anexpatabroad

“The translation of ‘Eid al-Fitr’ from Arabic sums up the holiday as it means ‘Festival of breaking the fast’.” Unknown

Eid al-Fitr, also known as small Eid, commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It’s a time for Muslims to get together with family and friends and celebrate with special prayers, gift-giving and charity.

Eid, which this year is predicted to fall on Saturday 22nd April, also means time off work so many people use this time to take a trip. Here’s eight ideas for Eid road trips in the UAE and Oman.

ABU DHABI

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 – Located at the base of Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet mountain, Jebel Hafit Desert Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park 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 – Take a 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 a full review here

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

DUBAI

25hours Hotel One Central Dubai – The vibrant and playful 25hours Hotel One Central Dubai in 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 Barserves 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 daybeds 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 a full review here

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

Damani Lodges Resort, Hatta – If you are looking for a mountain glamping adventure and activity filled staycation then look no further than Hatta. Stay in a mountain side cabin, retro airstream or static caravan and enjoy an array of outdoor pursuits in the Hajar mountains. Hatta Wadi Hub is activity HQ and home to Damani Lodges Resort and the Caravan park. The family-friendly resort offers plenty to do with a range of free and paid activities. The airstreams are located at Sedr Trailer Park near Hatta Dam. Dining options are quite limited with only Hatta Wild Cafe and food trucks so bring your own food for a BBQ at one of the designated areas.

Activities such as archery, axe throwing and 3-wheeled downhill mountain carts are free but there are many paid pursuits too, an all-activity pass is available for those who want to try everything.. The hub also has Hatta Drop-in, the region’s first water jump park with a crazy jump, crazy slide, drop-in donuts and drop-in tracks. The Hatta Mountain Biking Trails (MTB) has four different levels and offers a MTB coaching facility with three dedicated areas for new riders, children and people with limited biking experience.

Mountain bikes are available to rent and there’s hiking trails that take you through wadis and different terrains of the Hajar mountains near the Oman border. Water based activities such as kayak rental, water bikes, donut boats and pedalos are run by Hatta Kayak and take place on the lake at Hatta Dam, a 15 minute drive from the Hub ……. read a full review here

Damani Lodges Resort, Hatta Wadi Hub, Hatta. Telephone: 800-637227 (800 MERAAS) Website: visithatta.com

FUJAIRAH

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 Oman’s Musandam Peninsula makes it the ideal location from where 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 a full review here

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

OMAN

Alila Jabal Akhdar – Take a long but 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 a full review here

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

Atana Musandam Resort – Embark on a road trip to Khasab located on the northern tip of the Musandam peninsula and stay at the traditional Omani hotel, Atana Musandam Resort. From the UAE you can enter Oman by road via the Ras Al Khaimah border which is a relatively painless experience (as long as you have the correct documents). Once over the border you are immediately greeted by a stunning coastline with a backdrop of the Hajar mountains.

The resort, which is not as luxurious as those that border the Musandam peninsula in Fujairah, has a certain rustic charm and stunning views across the Gulf of Oman. The rooms are spacious and clean with authentic Omani furniture and decor designed to reflect the culture and heritage of the region. Reservations include a half-board option (breakfast and dinner) served at Al Mawra Restaurant but the buffet food quality and choices were distinctly underwhelming. Hotel facilities include two outdoor pools, an on-site dive centre and the Athila Spa. Khasab castle is nearby for anyone looking to explore the area’s history.

The best thing to do in Khasab is take a traditional dhow cruise to enjoy the natural beauty of the area from the water and (hopefully) spot some dolphins. We used Dhow Khasab Tours who were well-organised and I would recommend their full-day tour (6 hours) which cruises the ‘Fjords of Musandam’ and includes lunch, swimming and snorkeling destinations and opportunities for dolphin spotting.

Atana Musandam Resort, Khasab Port, Khasab, Musandam Peninsula, Oman. Telephone +968 2673 0888 www.atanahotels.com/atana-musandam/

Read more about Eid Escapes in previous posts HERE

All views are my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2023. All rights reserved.