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Only a smooth one-hour drive from Dubai, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert offers luxury rest and relaxation and unforgettable experiences in an idyllic desert setting.
Away from Abu Dhabi’s bright city lights and the glitz and glamour of Dubai’s soaring skyline, the lesser-explored corners of the United Arab Emirates offer an alternative Middle Eastern escape. Beyond the bounds of these famous cities, sands swathe the country’s quiet interior, but the great golden dunes rippling out to the edge of the Indian Ocean are often missed by travellers to the Gulf.
Here, in the northernmost of the UAE’s seven territories, one luxury desert resort embraces both the peace of the Al Wadi Desert and the country’s rich heritage: The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah. Serenely situated within a privately owned 1,235-acre nature sanctuary in Wadi Khadeja, its secluded villas offer laidback luxury in the heart of the Arabian wilderness.
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The resort has its own nature reserve – and rainforest
For centuries, the only explorers roving the quiet deserts of the Gulf were Bedouin nomads, navigating by the bright night sky and hunting using trained falcons — a way of life that sustains them to this day. The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert allows guests to immerse themselves in that millennia-old story, showcasing these traditional practices in a private desert sanctuary. Travellers can try their hand at falconry, join a camelback caravan through the sands and stargaze completely free of light pollution.
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah’s unrivalled location in a private sanctuary also allows travellers to explore another side of the Emirates, with well-versed desert guides leading guests into the Al Wadi Nature Reserve to spy roving oryx and grazing gazelles. The resort is also home to the Rainforest, a leafy hideaway where traditional Middle Eastern bathing rituals are blended with hydrothermal treatments – guests following its circuit of 16 rejuvenating stations can choose to end their journey in a chilling Ice Igloo.
Alternatively, book in at the Ritz-Carlton Spa — an elegant, temple to wellness offering restorative treatments including facials, body scrubs and massage. While parents enjoy these adults-only spaces, children are kept occupied by the Ritz Kids programme, featuring supervised activities like treasure hunts, archery and catch and release fishing.
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It has an ultra-luxury villa-only set up
Dotted among the desert sands, the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah’s 109 villas offer occupants total privacy and direct access to the untamed Arabian wilderness, each equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, an individual terrace and a cooling infinity pool. The region’s natural splendour and rich heritage are also celebrated in the villas’ interior design, with tented roofs echoing the nomadic homes of the Bedouins and carefully carved mashrabiya-style lattice decals fragmenting and softening the bright light of the sun.
Individuals and couples will find the one-bedroom villas impressively spacious, while families or travellers seeking a little extra room to manoeuvre can select one of the resort’s lavish two-bedroom Signature Villas. This upgrade doesn’t only mean an extra bed, these elevated stays also feature a private gym, butler service and an exclusive breakfast experience with the resort’s chef.
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The dedicated services are perfectly personalised
The ideal Middle Eastern escape looks different to every traveller — some lean towards ultra-luxury amenities, others are drawn to outdoor activities or cultural immersion. At The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, each guest can curate a bespoke itinerary in line with their unique interests, using a dedicated service centred on crafting personalised, end-to-end travel plans.
Gourmands keen to experience a traditional, Bedouin-style barbecue can request Destination Dining, savouring the fragrant spices of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine under a canopy of stars. Travellers inclined towards total relaxation can build a daily agenda of luxury spa treatments, while explorers can schedule multiple tours of the resort’s private nature sanctuary. By blending both on-site events and activities with nearby attractions, visitors can access the best experiences this wild region has to offer.
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How to plan your trip
Known as the UAE’s ‘Nature Emirate’, Ras Al Khaimah is unique in offering visitors access to desert, beach and mountain experiences. Standing solitary in this quiet and lesser-explored corner is the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, an ultra-luxury refuge for travellers seeking to venture beyond the country’s well-trodden cities. An oasis less than an hour’s drive from Dubai’s international airport, the resort balances tranquillity with tradition in an unmatched dune-side setting.
To plan your trip, visit: ritzcarlton.com
Feature image: Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert
