Dubai’s longest-running desert resort has reopened with a new lease of life.
Bab Al Shams is the world’s first Rare Finds Hotels and Resorts, Kerzner International's newest collection of properties.
Scroll through the gallery above for a first look inside the renovated resort
On Friday, almost 20 years after first launching, the resort will once again welcome guests following an extensive 10-month refurbishment.
Embracing its setting among the dunes and its name that means "gateway to the sun", the resort’s new design is inspired by the earthy tones of the desert as they change throughout the day.
With 115 guest rooms and suites housed across two 16-storey buildings, accommodation features a neutral colour palette complemented with brushed gold accents, exposed wooden beams and subtle Moorish nods. Many abodes have private balconies or tropical gardens.
"The reimagined Bab Al Shams is a legacy project that we are proud and passionate to present,” says Gilles Soheir, general manager of Bab Al Shams.
“The team and I are thrilled to bring forward the essence and stories of this sanctuary to bring an authentic Bedouin experience alight.”
At the heart of Bab Al Shams is the resort's oasis-like infinity pool, which has been wholly upgraded with private cabanas, a swim-up bar and a tree-lined border.
Guests can find solace and respite from the mid-day sun at The Desert Spa, which offers treatments and therapies.
The family-friendly Bab Al Shams caters for children of all ages offering a dedicated "experience lounge" and a children's club with an adventure playground, zip line, board games, movies and more.
When it comes to dining, there are a variety of options on offer including Al Hadheerah, the resort’s original Middle Eastern restaurant, which has been reimagined. On the menu, there's regional cuisine including mezze, kebabs, flame-grilled seafood and ouzi cooked in traditional style in the desert.
Live cooking stations, belly dancers, musicians, folk dancers, falconers and a colourful caravan of camel are also on hand.
At the new all-day dining restaurant Zala, dishes are inspired by Ottoman and Greek cuisine while Ya Hala is a hideaway cigar and speakeasy-style lounge. The best sunset views are found at Anva Sunset Lounge, with its far-reaching vistas over the desert and beyond.
Desert adventures and Bab Al Shams's opening offer
During each stay, guests are invited to discover the "Arabian histories written in the grains of the Emirati desert via a host of experiences". These include camel trekking, falconry, archery, off-road drives and nature tours to the nearby Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
A sunrise hot air balloon experience with views of the desert is also available, while adventure fans can try their hands at fat biking through the dunes.
To celebrate its reopening, Bab Al Shams is offering an overnight package called Mystique of Arabia.
Inclusive of a Mediterranean-style breakfast and complimentary poolside cocktails, stays include a guided nature walk among the dunes and a camel ride. Visitors can also discover the ancient sports of falconry and archery.
Rates for the Mystique of Arabia stay start from Dh1,300 per night; www.babalshams.com
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Gothia Cup 2025
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
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