Al Bait Sharjah was one of UAE’s most ambitious historical restoration projects to date, and is widely referred to as the Heart of Sharjah. The Emirati luxury resort includes a collection of historic manor houses with 53 guestrooms and suites. It provides guests with bespoke services where beauty, unparalleled hospitality and a sense of home become inseparable. The architecture and design sensitively reflects Arabic culture while it blends harmoniously with the heritage buildings in the district. It’s a spectacular accomplishment, and one of our favorite destinations in the area – especially for those visiting Dubai, and looking for an opportunity to escape the glitz and glamor of the city for a localized and culturally enriched luxury experience.

Their newest weekend getaway package certainly grabbed our attention. What’s not to love… it includes accommodations in its signature heritage house, transfer by yacht, custom clothes, edible gold, calligraphy and other rarefied amenities. However, the $68,000 price tag on this weekend away is not for the faint of wallet. In fact, the price tag is tantamount to the value of 1.5 kilos of gold.

“Still one might argue that it’s rather economical at $850 per person per couple per year if you amortize the cost of the weekend as memories over the next four decades,” said the hotel’s general manager, Patrick Moukarzel.

| Day 1 |

The weekend begins with a yacht transfer from Dubai with exclusive welcome amenities that include edible, 24 karat gold. Dockside, a 1967 Mercedes Pullman – one of only 304 in the world – transfers guests directly to the hotel.

Once at the resort, guests resort to the fully privatized Bait Al Midfa Heritage House, where the suite will be strewn with flower decorations on a scale of a floral atelier and utterly personalized at every turn from gold embroidered and initialed wardrobes and slippers to personalized engraved jewelry set from the renowned local designer in the resort’s Jewelry Shop.

The first dining opportunity upon arrival is the Al Bait Tray for Two, complete with a gold twist, including one of the most expensive desserts in the world adorned in gold and jewels and concocted with the most expensive organic ingredients. (Full disclosure: the resort will not reveal the exact recipe of this dessert, but we think you will love it!).

Next is a private, exotic couple’s spa retreat within the already secluded Heritage House. Depending on preference (and weather), there is the choice of a treatment outdoors or in one of the atmospheric rooms in the spa.

Floating from the spa experience, the day ends under the stars watching a suitably romantic film in an outdoor cinema experience in the privacy of the Heritage Courtyard with – of course – gold popcorn or a full-on gastronomic affair. The choice is yours since this is your ultimate weekend getaway!

| Day 2 |

After a night on a specially imported, USD $22,000 mattress, which provides two more hours of sleep than a normal bed, a curated breakfast is served out at sea on a yacht. All hands on deck gives way to all hands at calligraphy in a private class, with gold, at the resort.

Lunch takes place in the heart of the kitchen at Al Bait Sharjah, in the shadow of a hundred-year old windtower. In the afternoon, local tailors take measurements for a bespoke abaya and kandoora by a famous Arab fashion designer, which will then be shipped anywhere.

The day closes with a curated dinner picnic on a private island in Sharjah with a private musician and butler service while the sun dips into the horizon. Naturally, a royal bathing ceremony will occur upon return to the resort.

| Day 3 | 

On the day of departure, a spiritual awakening ceremony at a private pool with a spot of yoga is just what the doctor ordered, and is followed a romantic breakfast in the privacy of the Heritage House.

If this weekend getaways sounds like something you want to experience for yourself, reach out to the resort to learn more… www.albaitsharjah.com