The drive up to Dunes By Al Nahda takes you through rocks and mountains until you arrive at the giant gateway, which stands like a monolith among the rocks. Till you reach here, you only have a vague idea that you’re moving towards the desert. The minute you step through, however, you get a full-blown look at the most scenic sand landscape in the Sultanate. Located in the famed Wadi Al Abiyad Sands in Barka, Dunes By Al Nahda is a brilliant new addition to the country’s myriad vistas but is unlike any other. The property is spread as far as the eye can see and completely blends into the desert that encompasses it. The airy design of the main reception area, the restaurants and the bar is like a modern rendition of the sands of time in geometric form. With wood and local stone as primary design elements, the Fleur Restaurant and Dune Bar greet you first, and are also the main congregation areas for guests. Both serve upscale fare and have been created to cater to every kind of customer with both Omani and Western-style seating. It is a feat to keep the outlets ready and stocked, given that they are open on most sides and one is literally in the middle of the desert. The idea, however, is to give you an unabridged experience of life in the Omani desert, so much so that there are no visible boundaries around the property. It is a slice of desert life. Fleur, the al fresco all-day-dining restaurant, offers both multi-cultural A la Carte and Table d‘Hôte menus, while the Dunes bar is a great place to unwind.
Once you breathe in the restaurant and bar structure, your eye moves beyond to the tented accommodation. It looms like an oasis, bright yet cohesive. The overall effect is very picturesque, and the night sky gives the expanse of the resort a very surreal look. The resort has 30 tents in all, which are divided into 10 Luxury tents, 18 Suite tents and two Royal tents. They use indigenous input for their décor and construction, including wood, metalware, masonry elements and carpets. In keeping with the resort’s luxury profile, all the tents feature en-suite full private bathrooms, flat screen television sets and independently controlled air-conditioning. They are rustic and beautiful, and each offers a great view of the dunes or the mountains beyond. Of course, while they are designed as a cluster, each retains its own air of privacy. Besides, each of them has a very enigmatic appeal, especially under a starry night sky.
The different areas of the resort are connected by tracks that allow for easy navigation around the property, which will soon feature a golf course. The walks around the resort are extremely pleasant in the evening, and one can take in the undulating surrounds with special nooks that have been created all over. Another beautiful element are the water lily ponds between the tents, taking forward the idea of a beautiful oasis. The Dunes By Al Nahda desert resort also has an elite spa that offers a number of exclusive treatments, including an innovative sand spa therapy that has been derived from ancient Egyptian rituals.
One of the principal attractions is the plethora of sporting activities that the resort offers. A lot of care has been taken to include desert sports so that one can get a complete experience that encompasses rest, relaxation and adventure – should one have the inclination. Apart from kite flying, dune bashing and quad biking, the resort can organise sand surfing and the more traditional camel riding.
One of the most striking things about Dunes By Al Nahda is how well it interacts with the environment around it, as well as the care it has taken to engage the local people and highlight the Omani culture. A deep sense of hospitality shines through, in keeping with the local tradition of welcoming each guest with graciousness. It is definitely a great place to spend a weekend or more for foreigners and locals alike.
For reservations or more information,
call +968 97235700 or email
stay@dunesbyalnahda.com
