Modern-day adventurers exploring the vast expanse of The Empty Quarter can touch base with upscale civilisation from a four-star ‘base camp’ at Liwa Hotel, where cool refreshments, clean sheets and Arabian feasts are a welcome reprieve at the end of the day.
Located in the heart of the rolling dunes of the UAE xxx, the 66-room Liwa Hotel stands guard over some of the last desert frontier: in 1948 Sir Wilfred Thesiger was the first European to explore Liwa’s 80-kilometre palm groves, scattered settlements and giant sand dunes.
According to hotel manager, Mel Barisic, exploring in Thesiger’s footsteps has never been easier with the Liwa Hotel close at hand to provide direct access to the stunning 100 metre plus sand dunes.
Barisic said: “This is the desert as you’ve never seen it before – wild, vast and starkly beautiful. Guests get a taste of the untamed conditions, while we ensure the drinks are still cold and the water is hot.”
The Western Region of Abu Dhabi encompasses the great red sand massif of the Rub al Khali - otherwise known as The Empty Quarter- the oil fields of the Bu Hasa, Shah and Mazrug, and the fertile Liwa oasis.
The spectacular desert scenery and rugged terrain, coupled with a convenient location along the modern Sila highway, near Mezzaira village, make Thesiger country an enchanting destination for travellers around the world.
As a distinguished explorer and travel writer, Thesiger called the UAE his second home outside Great Britain, and drew the world’s attention to the challenges of the Arab Bedouin desert life through his writing and over 35,000 vivid photographs.
Travelling, dressing and eating like the Bedouin people, Thesiger earned the title Mubarak bin London from his companions and the respect of the late Sheikh Zayed who once gave him a camel as a gift.
With this celebrated heritage and some of the world’s highest sand dunes right outside the front door, Barisic believes that Liwa should be on everyone’s top 10 list of things to do in the UAE before they leave.
“We are one of the most popular destinations for European travellers who want to experience Arabian culture; now we urge UAE residents to come and see what is on their doorstep.”
Spacious guest rooms and suites, in addition to 3-bedroom villas with private pool and BBQ areas, are ideal for couples, or families and friends during their visit to Liwa. The hotel provides off-site catering for desert feasts under the stars, as well as in a Bedouin tent on the property - or even in the comfort of the dining room.
After exploring the desert, guests have access to four floodlit tennis courts, a volleyball court, fitness facilities with a swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room along with children’s pool and playground area.
A selection of restaurants and lounges – including an Internet café and an evening terrace for shisha – round out the food and beverage choices.
Barisic said: “The desert is truly inspiring. Our guests come to Liwa to embrace true culture and heritage, rather than a holiday that only exists within the confines of a resort’s walls.”
Located in the heart of the Rub al Khali desert, Liwa Hotel is operated by Danat Hotels & Resorts, a division of the National Corporation of Tourism & Hotels based in Abu Dhabi.
Danat Hotels & Resorts, a division of the Abu Dhabi-based National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels (NCT&H) manages two five-star resorts, the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna and the Al Raha Beach Hotel, as well as a cluster of four-star properties in the emirate. The hotels are either owned and/or managed by the group, or where the group is the owner-representative.
The National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels (NCT&H) was formed in 1996 in response to the need to develop both tourism and commerce in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially Abu Dhabi.
The Corporation was formed as a semi-government organisation. NCT&H’s primary objective is to promote Abu Dhabi as an international destination, manage hotels and provide transportation and industrial catering services.
