Abu Dhabi’s Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has opened the emirate’s first Arabian Nights Village desert retreat.

Set on an 85,000 sq m Al Khatem plot, the size of 12 professional football pitches, the village is expected to be a leading international draw for visitors, said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of TCA Abu Dhabi.

“This is a stunning development and a sterling example of private sector initiative and investment which we hope others will emulate. The village raises the bar on traditional overnight desert accommodation and we believe it will resonate well and be fully appreciated by residents and visitors alike,” said Sheikh Sultan.

“I want to congratulate the owners for their attention to detail in all aspects of construction, design and interiors, as well as their F&B offering and efforts towards environmental preservation,” he added.

The resort operates safaris and overnight excursions and houses an oasis style pool, an indoor-outdoor traditional‘Al Maqam’ restaurant, which means ‘The Gathering Place’, and a souk selling local handmade crafts.

It features 30 double rooms, five 1-bedroom suites and a 3-bedroom suite, set across four distinctive themes: Bayt Al Shaaer (the woven house), Bayt Al Bahar (house of the sea), Bayt Al Bar (desert home) and Al Manhal Fort Tower.

AM Simreen, managing partner, Arabian Nights Village, said: “Our unique mix of day desert safari’s and overnight excursions presents a  true destination where you can enjoy a new experience while staying in rooms and suites inspired by Abu Dhabi’s rich architectural and cultural history.

“As you approach the Village – which emerges surprisingly from a gigantic dune valley - you enter a picturesque courtyard overlooked by two traditional-styled watchtowers - Zakher and Al Manhal - each named after residences of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“We have worked very hard to not let modern day distractions enter the experience, so there are no TVs in the rooms, and phones and internet are operational only for emergencies.”

The Al Manhal Fort Tower offers three presidential bedrooms, each with opulent bathrooms, and interiors furnished with rich fabrics, natural materials and authentic design details.

Al Maqam recreates the bustling atmosphere of a vibrant Arabian dinner setting, where guests will eat off locally made crockery, see live Arabic bread making demonstrations and be treated to a rich diversity of Emirati cuisine and culture, such as oud musicians, henna artists and falconers.

The site is powered by four sound-proofed generators and it draws on the area’s natural resources, with a specialist water treatment facility extracting and treating water on-site. Drinking water comes from a 65 metre deep well. The village also uses treated waste water to irrigate trees and its landscaped gardens.

Activities are hosted on-site for visitors and can be booked individually, such as dune bashing, quad biking, sand surfing and sledding, camel riding, falconry, henna painting and Emirati camel farm visits. - TradeArabia News Service