Desert Decadence

Dubai lures visitors not only with its year-round sunshine and superlatives — a "seven-star" hotel, the biggest theme park — but also its over-the-top luxury. Heck, even living like a bedouin can be a deluxe experience. Al Maha is set in the 225-sq-km Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve — 5% of the emirate's total land area — and is designed to resemble a bedouin camp. Endangered Arabian oryx (al maha in Arabic), desert foxes and gazelle meander around the grounds and, if you're lucky, quench their thirst in your own private pool. The spa and airy suites have gorgeous views of the...

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