Spot Arabian Oryx, Sand Cats, and Falcons at these Luxury Desert Stays

Think deserts are lifeless? Think again. These luxury safaris are taking wildlife spotting to a new level, where elusive sand cats and falcons cross your path, and the Arabian oryx roams free across the dunes.

Forget the cliché of barren sands and scorched earth. The deserts of the Middle East are anything but empty. Teeming with elusive wildlife, dramatic golden landscapes, and cultural intrigue, they’re becoming playgrounds for a new kind of traveller – one who pairs game drives with gourmet dinners, camel sightings with candlelit tents. From the UAE to Oman and Jordan, here’s where to spot Arabia’s most majestic creatures – without ever compromising on comfort.

The nearby UNESCO-listed Hegra adds a historical dimension in these sands for centuries.
The nearby UNESCO-listed Hegra adds a historical dimension in these sands for centuries.

Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Set amid sandstone cliffs and ancient heritage sites, Habitas AlUla offers a distinctly Saudi twist on the luxury desert safari stay. Located in the Ashar Valley, the resort blends eco-conscious design with lavish comfort – think earthy-toned villas with private terraces and al fresco spa rituals surrounded by silence.

Guests can explore the desert on guided nature walks or 4×4 safaris, where Arabian oryx and desert foxes roam freely thanks to rewilding initiatives in the region. The elusive sand cat also inhabits this part of the Arabian Peninsula, though it takes patience and luck to spot one. For bird lovers, local falconers offer interactive sessions where these revered raptors take centre stage in dramatic desert backdrops.

Habitas AlUla
Ashar Valley, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Website

The Agafay Desert – a stony expanse just outside Marrakech – offers a quieter, equally enchanting escape.
The Agafay Desert – a stony expanse just outside Marrakech – offers a quieter, equally enchanting escape.

Scarabeo Camp, Agafay Desert, Morocco

While Morocco’s Sahara may steal the spotlight, the Agafay Desert – a stony expanse just outside Marrakech – offers a quieter, equally enchanting escape. Scarabeo Camp, with its cream canvas tents and vintage explorer décor, blends North African soul with safari chic. Here, wildlife spotting takes a slower, subtler form.

Though you won’t find Arabian oryx, the desert is home to fennec foxes, wild hares, and birds of prey including the Barbary falcon – often seen gliding low at dusk. The camp’s experiences include guided walks with Berber trackers, telescope-led stargazing, and 4×4 adventures across the lunar-like terrain. It’s less about the chase, more about tuning into the rhythm of the desert.

Scarabeo Camp
Désert Agafay, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Website

Al Wadi Desert blends luxe tented villas with daily wildlife encounters.
Al Wadi Desert blends luxe tented villas with daily wildlife encounters.

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, United Arab Emirates

Set within a 1,235-acre nature reserve, Al Wadi Desert blends luxe tented villas with daily wildlife encounters. Ride into the rust-hued dunes at golden hour in a vintage Land Rover, binoculars at the ready. Arabian gazelles and oryx dot the reserve, while trained falcons sweep overhead during private falconry sessions held by local experts.

The stargazing programme is worth staying up for, especially if you’re hoping to hear the whisper of sand cats moving stealthily between the dunes. A spa nestled in the desert and outdoor yoga sessions with a soundtrack of desert winds round out the slow-living experience.

Al Wadi Desert
HRMM+QW9 Ras Al-Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Website

Oman’s Wahiba Sands is where stillness meets spectacle.
Oman’s Wahiba Sands is where stillness meets spectacle.

Wahiba Sands Luxury Camps, Oman

At Canvas Club or Desert Nights Camp, travellers can embrace a sense of isolation while being surrounded by curated touches – think Persian rugs, copper lanterns, and chilled drinks under a sea of stars. The local Bedouin guides are experts at spotting Arabian wildlife in their natural habitat. Morning drives offer a glimpse of the oryx and desert foxes, while night walks with a tracker might just bring you face-to-face with a rare sand cat. It’s also a prime spot to witness traditional falconry, where age-old techniques are still practised by nomadic families.

Wahiba Sands Luxury Camps
In the heart of eastern Oman
Website

Often compared to Mars for its red, rugged terrain, Wadi Rum offers transparent bubble dome tents.

Wadi Rum Bubble Domes, Jordan

Often compared to Mars for its red, rugged terrain, Wadi Rum has a magic of its own. Stay in bubble domes – transparent tents designed for maximum star visibility – while exploring the protected desert reserve on a guided jeep safari.

Though harder to spot, the Arabian oryx has made a quiet return to these parts through local reintroduction efforts. You’re more likely to see falcons being trained in the early mornings, slicing through the sky like arrows. Wild cats roam the fringes, and your best bet of a sighting is with a Bedouin tracker who knows the landscape by instinct.

Wadi Rum Bubble Domes
Wadi Rum Protected Area, Wadi Rum Village, Jordan
Website

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