Amid the Martian-like landscapes of Mleiha, adventurous travellers will soon find Sharjah's newest eco-friendly resort: the Moon Retreat.
The family-friendly destination is set to welcome overnight guests within the first three months of 2021.
When it opens, it will feature 10 single-bed domes, four family tents and two single-bed tents, each of which will be fitted with modern amenities. Most will also feature private pools, and guests will be able to pre-order ready-to-grill meals, which can be cooked on their private barbecues.
The property, which is being developed by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), will also feature a reception and community area boasting a bonfire and barbecue experience where guests can mingle.
The Moon Retreat will be the fourth eco-luxury resort to join the Sharjah Collection brand, managed by Mysk Hotels by Shaza, and Shurooq's second boutique hospitality offering in Mleiha, after the Mysk Al Faya Retreat.
It will give guests the opportunity to explore the nearby Mleiha archaeological and eco-tourism destination and the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which unearths the history of the surrounding area, dating back thousands of years and was left largely undiscovered until fairly recently.
The centre is home to a collection of artefacts and fossils that were discovered during excavations, revealing the oldest evidence of human life outside of Africa.
Take a look through the gallery below to see more of Mleiha Archaeological Centre.
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Umm an-Nar tomb from the Bronze Age at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, Sharjah. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The entrance to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah -
Follow the signs to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah -
A showcase of the baliya practice, in which people buried the dead along with a camel or a horse or both (mostly the animals they owned) in a senate grave -
The in-house cafe at Sharjah's Mleiha Archaeological Centre -
A tombstone featuring bi-lingual funerary inscription in Aramaic and ancient South Arabian script -
The palace site -
A fossil ammonite, 66 million years old -
The Faya cave site -
The Faya cave site at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre -
Learn more about the Faya cave site at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre -
Spot Arabian sand gazelle as you take a tour of the Mleiha Archaeological Centre site -
An active archaeological dig site -
A utahraptor claw, 70 million years old -
A tyrannosaurus tooth, 68 million years old -
A fossilised bird, 44 million years old -
A velociraptor skeleton, 90 million years old -
A close-up of the Umm an-Nar tomb -
Children can try making their own fossils with these moulds -
A gastropod found in UAE seas -
A fossil gastropod from Mleiha, 68 million years old -
A scenography of the Iron Age rock shelter grave BHS-30 at Jebal al-Buhais -
Stone tools, 10,000 years old on display -
The Mleiha Archaeological Centre is just another reason to visit Sharjah -
A Neolithic burial -
An amphora jar
Another attraction of the Moon Retreat will be the opportunities for stargazing, as there is very little light pollution in the vast desert area.
There are hiking trails nearby to take advantage of, and guests will also be able to access activities offered by other properties in the area, including Mysk Al Faya Retreat and Mysk Al Badayer Retreat, which is located in the nearby Al Badayer Desert.
"Moon Retreat offers camping enthusiasts, tourists and visitors of all ages looking to explore the region’s most stunning natural attractions, an unparalleled opportunity to indulge in unique holiday experiences and relax in nature, away from the hustle of the city," said Khawla Al Hashimi, Shurooq's director of project development.
While a specific opening date has yet to be confirmed, developers have said the project is about 75 per cent complete.
