The UAE’s favourite weekend getaway

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa – a luxurious retreat nestled within the 225 square kilometre pristine desert landscape of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – was recognised for the second year running as ‘Favourite Weekend Getaway in the UAE’ at the prestigious What’s On Awards gala event held earlier this week.

What’s On Awards is one of the definitive barometers of public opinion in the UAE’s entertainment and hospitality industries, and this year it drew votes from across the UAE over 100 days of online and public balloting. Despite many new contenders entering in this category over the past year, Al Maha retained its position in the eyes of the voting public.

The hotly-contested award was presented to Arne Silvis, General Manager, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa at a spectacular event held at the brand new Palladium in Dubai Media City in front of over 1,000 guests.

The accolade adds to Al Maha’s impressive awards portfolio. Recently, this very private and romantic 42- suite resort beat off fierce international competition, becoming the only Leisure Hotel in Dubai to be voted one of the Top 20 of Condé Nast’s Readers’ Travel Award in the M.E., Africa and Indian Ocean region. Al Maha’s leadership and contributions to conservation have also earned it the world’s premier conservation award from National Geographic and Conservation International.

Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts & Projects, Emirates Hotels & Resorts said: “We are delighted that readers of What’s On magazine have again voted for Al Maha. I believe that our guests truly appreciate the commitment to excellence, privacy and personal service that they experience at Al Maha. The beautiful location and seclusion this offers is unique and while only 45 minutes drive from Dubai city-centre, Al Maha is a completely different world.

“We in turn really appreciate the support given to us at Al Maha by our guests. Each guest at Al Maha, just by being there, directly contributes to our conservation and wildlife efforts, and for this we sincerely thank them.”

Al Maha’s individually designed suites echo this region’s heritage, each with their own unique artwork, antiquities, hand crafted furniture, rugs and carpets. Each suite is set apart to guarantee privacy and boasts a private temperature-controlled swimming pool, outdoor decks as well as unobstructed views over the surrounding dunes towards the Hajar Mountains.

To complement the setting, and in order to provide the guests with the opportunities to explore this landscape and its unique wildlife, the resort offers a wide range of activities recalling Arabia’s unique desert traditions. These include falconry, camel trekking, horse riding, guided desert wildlife safaris and dune-driving.

Flexible dining arrangements allow guests to choose between sophisticated gourmet restaurant dining, offering international and Arabic cuisine, private dinners in their suite, or picnics in the dunes at an elegantly laid table under the stars.

Al Maha is currently offering a special promotion, with all guests staying for two nights receiving a complimentary third night. All rates are on full-board basis, inclusive of all teas and coffees, and two desert-based activities per day. The offer is valid until 17th September 2009.

For more information and reservations, visit Emirateshotelsresorts.com.