Luxurious overnight stay in the Dubai desert

The Great Arabian Desert is a vast desert landscape on the Arabian Peninsula. It covers a total area of ​​2,33 million km². It is one of the most inhospitable desert regions in the world. The climate is extremely dry. There is hardly any rainfall, and temperatures can reach around 50 degrees Celsius during the day and drop below freezing in the evenings. Because of these conditions, there is little life in the desert. Animals such as the striped hyena, jackal, and honey badger once lived here, but they have all disappeared due to habitat loss and hunting. However, some species have been reintroduced, including the Arabian oryx and the dune gazelle.

A nature reserve was established in 1999 to protect the flora and fauna. Originally, this area was 27 km², but thanks to a substantial donation from Emirates Airline and the State of Dubai, it expanded to 225 km². In 2002, the reserve was declared a protected area. Since then, significant funds have been invested in the conservation and development of the native flora and fauna. Because, as strange as it may sound, various plants thrive in the desert landscape.

You can visit the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, but not on your own. Several tour operators offer day trips to this desert area. They offer a variety of activities that don't disrupt the environment, and you can even stay overnight.

I am fortunate that during my travel in Dubai You can spend the night in the desert. And what a place! Stephanie Reichenbach, the founder of The Nest by Sonara, is Frenchwoman. This woman always had a passion for the desert and dreamed of creating an authentic, eco-friendly desert camp. That dream came true in Dubai. She named her first desert camp Nara, a nod to her four sons, Neil, Adam, Ryan, and Adrian. Next came a restaurant in the middle of the desert and a place to stay overnight: The Nest by Sonara. Not camping, not glamping, but Nesting. In the middle of the sand dunes are 14 nests, designed by renowned architect Gianni Ranaulo. The nests are designed to blend seamlessly into the desert landscape.

Sleeping in a luxurious nest

As soon as you arrive at The Nest by Sonara, you'll be greeted by the team and welcomed with a refreshing drink. Settle down on the lounge chairs to relax and take in the scenery. Tables are set in the sand, with rugs, wicker chairs, and benches. This is the quintessential desert oasis. Once you're ready, the staff will escort you to your nest.

The nests look fantastic from the outside. Inside, they're perhaps even more beautiful. I never expected to find such a luxurious room in the middle of the desert. The front of the nest is completely glass, so you can gaze out even from your large double bed. Each nest has a modern ensuite bathroom and a small minibar. Besides the bed, there's various pieces of furniture to sit on, but isn't it much nicer to sit in front of your nest in the lounge chairs or beanbag chairs? Internet in the desert? Absolutely, the Wi-Fi works perfectly here. Enjoy the silence of the desert at night. No light pollution and no city noise, just an oasis of tranquility.

Dining and entertainment at Sonara Camp

It's possible to dine à la carte at The Nest by Sonara. The lounge serves a variety of delicious dishes in the evening. However, we'll be dining at Sonara Camp. A driver will take us to this desert camp in just a few minutes. Since dinner isn't served until after sunset, we can relax in the lounge areas. We can order a drink there and receive appetizers beforehand. There's also plenty to do. You can ride a camel, do archery, sandboard, or carry a falcon. And of course, it's also beautiful to admire the sunset in this area.

Once the sun sets, we're invited to our tables. Get ready for a delicious gastronomic experience. The three-course dinner features a selection of delicacies from Arabic cuisine, combined with Western and Eastern influences. Fresh ingredients are used, and there are plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. While you're eating, you can enjoy a spectacular dinner show. Belly dancers and fire-eaters provide plenty of entertainment. Sometimes you might even forget there's food on your plate. Finally, there's a fire show to conclude the evening at Sonara Camp.

Stargazing with an astronomer

Ryan, one of the four sons of the founder of The Nest by Sonara, has many passions and hobbies. Astronomy is one of them. As soon as we return from Sonara Camp, Ryan is waiting for us to take a look at the starry sky. There's a beautiful telescope in the sand, and several chairs are set up for us. Since it's cooled down considerably by now, we're all given blankets. And then Ryan starts talking, showing us stars and galaxies through his telescope. The starry sky is incredibly fascinating, and astronomy is one of the oldest sciences in the world. Yet, we still know so little about the universe, its galaxies, its plants, and its stars. The vast distances and the infinity of the universe have something magical. Besides being fascinating to hear such a passionate person speak, it's also truly beautiful to look at the starry sky.

Admiring sunrise in the desert

It's wonderful to sleep in the serene tranquility of the desert, of course. Still, I recommend setting the alarm so you can admire the sunrise. With bleary eyes, I leave my nest, packed with my camera, and find a nice spot in the sand dunes. The horizon is slowly turning red and orange. Between the dunes, I see the dune gazelles and Arabian oryxes strolling. Behind me, the first hot air balloons are taking off, because here too, you can admire the sunrise from a hot air balloon. As soon as the sun rises above the mountains, the landscape immediately brightens. Immediately after sunrise, I can sit down for a delicious, extensive breakfast.

Cost of the overnight stay

But how much does a desert experience like this cost? You'll easily pay €490 per night per cabin, and with the Sona Experience, €575. You'll also pay a bit extra for stargazing or a private cinema. Not exactly cheap, but this experience is truly unique. How often do you get the chance to sleep in a desert? Especially in this luxury? Especially if it's just the two of you, I highly recommend this experience. Put it on your bucket list.

The Nest by Sonara isn't the only place to stay in the desert. Bab Al Shams, Al Maha, Platinum Heritage, Arabian Adventures, Starlight Camp, and Meliá Desert Palm also offer unique desert experiences.

Also read: Dubai | 5x special overnight stays outside the big city.

Disclaimer: My visit to Dubai was made possible in collaboration with World-travellers.com, USP Marketing PR en visit Dubai. Everything you read in this article is my personal opinion/experience.