RAK is the capital of the emirate with the same name. The name means “the headland of the tent”, because a tent was erected to assist navigation. It is the most northerly of the emirates and RAK is very close to the border with Oman. While in the UAE you cannot go anywhere without seeing RAK, as RAK ceramics is one of the largest ceramic companies in the world and most of the bathrooms in the UAE have its products. RAK is also home to a number of other manufacturing companies, including “TurboTim”, strangely juxtaposed to the recently developed beach resorts.

We were not in RAH for the history, culture of tax breaks for industrials….it was our last stop and we were here to relax by the beach and pool.

After three PCR tests in 48 hours we arrived in Dubai, one of the seven Emirates which form the UAE. The UAE came into being in 1971/72 as an elective monarchy. Prior to that it had been a British protectorate formed in 1820 following the signing of the General Maritime Treaty. This had resulted from two battles (1809 and 1819), against the Ras Al Khaimah emirate which had been led by a sultan who supported pirates in the region, mainly against the ships of the East India Company.

Oil exploration began in the 1950s, with commercial quantities discovered in 1960. This has brought great wealth, although the country has now diversified into finance, real estate, tourism and aviation. The current President since 2004 (and leader of Abu Dhabi) is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, but better known is the Deputy President, Prime Minister and leader of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Al-Maha is the only hotel in a 225 square km desert conservation park, representing approx. 25% of the land of the Dubai Emirate, close to the Oman boarder. The conservation area was created by the Maktoum family in the late 1990s, which is also when the hotel was built. The park relies on underground water to create lakes for birds and animals and to enable trees to survive in the harsh environment. The water pumps are powered by solar energy.

The hotel comprises 40 “tents”, all overlooking spectacular desert scenery. We took full advantage of the activities on offer to guests – nature walk/drive, falconry, “dune bashing” in a 4×4 and a private desert dinner (for which we were provided with a local mobile phone in the event of snake/scorpion emergencies; thankfully not needed.)