In the recent years, the UAE has seen renewed emphasis on the evolution of art and creativity. Young Emiratis are laying claim to their artistic future, expressing themselves in a way that reflects the enormous cultural diversity of the region.
Dubai and Sharjah are home to dynamic art centres and providing dedicated spaces that have been specifically designed to nurture creativity in the community as well as hosting exhibitions by leading international artists. In Dubai, you will have a chance to explore the hidden gems of Al Quoz, with a large variety of contemporary art galleries, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Design District and the downtown area with numerous art galleries. If you choose the 2-day programme, you will visit visit the Sharjah Art Museum, which is the largest art museum in the Gulf. Explore the history of the region through the Orientalist painters of the 18th and 19th centuries, created by both local and internationally renowned artists.
Lose yourself in the beauty of serene desert landscape at one of the most luxurious Bedouin-styled resorts – Al Maha, less than 65 kilometers from the bustling city of Dubai. A classic blend of the nature with endless golden dunes and the architecture that reflects the heritage of the Bedoiuns with finesse, this resort offers a magical experience to those looking for a peaceful yet exciting getaway from the city.
The resorts features 42 exclusive suites each with its own pool and deck, overlooking the endless sand dunes and lazing wilderness of Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Located within the 225 square kilometers of alluring desert landscape, it offers unparalleled hospitality, privacy and absolute comfort adding to the romance of the desert.Guests can enjoy a series of activities from archery, falconry, desert safaris, horse riding, wildlife drives, nature walks, camel trekking and number of exciting off-site activities.
Step into the majestic world of luxury, leisure and all things equestrian with its long traditions in the Arab world. Horse lovers will enjoy the world-class Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, complete with over 300 stables and three polo fields. Watch as the elegant thoroughbreds are taken through their morning exercise rituals before you continue your tour of the stables. You will learn how the horses are fed, groomed and cleaned every day. End the morning tour with a scrumptious breakfast at the Epona Terrace with views of the pristine polo arena. You are more than welcome to relax in the Spanish- styled clubhouse before heading back to your hotel.
You also have the option of experiencing-by-doing at the Riding School, where students of all ages and skill levels are exposed to a wide range of riding disciplines, from show jumping and dressage to polo. The riding academy’s superb location complete with modern facilities makes it the destination of choice for beginners and experts alike.Horse lovers of all ages can enjoy the opportunity to witness firsthand how these magnificent steeds are looked after every day and how they form an important part of the Arabian culture and traditions.
Explore the mystic Arabian Desert on the back of a well-trained horse and experience tranquility while trotting amidst the naturally carved golden sand dunes. Your journey will begin from your designated hotel, from where you will travel by a VIP car to a magnificent desert resort nestled in the dunes of Dubai, an ultimate luxury retreat.
A one-of-its-kind traditional desert experience that its true to the culture and heritage of the UAE, recreational riding is a must do experience, whether you are a beginner or an advance rider. You can choose a private instructor if you are an inexperienced driver or enjoy the thrill of riding in the desert on your own. And the exhilarating experience with a sumptuous meal at one of the restaurants in the spectacular resort before you head back to your hotel.
Step away from the standard city tour and learn more about the city from the residence and photographers perspective; get your camera and good walking shoes ready because this is your must do experience!
We have put together a uniquely tailored adventure that’s sure to get any keen photographer scrambling for their spare lenses. Our artist photographer guide will drive you through the newer districts of the city into some of Dubai’s oldest neighborhoods. Stroll through Dubai’s old trade district and explore the city’s back streets where you will experience and capture the everyday hustle and bustle of the streets. Learn about the local culture, visit shops, stop at a cafeteria for a fresh juice and visit hidden mosques.Feel free to stop and shoot at various sites and locations and you will be exposed to street life in Dubai that only exists in the older districts.
Camels are an intrinsic part of Emirati culture and visitors and residents alike have a fondness and respect for the ships of the desert – the sight of one never fails to evoke excitement. So seeing hundreds of them is a sight to behold.
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the UAE’s oldest sport in action at the The Al Marmoum Camel Racetrack, situated in the fringes of the city. Before the races begin, you will have the opportunity to see the facilities and learn more about camels. You will get to experience this age-old cultural sport which is highly competitive and where the traditional and contemporary values mix. Seeing the galloping animals flanked by fleets of expensive SUVs is a clear mash of old and new but it also shows that the event is still relevant in modern Dubai.
The most popular racing days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the winter months. The race distance varies from 4 to 10 kilometers in range. The prize money during the key races can go into multiples of a million. Experience first-hand how the Arabian camels are treated like royalty if they show talent in winning a race. Many are employed in taking care of the camels, so the sport is great for the economy too.
The mangrove forests that cover thousands of hectares of land along the UAE shoreline form an integral part of the coastal ecosystem in the UAE. They provide a rich natural habitat and safe breeding grounds for several fish species, sea snakes, turtles and commercially important shrimp, snapper, grunt fish and sea bream.
Despite the fact that the size of mangrove forests in the Emirate is steadily increasing, there are some locations where excessive human activities have adversely affected the mangrove ecosystem. Your journey today will be one of acquiring deep knowledge and contributing to the environment by participating in rehabilitating the affected areas by cultivating the plants in these mangroves. You will have the opportunity to understand and learn about the mangrove forests, their importance to the environment, how they are maintained and demonstration of the planting technique before you become a part of a group-planting programme where you will experience mangrove cultivation first hand.
