Chosen by Sabaro
Bab Al Shams
Desert resort, 5 stars · The desert: Al Marmoom and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
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.
from 625 € per night
Deluxe king room with garden view, 2 adults, free cancellation until 16 February, 2-night stay from 9 March 2027. Possible per-night tourism fee extra, payable at the hotel. Indicative price, taxes included, to be confirmed with your request.
Public price collected on: Site officiel (offre affichée par Google Hôtels) — accessed 19 October 2026
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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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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).
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.
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 and 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 page and our regional situation guide.
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.
Room types
| Room | Size | View | Bed | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Desert View Room | 37 m² | desert | 1 king bed or twin beds | 2 adults + 1 child |
DetailsWho it suits: Couples, or parents with one child. Bathroom: marble bathroom Highlights: built-in window seat, refreshment nook with complimentary drinks Amenities: tea and coffee, HD flat-screen TV, unlimited Wi-Fi, Bab Al Shams Apothecary amenities | ||||
| Terrace Desert View Room | 47 m² | desert | 1 king bed or twin beds | 2 adults + 1 child |
DetailsWho it suits: Couples wanting direct access to the desert. Bathroom: marble bathroom Outdoor space: private terrace | ||||
| Deluxe Suite | 65 m² | garden, desert or pool | 1 king bed | 2 adults + 1 child |
DetailsWho it suits: Couples on a longer stay. Bathroom: bathtub and walk-in shower Outdoor space: private terrace or balcony Highlights: sitting room with bar | ||||
| One-Bedroom Desert Pool Villa | 187 m² | desert | 1 king bed | 2 adults + 1 child (under 4) |
DetailsWho it suits: Honeymooners or friends. Bathroom: marble bathtub, outdoor shower Outdoor space: private pool, terrace with sunbeds, firepit Highlights: sky oculus, service kitchen; breakfast, resort credit (AED 1,000 winter, AED 500 summer) and villa host included | ||||
| Two-Bedroom Desert Pool Villa | 244 m² | desert | 1 king bed + 2 queen beds | 4 adults, or 2 adults + 2 children (under 12) |
DetailsWho it suits: Families or two couples. Outdoor space: private pool, outdoor terrace, firepit Highlights: maid's room; resort credit AED 2,000 winter, AED 1,000 summer | ||||
Source: Bab Al Shams, chambres et suites (site officiel) — accessed 19 October 2026
Restaurants
Al Hadheerah, Anwā, Zala, Ninive Bab Al Shams, RAIT, Lobby Lounge, Ya Hala, Pool Bar
Facilities
- About 115 rooms, suites and one- and two-bedroom Desert Pool Villas with private pools
- Adults' pool and family pool
- Spa & Hammam (age 16+), fitness centre
- Complimentary kids' club for ages 5 to 12, 9 am – 6 pm, playground
- Open-air dinner show at Al Hadheerah
- Activities: hot-air balloon, Arabian horse riding, camel trek, falconry, archery, fat bike, desert drive
Source: Bab Al Shams (site officiel) — accessed 19 October 2026
Location
In the Dubai desert, 45 minutes from downtown Dubai and 60 minutes from Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Guest reviews
9,3/10 — 1835 reviews
Rating published by a travel website. Verified reviews from Sabaro travellers will appear here after their first trips.
Source: Booking.com — accessed 19 October 2026
On social media
Official accounts: Instagram · YouTube
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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).
A travel advisor replies by email. Free, no commitment.