Saudi Arabia’s newest travel experience is an Airstream trailer glamping site surrounded by sandstone cliffs and palm groves.
The new glamping site is inspired by Bedouins who used to roam this region on the kingdom's ancient Incense Routes. Human connection and adventure are at the heart of the kingdom's newest place to stay.
“We’ve chosen AlUla — one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula — as our first outpost for this new, immersive concept for its history, culture and natural heritage.
Oliver Ripley,
Habitas
Guests at Caravan AlUla will stay in gleaming Airstream trailers nestled in a U-shape formation in the craggy Arabian valley.
Each trailer comes with a view and private outdoor deck. Guests will get around the site on off-road electric bikes.
Trailers are fully air-conditioned with a queen-sized bed, indoor lounge, kitchenette, separate shower, bathroom and free Wi-Fi.
Designed to bring out guests' inner child, trailers have lots of fun details including colouring books, disco lights, scalp massagers and curated collections of storybooks.
This is the debut of Caravan by Habitas, the latest experience from the hotel group famed for its experience-led, eco-conscious offerings.
“We are excited to expand our brand in a new direction and to offer a new type of experience, we invite people to come on an adventure, to play in raw nature,” said co-founder and chief executive of Habitas, Oliver Ripley.
“We’ve chosen AlUla — one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula — as our first outpost for this new, immersive concept for its history, culture and natural heritage. We hope that our Caravan concept will provide travellers with a unique way to discover new and untapped destinations around the world, in nature and activating unique and experiential accommodation.”
Firepits, stargazing and outdoor cinema
In the centre of Caravan AlUla is the gathering tent, a communal place where guests can come together to drink tea, play board games and reconnect with others.
Peppered with antiques and heritage crafts from across the kingdom, it's also where guests will find a large outdoor firepit, the best place to take in the star-filled skies of north-west Saudi Arabia.
Evenings at the glamping site will also be for outdoor cinema sessions, with films projected on to the rocks and served with freshly made popcorn.
Billed as an immersive experience, there’s plenty to keep guests entertained including a games room, yoga deck and library.
Regular performances and events will also take place including cultural shows and interactive art installations. Children are welcome and there's a desert-inspired jungle gym and teddy bear tent.
An adventure travel programme will offer activities such as canyon crossings, dessert treks, horse riding and desert survival skills.
Affordable rates and access to Habitas AlUla
Dining in the desert comes via food trucks, with a choice of three on-site. There’s a mirrored pizza truck, a locally-inspired coffee cart and a bright pink ice cream van that will hand out free home-made ice-creams. There's also a family-style dining hall.
Overnight rates at Caravan AlUla start from 1,500 Saudi riyals ($400) per night, making it notably more affordable than Habitas AlUla, the company's inaugural property in Saudi Arabia, which is less than a five-minute drive away.
Guests get access to all of the facilities at the neighbouring 100-room, five-star hotel including to restaurants, leisure offerings and the state-of-the art Thuraya Wellness spa.
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Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
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Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
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Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
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- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
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- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
