Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The first national park in the UAE, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is the biggest area of land to ever be dedicated to a single project by the Dubai government. This land of shifting dunes and desert fauna was once a huge camel farm, but it was bought by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1993, who, inspired by the national parks of South Africa, decided that Dubai needed its own reserve. 
About 5 percent of Dubai's land area (225 square kilometers) were fenced off as a way of protecting indigenous species. Since then, over 6,000 trees have been planted in order to replace the ones that were trodden over and chomped on by the camels, and indigenous grasses and shrubs have been regenerated in order to promote biodiversity. 
But the true success story of the national park is that of the Arabian oryx. Before the park was established in 2003, the Arabian oryx was close to extinction. Today, well over 100 live in the national park. An hour’s drive inland from Dubai, you’ll also get the chance to see many other animals including the San Gazelle, Ethiopian hedgehog, Rueppell’s fox, and rare Gordon’s wildcat on tours that include horse-riding, camel trekking, Bedouin camping, and sand boarding. 

Practical Info

About an hour’s drive inland from Dubai, it’s possible to take tours of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with a pre-approved list of tour operators. On the reserve, you can also stay at the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.