• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Belly Rumbles
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog

    Arabian Delight! Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai

    June 18, 2018 By Sara McCleary Updated July 11, 2022 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant is a 55 minute drive from CBD of Dubai. An Arabian eating oasis nestled in the heart of the desert.

    Emirates A380 inflight bar
    Nose to tail degustation Bale Dutung, Pampanga

    If you are after a dining experience that will whisk you away to a land of Arabian delights, then Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant is a must visit. The award winning Al Hadheerah is far more than just a restaurant, it is a destination in itself.

    Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant is part of the Bab Al Shams Resort and Spa. If you are staying at Bab Al Shams (like we were) it is a short buggy trip to the restaurant. If driving, there is ample parking available.

    From the moment I arrived, I was whisked away to another time, another place, another world. Al Hadheerah is the polar opposite of the high rise metropolis of Dubai. On arrival you walk through a souk (market). There are jars of dried herbs and spices, shops selling clothing, tourist souvenirs and other goods. It’s not just a case of walking up to the restaurant door and entering.

    The souk at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Getting to know local UAE cuisine at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiJars of spices in the souk at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai The market entrance to Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiThe walk through the market is a relatively quiet one and a contrast to what is waiting for you in the restaurant. You are greeted with a Middle Eastern buffet fit for a king, or in this instance, it really should be a sheikh.

    Al Hadheerah is unlike any buffet I have visited before. It is a feast of smells, sounds and action. You walk into a bustling souk filled with food and Arabic ambience.

    Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai is set up like an Arabian market There are more than one variety of date in the UAE. Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Education is part of the meal at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiThe buffet is extensive and also has 10 live cooking stations. No matter what Middle Eastern cuisine tantalises your taste buds, they have you covered; Emirati, Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi, Moroccan, Omani and Iranian. On top of this, there is a range of international, oriental and Middle Eastern desserts.

    There is so much happening, and we are given a guided tour of what is available on our way to our table. It is hard to take it all in, and I don’t. But at least it helps me form a semi plan of attack when I come back.

    Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai is an education for your taste buds with Middle Eastern food from all over the UAE. Freshly baked flat bread in unlimited supply at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai One of many plates after visiting the buffet and live cooking stations at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiOn arrival at our table it is laden with various dips, pickles, dates and freshly baked flatbread. I could have happily just eaten this for dinner. As we start to dig in we are given sage advice to pace ourselves as there is a lot to eat.

    Even if you wanted to try every dish being offered, there is no way your stomach could cope with a mouthful of each. The range of dishes on offer is plain flabbergasting. We all make multiple trips. Completely full I notice some delicious looking grilled prawns on one of my dining companion’s plate. I must have walked around the area at least 10 times and didn’t even notice them.

    If you are after a dining experience and not just a restaurant visit then Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai is for you. Various fried dishes at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai The souk style setting at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai A selection of bread for all tastes at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiThe set up at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant is a little different to normal when we visit. It is Ramadan and the tables and chairs are situated inside the biggest tent I have ever seen. Normally this would be all outdoors with the crystal clear night sky as your ceiling. The tent is that enormous that we didn’t even realise it was a temporary tent or even a tent at all! An incredibly high ceiling, glass doors, windows and chandlers all helped to create a very permanent non tent feeling.

    Is a visit to Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai worth it? Oh yes it is. Every Middle Eastern cuisine is covered at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Part of the buffet at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai What to eat at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiThe million dollar question, is alcohol available at Al Hadheerah? Yes, they do serve alcohol, but it is not included in the cost of your buffet (non alcoholic drinks are included).

    In addition to food, Al Hadheerah offers entertainment. Due to being awake for around 22 hours we just didn’t last the distance to watch the performances. This was a shame as during Ramadan there is a live heritage camel and horse show.

    Chickens, onions and tomatoes being roasted at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Sweet sweet pistachios at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Preserved fruits at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Pickles and Cheese at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiWe did, however, get to enjoy live Oud and Qanoun music, plus happy birthday sang in Arabic many more times than I personally needed to hear. I will never be able to sing happy birthday again without a timely inserted “cha cha cha”.

    Due to Ramadan, it was a subdued entertainment offering compared to their normal line up which also includes belly dancers. If you are lucky enough to visit on Thursday or Friday nights there is a firework finale over the desert.

    Part of the buffet at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Catch it if you can. Ice cream being dished out at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant DubaiOrdering an ice cream is no easy feat. You will be challenged to retrieve it from the end of the scooping stick with much laughter from onlookers. Middle Eastern Sweet Treats at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai Cultural entertainment at Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant Dubai

    The food is generous. Not only the offerings at the live cooking stations and around the buffet, but the bowls of dips are replaced with full ones when you even look like you may finish them. Bread is also replenished, you are never without.

