The United Arab Emirates present a contrast in both place and time: The mega-cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi jut skyward along its western coast, providing a glimpse of the future with their modernity and innovation. Yet venture just a few miles away from these centers and you’ll find honey-colored rolling dunes, limitless pale blue skies and a landscape that feels thrillingly raw and untamed. As a result, exploring the UAE is akin to landing on both sides of a coin–on one, there’s near infinite metropolitan entertainment, and on the opposite, expansive and extraordinary nature. Begin with one of the world’s most visually striking cities, Dubai, before heading to two natural locales outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

To describe Dubai is to use almost futuristic terms–the city is highly technologically advanced. Its skyscrapers–including Burj Khalifa, currently the planet’s tallest–pierce the sky, while the city’s developers even altered the area’s topography by creating a series of islands in the shape of palm trees (which can be seen from outer space). Malls have indoor ski slopes. Fountains outshine Las Vegas tenfold. The Dubai-based airline, Emirates, is world renowned for such advanced onboard amenities as showers. 

Dubai has much upon which to indulge. Grosvenor House, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai makes for an ideal center from which to explore. Located in the popular waterfront neighborhood of Dubai Marina, the hotel is within walking distance of many local attractions and restaurants, and is just a short 15-minute drive from the other well-traversed zones of Downtown and Sheikh Zayed Road. Housed in an iconic tower, Grosvenor House, too, has plenty of dining and drinking options. These include: Toto Toto, Rhodes W1, Buddha-Bar, Indigo by Vineet, Leaves, Sloane’s, Bellavista and Bar 44 (venture outward, as well–Dubai’s restaurant scene is world class). If you’re not scared by heights, be sure to ask for a room on an upper floor–the views to the Arabian Sea and Palm Jumeirah (one of those palm tree-forming set of islands) are hard to beat. 

After taking in Dubai’s excitement, head to Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, located just 45 minutes by car from the city center. This veritable oasis blends seamlessly into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where visitors may take in the beauty of the dunes while spotting wild Arabian Oryx or large Desert Monitors. Al Maha itself offers a range of activities–from sundown cocktails on the sand to camel treks to archery classes. There’s falconry, horseback riding, nature walks, sand dune safaris, and, best of all, extraordinary–even calming–views to the Al Hajar Mountains massif. There’s something unforgettable about being in the remote desert; the richness of its earthy colors and of its muted sounds–combined with the sensation of being truly removed from the hustle and bustle of the world–is a rare feeling. 

After several days in Dubai and its surrounding wilderness, take a short drive to the city of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE and a center of commerce. It’s impressive and ultra-contemporary in its own right when compared to Dubai, yet there’s something a bit more at ease about it–from Saadiyat Island’s clear waters to the city’s impressively run Yas Island complex, home to Abu Dhabi’s F1 Grand Prix. This city, too, is within close proximity to exploration-ready protected areas like the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is home to some 4,000 flamingoes. The region, overall, beckons with its tranquil and picturesque beaches, and a promise of repose and a connection to raw nature. 

Unmind in nature at the Al Wathba, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi. A major draw at Al Wathba? Its Saray Spa, with a broad array of services and amenities. Think: Indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools, salt rooms, snow caves, an ice room and a traditional Turkish hammam. Al Wathba is also home to Bait Al Hanine, a restaurant serving Arabian Gulf and Lebanon-influenced cuisine, and Terra Secca, an Italian eatery. For a little revelry, grab a drink at Panache–Al Wathba’s swim-up bar. 

From city lights to desert nights, immerse yourself in Emirati splendor–and leave with a sense of both wonder and restoration when it’s time to depart.