{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Desert dunes are a world away from glitzy Dubai.' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c009d8eafeecae147b2c' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c009d8eafeecae147b2c' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nDesert dunes are a world away from glitzy Dubai.\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eA drive away from the chic city liner with skyscrapers is a very different Dubai. The United Arab Emirates is protecting a 227 square kilometre (587 square miles) desert reserve where once-extinct Arabian oryx are now thriving.  The...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eA drive away from the chic city liner with skyscrapers is a very different Dubai. \u003cbr/\u003eThe United Arab Emirates is protecting a 227 square kilometre (587 square miles) desert reserve where once-extinct Arabian oryx are now thriving.  \u003cbr/\u003eThe Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is offering visitors a taste of desert life. \u003cbr/\u003eAnd in the midst of the conservation area is a luxury eco resort to pamper nature lovers. \u003cbr/\u003eFifteen years ago the Arabian oryx was extinct in the wild in the UAE.\u003cbr/\u003eHunting and over development of habitats had seen populations wiped out.\u003cbr/\u003eToday, however, due to a breeding programme and the preservation of their habitat there are 350 in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.\u003cbr/\u003eIt all began in 1999 when Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline, had the idea to establish an eco style hotel within a 27 square kilometre reserve.\u003cbr/\u003eAn area of desert with naturally occurring sand dunes was chosen.\u003cbr/\u003eAs well as protecting a piece of desert from development and destruction the area was intended to house a breeding programme for the Arabian oryx.\u003cbr/\u003eCaptive oryx were brought over from the USA as well as being donated by the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.\u003cbr/\u003eAt the time it was a revolutionary idea and the first of its kind in the UAE.\u003cbr/\u003eWorld renowned architects were commissioned to design the hotel with understated luxury being the theme.\u003cbr/\u003eThe result was Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa. \u003cbr/\u003eThree years later, an additional nearly 200 square kilometres of land was added to the reserve which now makes up five per cent of Dubai.  \u003cbr/\u003eAl Maha was expanded to include more suites plus a spa and more than 35-thousand indigenous trees have been planted.\u003cbr/\u003eGreg Simkins, conservation manager at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, has been involved since the start.  \u003cbr/\u003e\"So after the initial area had been set up we also looked at the surrounding desert areas and we saw there was massive impacts happening onto the natural environment there through things like vehicles out in the desert, rubbish and then over grazing as well.  We then looked at creating this large protected area.\"\u003cbr/\u003eHe believes that if this part of the desert had not been set protected it would have succumbed to Dubai's fast development.\u003cbr/\u003e\"I think if we didn't create that protected area - the Dubai Conservation Reserve - at the time we did I think we wouldn't have much natural areas left within Dubai.  The rapid development that's happened, the city's grown exponentially really over time since then so we've been able to create this representative of the Dubai desert.\"\u003cbr/\u003eToday there are 42 suites each with their own pool overlooking the desert.\u003cbr/\u003eSuites vary from one-bedroom Bedouin style villas to the four-bedroom presidential suite, which was built for the sheikh's personal use but is now available for guests.\u003cbr/\u003ePrices for a double occupancy are around $2,250 USD for a stay in a one-room Bedouin suite, which includes three meals a day plus tea and coffee and snacks and two activities plus use of the spa. \u003cbr/\u003eThe Emirates suite, sleeps four people and costs $8600 USD per night all inclusive;  The Presidential suite, sleeps six, and costs 10,900 USD per night all inclusive.\u003cbr/\u003eThe interiors are reminiscent of a colonial safari or hunting lodge found in parts of Kenya.\u003cbr/\u003eNatural materials are used as well as antique rugs and artifacts.\u003cbr/\u003eGeneral Manager Arne Silvis says the focus is on quality.\u003cbr/\u003e\"Our focus is on personalised, individualised attention, supreme quality food and beverage services, spa services, and then of course all the desert activities we offer.  It's wonderful for people to go out there and enjoy a horse ride or nature walk, archery, falconry, a camel safari at sunset.  So there's a number of activities that people can choose from.\"\u003cbr/\u003eMany guests come for complete relaxation and some like to eat meals in the privacy of their suites. \u003cbr/\u003eOrganic locally grown food and sustainable fish is used in cooking overseen by French executive chef David Miras.\u003cbr/\u003eFor those wanting to eat in the communal dining room meals are served on a terrace at the main part of the hotel.\u003cbr/\u003eThe pool and spa is a favourite with visitors after taking part in early morning walks and horse rides.