A wonderful, educational business development adventure exploring what Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai has to offer for events and incentives!
It started with a very last minute invitation email literarily a week before the trip. Thank you so much to Simon from DMC Advantage for trying your luck with me, it was a good time and a good place, and since Dubai is always a trend, I was delighted to accept!
It could not have started better, as we flew out with business class with British Airways. Courtesy of All About Flights, thank you Cathy, as that good night sleep was very much needed before a few busy days ahead. I am listing some of many highlights of the trip, thanking everyone involved in organising and running it for us!
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert welcomed us with open arms and traditional Arabic coffee. Individual villas with private swimming pools were a treat, so I made the most of a couple of hours of free time enjoying the sun and a little swim!
A little desert safari feeding the desert animals, followed by falconry demonstration was pretty spectacular!
A traditional destination dinner with local BBQ (OMG delicious), belly dancing entertainment and WOW, what a setup! Thank you so much to the team at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert for organising it for us!
I started my morning with a little cycle ride for breakfast, after which we left for further adventure.
The team at Pure Arabia are full of surprises! So little did we know, there would be a helicopter transfer into Dubai, overlooking this gorgeous city and bringing us to the place of speed and thrill!
Everyone absolutely loved Dubai Autodrome and the track driving activity (even the coward ones :), and congratulations to the three prize winners! Well done ladies!
Dubai is the city of the heights, rooftops and incredible views, here are some snapshots of what I want to remember forever!
Checking in to Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah was the next treat for all of us. Gorgeous new hotel, beautiful event spaces, Michelin star restaurants and private beach – what a perfect destination property in the heart of Dubai!
OLD AND NEW
The last day was unique and a personal discovery for me! It was all about the future and the past!
We visited fascinating Museum of Future, which you can hire exclusive for events and their space upstairs is gorgeous!
But the true highlight was the old town! The Souks, ambra ride and Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where we had lunch in a very traditional setting and chatted to a local about ANYTHING! His name was Muhammed and we are especially thankful to him for the experience, honesty and humour!
The cherry on the top!
So here we are, arriving into Dubai Marina, to find out that we have a luxury sunset yacht cruise with cocktails, DJ and of course a stop for swimming in the open sea, what a great ending to the program!
The final dinner was in one of the glamorous spots in Dubai overlooking Burj Khalifa and the renowned stunning fountain show!
Thank you so much to DMC Advantage (James and Simon), Pure Arabia (my old friend Eslam and the team), All About Flights (fabulous and chatty Cathy, I’ve been missing you since the minute you left), Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah (Therese Jakeman, a wonderful Sales Managed based in London), The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert and of course our amazing group of event professionals! This was a truly memorable adventure and I am looking forward to coming back with a sizeable group for a mind blowing, Dubai filled event!
With love, Valerie
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