6 Eid al-Fitr Escapes | 2022

“Eid al-Fitr, is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam.” Unknown

Need some last minute Eid holiday inspiration? Looking to avoid the long airport queues? Here’s some ideas for some tried and tested Eid al-Fitr staycations.

25hours Hotel One Central Dubai – The vibrant and playful 25hours Hotel One Central in Dubai’s DIFC is a fun, new place to stay. Quirky interiors and cool spaces filled with regional and retro artifacts are the mainstay of the unconventional design. Overlooking the Museum of the Future, the hotel offers five room options from the Medium Bedouin to the Hakawati Suite with its unique Sheikh ‘triple-king’ sized bed.

Food and beverage options are plentiful at the numerous restaurants and bars. Nomad Day Bar serves speciality coffee from Dubai roasters, Nightjar alongside a menu of sweet and savoury options. Try a curry at Tandoor Tina from its menu of Northern Indian cuisine with a British twist or a German beer at the Bavarian tavern, ERNST. Super cool Monkey Bar has great cocktails, Latin American inspired food options and a botanical filled outdoor terrace.

Relax at the rooftop pool on comfy bean bag loungers and day beds or treat yourself at The Extra HourSpa. Borrow a Schindelhauer bike or a MINI Cooper to explore the city. Step back in time at Analogue Circus that showcases vintage vinyl, Walkman’s, cassettes, typewriters and Polaroid cameras…….read more

25hours Hotel One Central, Trade Center Street, PO Box 9895, Dubai. UAE www.25hours-hotels.com/en/hotels/dubai/one-central

Address Beach Resort Fujairah – Visit Fujairah and check into the luxury beachfront hotel, the Address Beach Resort Fujairah. Nestled between the Hajar mountains and the ocean this contemporary resort oozes style from start to finish with first rate service and facilities. The resort’s proximity to the Oman peninsula makes it the ideal location to explore the jagged Musandam coastline.

With 196 rooms there’s plenty of accommodation choices ranging from the smallest mountain view room to a four bedroom ocean view residence. The Restaurant at Address offers guests an array of internationally inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pool bar is the place for snacks, sandwiches, drinks and a daily Happy Hour. The Lounge offers specialty coffee, pastries, cakes and light bites.

There’s three swimming pools, a stretch of private beach with loungers and parasols, beautiful landscaped gardens and Al Boom Water Sports. Ultimate relaxation can be found at The Spa which has seven treatment rooms, two hammans, steam rooms and a nail bar. There’s a state-of-the-art gym and the younger members of the family can be entertained at the Qix kids club and outdoor playground…….read more

Address Beach Resort Fujairah, Al Aqah, Fujairah, UAE. Telephone: +971 (0)9 204 7777 www.addresshotels.com/en/resorts/address-beach-resort-fujairah

Alila Jabal Akhdar – Take a scenic road trip from the UAE through the mountains of Oman to the fabulous Alila Jabal Akhdar. This mountain top resort offers the most spectacular views and is beautifully designed inside and out. The hotel is the ultimate example of where luxury meets tradition, a unique location that’s reflected in the design that embraces the local culture.

The facilities and cuisine are first-rate, the service is impeccable and the hotel is fully committed to sustainability and eco-tourism. Go for a hike and discover abandoned villages and wadis or maybe test yourself with a one of a kind Via Ferrata cave experience….. read more

Alila Jabal Akhdar, Plot No.4 Al Roose Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman. Telephone: +968 2534 4200 www.alilahotels.com/jabalakhdar

Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island – Just a couple of hours drive into Abu Dhabi’s remote Al Gharbia Region and accessible only by boat you will discover Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island. The resort offers visitors the choice of three distinctly different luxury experiences; the fortress-style Desert Islands Resort hotel, a savannah style experience at Al Sahel Resort or ocean front villas on the beach at Al Yamm Resort.

Sir Bani Yas Island is a place to relax and reconnect with nature. The island was a vision of the late Sheikh Zayed to conserve the area for future generations and part of his ‘Greening of the Desert’ initiative. Visitors can enjoy a guided visit of the wildlife park, a sanctuary to a variety of free-roaming native and non-indigenous animals and spot marine life including turtles and dolphins in the coastal waters. Book a massage at the Anantara spa, snorkel in the crystal blue ocean, kayak in the mangroves, rent a paddleboard, take a boat trip to a shipwreck or cycle the island at sunset ……. read more

Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Ruwais, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Telephone: 02 801 5400 www.anantara.com/en/sir-bani-yas-abu-dhabi

Jebel Hafit Desert Park – Jebel Hafit Desert Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located at the base of Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet mountain. The site offers visitors the chance to get back to nature in the rugged mountainous landscape with either glamping or camping experiences. Glamping wise there are two options, luxury dome tents and futuristic bubbles both with ensuite bathrooms. Nearby in a little valley there’s also traditional Emirati Bedouin tents and a public camping site where you can pitch your own tent, both these options have shared bathroom facilities.

The glamping tents have their own fire pits (top tip: bring your own firewood) and it’s a great spot for some nighttime stargazing. Dining is limited as you would expect, just one food truck with an adjacent seating area. Continental breakfast is included in the dome and bubble tents room rate. There’s also the option for in-room dining deliveries with a menu that includes shawarmas, burgers, fries and drinks etc. Bring a disposable BBQ if you want to cook your own food.

The site itself is ripe for exploring with historical and archaeological treasures and outdoor activities such as camel and horse rides, mountain biking, guided hikes and for the more adventurous, off-road ATV experiences. Explore the Al Ain area further by taking a drive up Jebel Hafeet, visiting Al Ain oasis or Al Ain zoo ……. read more

Jebel Hafit Desert Park, Mezyad District, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Telephone: 03 711 8362 visitabudhabi.ae/en/where-to-go/adventure-and-theme-parks/jebel-hafit-desert-park

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara – Drive to Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter for a luxury staycation at the magnificent desert oasis Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. The epitome of elegance and relaxation, the resort blends seamlessly into its desert backdrop offering guests a stunning panorama of the world’s largest uninterrupted sand dunes.

Designed to resemble an ancient fortress, the resort combines regional nostalgia and heritage with modern day luxury. Rooms are spread out in separate low-rise buildings linked via manicured walkways lined with water features and Arabic lanterns. The restaurants offer a variety of cuisines and there’s a multitude of activities on offer from camel rides, dune bashing and falconry as well as a fantastic spa and swimming pools. The service is impeccable from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, nothing is too much trouble ……. read more

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, Liwa, Abu Dhabi. Telephone: 02 886 2088 www.qasralsarab.com