If you reside in Riyadh, it may be hard to imagine that a quiet, secluded resort, complete with a safari park, lies just outside the city.
But Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort, is but an hour's drive from the airport. Overlooking Nofa Wildlife Park, it promises majestic views alongside an experiential escape.
The National checks into one of the resort's 57 private villas and bungalows to suss out the safari-style getaway for ourselves.
The welcome
Upon arrival, guests enter through a set of gigantic gates that safeguard the resort. Driving through what feels like a whole new world, I spot birds and wildlife among the lush palm tree groves, and instantly feel disconnected from life in the city. It's a feeling I get used to during my stay.
Pulling into the main entrance, I am offered an iced drink as my bags are taken care of. During the few minutes it takes to check in, I admire the decor of the lobby, which is an ode to the safari style commonly seen in African countries, from the dark mahogany woods to motifs and artefacts.
Soon enough, I'm being whisked away to my villa in a golf buggy – a necessity in this expansive resort.
The villa
Each accommodation option is a stand-alone. I check into a one-bedroom abode, but there are accommodation options with up to three bedrooms.
It's dark by the time I get to mine, so I don't appreciate it fully until the next morning when the sunlight floods the room through sliding glass doors that open up from my bedroom to the pool and patio.
Much like the lobby, there's an obvious effort to blend the villa into its surroundings with its focus on wood and prints. I appreciate the artworks and textures that adorn the space's nod to Africa, a continued motif around the hotel.
I stay in a spacious and secluded terrace villa, complete with a private pool and garden. Inside, there is every modern comfort I could need, from an espresso machine and TV complete with the ability to stream, to a sleep-well pillow spray and a plush robe and slippers.
The scene
The resort's primary draw is its nature and connection to wildlife, with an abundance of greenery. Despite being in the middle of the desert, the resort is surrounded by trees. It is connected to the surrounding safari park where lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, oryx and more roam.
There are also numerous leisure activities to enjoy, including horse riding and an 18-hole golf course.
As well as private pools and the communal hotel pool, Nofa is home to two freshwater lakes where you can go kayaking and paddleboarding.
Spa and wellness
For adults seeking a relaxing break, visiting the spa is a must. It boasts a vast menu that weaves in traditional Arabian beauty and wellness methods. A standout has to be the therapeutic salt room, which is not only cleansing for the skin, but can also aid respiratory issues.
Family-friendly factor
While I don't travel with children, it's worth noting how kid-friendly this resort is. There is a children's adventure park, a cinema, bowling and outdoor pools.
The neighbourhood
The resort is a stand-alone destination, meaning it's not one to book if you're planning to explore beyond the property's borders. But for me, it means I am able to truly unplug from busy city life.
For those travelling in from afar, reaching Riyadh takes about an hour. As the Saudi capital, the city is filled with restaurants, malls and entertainment attractions, which make for a busy day out.
Insider tip
Although it took me just an hour to get from the airport to the hotel, the return journey was much longer due to rush hour traffic (almost three hours). Keep this in mind when booking flights and choosing your checkout time.
The verdict
An excellent spot for families with children. The safari experience is a whole new world where you can see and learn about animals unfamiliar to the kingdom, with experts on hand to answer questions and make the interactive experiences as engaging as possible.
Just be sure to book activities in advance to avoid disappointment, especially during peak season.
The bottom line
Rates for rooms begin at 1,912 Saudi riyals ($510) per night, check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at noon.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the resort and reflects standards during this time. Services may change in future
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
HOW TO WATCH
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