\u003cbr/\u003eFor most people it's about finding tranquillity.\u003cbr/\u003eSilvis says they have many repeat visitors.\u003cbr/\u003e\"We find also that people who stay with us often return.  We have a fairly high repeat guest percentage.  And many of these guests on the second and third trips or visits to Dubai they come straight from the airport to us for five or six nights and just relax in the desert.  I think the peace and silence and tranquillity is what really sets us apart.\"\u003cbr/\u003eOne of the highlights of a stay at Al Maha is taking a camel trek out to the sand dunes at the end of the day. \u003cbr/\u003eIt's a wonderful way to appreciate the beauty of the desert and view the Arabian oryx in their natural habitats.\u003cbr/\u003eA bar is set up on the dunes so guests can drink champagne or soft drinks and watch the sun set over the sand dunes.  \u003cbr/\u003eDubai - 25 March, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e1. Various of Arabian oryx on sand dunes at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve\u003cbr/\u003e2. Various of sand dunes and trees\u003cbr/\u003e3. Wide shot of Al Maha\u003cbr/\u003e4. Close up of the bedouin style villas at Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa\u003cbr/\u003e5. Greg Simkins, conservation manager at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, looking through binoculars\u003cbr/\u003e6. Close up of Greg Simkins, conservation manager at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, looking through binoculars\u003cbr/\u003e7. Wide of Arabian gazelles amongst trees\u003cbr/\u003e8. SOUNDBITE: (English): Greg Simkins, conservation manager at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, looking through binoculars\u003cbr/\u003e\"So after the initial area had been set up we also looked at the surrounding desert areas and we saw there was massive impacts happening onto the natural environment there through things like vehicles out in the desert, rubbish and then over grazing as well.  We then looked at creating this large protected area.\"\u003cbr/\u003e9. Various of Arabian oryx\u003cbr/\u003e10. SOUNDBITE: (English): Greg Simkins, conservation manager at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, looking through binoculars\u003cbr/\u003e\"I think if we didn't create that protected area - the Dubai Conservation Reserve - at the time we did I think we wouldn't have much natural areas left within Dubai.  The rapid development that's happened, the city's grown exponentially really over time since then so we've been able to create this representative of the Dubai desert.\"\u003cbr/\u003e11. Pan along villa pool overlooking \u003cbr/\u003e12. Mid of desert sun loungers\u003cbr/\u003e13. Sitting room of one of the living area of the Emirates' Suite (sleeps four people and costs $8600 USD per night all inclusive). \u003cbr/\u003e14. Bedroom\u003cbr/\u003e15. Decorations\u003cbr/\u003e16. Dining room\u003cbr/\u003e17. Pull in from traditional water pots through door to entrance area of Al Maha\u003cbr/\u003e18. Various of entrance hall\u003cbr/\u003e19. Library\u003cbr/\u003e20. Various set up shots of General Manager Arne Silvis\u003cbr/\u003e21. Pull down from antique door to traditional metal jugs\u003cbr/\u003e22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Arne Silvis, General Manager: \u003cbr/\u003e\"Our focus is on personalised, individualised attention, supreme quality food and beverage services, spa services, and then of course all the desert activities we offer.  It's wonderful for people to go out there and enjoy a horse ride or nature walk, archery, falconry, a camel safari at sunset.  So there's a number of activities that people can choose from.\"\u003cbr/\u003e23. Staff setting up the restaurant terrace for dinner.\u003cbr/\u003e24. View of terrace.\u003cbr/\u003e25. People having food delivered to their terrace - dishes are trio of tomato salad and tuna tataki \u003cbr/\u003e26. Various of food and people eating\u003cbr/\u003e27. Swimming pool\u003cbr/\u003e28. Loungers by pool\u003cbr/\u003e29. Spa area\u003cbr/\u003e30. Beauty products\u003cbr/\u003e31. Various of spa\u003cbr/\u003e32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Arne Silvis, General Manager: \u003cbr/\u003e\"We find also that people who stay with us often return.  We have a fairly high repeat guest percentage.  And many of these guests on the second and third trips or visits to Dubai they come straight from the airport to us for five or six nights and just relax in the desert.  I think the peace and silence and tranquillity is what really sets us apart.\"\u003cbr/\u003e33. Camels with herder\u003cbr/\u003e34. Close up of camel\u003cbr/\u003e35. Wide shot of line of camels\u003cbr/\u003e36. Member of staff at bar that has been set up on a sand dune in desert\u003cbr/\u003e37. Guests travelling by camel through desert\u003cbr/\u003e38. Sand dunes\u003cbr/\u003e39. Guests on camels\u003cbr/\u003e40. Sun setting over Al Maha\u003cbr/\u003e41. View of Al Maha over the dunes\u003cbr/\u003e42. Guests on the sand dunes\u003cbr/\u003e43. Couple drinking champagne\u003cbr/\u003e44. Close up of sun setting\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci 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