Glamping in the spotlight in the desert of the Gulf of Arabia

This fashionable and sedentary place, which succeeds in mixing simplicity, glamour and nature, is Stéphanie Danial’s idea. Wanting to bring new sensations to her friends and more widely to the tourists going to Dubai, the expatriate has built the Sonara Camp, a stopover now obligatory during your next stay in the Emirates. 

“I’ve been living in Dubai for about 11 years and our visiting friends have always wanted to discover the desert. Apart from camel riding and quad biking, there was nothing unique about it! So I decided to enrich the experience by imagining a friendly place offering, in a unity of place and time, recreational, epicurean and cultural moments that will leave you with an unforgettable memory” she confesses. Glamping, or more commonly known as glamorous camping, is the possibility for anyone who wishes to break away from the classic hotel experience and camp in luxury facilities a hundred kilometres away from the skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of the city, in the middle of the desert.

Located in the heart of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, this stylish campsite was quickly approved by the UAE authorities. Thanks to its commitment to the environment, the natural integration it achieves with its revisited Bedouin tents, LED lighting, use of solar energy for infrastructure, short circuit supply and ethical craftsmanship, Sonara Camp is now one of the 5 luxury concessionaires authorised to operate in this royal location. 

On the programme, from 4 pm until nightfall, the business owner offers numerous activities for families, children, couples or friends. Between sports activities, gastronomic dinners or fire-eater pyrotechnics shows, this fairytale and eco-desert place is designed to satisfy everyone’s tastes, from children to adults.  

But this is not the first site and glamping has already had its heyday in other regions. Indeed, from the Emirati town of Hatta, to Al’Ula in Saudi Arabia via the Omani capital Muscat, many cities have already invested heavily in this original form of camping, which allows them to differentiate themselves and increase their tourist reputation.   

An inspiring destination not to be missed if you are passing through the UAE!