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Photo Courtesy : Dubai Tourism the Arabian oryx , with its snow-white , sunlight-reflecting skin ; the mountain gazelle , which can reach speeds of 65 km / hour in “ fright ” mode ; the Arabian sand gazelle , which is considered an international endangered species ; over 200 species of birds , including the highest concentration of large flamingos in the UAE ; and various reptiles , including the spiny-tailed lizard , which can live up to 80 years . You decide to check out Al Qudra Lakes and come across an 86-km cycle track and 5-star Arabian style resort .
This is another way to “ be ” a Bedouin for a day : you walk through a village constructed from natural materials like goat hair and get to see what an actual Bedouin tent looks like . You witness live demonstrations of henna tattooing , Arabian coffee making , and traditional cooking . Over a traditional , Bedouinstyle meal , your host fascinates you with ancient stories passed down through the generations . Needing to walk off your additional 10 pounds , you venture over to the nearby souk and livestock area .
Epilogue
That trip into the desert stayed with you , so you return a few years later to tick a few more items off your bucket list , like the
Al Marmoom Heritage Festival complete with its lively camel races , the
5km dune run through the conservation reserve and around Al Qudra lakes , and the chance to get a bird ’ s eye view of the desert while paragliding or skydiving with
Paramotor Desert Adventure .