    Did I enjoy my visit to Al Hadheerah? For a buffet (which I am usually not a fan) it was incredible. You won’t be stuck for something to eat, plus it is a great way to get to know Middle Eastern dishes. Al Hadheerah isn’t just a meal, it is an Arabian experience.

    Sara xxx

    Belly Rumbles travelled as a guest of Dubai Tourism, but all opinions remain her own.

    Must try dish: Ice Cream! If only for the entertainment value of trying to catch it.
    Who should dine here: Tourists, big groups and families
    Who shouldn’t dine here: Not really the place for a quiet romantic dinner for two
    What else you should know: As it is part of the Bab Al Shams Resort they do serve alcohol. Entertainment starts at 8pm
    Price: from AED 395/person
    BYO: No, but they are licensed
    Bookings: Yes, and highly recommended
    Opening hours: 7.30 – 11.00pm
    Contact details: Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Al Qudra Rd, Dubai, UAE. Tel +971 4 809 6100

    Become a subscriber and don’t miss a single delicious recipe, restaurant review or travel adventure.



    « Winter Weekend Escape to Crowne Plaza Terrigal
    Family Pleaser, Apple Walnut Crumble Slice »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. jennifer

      July 04, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      I miss the spices of Dubai plus add in all the buffets. The food looks amazing. I wonder how I missed this in my two months in Dubai. I need to go back here and eat here. So many types of bead to try.

      Reply
    2. sherianne

      July 04, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      I love that you walk through a market to get here and the decor seems perfect. This would be a great way to try all the different foods!

      Reply
    3. Himanshu

      July 04, 2018 at 11:18 am

      I recently visited Dubai and spend a day in desert also but this Al Hadheerah restaurant is far suprioir to where we went. Al Hadheerah Dubai Restaurant is really lavish and it is so beautifully decorated. Spread is so huge. I love these kind of Ice Cream vendors and it’s really a fun activity to retrieve your ice cream from them. I am sure you guys followed the sage advice and enjoyed your food at slow pace.

      Reply
    4. Suruchi Mittal

      July 04, 2018 at 3:36 am

      Al Hadheerah Restaurant is so different from the high risen ones in Dubai. I loved its entrance and the way spices, souk market is put up. The food looks so tempting. Fireworks must be like a topping. I would love to visit this place foe sure. Thanks for sharing and great pictures.

      Reply
    5. Indrani

      July 03, 2018 at 12:31 pm

      Wow What a wonderful place to have great food. And live Oud and Qanoun music with food sounds like a must have experience. Very authentic ambiance. Retrieving ice cream sounds so much fun. 🙂 Looking forward to such an experience some day soon.

      Reply
    6. Linda

      July 03, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      We did a desert adventure when were were in Dubai and were a bit disappointed. We said we would and stay in the desert the next time. Maybe we will try Al Hadheerah Desert Restaurant and see what the Bar Al Shams Resort looks like. The souk looks like a great way to start the visit. With 10 different cooking stations I am sure I could find something I liked. Your food pics looked quite varied. A visit with fireworks would be great. I will keep this in mind for a return visit to Dubai.

      Reply
    7. Medha Verma

      July 02, 2018 at 11:38 pm

      I live in Dubai and Bab Al Shams is one of my favourite desert resorts in the UAE! We visit there very often, especially during the cooler months, to enjoy a drink atop their rooftop restaurant, overlooking the desert. I have also visited Al Hadheera on several occasions, mostly to take our family members for a truly authentic Arabian experience and I absolutely love that place! Good ambiance, superb food, overall amazing experience for someone looking for local, cultural things to do here.

      Reply
    8. Sandy N Vyjay

      July 02, 2018 at 8:34 pm

      Al Hadheerah is indeed unique. Also, I guess that because of Ramadan there was special food too available. But even then the buffet spread is massive, to say the least. I also like the layout of the restaurant giving an ambience of a traditional souk. The fun part, of course, seems to be catching the ice cream!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    photo of Sara McCleary, Founder, Belly Rumbles culinary travel blog

    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food photographer, creative recipe developer, and avid traveller (when the World isn’t in a pandemic).

    Welcome to Belly Rumbles, my slice of the Internet.

    I share Recipes discovered or inspired by my adventures and family favourites too! Come join me on my culinary adventure.

    More about me ?

    Footer

    back to top


    Nitty Gritty

    About Us

    Let's Connect

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • About
    • Sara McCleary
    • Work With Us
    • Contact
    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

    © Sara McCleary and Belly Rumbles® 2009-2023

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    • LinkedIn
    • Reddit
    39 shares