Sonara Camp · Dubai desert
The desert,
in silk.
A private evening at Sonara Camp. Golden-hour dunes, a table laid beneath a thousand lanterns, and firelight until late, collected from your door in a private Land Cruiser.
as the light goes gold.
- From
- AED 1,190 per guest
- The evening
- 15:30 to 22:30
- Collection
- Private Land Cruiser
- Tables
- Two to eight guests
Prelude
Some evenings are booked.
This one is kept.
Sonara keeps a single seating each night, so the evening moves at the pace of your table rather than a timetable. You are collected at golden hour, met at the arch by your host, and returned to your hotel long after the last ember.
- One seating a night
- Never more than a handful of tables beneath the lanterns.
- Tables of two to eight
- Each table is laid for its own party and never shared.
- A host for every table
- Someone who knows your name, your glass and your pace.
The camp
A camp drawn
in lantern light.
Two terraces set into a private fold of red dunes beyond the city. Bamboo, linen and rattan by day, a canopy of a thousand lights by night.
25°N · The Dubai desert
The layout
Sunset is taken on the upper terrace, dinner on the lower, and the dunes are kept for everything in between.
IThe lower terrace, after dark IIThe golden pyramid, lit at 18:30 IIIWhite canvas teepees on the upper terrace IVTwo chairs, kept for sunset
The layout
Sunset is taken on the upper terrace, dinner on the lower, and the dunes are kept for everything in between.
The evening
Seven hours,
in six chapters.
15:30 to 22:30
Times follow the sunset and shift gently with the season.
15:30
Collected from your door
A private Land Cruiser and your driver-guide arrive at your hotel or residence. Cold towels, chilled water and a quiet road out of the city.
16:45
Golden-hour dune drive and falcon encounter
A measured drive across the red dunes, paced to your liking, pausing to meet a falconer and his saker as the light turns gold.
17:50
Sunset on the dune, chilled sparkling and canapes
Glasses are poured on the crest of the dune, with nothing between you and the horizon but the last of the sun.
18:30
Through the bamboo arch into Sonara
Your host meets you at the arch and walks you to your setting as the lanterns come on, one terrace at a time.
19:30
Dinner beneath the lanterns
A slow, generous table from the fire, served at your pace beneath the golden pyramid.
21:00
Fire, oud and Tanoura
Fire along the walkway, an oud player between courses, and the Tanoura turning beneath the stars.
- 22:30Returned to your hotel, the desert still on your shoes.
VIFire along the walkway 
VIFlame beneath the golden pyramid 
VIThe Tanoura 
VIOud, between courses
Settings
Choose your
setting.
Every setting includes the whole evening: collection, the dune drive, sunset, dinner and the performances. What changes is how private you would like it to be.
Setting I
Dune Terrace
An open table on the lower terrace, laid in linen and rattan, facing the dunes and the fire.
- A table on the dune terrace
- Host-served dinner beneath the lanterns
- Front row for fire and Tanoura
AED 1,190per guest
Select
Most requested
Setting II
Teepee Lounge
A white-canvas teepee strung with lights, low cushions and a table laid only for your party.
- A private teepee for your party
- Champagne welcome on arrival
- A dedicated host all evening
AED 1,650per guest
Select
Setting III
Private Lounge
A secluded lounge beyond the camp with its own canopy, firepit and butler. The desert, entirely yours.
- Secluded lounge and private firepit
- Personal butler and the chef's tasting menu
- Oud performance at your table
AED 2,400per guest, minimum two
Select
The table
Dinner,
from the fire.
Our chef cooks over coal and open flame in the Emirati way, with produce brought in that morning. The menu is set, the pace is entirely yours.
Sonara · The evening menu
- To begin
- Arabic mezze, warm khubzHummus, moutabal, muhammara and fattoush, with bread from the clay oven.
- On the dune
- Canapes, chilled sparklingServed on the crest at sunset, before the arch and the lanterns.
- From the fire
- Lamb ouzi, hammour, saffron riceSlow-roasted lamb and line-caught hammour, cooked over embers.
- To finish
- Umm ali, dates and gahwaWarm umm ali, Medjool dates and cardamom coffee beneath the stars.
Halal throughout. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free tables on request, so tell us of any allergies when you reserve and the kitchen will plan around them.
The film
Sonara,
in motion.
Filmed at camp over a single season. No actors, no second takes. Sound on, lights low.
The arrival0:25Through the bamboo arch and down into camp, at golden hour. The table at sunset0:26Glasses raised on the sand as the sun drops behind the dune.
The details
Every detail,
handled.
From the moment you are collected to the moment you are home, everything is arranged. Bring only the people you would like to share it with.
Included in every evening
Eight things you will not need to ask for
- Private Land Cruiser, door to door
- Driver-guide and golden-hour dune drive
- Falcon encounter with a master falconer
- Chilled sparkling and canapes at sunset
- Dinner from the fire, soft drinks and gahwa
- Fire, oud and Tanoura performances
- A host for your table, all evening
- Blankets and wraps in the cooler months
Optional, on request
Arranged by your concierge
- Private photographerDiscreet coverage from sunset to the fire, with edited images within 48 hours.AED 1,200
- Celebration set-upFlowers, candles, a cake from our pastry kitchen and a table dressed for the occasion.From AED 850
- Bottle serviceChampagne or a fine wine from the Sonara bar, poured at your table all evening.From AED 950
“If it can be arranged in the desert, it has almost certainly been arranged at Sonara before.”
Reserve
Reserve your
evening.
Choose your setting, your date and who is joining you. You pay the full AED total online and your table is confirmed at once. Your concierge takes it from there.
- WhatsApp concierge
- 08:00 to 23:00, every day
- By email
- hello@dubaidesertking.com
Your reservation
Sonara Camp, by night
- Dune Terraceper guest
- AED 1,190Reserve
- Teepee Loungeper guest
- AED 1,650Reserve
- Private Loungeper guest, minimum two
- AED 2,400Reserve
- Pay the full AED total online, confirmed at once
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your evening
Questions
Before you
ask.
The questions we hear most often. Anything else, your concierge will answer personally, usually within the half hour.
Write to the conciergeIs there a dress code?
Desert elegant. Light layers and flat or block-heel shoes for the sand, with a wrap for the cooler hours after dark. From November to March we keep blankets and pashminas at every table.
Are children welcome?
Children aged eight and over are welcome in every setting and dine from a gentler menu of their own. For younger guests, the Private Lounge can be arranged on request.
What is poured at the Sonara bar?
Champagne, wine, cocktails and alcohol-free pairings are poured throughout the evening, settled as you go or arranged in advance as bottle service. Soft drinks, tea and gahwa are always included.
Can you arrange a proposal or a private event?
Often. Tell your concierge what you have in mind, a ring at sunset, a birthday beneath the lanterns, or the whole camp for your guests, and we will plan it with you, quietly.
When is the season, and what if the weather turns?
Sonara opens from October to April, when evenings are cool and clear. If wind or rain is forecast, we call ahead to move your evening or refund it in full.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before your evening. Within 48 hours, half of the reservation is refundable. Within 24 hours, it is not.
One seating · every night · October to April