FAQs

A Per AQUUM Retreat, Desert Palm is the ultimate luxury destination. It is proud to be the first UAE retreat awarded membership of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Flexibility, sincerity and stylish simplicity are the keys to our vision. We believe success is achieved by cultivating intuitive and meaningful relationships.

Arabia avant-garde. At Desert Palm we have blended traditional Arabian charm with modern, chic luxuries to create a truly unique experience of Dubai. Outside the main centre of the city, yet still very accessible, Desert Palm is set in 150 acres of lush green surrounds, home to a variety of birdlife.

No it isn't. Desert Palm is set in a secluded, but very accessible, area of Dubai, where the desert meets with the verdant paradise of Dubai Polo Club's 150 acre estate. Located on Hatta/Oman Road, Desert Palm is southwest of Central Dubai.

In a unique location, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Dubai is very accessible. Emirates Airlines now operate direct flights from Dubai to over 52 destinations worldwide, while most major airlines have flights to the UAE.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is only a 20 minute ride away.

Desert Palm is within easy reach of all major attractions. It takes just 20 minutes to Sheikh Zayed Road and 30 minutes to Jumeira.

Visa requirements for entering Dubai vary greatly for different nationalities and regulations should always be checked before travelling as they can change without warning.

GCC nationals (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia) do not need a visa to enter Dubai.

Citizens from the USA, Australia, Canada and most EU countries will receive an automatic visa upon arrival at the airport. This visa is valid for 60 days, with the option of renewing it for a further 30 days.

Nationals of countries such as Eastern Europe, China, South Africa and the former Soviet Union can get a 30 day, non-renewable tourist visa sponsored by a local entity before entry into the UAE.

Other visitors can apply for an entry visa permit (exclusive of arrival/departure days), valid for use within 14 days of the date of issue, which is non-renewable.

If you are travelling onwards to another destination other than that of your home country, you can obtain a special transit visa (up to 96 hours) free of charge through certain airlines operating in the UAE.

Arabic is the official language of the UAE, although English, Urdu and Hindi are commonly spoken.

While Islam is the official religion of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is very tolerant of other religions and you'll find a range of different places of worship.

The Muslim holy day is Friday, while Ramadan - the holy month - is a time of fasting. During this period Muslims abstain from all food, drinks, cigarettes and unclean thoughts between dawn and dusk.

The timing of Ramadan is not fixed in terms of the western calendar, but each year it occurs around 11 days earlier than the previous year, with the start date depending on the sighting of the moon.

Desert Palm offers a total of twenty six naturally modern guest suites and villas, each showcasing its own distinctive design embodying the simplicity and elegance of the estate's graceful surrounds.

We offer 13 Palm Suites (45 - 75m²), 4 one bedroom Pool Villas (198m²), 8 two bedroom Pool Residences (528m²) and 1 two bedroom Presidential "Villa Layali". Please note that all villas feature a private garden with pool.

The maximum occupancy for a Palm Suite is 2 adults, for Pool Villas 2 adults, for Pool Residences 6 adults and for Villa Layali 4 adults. A child can be accommodated in a parent's bedroom, subject to availability.

All the suites and villas offer oversized king size beds, air conditioning, private bar, Nespresso machine, Ren amenities, pool towels, bathrobes, slippers and hidden safe. Within each suite and villa is a personal business and entertainment centre featuring IDD telephone, wi-fi internet access, flat screen TV and surround sound system with CD/DVD player and Apple iPod.

Additionally, all of our villas feature a private pool within a courtyard garden. The Pool Residences and Villa Layali also contain a fully equipped kitchen.

Yes, we offer in-room and in-villa wi-fi internet connection free of charge.

Desert Palm has an extensive range of leisure and business facilities, including polo viewing, LIME Spa with water experience and juice bar, infinity pool, private business centre and meeting room, wine tasting, cooking tutorials, rare bird watching, horse riding, squash courts, outdoor tennis courts, jogging trail and scheduled wellness sessions, such as yoga, pilates and meditation.