Enjoy the unique opportunity of interacting with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG), deeply committed to protecting and restoring the environment and wildlife of the UAE. EMEG maintains a coastal sanctuary and reserve on the western border of Dubai, which you will have a chance to visit, to increase awareness and understanding of the different threats the environment faces.
On your journey, you will learn that the country’s marine life is found in two completely different bodies of water – to the north in the Arabian Gulf and to the east in the Gulf of Oman, connected to the Indian Ocean. Here more than 500 different species of fish inhabit the waters. Our natural environment is far more diverse than is generally understood. Besides the sea, the landscape is dominated by desert, ranging from vast, flat sandy expanses to spectacular rolling dunes offering welcome shade to wildlife. Here we can find a wide range of habitats and wildlife including reptile, mammals, and amphibians. This interactive wildlife and habitat tour can be tailored to you on weekdays and you can choose between certain activities as per your interest, such as feeding Hammour (our local fish species), mangrove relay tours, introduction to Mangrove rehabilitation, bird-watching with the experts and canoeing.
This beautiful serene experience brings you close to nature, wildlife and heritage of this amazing country, through a tale told by a local Bedouin and driving around in a historic 1950’s Land Rover.
Early in the morning, you will be driven to the edge of the Dubai Conservation Reserve where you will be greeted by a professional Safari Guide, in a museum quality 1950’s Land Rover, a vehicle which has played a pivotal role in the 1950’s and since then has become a part of the UAE history. No other vehicle offers a more authentic desert experience to spot exotic local wildlife. You will discover what life was like in the desert before modern developments, when you hear fascinating tales from a local Bedouin, all within the exclusive surrounds of a private royal desert retreat. You will have the opportunity to learn local recipes handed down from generation to generation, before enjoying a scrumptious breakfast. This is a rare opportunity for you to glimpse into the rich history of the region, experience pristine desert, observe native wildlife, enjoy a stunning journey in a classic Land Rover, ride a camel and meet one of the original inhabitants of this land, who will share his stories and experiences and bring you close to what life in the UAE used to be like before all the developments.
Your journey will begin at the research facility where you will be welcomed the traditional local way and you will watch a brief film presentation, before getting the health & safety induction and heading out to the pearl diving activity. You will be taken back into time when mechanical apparatus of any kind wasunavailable while diving. You will recieve a clip like a clothes peg to close your nostrils and leather sheaths to protect your fingers and enable you to remove the shells from the rocks underneath the sea.You will descend on a rope which has a stone weight attached to it.
The rope is hauled up when you reach the bottom. A string bag will be placed around your neck where the shells will be On this tour, you will learn about the heritage and pearling traditions of the country by experiencing it first hand under the guidance of professionals in the field. Collected and once you are ready to come up, you can tug the rope and your partner will pull you up. You will be able to stay above the surface for a few minutes before you can dive again. Traditionally, a pearl diver repeated this procedure 30 times in a day. The shells will be open on the deck for you to find out if you have been successful in finding a pearl. There’s a one in 10 chance of finding a pearl in an oyster so you will find out if you have been lucky! You may choose to have lunch on board which includes a typical fresh sanctuary caught fish, rice and vegetable meal.
With an architect guide, explore some of Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s most iconic structures and gain insights into the Emirates’ architectural genius. In Dubai, visit Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina with over 200 high-rise buildings constructed in 5 years, Downtown - an amazing lifestyle district, Business Bay with over 230 projects, the high profile Dubai International Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, another magnificent landmark.
In Abu Dhabi, visit the futuristic Masdar a Zero Carbon City designed by Foster & Partner with Madar Institute of Science and Technology, star architect Zaha Hadid’s Sheikh Zayed Bridge, the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi’s central market - a modern interpretation of the traditional Arab Souq, Manarat Al Saadiyat where the you are enlightened about the incredible future cultural and arts projects, the classic double curved body shell of Ferrari world and its surrounding F1 Race track.
If you are a petrol head looking to add the motoring element to your holiday, then Dubai is the perfect place to get your adrenaline pumping. Embark on a tour of the city's leading custom car workshops with our expert guide who will show you the vibrant tuning scene you have been reading about on the leading car blogs.
You will be able to visit the best-known workshops, experience the local twist and witness several unique projects in progress. The tour includes visits to two distinctive locations where most of the leading workshops are nested, both the high street players as well as the back street small timers. You will have the opportunity to talk to the people behind the top builds and projects, learn about the local car culture, traditions, trends and developments. From humble hatchbacks through to roaring muscle cars and the banzai screamers, this tour covers it all. Love classics or race cars? No problems, we got them all covered.
To top it all up we can arrange an amazing driving experience at the Dubai Autodrome: drive the all new Audi TT 45 TFSI Coupe Quattro which takes pocket rocket handling to the next level and the Audi R8 V10, one of the most luxurious and fastest supercars in the world. The Single-seater Experience is the ultimate racecar introduction to wings and slick tires. Learn drifting or easy drifting, a driving technique. Bring your youngsters along, to the First Drive Experience designed for young drivers from 12 to 18 years of age. Drive a Chevrolet Aveo 5 with state-of-the-art duel controls or enjoy the Clio Cup Race car experience. The Kartdrome also offers a fleet of leisure karts that deliver an excellent racing experience for those age 7 and up.