Dining under the stars in Dubai

There are very few locales in Dubai that bring to life the idyllic Arabian Nights fantasy in quite as authentic a fashion as Al Hadheerah at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort.

Nestled deep inside the desert about an hour outside the city, Al Hadheerah unleashes a sensory experience of Emirati heritage, Middle Eastern culinary fare and dazzling stage entertainment. Its isolated address set against rolling sand dunes makes dining here all the more alluring.

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The al fresco restaurant's design comes from an old Bedouin village, with Persian rugs adorning the ground and colourful Moroccan lamps lighting the pathways. As you enter, following the candle flames through the darkness, the scent of dried spices and herbs greets you. Vintage wooden barrels filled with fresh dates and fruits add to the decor as a large centre piece campfire flickers under the moonlight.

The Arabic buffet on offer showcases many of the region's favourite dishes with live cooking stations, wood-fired ovens and spit roasts. Giant prawns on skewers, lightly seasoned and grilled, seemed to attract the most attention from guests, while a shawarma stand featuring chicken with tahini sauce and parsley also won high marks. The cold mezza station offers a wide selection of salads, from fattoush and tabouli to eggplant and labneh balls, and also features what is arguably the best hummous in town. With the smell of freshly baked bread punctuating the air, there's little hope of escaping the intoxicating aromas in every direction.

Next to the fresh juice station, serving up every thing from orange to pomegranate flavours, you'll find another barbecue pit where beef steaks, lamb kofta and chicken skewers are being grilled. Nearby, other Levantine delicacies like Fatayar beef pies are making their way out of the oven as fried Kibbeh meatballs crumble to perfection.

North African cuisine also earns the spotlight here as mammoth tajines placed over hot coals feature dazzling displays of artistry. From lamb with prunes to chicken with olives, the dishes proved to be the highlight of the night.

Guests to Al Hadheerah, however, can expect more than just an enchanting dinner under the stars. Throughout the evening a series of performances take place, from talented singers to Tanoura and belly dancers, with camel rides and falcon displays also on showcase. The grand finale features a mesmerising horse show replete with sword battles that will give audiences a small taste of antiquated life in the Arabian peninsula.

A weekend buffet dinner at Al Hadheerah costs Dhs495 per person. During the month of Ramadan, prices are reduced to Dhs375 per person (children aged 5-12 receive 50% discount while under 4 enter free).

For reservations call 04 809 6194.

kadry@khaleejtimes.com