 At Desert Palm guests can savour artfully imagined, flavourful culinary offerings in a setting of natural beauty and eye-catching décor.

"Rare" restaurant serves wood-fired steak and game, exquisitely prepared by Chef in his show kitchen.

"Epicure" deli-café and gourmet market is set alongside the infinity pool, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. For take-away luxuries, Epicure's market offers fresh baked breads and imported delicacies and other high-end products, along with fresh flowers and international newspapers/magazines.

"Red" bar and lounge offers a wide selection of Old and New World wines, along with custom-made cocktails and international beers.

An extensive range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served in "Red" Bar & Lounge, "Rare" Restaurant and "Epicure" café and gourmet market, during opening hours.

Of course - from gluten intolerant to lacto vegetarians, nothing is too much trouble for us. Please let us know when you make your reservation and we will cater to your dietary requirements throughout your stay.

The ideal way to enjoy a polo game is sit amongst the eclectic surrounds of one of the polo pavilions hidden around the estate, while enjoying afternoon tea. The location changes daily with each match during the polo season, which lasts from October to April.

The easiest way to make a quick and direct reservation is to contact us directly at reservations@desertpalm.ae or click on "online reservation" on the website.

Not necessarily. Should you face any difficulties while trying to book online please do not hesitate to contact our reservations team at reservations@desertpalm.ae or call +971 4 323 8888 for any further assistance.

Whether it's a romantic wedding, private party, product launch or corporate function, Desert Palm would be delighted to bring it to life with the Per AQUUM difference. Our expert team can assist you with all phases of planning and execution, down to the very last detail. Contact us at info@desertpalm.ae for further information.

Desert Palm stocks sought-after and boutique wines, in addition to exceptional ‘undiscovered' finds from the vintages of the Old and New Worlds. We host regular wine tasting events and wine dinners - please enquire about dates and availability directly at info@desertpalm.ae  

For individual and direct room bookings a full pre-payment (100% deposit) is requested in order to guarantee the reservation.

During the day the dress code at Desert Palm is casual, however in the evenings we prefer men to wear collard shirts.

Yes of course. Infants between 0 - 2 years are free of charge, children between 4 - 11 years of age are subject to US$ 50.00 per day and a child from 12 years onwards will be counted as an adult with an extra cost of US$ 100.00.

No, we prefer not to allow pets at the resort.

From ancient souks to luxurious shopping malls, Dubai is a shoppers' paradise. Gold, jewellery, designer creations, cameras, electronics, oriental rugs - whatever your tastes, you'll find it here. With low import duties and zero taxation, the city offers unbeatable value.

The electricity supply is 220/240 volts and 50 cycles; the socket type is the same as the three-pin British system. We also provide adaptors for electrical appliances.

Yes. LIME Spa, operated by Per AQUUM, is an iconic venue where you'll encounter addictive, highly desired spa treatments. An integrated approach to well-being is followed, combining physical, mental, spiritual and culinary elements.

LIME Spa features six spa suites including a couples suite, therapeutic water and heat experiences, spa and wellness boutique. Treatments include signature spa rituals for beauty and health, body exotics, massage, facial therapy and wellness services. Or simply keep up with your fitness regime at our fitness centre.

Amongst the Desert Palm team we have staff who speak Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish and Russian.

The local currency is called the dirham (Dhs), which is divided into 100 fils. It is also referred to as AED (Arab Emirate Dirham). The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1980 at a mid rate of US$ 1 - Dhs. 3.6725.

Cash is still the preferred method of payment in the Emirates, although credit cards are now widely accepted. Foreign currencies (especially Euro, British Pounds, Swiss Francs) and travellers cheques can be easily exchanged.

We accept all major credit cards (including: American Express, Master Card, Visa Card and JCB).

For individual and direct bookings the following cancellation policy applies:

• Cancellations within 30 days of arrival will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.

• Cancellations within 14 days of arrival will be charged a 100% cancellation fee.

• No-shows and under-stays are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.

• Cancellations over the festive season and New Year may vary.

Over the festive season and New Year a minimum of 5 nights' stay is required.