Vie for skin and immunity (Dhs2,054), or the premium NAD+ for cellular repair and age reversal (Dhs2,900). An Oligoscan mineral analysis is also available for a deeper look at your body’s needs.
Where: Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah
Book: anantara.com
WHAT’S NEW IN WELLNESS
Whether you’re chasing strength, stillness or a little self-care, here’s where to invest in yourself this season
WORDS: ALICE HOLTHAM-PARGIN
Find your flow at FitGlam
Newly opened in Umm Al Quwain, FitGlam Ladies Gym is already building a community around mindful movement. The womenonly space hosts weekly yoga sessions every Sunday at 7.30pm, a dedicated hour to find your balance, reset, and breathe. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a complete beginner, it’s a lowpressure space to slow down amid the busy week.
Where: Al Salamah 3, Umm Al Quwain
Book: @fitglam_uaq
Schedule in some ‘me time’ at Mariana Beauty Lounge
In need of some summer pampering? Whether you’re looking to switch up your hairstyle, pamper your hands and feet with a mani-pedi or indulge in a relaxing head spa, head to the newly opened Mariana Beauty Lounge. The bright salon features a whole host of top-to-toe services, from brows and lashes to nails, hair and face and body care, all designed to leave you feeling brand new.
Where: Al Eman 2 Building, Ajman Book: @marianabeauty.ajm
OUR GUIDE TO… CERTIFIED ECO-FRIENDLY HOTELS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
WORDS: YI-HWA HANNA
As travellers grow more conscious of their environmental impact, hotels can no longer afford to treat “green” practices as optional extras. In the quest to achieve greater sustainability across the industry, from construction and energy use to sourcing and waste management, every stage of a property’s operation is increasingly under scrutiny. Yet with the rise in eco-labels and pledges, accountability has become just as vital as ambition. That’s where certification comes in. A number of key frameworks used across the world are helping brands and customers to distinguish genuine progress and effort from performative promises
– from Green Key, which focuses on operational sustainability; and Green Globe, which measures continuous improvement; to LEED, which assesses the environmental performance of building design; EarthCheck, known for its scientific benchmarking; and in the UAE, Dubai Tourism’s very own award system, which aligns with the emirate’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy.
The selection of eco-friendly, sustainability-focused hotels in the Middle East continues to grow, redefining what responsible luxury can look like as they set new standards for the region’s hospitality sector. We take a look at some of the properties raising the bar.
Zighy
Six Senses Zighy Bay
This eco-resort in Oman is certified by Control Union under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standard. Its sustainability efforts follow two tracks, both inside and outside the resort. On-site, it tracks hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles avoided and tonnes of waste composted, channels 0.5% of revenue into a Sustainability Fund, and maintains an “Earth Lab” for guest engagement. It has also created a marine protected area on the Musandam peninsula.
Media One Hotel
This buzzy, community-led hotel in the heart of Dubai Media City holds Green Key Certification as well as the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp. It has Tesla charging stations in its parking lot to support electric vehicles, and it has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 20% and its waste by 8%. Recently, it achieved a 10% reduction in water and energy use, a 35% cut in overall waste, elimination of singleuse plastics, and it has a food-waste partnership with The Waste Lab. It also partners with Neutral Fuels to locally convert its cooking oil into 100% biofuel.
Sofitel The Obelisk
This landmark hotel achieved Green Key certification in 2023 as well as the Gold Tier of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, with initiatives including a 37% energy-reduction target, a composting partnership with Reloop, linen donation through the Dubai Center for Special Needs, plus food donation through the UAE Food Bank.
Atlantis Dubai
Atlantis The Palm and its Aquaventure World have achieved EarthCheck Gold, while Atlantis The Royal holds EarthCheck Silver. The EarthCheck system requires an organisation to progress through tiered levels of Bronze, Silver, then Gold to reach each next stage, making Silver the maximum level Atlantis The Royal could achieve since its opening, as it works its way towards Gold in the near future. Both Atlantis Dubai properties are part of the Atlantis Atlas Project.
Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah
Hyde Dubai
Business Bay-based Hyde Dubai achieved Green Key Certification in November 2024, citing energyefficient systems, waste-reduction programmes and a 100% cut in single-use plastic. It has incorporated Solar Thermal installations and waste reduction programmes that have significantly minimised its ecological footprint, and the hotel actively participated in the Global Climate Change Conference at Dubai Expo City, offering low carbon emission menus and plastic-free packaging through its 1.5 Menu.
Bringing Maldivian overwater villa life to Ras Al Khaimah, Anantara Mina Al Arab holds LEED Gold building certification, uses an on-site water bottling plant, phased out single-use plastics, and integrates grey-water recycling for its landscaped grounds. The resort was constructed to preserve the surrounding environment, including the delicate mangrove ecosystem that surrounds it. This article was first published in
LuxeGlamp
UMM AL QUWAIN
Camping
WORDS: MADIE MURPHY
There is a specific dread that arrives with the suggestion of a camping trip. The sleeping bags, the shared bathrooms, the cheerful insistence that being uncomfortable is somehow good for the soul. You understand the appeal in theory. In practice, you would like air conditioning and a proper mattress, and you feel no particular shame about that.
