Sands of Grace: A Women’s Journey Through the Emirates & Oman

Upon arrival at the Dubai International Airport, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to The Dubai EDITION, located in the heart of downtown. Known for its minimalist design and strong architectural lines, the hotel blends luxury with urban style and is part of a boutique collection by Ian Schrager and Marriott. It’s just steps from the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.

Take time to settle in, rest, or take a short walk around the neighborhood. Later, we’ll gather for a welcome cocktail in the lounge—an easy start to the journey and a chance to connect with the group.

Dinner tonight will be at Abd El Wahab, a well-known restaurant overlooking the Dubai Fountain. From the terrace, we’ll have clear views of the Burj Khalifa while enjoying Lebanese dishes, a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Enjoy breakfast before we head to the Al Fahidi neighborhood, one of Dubai's oldest areas. At the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, we’ll share a traditional Emirati breakfast while engaging in open conversation about local customs and daily life. It’s a chance to ask questions and learn straight from the locals.

We’ll continue with a guided walk through the Al Fahidi Historical District, known for its narrow lanes, wind towers, and restored courtyard homes. Here, you'll get a glimpse into what Dubai was like before the skyscrapers.

Lunch is at Arabian Tea House, a popular Emirati restaurant, offering an authentic taste of local halal cuisine in a friendly environment. Go ahead, this is the perfect place to try a new dish!

This afternoon, we'll visit the Al Shindagha Museum, which features exhibits that showcase Dubai’s history of pearl diving, shipping, and oral traditions.

Next, we’ll head to Dubai Creek, the original center of commerce and daily life before the city expanded outward. We’ll cross the water by abra, a traditional wooden boat still used by locals. Along the way, our guide will share stories about the early days of trade that shaped Dubai.

In the evening, we’ll meet local food guide Arva Ahmed for a walking food tour, exploring lesser-known neighborhoods and sampling regional dishes that reflect the city’s multicultural roots.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start the day with a visit to the Museum of the Future, a striking building shaped like a hollow ellipse. Inside, immersive exhibits offer a vision of how technology could shape the next 50 years of science, space, and society.

From there, we'll sit down for a sun-soaked lunch at Ninive Beach. Perched on a rooftop with clear views of the shimmering sea, Ninive Beach feels like a luxe beach club, complete with plush sunbeds and delicious food served poolside.

You can lounge around the pool for a while, or head to The Dubai Mall & Fountain for a bit of shopping at your leisure.

Around 6 pm, we'll come together as a group to ascend Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. From the observation deck, the views stretch across the city to the desert and sea, a stunning perspective of Dubai’s rapid transformation.

Dinner is at Shimmers, situated on a private stretch of beach with direct views of the Burj Al Arab. The menu focuses on Mediterranean dishes, and the sound of the water laps gently in the background.

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a quiet morning at the hotel. Whether you want to revisit a favorite corner of downtown Dubai, relax by the pool, or take one last stroll near the Burj Khalifa, the time is yours.

We’ll leave the city behind by early afternoon and drive into the dunes. Our destination is The Nest by Nara, a private retreat within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Known for its refined Bedouin-style setup and peaceful location, the camp offers an immersive desert experience without sacrificing comfort.

We’ll begin with a guided painting and expression session, drawing inspiration from the landscape. A casual picnic lunch will be served as we work, with the sound of wind in the dunes as our backdrop.

Later this afternoon, we'll climb aboard vintage Land Rovers for a guided nature drive through the reserve, where we'll discover the desert's surprising wildlife, native flora, and fascinating heritage. As the sun dips below the dunes, we’ll participate in a sound bath therapy session, designed to ground and center us in the quiet of the open desert.

Dinner will be served under the stars in a traditional setting, followed by time for stargazing. Far from the city's lights, the night sky reveals a different side of the UAE.

After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Abu Dhabi. The drive takes a little over an hour, moving us from desert landscapes to the capital’s more expansive coastline.

Our first stop is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques. The space feels monumental and serene with its white marble domes, reflective pools, and intricate floral inlays. A guide will walk us through the architecture, explaining the meaning behind its design.

Then, we’ll check into the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, an ultra-luxe 5-star hotel right on the West Corniche, a perfect home base for exploring the city. With a private beach, three swimming pools, and stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, take your time exploring the hotel before you find your ideal lunch spot. 

