One sunny July, back in 2010, 
On the way, I tried to spoil his surprise by guessing. As part of my day job, I knew the existing and up-and-coming hotels in Dubai at the back of my hand. The first hotel guess I blurted out was exactly where he was taking me, but he pretended that it wasn't by changing the direction where our vehicle was headed with an unplanned detour.
Finally, as soon as we entered Dubailand, I knew he was headed for my first guess' direction. We drove for 20 minutes from where we lived which was just behind Arabian Ranches down through a remote desert.
A big smile was plastered on his face as soon as I took off the sleeping eye mask. We were greeted by the lovely staff of Bab Al Shams as soon as he handed the car keys to the valet.
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa
Bab Al Shams means "Gateway to the Sun" in Arabic. This desert oasis is nestled in the middle of sand dunes between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a 45-minute drive from either international airport. It is located right next to Dubai International Endurance City which is a multi-purpose sporting event destination. This posh hotel resort is part of Meydan Hotels.
Our visit as you can imagine was during the scorching hot summer. It was +40 degrees Celsius. Hotels in the UAE offer special packages during the low tourist season from June to August. Yohann landed on a special package including a Couple Spa Treatment at Satori Spa, inclusive of buffet breakfasts, and a weekend stay for a very good deal.
Architecture & Design of the Property
The design of the low-rise hotel is based on a traditional Arabic fort. The hotel property took nine months to build and it opened its doors to the public in 2004.
It was designed by the award-winning architecture and interior design firm Godwin Austen Johnson and Chartered Architects along with the landscape architects, Desert Leisure Dubai. Their design vision was to create a fortified rural Arab village.
The lobby was carefully decorated with ornate lanterns and rustic furniture whose ceiling design caught our attention as sunlight filtered through it.
Once we were checked in, we took a small break inside the centralized air-conditioned deluxe room. I treated myself to some dates and a cup of coffee at the traditional lounge sitting corner, while Yohann checked the available activities.
Our room highlighted the use of natural stones and dark timber with Arabian glasswork. Like most guests, I was pleased to find a large bathroom with rain showers.
There are 113 well-designed rooms in rustic Arabic style. The deluxe and superior rooms were roughly around 47 sq.m while the suites ranged from 50.9 sq.m to 68.4 sq.m
We later explored the resort and discovered a lot of stone alleyways, courtyards, lush gardens, and private balconies for each room.
Things to Do
There are many activities you can do during your stay apart from lounging in their impressive pool all day. Indulge yourself in a vast number of treatments and wellness consultations in Satori Spa.
Satori Spa has four private indoor treatment rooms where you can enjoy a relaxing holistic massage and facials.
Explore the desert dunes on a 4x4 Jeep or Camel or Horse Riding. There are local guides that would take you to visit an Oryx or Gazelle Watchtower. It's also an ideal area for cycling. Enjoy desert archery, Falconry, and Croquet.
There's also a Kids Club to keep younger guests between 2 to 12 yearsold occupied.
Where to Dine
The most popular restaurant within the hotel is the Al Hadheera, an outdoor Bedouin Style restaurant that offers a unique Arabian experience. Imagine dining under the stars in a sunken seating area! We didn't get the chance to try it but we've heard great reviews from friends and co-workers who went. It's a buffet of traditional Arabic cuisine with henna painting, belly dancing, and folk dance entertainment situated near a heritage village.
There's also Masala, an Indian restaurant that offers authentic Indian cuisine with live tandoor cooking stations.
We tried Al Forsan for dinner and breakfast offering an international buffet with various cooking stations. Our rating would be mediocre.
There's a great number of restaurants, lounges, and bars inside the hotel resort to choose from including rooftop sheesha (hookah pipes) lounges at Al Shorouq Rooftop Terrace and Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge overlooking the desert in tent style seating. There's also Pizzeria Le Dune for Arabic and Italian Fusion.
The Wow Factor
Landscape Design
What I love most in this five-star hotel are the lush gardens with the trickling sound of water everywhere. Through the use of these water channels that run throughout the resort.
The landscape architect managed to stimulate the guests' senses in a very subtle way that puts anyone in a state of calm and bliss.
The architects integrated decorative elements bringing in fascinating experiences as we stumbled upon nooks and alleyways that were stunningly designed. The whole experience is of peace and utmost tranquility.
The Infinity Pool
The huge infinity pool is the most impressive part of the resort which is approximately 1,400 square meters made up of two infinity pools facing the desert. It is temperature-controlled with strategically designed canopies that offer shade with poolside rain showers.
It also has cascading waterfalls and fountains. There's a pool bar that offers refreshments and cocktails.
My Takeaway
Enjoy the desert sunset soaked in the gigantic infinity pool.
In case, you have a long layover in Dubai or you're planning for a longer stay and would like to be in a tranquil desert haven, away from the modern skyscrapers that dominate this dynamic city, I highly recommend a relaxing luxurious weekend at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa.
They say money can't buy happiness but it can buy experiences that would lead to unforgettable memories.
I recently celebrated my birthday and I still couldn't help smiling when I think about this special weekend surprise getaway.
I may not be qualified to join our A+D community contest entitled My Memorable Experience of a Hotel Design but I would like to participate by creating my own version of it. If you haven't yet, please do join us in this fun contest.
Thank you for reading and wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
References:
Inspired by my Original Post
Meydan Hotels - Bab Al Shams Fact File