Be Bedouin for a day in new desert adventure in Dubai
dubai — There’s a whole lot more to the nomadic desert life than tents, barbeque feasts and camel photo ops. A new experience in Dubai lets you live like true Bedouins — right from how they watch the sunrise, how they look for food and take care of their camels, and how their evenings are capped with a village celebration in the heart of the desert.
The emirate’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing encourages both visitors and residents to embark on the new journey — called Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience — offered by excursion operator Platinum Heritage.
It’s guaranteed to whisk guests away from the hustle and bustle of the city and guide them through the nomadic desert life, said Dubai Tourism. Offering a unique adventure, the experience takes travellers back in time to showcase the cultural origins of the emirate.
Guests will learn to saddle, ride and look after their own camel as they join a Bedouin caravan, travelling through the desert before they arrive at the camp.
They will also be treated to a feast of traditional food and storytelling sessions about the way the nomadic communities had lived. There will be falcons flying about and Emirati crafts on display.
“Connecting to the local culture on a personal level is at the core of why most modern travellers choose to explore the world. Sharing an experience, living like a local and gaining an insight into the journey of the Emirati people into modernity is the essence of authenticity,” said Adam McEwan, CEO of Platinum Heritage.
For the experience, Platinum Heritage has also set up a camp around an oasis and created a village that is reminiscent of the era when Bedouins would have to venture out into the desert in search of water.
The village features a tent where guests can enjoy authentic meals and educational activities; a traditional goat enclosure; and Al Hathira, a traditional building with a hollow interior where Bedouins would usually host their guests.
Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), said: “The camp offers our guests the opportunity to enjoy this experience among key elements, including natural surroundings, tents, and camel rides, providing a true representation of the eco-system of the desertdwellers.
“We are delighted to be part of this project, which is the first of its kind in the region to offer such authentic information, showcasing elements of the UAE’s cultural heritage.”
Situated in Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, the Bedouin Experience is located in a private desert setting, and visitors may choose between a morning and an afternoon cultural excursion.
Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve is the largest desert tourism project of its kind in the region. It is the only unfenced desert sanctuary in the UAE, brimming with hundreds of species of wildlife — from the Arabian oryx and gazelles to foxes and wild cats.