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which presents global art across a series of light-filled galleries beneath a vast steel dome. The architecture is as compelling as the collection, with artworks spanning continents and centuries.

Before we leave, we’ll pause at the Art Lounge, the museum’s rooftop bar, for a drink at sunset. As the light filters through the dome’s perforations, the view across the water is something to remember.

Dinner is at your leisure tonight, and with twelve acclaimed restaurants right inside our hotel, you'll be spoiled for choice. 

We’ll begin the day with a conversation over coffee led by an Emirati woman in leadership. Her story offers a firsthand perspective on the country’s evolving roles for women, from tradition to entrepreneurship and innovation.

Next, we’ll visit the Women’s Handicraft Centre, a quiet compound where local artisans continue traditional crafts such as embroidery, weaving, and more. We’ll have time to observe the work, ask questions, and learn how skills are passed down across generations.

Lunch will be an elegant affair at Erth Qasr Al Hosn, a contemporary eatery boasting the honor of being the first Michelin-starred Emirati restaurant. 

A visit to Kintsugi Space, a women-only wellness retreat on Reem Island, will follow lunch. The center combines sound, light, and wave-based therapies in a calming environment designed to support emotional and physical balance. It’s a lovely place to pause and reflect before the journey’s end.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner at Talea, the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Known for its handmade pastas and elegant simplicity, it’s a fitting close to our time in the UAE.

All good things must come to an end. After breakfast at our beautiful island resort, we'll say our goodbyes and continue to our onward flights home. 

You have two options for flying home. Abu Dhabi International Airport is only a 30-minute drive away and offers many onward flights each day. Alternatively, Dubai is about a 1.5-hour drive away. Either way, we'll arrange a private transfer that aligns with your flight time. 

If you're joining us for the Oman extension, we'll head to the airport to catch our flight to Muscat. 

Once we touch down in Oman, we'll drop our bags at The Chedi Muscat, a five-star beachfront retreat known for its minimalist design and peaceful setting. The property sits along the Gulf of Oman and is recognized for its long reflecting pools, traditional Omani architecture, and world-class service.

Then, we’ll head to Salaam Space for a private bracelet-making workshop led by local artisans. Through this hands-on experience, we’ll learn about Omani design and symbolism while creating a keepsake of our own. 

Our morning of travel and creativity has surely made us hungry. Let's settle in for lunch at Bait Al Luban, a cozy Omani restaurant serving rich, hearty dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. 

In the afternoon, we’ll stop at the Al Alam Palace and Al Mirani Fort, two historic landmarks that reflect Oman’s royal past and its ties to Portuguese maritime history.

As evening falls, we’ll board a traditional dhow for a sunset cruise along Muscat’s coastline. With the mountains behind us and the open water ahead, it’s a quiet way to take in the rhythm of this place.

Dinner is back at the hotel at The Beach Restaurant, known for its fresh seafood and open-air setting right on the shore.

Our first stop after breakfast will be the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, a striking example of Islamic architecture. We’ll walk beneath its enormous chandelier, across handwoven Persian carpets, and through quiet marble corridors.

Then, we're off to the marina for a boat trip to the Damaniyat Islands, a protected marine reserve off the coast of Muscat. The area, renowned for its clear waters and coral reefs, is perfect for snorkeling and wildlife spotting. Dolphins often play nearby, and the pace here is unhurried. Whether you want to swim, float, or take in the horizon, this is the time to relax in the sea.

Light refreshments will be served along the way, and we’ll have a freshly prepared barbecue lunch as we head back to land. 

The afternoon is dedicated to rest. The Chedi Spa offers a range of treatments rooted in Omani tradition, from rose water massages to frankincense-infused rituals. You may choose to spend time in the infinity pool, the hammam, or your own private space.

For our final evening, we’ll toast to our Oman adventure at The Restaurant, located right in our hotel. It's the perfect setting for a graceful finale to a journey filled with discovery, culture, and connection.

We’ll wake to one last morning by the sea. After breakfast, we'll travel to Muscat International Airport via private airport transfers, depending on each of our flight times. 

As we go our separate ways, we carry more than just souvenirs—memories of open skies, shared conversations, and the steady rhythm of discovery that brought us closer to ourselves and each other.

This may be the end of the itinerary, but it’s not the journey's end.