AL MAHA, A LUXURY COLLECTION DESERT RESORT & SPA, DUBAI

Resort OverviewAl Maha Desert Resort & Spa is just a short 65 km drive from Dubai, along the Dubai-Al Ain road, located within the 225-square kilometre alluring golden landscape of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), one of the largest formally protected conservation reserves in the Gulf and recognized internationally. 45 minutes drive is all it takes from Dubai International airport to arrive at this secluded haven, where both leisure and business travellers are assured privacy within the tranquillity of the desert.

The resort accepts day-visitors with prior booking required. Only children above the age of 10 years are accepted as guests.

Resembling a Bedouin encampment, this hide-away resort offers matchless hospitality, privacy and absolute comfort adding to the romance of the desert. Enjoy the highest level of luxury, exclusive and professional services in the privacy of your suite while enjoying the delightful view of the Arabian Oryx and desert gazelles wandering freely across the plains and dunes. The exceptional accommodation facilities feature 37 Bedouin suites, 2 Royal suites, 2 Emirates Suites and 1 Presidential Suite. Each one of them boasts a private pool and deck overlooking the infinite lines of sand dunes and lush palms. The Al Maha room rate includes two on-site activities per person per night’s stay, ranging from archery to falconry, camel trekking, horse riding, guided nature walks, the unique Ghaf tree walk and wildlife safaris.

Reflecting old-style Arabian architecture with the largest private collection of original Arabian antiques and artworks in the Gulf, Al Maha is an important repository for over 2,000 historic and rare pieces of artwork, weaponry, traditional jewellery, and Bedouin handicrafts.

Dining

Every dining experience is delightful and exciting at Al Maha. Options include dining at “Al Diwaan”, the signature restaurant or under the stars on the deck besides the private pool,where every guest is assured of a culinary extravaganza with exemplary service. The setting of a meal amidst the dunes with a menu designed to satisfy one’s palate enhances the romance of the desert. For ultimate privacy while dining, 24 hr room service is available with a fine selection of food and beverage options. The resort also offers a state of the art conference centre for private or corporate gatherings for up to 120 people.

Timeless SpaWellness and rejuvenation needs of guests are taken care at Al Maha’s Timeless Spa, which specializes in a wide range of wellness, rejuvenation and beauty therapies. Offering a fusion of healing practices drawn from cultures around the world, the treatments are truly representative of Dubai’s cosmopolitan nature.

The spa’s signature treatments draw on the wisdom of Middle Eastern and South East Asian aromatherapy traditions offering beauty and relaxation treatments, private massage rooms for couples, in-

suite massage, a private Rasoul chamber, Hydrotherapy bath, a sauna and steam room including a cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness centre.

Day PackagesAl Maha has a number of enhanced day packages for those who would like to indulge themselves and enjoy the matchless hospitality, privacy, natural beauty and absolute comfort that this desert haven is famous for, without having to spend the night.

These day packages are designed with the discerning guest in mind and are tailor-made to showcase what sets the desert resort apart, be it the exciting activities that you can enjoy only at Al Maha or the stunning spa facilities where one can indulge and revitalize mind, body and soul, or even a wonderful meal conjured up by the resort’s award-winning chefs to tantalize one’s tastebuds.

The hotel’s pool package, priced at AED 550 per person, includes full day access to the main pool and spa facilities, and a sumptuous lunch at Al Diwaan, the resort’s signature restaurant. Also included is the entrance fee to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) on which Al Maha is situated.

For those who want that extra dose of pampering, the resort has introduced a ‘Spa Indulgence Package’. Priced at AED 1000 per person, this includes a 60-minute spa treatment of your choice at the Al Maha Timeless spa, access to the DDCR, main pool and all spa facilities as well as lunch at Al Diwaan. From Rasoul treatment for rejuvenation massages, an algae bath for detoxification or the signature timeless frankincense facial , there is something for everyone at the spa, which incorporates a suite of single or double treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.

Day guests who are keen to enjoy the numerous activities available at the resort, can opt for the aptly-named ‘Activities Package’, available for AED 950 per person. They can choose two exciting

activities from an extensive list that includes horse-riding, wildlife drives, guided nature walks, camel trekking, desert safari and archery. They will also get to visit the falconry mews and the beautiful team of horses at the Al Maha stables. Lunch at the Al Diwaan is also included in this package along with access to the DDCR, main pool and spa facilities.

