# Bab Al Shams Bab Al Shams is a Dubai desert resort 45 minutes from downtown, which reopened in 2023 in the Kerzner group's Rare Finds collection. With its kids' club, two pools and private-pool villas, it is the easiest way to experience the desert as a family or a couple without giving up comfort. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/hotels/bab-al-shams/ Bab Al Shams is the desert resort to choose for an easy stay, with children or as a couple: 45 minutes from downtown Dubai and an hour from the airport, it offers rooms, suites and villas with private pools, a complimentary kids' club, an adults' pool and a family pool. Its open-air restaurant, Al Hadheerah, serves Middle Eastern food with live entertainment. The hotel reopened in February 2023 in Rare Finds, a collection from the Kerzner hotel group, which also runs the Atlantis and One&Only brands. ## Bab Al Shams or Al Maha? Dubai's two big desert hotels offer very different stays: | | Bab Al Shams | [Al Maha](/en/hotels/al-maha/) | |---|---|---| | Size | about 115 rooms and suites | 42 villas | | Children | welcome, kids' club for ages 5 to 12 | from age 8 according to tour operators | | Meals | à la carte, several restaurants | full board included | | Activities | paid, wide choice | two per person per night included | | Price found | around €625 a night | around €1,880 a night | **In short**: Bab Al Shams for families, or couples who want some evening atmosphere; Al Maha for couples who want the silence of the reserve, all included. ## Rooms and villas The resort blends modernist architecture with Moorish-inspired interiors. Rooms look out over the desert or the courtyard gardens. What sets them apart is the outdoor space: a private terrace facing the dunes in the Terrace Desert View Room, a private pool in the villas. A family of four should take the two-bedroom villa. **Our tip**: the Terrace Desert View Room is worth the extra for its terrace facing the dunes; for a honeymoon, go for the one-bedroom villa (see [honeymoon](/en/themes/honeymoon/)). ## Al Hadheerah and the other restaurants - **Al Hadheerah**: the resort's open-air dinner show, with Middle Eastern cuisine and live performances. It runs by season and reopens in the autumn, so check the dates. - **Anwā**: a rooftop lounge for cocktails and pan-Asian dishes at sunset. - **Zala**: Mediterranean cooking from breakfast to dinner. - **Ninive**: Oriental cuisine, traditional with a contemporary touch. - Also RAIT, Ya Hala, the Lobby Lounge and the pool bar. A private dinner in the dunes with a bespoke menu can also be arranged. For more ideas, see [food and dining](/en/themes/food-and-dining/). ## Pools, spa and kids' club There are two pools, one for adults and one for families; day passes are sold to visitors. The **Spa & Hammam** is open to guests aged 16 and over, alongside a gym. The complimentary **kids' club** takes children aged 5 to 12 from 9 am to 6 pm local time, with an outdoor playground. See also our [family](/en/themes/family/) and [spa and wellness](/en/themes/spa-and-wellness/) pages. ## Desert activities The resort offers hot-air balloon flights, Arabian horse riding, camel treks, falconry, archery, fat biking (wide-tyred bikes for sand), 4x4 desert drives and nature tours to the Al Marmoom reserve, the largest unfenced reserve in the Emirates. A word on safety: serious accidents on buggies and quad bikes are frequent in the desert; a 4x4 is safer, and never head out alone. See our [desert](/en/dubai/desert/) page and our [regional situation guide](/en/guides/situation-regionale-dubai/). ## Prices In October 2026, for a stay in March 2027, the cheapest room, a Deluxe king with garden view, was offered at around €625 a night for two adults, refundable until mid-February, including taxes and fees, with a possible per-night tourism fee on top. ## Sabaro's view **Who it's for**: families, couples who want the desert with a real choice of restaurants, and travellers adding two desert nights to a beach holiday. **Strengths**: the kids' club and family pool; the pool villas; Al Hadheerah; a 9.3 out of 10 rating on Booking.com (1,835 reviews). **Good to know**: the resort welcomes day and dinner visitors; activities are charged; the spa is closed to under-16s. ## Frequently asked questions ### How far is Bab Al Shams from Dubai? 45 minutes from downtown Dubai and an hour from Dubai International Airport (DXB), according to the resort. ### Is Bab Al Shams good for children? Yes: a complimentary kids' club for ages 5 to 12 from 9 am to 6 pm, a playground, a family pool and two-bedroom villas. Only the spa is restricted to guests aged 16 and over. ### Are activities included? No, they are booked and paid for separately. Villas, however, include a resort credit to spend on site. ### Can I come just for dinner at Al Hadheerah? Yes, the restaurant takes outside bookings. It runs by season, so check it is open on your dates. ### When is the best time to go? From November to March. In summer, temperatures climb above 40 °C (see [Dubai in summer](/en/guides/chaleur-ete-dubai/)).