Lifestyle
ARABIAN NIGHTS: ABU DHABI AFTER DUSK
With daytime temperatures only suitable for local Oryx, it’s the cooler period after dusk that needs to be explored. Here’s two of our favourite stays that come alive at night.
Shangri-La,
Qaryat Al Beri
Whether you’re heading out for an evening’s entertainment, or treating yourself to a staycation, then the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, is the place to be when the sun goes down.
Located on the banks of the Khor Al Maqta, the resort’s Westerly-facing façade guarantees you a majestic sunset of orange rays that dance on the canal and swathe the hotel’s white sand beach in warmth. Head to the hotel’s gazebo and the setting sun will drop behind the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, making for an unforgettable view and with it, the Qaryat Al Beri is lit up by a plethora of subtle lights that accentuate the hotel’s fine Arabic décor.
As the evening moves on, you can either head to the hotel’s souk via an abra ride along the resort’s winding waterway, or head to one of the Qaryat Al Beri’s four restaurants.
The Ritz Carlton,
Al Hamra Beach, Ras Al Khaimah
If you really want to get away for a week or weekend, then set your satnav to the ever-popular Ras Al Khaimah and in particular, the Ritz Carlton, Al Hamra Beach. Here you can experience five-star luxury in a beachfront villa, with the hotel’s after dark experience defined by the flicker of a thousand dancing candles.
Here, subtle lighting creates a tranquil tone in each of the 32 luxury villas, with your private swimming pool refracting the luminescence as you take a cooling dip under the stars.
Exotic sundowners are served every day at the bar lounge and for those who want a more private experience, dinner can be taken in a secluded beach cabana overlooking the crystal blue and unspoiled waters of Ras Al Khaimah. Getting away from it all has never been so easy.
