Honeymoon inspiration : Dubai
Dubai has long been a country on our honeymoon bucket list so when this stunning real honeymoon adventure of our friend Maggie Wu and her husband landed in our inbox, we were stunned by the arid landscape and just how serene a desert destination like Dubai can be outside of the metropolis we all think of. Take a look at Maggie's brand new silk Summer Wardrobe capsule collection here - we're getting in line to stock up...
From Maggie: "Last October, my husband and I visited Dubai as part of our honeymoon trip. It was the perfect stop before heading off to the Maldives because we got a perfect mix of desert and ocean. When you first land in Dubai, you will notice how incredibly modern this desert oasis is. While the city of New Dubai was modern and filled with skyscrapers, we stopped by Old Dubai and went off into the dunes of the desert where the magic truly was.
STAY
We stayed at the beautiful Bab al Shams while we were in the desert. “Bab al Shams” means gateway to the sun in Arabic, and it is truly a one-of-the-kind resort built in a low-rise Arabic fort setting around an oasis. With lots of nooks and crannies full of beautiful details, every turn was a pleasant surprise as I explored the resort. It was truly a magical place that offered a unique desert experience that is true to the culture and heritage of Dubai and the UAE.
EAT
If you don’t stay at Bab al Shams, I still highly recommend eating at their famous Indian restaurant Masala. With beautiful décor & ambiance, the food was simply the best Indian food that I have ever had. Our friends who live in Abu Dhabi told us that they would drive out to Bab al Shams just to eat at the restaurant, so it’s good to know that locals recommend it as well.
Before we went off into the desert, we explored Old Dubai and stopped by Arabian Tea House Restaurant and Café. With delicious food, refreshing drinks, and relaxing ambience, it was the perfect place to refuel after walking around in the heat all day. If you have the chance to go in the morning, I highly recommend trying the traditional Arabian breakfast platter.
DO
The highlight of our stay in the desert was spending a day with Platinum Heritage. The Platinum Heritage site is part of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve which is owned and operated by the Royal Family. We were driven around in a 1950’s vintage Land Rover while we explored everything the desert had to offer. We got to hang out with two cute camels and spotted gazelles around the desert. At the end of the amazing drive, we watched the sunset over the dunes as we rested with a glass of sparkling date & apple juice in hand and enjoyed dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp nestled inside the private Royal retreat. Unlike the rest of the tours that are offered in the region, which tend to be very touristy and show off a generic Arabic culture from the wider Middle East including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, etc, Platinum Heritage is currently the only local desert safari that focuses on the Emirati culture. It is a great way to enjoy an authentic Emirati desert experience and they offer a wide selection of different experiences that caters to all.
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Photographer: Maria Sundin
Comments
Recently i reached on your site some few days ago i was reaching some popular and beautiful places for a honeymoon trip. Suddenly i saw you are this blog when i saw this i am so impressed to saw you this place on Dubai i can’t image that i really like that your and now i decided that i and my wife definitely this place for a honeymoon.
I like this. What fun, perfect for a honeymoon.
