To make the most of September's Blood Moon, I joined a night safari with Platinum Heritage.
While there are a handful of great skygazing spots in the UAE, heading into the desert for the experience – complete with a wildlife hunt, three-course meal and astronomy talk – made it all the more memorable.
After next week’s Hunter’s Moon – the first full moon after the autumn equinox, traditionally marking the start of the hunting season because of its bright light – there are three more major celestial events to round off the year. If you want to follow suit with an experiential way to see the night skies, here's what to expect.
How to get there and what to bring
I don't drive, but even if I had a car I'd be a little apprehensive about setting off into the desert at dusk. Luckily for myself and my friend, our night with Platinum Heritage begins with a pick-up service from my home in Dubai.
Throughout the journey, we chat away to Saif, our driver and tour guide for the evening. He keeps us entertained with stories from UAE history and everyday life. These are particularly appreciated by my friend, who has only just moved to the country, and I imagine would be enjoyed by holidaymakers.
Just over an hour later, we turn off the main road into the desert, and we're immediately wrapped in darkness. Soon enough, we arrive at the conservation area where regional wildlife is protected in a sandy stretch, undisturbed by the outside world.
After we alight, we're given a water bottle and each choose a headscarf before Saif expertly wraps it around our heads. It completes our safari look. We were advised to wear clothes that cover our legs with closed-toe shoes, and we're about to find out why.
Spotting wildlife by moonlight
For our night safari, we transfer to a vintage open-top Land Rover. We're told such models were among the first cars in the country, and the vehicles certainly have a long history and significance in the UAE. Driving along the desert roads with the top down, dashing over dunes, is exhilarating.
We park up by a desert stretch that doesn't look particularly remarkable to the untrained eye. We're each given a torch, but advised to reserve use unless necessary, as the moonlight is already bright. Saif lights our path with a UV light.
Soon enough, he spots a scorpion, which is luminescent under the UV light. We don't spot any snakes (which, in all honesty, I'm not mad about) but we do see beetles scurrying across the sand. A little further in, we spy a group of grazing gazelles.
Driving to the camp area half an hour later, we spot the UAE's national animal, the Arabian oryx, which were once on the brink of extinction, slowing down to get a good look. Saif continues to shower us with anecdotes and knowledge each time we stumble across something new.
After being greeted with an Arabic coffee and dates as we enter the camp, we have about 10 minutes to relax before our next experience, an owl encounter, as our dinner is prepared. The handler stresses the conservation work as the bird lands on guests' arms in exchange for a snack, and offers a chance for a quick picture or video.
Tucking into traditional Arabic dishes
The picturesque camp leans into Arabic and Bedouin traditions. Hot coffee, chai and cinnamon tea are laid out in tea urns alongside cold drinks such as mint lemonade and Vimto.
There are five or six majlis areas where groups can unwind, chat or watch the skies. Over the next hour, we're brought a feast of delicious Arabic dishes; lentil soup, fattoush salad, feta salad, hummus, spinach and cheese fatayer and vegetable moussaka. Portions are generous and we try our best to get through as much as possible, not wanting to create waste.
We have the vegetarian main option, which is easily made vegan for me by removing the cheese. Meat options include Australian Angus steak and Arabic spiced chicken. Desert is a colourful fruit platter.
Star-gazing: What to expect
With the Sun crossing the lunar path slowly over the evening – with the moon's surface projecting a coppery red hue due to the Earth's atmosphere – eyes have been darting up to the sky.
The celestial experience begins after we've dined. Just outside the camp, I cosy into one of the dozen or so beanbags laid out under the stars, cinnamon tea in hand. A telescope is set up – which gets some campers a little overexcited, as they play around with it, tampering the previously perfect alignment – but we enjoy a talk from the astronomer before lining up for a look.
He describes how ancient cultures would navigate via the stars and ripples in the sand, and talks us through visible constellations. He asks questions, and the interactive moments are particularly enjoyed by the younger members of the audience.
For the finale, it's time to glimpse the Blood Moon through a telescope. Such events are inherently special, but this experience upgrades it to an evening to remember.
Bottom line: Prices and timings
Prices for the night safari start from Dh3,000 for two people, including dinner. It's certainly a pricey desert and stargazing experience, but thought has been put into every part of the experience to give it a luxury feel.
Timings change depending on the time of year. An overnight experience is also available from Dh4,300 for two people, including dinner and breakfast.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
RACECARD
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The biog
Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Favourite music: Classical
Hobbies: Reading and writing
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs%20
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Squad: Majed Naser, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Khamis Esmail, Habib Fardan, Mohammed Marzouq (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalid Essa, Muhanad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak, Mohammed Jamal, Ahmed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Ahmed Rashid, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Wahda), Tariq Ahmed, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak, Jassim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Yousef Saeed (Sharjah), Suhail Al Nubi (Baniyas)
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
