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Reserve
A restored Land Rover on a red dune ridge at sunset, a lone ghaf tree on the horizon

Beyond the gatesfour afternoons outside the walls

Private and unhurried, never shared with other guests, and home in time for dinner.

The sea under sail, the red dunes, a falcon on your glove and the old city by abra, each arranged by our guest team a day ahead.

Four private excursions · from the gatehouse or the jetty

Lunch laid on the teak deck of the dhow under its cream sail: grilled hammour, saffron rice and mezze, the sun low over the Gulf

A dhow on the Gulflunch under a cream sail

Our own dhow waits at the end of the palace jetty. The crew take you out through the lagoon mouth and along the coast for the last of the afternoon.

  • 15:30Leaves the palace jetty
  • 3 hoursOut
  • 12Guests on one boat
  • AED 3,200Per boat

  1. Cast off from the palace jetty and motor out through the lagoon mouth.

  2. Sail up off Jumeirah beach, the Burj Al Arab on the port side.

  3. A late lunch on deck: grilled hammour, saffron rice and mezze from Mawj.

  4. Anchor off the reef for a swim or a hand line over the side.

  5. Home under sail with the sun going down behind you.

  • The boat and crew of four
  • Lunch, fresh juices and soft drinks
  • Towels, masks and fins
  • Fishing lines and bait

Up to 12 guests on one boat · October to May

The dhow under its lateen sail off the Jumeirah coast, guests on cushions on deck
Built in Ajman of teak and sewn sail, crewed by four.

The Al Marmoom dunes

A restored 1972 Land Rover and one of our desert guides, forty-five minutes inland to the reserve. A slow drive into the red dunes and a long look at the light.

A brass dallah and coffee cups on a rug on the dune ridge, tyre tracks curving down to the Land Rover
A restored Land Rover on a red dune ridge at Al Marmoom, the guide and a guest sitting on a rug beside it
  • 14:00Leaves the gatehouse
  • Half dayOut
  • 4Guests per car
  • AED 1,150Per guest

  1. Leave the gatehouse in a 1972 Land Rover with your driver and guide.

  2. Into the Al Marmoom reserve, tyres down for the soft sand.

  3. On foot along the ridges, looking for oryx and the tracks of sand gazelle.

  4. Cardamom coffee and dates on the highest ridge as the sun drops.

  5. Lanterns at sunset, then the drive back to the palace.

  • A private car, driver and guide
  • Coffee, dates and a supper basket
  • Scarves, hats and cold water
  • Reserve permits

Up to 4 guests per car · October to April

Plan the dunes with us
A falconer seen from behind with a hooded peregrine on his glove, his tent on the sand beyond
A hooded peregrine falcon on a leather glove, red dunes behind

Falconry in the desert

Saeed has flown falcons since he was a boy, as his father did. His peregrines and sakers fly to the lure across open sand, and then one comes to your glove.

  • 15:00Leaves the gatehouse
  • 2 hoursOut
  • 6Guests, from age eight
  • AED 780Per guest

  1. Leave the gatehouse for the falconer’s camp.

  2. Meet Saeed and his birds in the shade of the tent.

  3. The hood comes off and the peregrines fly to the lure, low over the sand.

  4. A glove on your own hand and a falcon on the glove.

  5. Coffee in the tent, then back to the palace for five.

  • A private car and driver
  • Time with the falconer and his birds
  • Gauntlet, coffee and dates
  • Photographs taken by the falconer

Up to 6 guests, from age 8 · November to March

Plan falconry with us

The old souks

Old Dubai on foot with one of our guides: the wind towers of Al Fahidi, the creek by abra for a single dirham, then the spice and gold souks of Deira as the lamps come on.

  • 16:00Leaves the gatehouse
  • 3 hoursOut
  • 8Guests with one guide
  • AED 450Per guest

  1. The car to Al Fahidi, twenty-five minutes up the coast.

  2. The lanes and wind towers of the old quarter, coffee at the end.

  3. Across the creek by abra, as the city has crossed it for a century.

  4. The spice souk: saffron, frankincense and dried lemons, with a tasting.

  5. The gold souk as the lamps come on, then the car home.

  • A private guide and car
  • The abra crossing
  • Coffee and a spice tasting
  • Bags carried back to the car

Up to 8 guests with one guide · All year, best November to March

Plan the souks with us
A spice souk lane with sacks of saffron and cardamom under a timber arcade
Open sacks of saffron, cardamom and dried lemons in the spice souk, a wind tower beyond

When to go

Every excursion leaves after lunch and is home for dinner. The sun sets near 17:50 in January and 19:10 in June, so in summer we go out later.

JFMAMJJASONDThe yearoutside the walls
  1. ( 1 )SeaOctober to May

    Leaves at 16:30 from June to September, for the cooler hour on the water.

  2. ( 2 )DunesOctober to April

    From June to September the car leaves at 16:30 and returns by 21:30, under the stars.

  3. ( 3 )FalconryNovember to March

    The falcons moult over the summer, so we fly them from November to March only.

  4. ( 4 )SouksAll year, best November to March

    From June to September we start at 17:30, after the heat has gone out of the lanes.

Gold marks the best months. The outer ring is the sea, the inner ring the souks.

Plan an Cardamom coffee poured from a brass dallah on the dune ridge afternoon

Tell us the day and who is coming. The guest team replies within a few hours with the car or the boat held in your name.

Which excursion
Guests
2

  1. ( 1 )

    A day ahead

    Twenty-four hours lets us hold the boat, the car and the guide.

  2. ( 2 )

    From the gate or the jetty

    Your driver waits at the gatehouse, the dhow at the end of the jetty.

  3. ( 3 )

    On your room

    Rates go on your room account. No charge if you cancel a day before.

Plan your stayfour minutes from the seaSee how to reach the palace
Built by Visuvate