Celebrate the festive season at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort with enchanting offerings and unforgettable experiences. From December 12 to 23, 2023, the iconic heritage resort promises holiday merriment with a host of delights for families to revel in.
FESTIVE
Private Festive Roast in the Desert
Experience the magic of the season with a Private Festive Roast for a group of eight in the heart of the desert. Surrounded by the breath-taking desert landscape, guests can enjoy an intimate and exclusive dining experience. This merry affair includes delectable appetisers, festive roasts, and sumptuous desserts, making it a true feast. With the serene desert as their backdrop, guests can relish in the holiday spirit and create lasting memories with their loved ones.
Start Date: 12 to 23 December, 2023
Time: Available upon request
Price: AED 695 per person with glass of bubbly on arrival, including festive menu with house bevarages
Minimum booking for 8 persons
Festive Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge
Guests can experience the joy of a festive-themed afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge that combines classic favourites with seasonal delights, including mince pies, gingerbread bites, and traditional scones accompanied by clotted cream, all expertly crafted to capture the essence of the holidays. Elevating the festive spirit, guests can choose from the traditional curated tea menu and savour signature non-alcoholic cocktails carefully selected by the resident mixologist, adding an extra layer of holiday cheer.
Start Date: 12 to 23 December, 2023
Time: 3PM to 6PM, Daily
Price: AED 195 per person; AED 355 per person inclusive of a glass of champagne
Christmas Eve Dinner at Zala
Hail in the festivity at Zala for an exquisite Christmas Eve Dinner. The dinner begins with tantalising entrees, featuring palatable delicacies like Foie Gras terrine, Scottish Salmon Wellington, and a Gin & Tonic citrus-cured Salmon. The culinary journey culminates with a mouth-watering whole roasted Turkey, accompanied by all the quintessential trimmings. For a sweet ending, luxuriate in the decadent desserts on display, including the Mandarin Yuzu with Bitter chocolate log, making this evening a memorable and delectable experience.
Start Date: 24 December, 2023
Time: 7PM to 12AM
Price: AED 345 per person for non-alcoholic package; AED 545 per person for alcoholic package
Children from 4 to 11 years old dine half price and complimentary for toddlers under three years old
Christmas Day Lunch at Zala
Make this festive season one to remember with the Christmas Day Lunch at Zala, an alluring afternoon filled with scrumptious spreads, featuring seared Foie Gras and a grand seafood display with King Crab. Guests can feast on holiday specials such as the whole roast turkey and Beef Wellington and conclude with a traditional Christmas pudding and a chestnut chocolate yule log. The peak of the day comes with Santa’s arrival for gifting, a dedicated kids play area, pony and camel rides for the little ones, kids’ entertainment to keep them mesmerised, and a live band delivering a jolly backdrop to the festivities.
Start Date: 25 December, 2023
Time: 1PM to 4PM
Price: AED 495 per person for non-alcoholic package; AED 695 per person for alcoholic package
AED 250 per kid from 4 to 11 years old
Complimentary for toddlers under three years old
Boxing Day Festive Lunch at Zala
Guests can delight in the holiday atmosphere and continue the merriment in the ambient Mediterranean eatery, Zala. From sage flavoured roast chicken, homemade terrines, fish roe stations, salt-crusted seabass, whole roasted turkey and trimmings, with Gugelhupf to complete the culinary selection. Featuring live music and a range of recreational activities for kids, including pony and camel rides, to engage in for a vivacious start to the day.
Start Date: 26 December 2023
Time: 1PM to 4PM
Price: AED 395 per person for non-alcoholic package; AED 595 per person for alcoholic package
AED 250 per person for children from 4 to 11 years old
Complimentary for toddlers under three years old
Gingerbread Decoration at Lobby Lounge
Guests are invited to let their creativity shine and indulge in the time-honoured tradition of gingerbread house decorating.
Start Date: 12 to 23 December, 2023
Time: 2PM to 4PM, Daily
Price: AED 95 inclusive of minced pies and cookies. Festive beverage menu is available. *Complimentary for in-house guests
Unplug at the Fire Pit
Nestled under the vast, starlit desert sky, the fire pit provides a serene and rustic setting that invites guests to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of the season. With unlimited servings of warm and aromatic winter staples that is sure to chase away the chill and infuse the evening with a sense of easy comfort.
Start Date: 12 to 23 December, 2023
Time: 5PM to 7PM, Daily
Price: AED 95 unlimited Mulled Grape; AED 55 unlimited hot chocolate
Complimentary roasted chestnuts
Orthodox Christmas Eve Dinner at Zala
The Orthodox Christmas Eve Dinner at Zala promises to be a dazzling occasion. This celebratory meal will include signature dishes such as Oliver Salad with Oscietra Caviar, Salmon Caviar, hearty Borscht and a Seafood Display showcasing the ocean’s finest treasures.
Start Date: 6 January, 2024
Time: 7PM to 12AM
Price: AED 345 per person non-alcoholic package
AED 545 per person alcoholic package
Children from 4 to 11 years old dine half price and complimentary for toddlers under three years old
Orthodox Christmas Day Lunch at Zala
The Orthodox Christmas Day Lunch at Zala featuring a festive banquet set against the musical backdrop of a live band and including speciality dishes with a contemporary twist. Presenting classics like the Pelmeni Russian Turkey Dumpling, Blinis and Sour Cream and Pistachio with Blueberry Yule Log. The day of joy and merriness continues with Santa’s arrival and gift distribution, kids ‘entertainment activities, pony and camel rides.
Start Date: 7 January, 2024
Time: 1PM to 4PM
Price: AED 495 per person non-alcoholic package
AED 695 per person alcoholic package
AED 250 per person for children from 4 to 11 years old
Complimentary for toddlers under three years old
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort is the original immersive desert experience in Dubai, owned by the Meydan City Corporation. The property, which was launched in 2004, is located 45 minutes from Dubai’s city centre, in close proximity to off-site attractions like the Al Qudra man-made lakes and scenic cycling and camping spots, offering guests peaceful seclusion and an authentic elevated Arabian desert experience. Arabic for ‘Gateway to the Sun’, Bab Al Shams features 115 lavish rooms and suites accompanied by redefined dining and eclectic entertainment. The iconic architecture, inspired by a traditional Arabian fort is home to an array of desert adventures including breakfast on hot air balloons, horse-riding, camelback trekking, falconry, nature tours to Al Marmoom and much more.
As part of the Rare Finds collection, a series of hospitality addresses bringing forward the essence of a place and promising soulful experiences, the resort preserves its legacy as the longest running desert escape in the UAE. For more information, visit www. https://www.babalshams.com/.Kerzner International Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, is a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, ultra-luxury hotels and residences and innovative entertainment and gaming experiences. Kerzner’s flagship brand Atlantis includes Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, a 1,500-room, water-themed resort on The Palm, overlooking the Arabian Sea and mainland Dubai and Atlantis, Sanya Hainan in China; and in development, Atlantis, The Royal Resort & Residences in Dubai. Under the One&Only brand, Kerzner manages some of the most top-rated ultra-luxury resorts in the world, located in Montenegro, Mexico, Mauritius, the Maldives, South Africa, Dubai, Rwanda, Malaysia, and Australia. Upcoming immersive lifestyle brand, SIRO is the newest hospitality experience from Kerzner, focusing on holistic health and wellness. Additionally, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, mazaganbeachresort.com, a 500-room destination golf and casino resort in Morocco, is also operated by Kerzner
