Located in the desert near Al Marmoom, this resort is built to resemble a traditional Arabian fort or rural settlement. Low-rise structures, sand-coloured walls, narrow pathways, and internal courtyards create a sense of enclosure rather than exposure.
The main idea of Bab Al Shams is simple: to offer an immersive desert experience without giving up the expectations of modern luxury. It is not a hotel placed in the desert. It is a desert environment that has been structured into a hotel.
The property operates at a clear five-star level, with around 100+ rooms and suites designed in a contemporary style with Arabian references. Villas with private pools extend that experience further, allowing guests to remain fully within the landscape. Service is positioned as both attentive and informal – less theatrical than central Dubai luxury, more aligned with the pace of the surroundings.
The main idea of Bab Al Shams is simple: to offer an immersive desert experience without giving up the expectations of modern luxury. It is not a hotel placed in the desert. It is a desert environment that has been structured into a hotel.
The property operates at a clear five-star level, with around 100+ rooms and suites designed in a contemporary style with Arabian references. Villas with private pools extend that experience further, allowing guests to remain fully within the landscape. Service is positioned as both attentive and informal – less theatrical than central Dubai luxury, more aligned with the pace of the surroundings.
The day is structured around the environment rather than the city. Mornings begin with stillness. Afternoons slow under the heat. Evenings gather around food, light, and open space. The resort builds much of its appeal around experience, and desert activities – camel riding, falconry, cycling, and guided excursions – are part of the stay, not optional add-ons.
There is a strong emphasis on outdoor living: terraces, pools, and open dining spaces facing the dunes. At the same time, the offering remains complete. Spa and wellness facilities, fitness programmes, and multiple dining concepts ensure that the retreat does not feel isolated in a limiting way.
There is a strong emphasis on outdoor living: terraces, pools, and open dining spaces facing the dunes. At the same time, the offering remains complete. Spa and wellness facilities, fitness programmes, and multiple dining concepts ensure that the retreat does not feel isolated in a limiting way.
Photo courtesy Kerzner International
Bab Al Shams is part of the Rare Finds collection, a concept by Kerzner International that focuses on properties defined by location and cultural context. In this case, it’s all about no skyline, no rush, and no need to perform. Just space, silence, and a controlled version of the desert.
For residents, the appeal is immediate. The distance is short, but the shift is complete. You leave a city defined by visibility and arrive in a place where visibility disappears into horizon. For visitors, it answers a different question. Not what Dubai looks like – that is already known – but what surrounds it. And why that surrounding still matters.
For residents, the appeal is immediate. The distance is short, but the shift is complete. You leave a city defined by visibility and arrive in a place where visibility disappears into horizon. For visitors, it answers a different question. Not what Dubai looks like – that is already known – but what surrounds it. And why that surrounding still matters.