LuxeGlamp Umm Al Quwain has identified this exact person and built something for them. Set within a protected 50-acre mangrove reserve – about an hour from Dubai – it is what happens when someone applies genuine luxury thinking to the outdoors and refuses to compromise on either side of the equation.
THE STAY
Just 10 glass-domed suites sit across the reserve, connected by raised wooden walkways that thread through the mangroves without disturbing the ground
beneath. Each dome runs to around 1000 square feet and comes with a private plunge pool, a sauna, a hammock, a wooden deck, and floor-to-ceiling views of the Arabian Gulf and the surrounding trees. The Balinese-inflected interiors are considered and calm – nothing here looks like it was assembled from flatpacks. The whole property runs on solar power and uses no singleuse plastics, which manages to feel principled without being preachy about it.
Waking up here is its own experience. Complete quiet, apart from the birds moving through the mangroves and the occasional kayak passing through the channels below. The flamingos, when they appear, feel genuinely unearned – as if the setting has decided to oversell itself and can’t help it.
THE FOOD
Luxe Bistro, the resort’s glass-domed overwater restaurant, handles dining with more ambition than most glamping concepts manage. The Josper grill does the heavy lifting on the BBQ menu; the make-your-own pizza station is the kind of addition that sounds gimmicky and turns out to be the highlight of the evening. The fusion menu draws on Indian, Mediterranean, and Middle
GOOD TO KNOW
Eastern influences, with a focus on local and sustainable sourcing. Mocktails and artisanal coffees round things out. For those who prefer not to move at all, in-room dining runs around the clock –which, in a plunge pool under a mangrove canopy, is exactly the right call.
Starting from Dhs1,772, add-on decoration packages available for special occasions. Mangroves Umm Al Quwain. uae.luxeglamp.com
Rixos Bab Al Bahr
An all-inclusive resort on Marjan Island that really delivers on the promise
WORDS: THOMAS WOODGATE
There is a particular kind of domestic fatigue that sets in around mid-year. The city is doing its city things and your children are doing their thing too, which is mainly asking, repeatedly, if you can go somewhere with a pool. This is how we found ourselves heading north out of Dubai, bound for Marjan Island and the beachfront expanse of Rixos Bab Al Bahr –a five-star all-inclusive that has spent much of 2025 quietly reinventing itself.
THE RESORT
The refurbishments are evident from checkin: rooms, the kids club, the spa and gym have all been overhauled, and the result is a property that feels fresh without having lost its sense of ease. The pool is clean and inviting, and the layout is well thought through – the waterslide pool, a particular favourite with our two, sits conveniently close to the adults-only pool, which means parents can take shifts slinking into a sun lounger with a book and something cold.
The beach is one of only two Blue Flag-certified stretches in Ras Al Khaimah – an internationally recognised accreditation awarded to beaches that meet strict standards for water quality, safety, accessibility and environmental management. It shows. The sand is wide and well-maintained, and even when the resort is busy, it never feels crowded.
We upgraded to a private cabana for one afternoon: welcome fruit platter, lunch from L’Olivo, a dedicated waiter with the useful quality of appearing exactly when needed and otherwise leaving us alone. The newly opened The Breeze sits at the water’s edge and is exactly the kind of spot you want at that location – relaxed.
THE ROOM
The family suites are a genuine standout. Neatly split into two halves, the parents’ side is sleek, calm and properly comfortable – everything as it should be for an adults’ retreat at the end of a long day in the sun. Through a connecting walkway, an entirely different world awaits. Where the parents’ room runs to muted tones and clean lines, the kids’ room goes full colour: interactive bunk beds, a lounge area, their own bathroom. A strict no-adults zone. The practical upshot of all this is that, for once, everyone in the family is happy –and, perhaps more importantly, no one is wandering into the wrong bed at 3am.
THE FOOD & DRINK
With 15 restaurants and bars across the property, meals never feel like a repeat. But the variety is only part of it. What elevates
every sitting is the service – genuinely warm, quietly attentive, and particularly good with children, which any parent will tell you is not as common as it should be. Having a family emerge from a meal not only fed but actually happy is one of those small, underrated pleasures that a good trip quietly depends on.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
Rixos Bab Al Bahr understands something that eludes a lot of family resorts: multigenerational doesn’t mean one experience flattened into beige neutrality. The refurbished Rixy Kids Club runs a proper programme – a mini carpenters’ wood workshop, kite flying, a kids’ disco – and ours were absorbed into it within the hour. That left the adults to decide which of fly yoga, paddle boarding, bicycle tours around Marjan Island and resort experiences were going to fill up our schedules. Or, there’s that adults-only pool…
By the end of the trip, both children were asleep before we reached the main road on our way out of the resort. By any metric, a successful family weekend.
THE DETAILS
All-inclusive from AED 799. Day use from AED 210 per adult (Mon-Thu) and AED 250 per adult (Fri-Sun). Private cabana from AED 399 for 2+2.
