Sick of navigating Dubai’s concrete jungle? Have no fear, relief is close at hand. Closer than you think, in fact.
A little over two hours’ drive from Dubai’s hectic life — where traffic snarls and shooting blood pressure are all in a day’s work — lies a place to recharge your batteries.
A place where you can remind yourself that there is more to life than staring for hours at the back of someone else’s car.
Unique landscape
Fujairah is the youngest of the UAE’s seven emirates and geographically very different from the desert landscape that makes up the rest of the country.
The mountains offer a welcome change in scenery on the drive across from Dubai and you can almost feel your body unwind even as you approach the Indian Ocean.
It is here that Fujairah’s hotels are located, all within a few miles of each other. And it is here that, rising almost out of nowhere, you find Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.
Crown of the coast
Once you do see it, you wonder how on earth you missed it, but this is merely a measure of the sheer scale of the Hajar Mountains that hug the pristine coastline.
With 218 rooms, Al Aqah is monumental — and the suite among the 35 Royal Club Rooms on the 15th floor is particularly generous.
In the hotel’s pecking order, it comes in at No 3, above the Family Rooms, Superior Rooms and Deluxe Rooms, and beneath the Executive Suites and the Presidential Suite located on the top floor.
All the balconies look out on the 230m-beachfront exclusive to the hotel. And the joy of a view unspoiled by construction work out at sea is another welcome reminder of the fact that you’re not in Dubai.
Club Room guests have the use of their own lounge, with refreshments served throughout the day and access to free high-speed internet.
However, if you’re not there to sit indoors, then outside is the place to be.
The Hajar Mountains help provide a climate more temperate than in the other emirates and at this time of year the mercury rests in the comfortable early 30s.
There is no shortage of things to do. The more energetic can try their hand at tennis and squash or swim in the vast three-section free-form pool (the largest in the UAE).
Alternatively, you could opt to lounge around the pool perimeter or on the beach itself. And then there are opportunities for water sports — for which Fujairah is famous.
The coral reefs are home to exotic sea life and offer some of the best snorkelling and diving in the region.
Pampering for all
Children are well taken care of at the Penguin Club and there is also minigolf and a cinema to keep everyone occupied.
Visitors should not miss sampling a spa treatment during their stay.
The large selection of treatments available range from specialist facials to a wealth of massages, rituals and wraps to de-stress, rejuvenate and enhance body and mind.
Choose an hour of indulgence or splash out on the Al Aqah Journey for 4 hours and 15 minutes of pampering that includes a “chocolate fantasy” wrap, an aroma stone relaxing ritual and a “visible brilliance” facial.
By the time the bell tinkles to mark the end of the treatment — or to wake you up — you’ll be ready to walk out feeling like a person reborn.
Platter of sophistication
On the food front, the guests are literally spoilt for choice. From poolside snacks to a la carte dining, all tastes are catered to via eight different outlets.
Friday brunch in the Views Restaurant is in keeping with the hotel culture of the UAE while, for dinner, Taste provides a relaxed yet sophisticated Thai dining experience best enjoyed outside on the terrace, especially at this time of year.
For those still feeling energetic at the end of the day, the Astros bar on the 20th floor — if you haven’t already enjoyed a pre-dinner refreshment — is the place to head for.
Do-it-all destination
A visit to Al Aqah is reminiscent of those family hotel-centred holidays you enjoyed as a child.
It is a one-stop shop with plenty to do and enough space to do it in so as not to detract from the enjoyment of those happy to simply sunbathe in peace.
And if you don’t leave feeling invigorated, no matter how long your stay, then maybe you’re more stressed than you thought. In which case, best book another holiday.
Options: Be a sport
Activities
- Beach and water sports, including beach volleyball, banana boat rides, waterskiing, cruises, fishing charters, snorkelling and crazy golf.
- A professional dive centre offers trips to the country’s best diving sites and a range of scuba diving courses.
- On-site, there is a fully equipped health club, a free-form swimming pool, floodlit tennis courts, a squash court, a games room, a cinema and Spa Al Aqah. Off-site excursions are also available, featuring hiking and biking in the Hajar Mountains, wadi bashing and traditional coastal dhow cruises.
Getting there: Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
Al Aqah is situated 45km from downtown Fujairah and is a two-hour drive east from Dubai. It can be accessed via the regular shuttle services running from the resort.
Out & about: Venturing out
Visit Fujairah Fort, Al Bidiya Mosque, Al Heil Castle and Al Bitnah Fort for a taste of cultural traditions and history dating back more than 2,000 years.
