Abu Dhabi might only be 41 years old, but the country’s heritage goes back hundreds of years. And now a company is offering holiday makers the chance to experience traditional Arabian living first-hand, with a few modern luxuries thrown in.
Arabian Nights Village is a new resort which opened in October 2012 and is situated just 90 minutes from the heart of the nation’s capital, in Al Khatim. Drive along the E22 in the direction of Al Ain and then down Truck Road towards the emirate’s camel farms into miles of uncharted sand. Nestled in between the harsh sand dunes lies a walled camp, with turrets sitting proudly at each corner, and two imposing towers standing by the entrance.
Inside the walls are coloured stone bungalows, barasti bungalows modelled on the traditional coastal residences, plus traditional Bedouin tents with modern amenities. There are also rooms available in the towers up by the front gate. These are called the Al Manhal Tower Suites, and are designed to look like opulent palaces of old. They’re the most expensive accommodation available and are named after one of the palaces of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan. The sandy bungalows are inspired by life in Abu Dhabi before the oil boom, while the barasti bungalows celebrate the emirate’s pearl diving history. The Bedouin tents give you a taste of days gone by, but with added air conditioning and washrooms. All the accommodation is elegantly built, tastefully decorated inside and more than comfortable for a night’s stay.
You’ll also find a small souk, a huge swimming pool with sun loungers, an al fresco dining area and a restaurant with tables and comfy sofas outside. The village, which took three years to build, can accommodate 60 guests in its 30 rooms and bungalows.
If Arabian Nights’ philosophy is to capture the spirit of a more simple time, they’ve managed it very well in indeed, but in some unexpected ways. Modern technology isn’t welcome here. There are no TVs in the rooms, no wi-fi and you’ll struggle to even get a phone signal, which means it’s probably not the best place to visit if you need to stay in touch with people back home. But if uninterrupted peace and quiet is what you’re longing for, you won’t find a resort more isolated than this.
Sport & Outdoor
While the village embraces traditional Arabian heritage, there’s a more modern twist when it comes to the activities on offer. Guests are collected in a fleet of SUVs from the entrance to Khalifa Park in Abu Dhabi and the first stop on the tour is at a camel farm. It’s very easy to get up close and personal with the ships of the desert here, as they wander around in a huge pen, happily letting tourists pat them and take photos. But TOAD’s visit is interrupted by a stampeding camel wandering around outside the pen, who immediately marches over to make sure us pesky tourists aren’t harming her fellow humped friends. Thankfully, she doesn’t bite but everyone gets the message.
Next up is a spot of dune bashing. Adrenaline junkies might be disappointed to not take the wheel themselves, but the banks of sand are so steep that one wrong move and your SUV could be rolling down a hill. It’s still a thrilling experience and we recommend sitting in the front seat to get the most out of it. The drivers tease and stop at the top of the steepest inclines for a few seconds for added dramatic effect.
There’s even time to get in a spot of sandboarding before reaching the village, as the dune bashing is interrupted and the 4x4s come to a halt at the top of a particularly steep incline. Skiers and snowboarders will find the only real similarity between the sports is the equipment, although a sandboard is smaller than a snowboard. Boarding through sand also comes with problems: you’re strapped in loosely with Velcro, as opposed to the more traditional bindings, and it’s much heavier going and slower than snow. TOAD’s decision to ignore the advice from our tour guide comes back to haunt us when we end up crashing and doing a cartwheel three times. We were finding sand up our nose and in our ears the rest of the weekend. And be warned: walking back up the slope will have your heart racing faster than a hummingbird trapped in a kettle. Thankfully, they’ll send an SUV down to pick you up if you’re struggling.
Once at the resort, you can have a go at camel riding and quad biking. The camel ride is free, but you’ll need dirhams to head out on one of the bikes. We opt for a chilled out meander through the sand dunes on Shaheen, a female camel who, a few grunts and groans aside, offers a smooth ride and encapsulates the traditional Arabian spirit the village is trying to capture. Henna panting is also available, as is the chance to meet a falcon.
Shopping
The village is home to a small souk which sells the various glasses, cutlery, bowls and accessories they’ve used to decorate the rooms. They’re all made from local designs.
Eating Out
The bad news is your options are limited. You’re in the middle of the desert, after all. There’s only one place you can go for dinner and breakfast. The good news is the food is great. Dinner is served Emirati style outside, with low chairs and tables positioned around a stage meaning you’re eating while sitting on a cushion on the floor, and an oud player performs and sings throughout the meal. Dinner is a buffet, serving the expected tabbouleh and hummus, along with a grill station. The lamb chops and chicken kebabs in particular are excellent and are served with freshly-cooked bread. There are various vegetable dishes, such as ratatouille and you can even ask for pasta if you’re veggie and struggling with all the meat on the menu. There are plenty of traditional Emirati dishes as well, such as ma’louba (chicken, cauliflower and roasted eggplant), margooga and harees (a chicken dish that might remind you of porridge) and a belly dancer also performs during dinner. There are 70 staff in the village, who all live in accommodation next door, and their commitment to customer service is impressive. They’re attentive without being pushy, a vibe which fits perfectly with the quiet surroundings. What is also a nice touch is the free water, soft drinks and plenty of fruit and dates supplied in your room.
Need to know
Getting there
It’s a 90-minute trip from Abu Dhabi and while you can drive to the village yourself, it’s more fun to get picked up by the fleet of SUVs at the entrance to Khalifa Park. That way you get to visit the camel farm and go sandboarding and dune bashing. Prices for two sharing a heritage room are Dhs1,250 for a night inclusive of service charges and tourism fees and include breakfast and dinner and most activities. The tower suites cost Dhs3,750 and hold six guests. www.arabiannights.ae (02 676 9990).