Departure for all of these packages is at the guest’s convenience. In addition to this, for a limited time only.

Meetings and EventsThe state-of-the-art Al Majlis Boardroom is the ideal venue for meetings, incentives, conferences and small exhibitions, offering an unrivalled mix of luxury, refinement, culture and technology to the most discerning corporate executives and captains of industry. Its natural setting in the desert offers a breathtaking view of the pristine surroundings and contrasts delightfully with the hi-tech facilities offered at the venue.

Al Majlis, as the name infers, is the perfect meeting place which allows for alternative room and seating layouts while catering to groups ranging from 30 guests parliament style or 60 guests in a classroom style to as many as 120 in a theatre or cocktail configuration. The boardroom is fitted with state-of-the-art multimedia presentation equipment and digital data sharing options, all at the touch of a button.

Click here to view boardroom layout <http://www.al-maha.com/meetings/al-majlis>

Corporate and leisure guests can also enjoy the desert camp facility, where they can share a rare experience of a private evening in the desert in harmony with Nature, partake in a

traditional Arabic meal and enjoy a choice of entertainment. Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa differs from the typical urban hotel in that it is located outside the busy metropolis, allowing the resort to offer a secluded, unique and relaxing environment for special events. The resort is very selective in the events that it agrees to host, catering primarily for small and intimate events and conferences.

Events take place in a stunning desert camp setting only 10 minutes from the hotel, enhanced by water features and old artefacts to add to the charm. A fully-stocked bar, BBQ setup and tented areas are just some of the camp’s key features. Groups will be entertained by a band and traditional activities such as henna painting and sheesha make for a memorable evening.

Reckitt Benckiser, Repsol, Rolls-Royce, Hapag-Lloyd, Caterpillar, Young President’s Organisation, Lexus, Virgin, Pepsi and Microsoft are just some of the global organizations that have chosen Al Maha’s matchless hospitality, many of them booking the entire resort for their executive teams.

Awards Al Maha has received a host of international accolades, including Green Key certification and awards that highlight the world’s finest hospitality venues, leading environmental designs, contributions to conservation and the protection of biodiversity. The resorts notable dedication to conservation is evident in its distinct architecture where windows are designed not to conduct heat, all water is recycled and private vehicles are strictly prohibited to ensure the reserve and its wildlife is left undisturbed. Conservation efforts are extensive, ongoing and scientifically thorough. Guests at Al Maha are guided through an enriching engagement with nature and are left with an evocative and unforgettable experience to take away with them.

Al Maha’s numerous international awards and recognitions include:

• Winner of Tripadvisor® 2013 Travelers’ Choice® Award, # 8 in Top 25 Most Romantic Hotels in the World; ranked #1 in Service UAE, Hotels UAE and Luxury hotels UAE

• Winner of Tripadvisor® 2013 Travelers’ Choice® Award in Top 25 Hotels in Middle East

• Winner of International Hospitality and Property Awards 2011 – ‘Best Resort Hotel Dubai’

• Winner of International Hospitality and Property Awards 2011 – ‘Best Resort Hotel Arabia’

• Ranked in the top 20 list of the Condé Nast Traveller (UK) 2011, for Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean Islands.

• Winner in the conservation awards category, 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

• The only Leisure Hotel in Dubai within the Top 20 of Conde Nast’s Readers Awards for the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean regions for 2008.

• The resort was named by National Geographic Adventure as one of the world’s Top 50 Ecolodges, in 2008.

• Conde Nast Traveller Gold List in 2007 and recognition as the sole Dubai representative for Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean Islands.

• Conde Nast Traveller Gold List in 2006.

• Winning the 8th Arab Cities Award for Architecture from the Arab Cities Organization in 2005. • Winner of the World Legacy Award from National Geographic and Conservation International

presented by Queen Noor of Jordan in Washington DC in 2004.

• Winner of the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Awards in 2002.

Media Contact:Anu van der SandeT +971 04 203 3037 M +971 50 484 0460 F + 971 4 2951 206E Anu.Vandersande@lemeridien.comW lemeridien-alaqah.com

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