Christmas In The Desert: Sonara Camp & The Winter Nest Unveil Two Magical Seasonal Escapes
This season, the desert transforms into a world of festive wonder as Sonara Camp and The Winter Nest invite guests to experience Christmas like nowhere else. From starlit fire shows and festive feasts to winter-themed alpine dining among the dunes, both destinations offer immersive, once-a-year moments woven into the natural magic of the UAE desert.
Christmas Like No Other At Sonara Camp
24 & 25 December
Christmas at Sonara is unlike any celebration in the city – a place where soft dunes glow with golden hour light, the sky deepens into violet, and the familiar spirit of the season takes on an otherworldly desert charm.
Guests begin their evening with a gentle desert drive before stepping into Sonara’s festive world: twinkling lights, crackling firepits, and the scent of wood-fired pizza drifting through the air. Santa’s Grotto appears between the dunes, gingerbread houses wait to be decorated, and a mini Christmas market adds touches of nostalgia beneath the open sky.
A three-course sharing menu anchors the night – a festive feast crafted around the warmth and generosity of the season – complemented by live entertainment and Sonara’s signature fire show. Children have their own dedicated world to explore with a festive buffet, arts and crafts, face painting, and movies under the stars.
As the evening unfolds, marshmallows roast over flickering flames and conversations soften into the hush of the desert. It’s Christmas reimagined – familiar traditions wrapped in the quiet beauty of the dunes.
Christmas at Sonara Camp is available as a Sunset Experience from AED 640, or a Sunset & Dinner Experience from AED 1,200.
The Winter Nest Returns: When Winter Warms The Soul
15 December – 28 February
Returning for its second season, The Winter Nest is back – bringing its alpine-inspired magic to the desert once again. What debuted last year as an unexpected, intimate winter escape quickly became one of the region’s most beloved seasonal experiences, and this year it returns with even more warmth, charm and quiet beauty.
Just a dune’s distance from Sonara, The Winter Nest blends chalet coziness with the serenity of the desert. Evenings begin with a signature winter cocktail and the slow, beautiful moment when the sun melts into the dunes. When night arrives, the desert sky blossoms with stars – a spellbinding backdrop that never repeats the same way twice.
Dinner unfolds as a comforting, alpine-inspired journey featuring fondue, raclette and pierrade – nostalgic winter dishes meant for sharing, lingering and leaning into the moment. Guests can choose to begin their evening at Sonara for sunset, or arrive directly for dinner under the stars.
Private chalets offer the ultimate winter retreat for groups, complete with glowing lanterns, dedicated service and a secluded pocket of the desert to call their own.
The Winter Nest experiences start from AED 650, with private chalet options starting from AED 4,000.
Together, Sonara Camp and The Winter Nest reimagine the festive season – offering two distinct journeys, each shaped by the beauty of the desert. Whether celebrating Christmas amid fire shows and festive markets or embracing winter traditions under a star-laden sky, guests are invited to step away from the city and craft holiday memories that feel both timeless and extraordinary.