Guest Experience Biz

The Emirate of Dubai is a sprawling urban oasis that has risen from the golden sands of the Arabian desert to become one of the most popular destinations in the world. The Emirates has become a Mecca for tourism due to its innovative theme parks, attractive accommodation of various styles dotted throughout and its varying desert excursions.

Dubai's early rapid growth can be attributed to the discovery of oil back in 1966 leading to the Emirates expanding by an impressive 300%. Over time Dubai changed its focus to involve tourism and trade. It is one of the major trading hubs in the world having a particularly close relationship with India since ancient times. At current Dubai is known for its booming real estate market and tourism with oil only contributing around 6% to the total economy.

Its most popular tourist attraction or event is the desert safari. This excursion can last from a couple of hours to whole day depending on how much of an experience people want. The safari makes visitors feel as if they have been transported back to old times when explorers used to brave the never ending sea of dunes with their caravans in search of oil or ancient civilisations.

There are many tour companies that organise trips into the desert with a wide variety of activities including sleep over under the clear desert sky with only the moon glowing down. Most tour operators have half day and full day packages which include all meals and facilities including a desert encampment to rest and dine.

Most commonly the day starts with visitors joining a convoy of jeeps in the desert and then partaking in an activity called dune bashing where the driver races up and down the dunes and drives on top of them. Views from the high dunes are amazing and peaceful. The drive itself is highly enjoyable as one is made to feel like they are participating in a stage of the Paris-Dakar Rally. After an action packed session of dune bashing visitors are taken to a picturesque spot from which to view the sunset and have an opportunity to take photos.

From this point, visitors are transported to the desert encampment which is made to look like ancient tent based communities. Here guest are free to stretch their legs, refresh themselves and await the nights festivities. Night activities include a dinner, most commonly in the form of an Arabic style buffet, along with areas to lay back and smoke sheesha from a traditional hookah. Sand portrait designers are a common theme among desert safari operators where artists recreate designs that visitors would like done in coloured sand and are then placed in shapely bottles. After visitors have enjoyed the sumptuous feast of Arabic delights they are treated to a belly dance where in some cases observers are asked to participate.

Finally after all the nights activities have concluded guests may opt to stay over and sleep under the clear desert sky or be taken back to their accommodations.The ideal starting point for any desert safari can only be the awarding wining Shangri-La Hotel Dubai, this luxury 5 star hotel in Dubai offers sumptuous Arabian inspired rooms with luxurious amenities and the finest services found in any Dubai hotel.