No time to travel all the way to Southern Africa for a safari? Not a problem. Welcome to Sir Bani Yas Island and The empty Quarter, in Abu Dhabi. There, more than 10,000 animals are roaming free in the Island’s Arabian Wildlife Park, including Arabian Oryx, Flamingos, Cheetahs, Hyenas, and Giraffes.
The Empty Quarter is one of the world’s most unexplored regions, and personally, we like it that way. Even its existence feels like a secret reserved the truly adventurous. Those who make the journey here are a mix of expats in the UAE looking for a relaxing weekend, and local Emirati families escaping the flash and rampant development of the cities. The desert is home to more than just falcons. Camel, spiders, snakes, scorpions, sand foxes, oryx, sand gazelles, camels, and a variety of birds all call this harsh environment home. However, it is the Saluki dog that visitors will most want to pet. Saluki dogs are one of the oldest domesticated dog breeds, trained for the hunt by nomadic Arabian tribes. Several live at the Qasr Al Sarab, and are happy to show off their speed to visitors interested in learning more.