Artificial lakes in the deep desert with flamingos on them, an eighty-kilometre cycle track, and no light pollution at all.
Al Qudra is a group of man-made lakes in the desert about forty minutes inland from Downtown, created as part of a conservation and recreation scheme within the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve — at around 10 per cent of Dubai’s land area, the largest unfenced reserve in the region.
The lakes are fed with treated water and have developed genuine ecosystems. Around 170 bird species have been recorded, including flamingos, swans, herons and migratory waders on the Central Asian flyway. Oryx, gazelle and desert fox live in the reserve.
Love Lake
Two enormous interlocking hearts, visible from the air, planted around with 16,000 trees, about ten minutes from the main lakes. It has barbecue areas, toilets and a car park, and it is the most developed part.
Whether a heart-shaped lake in a desert conservation area is charming or absurd is a matter of temperament. It is certainly popular.
Cycling
The Al Qudra Cycle Track is the reason many people come: around 86 kilometres of dedicated smooth tarmac through open desert, with loops of 20, 50 and 86 kilometres, entirely separated from traffic.
It is one of the best purpose-built cycling facilities anywhere. Trek Bicycle Store at the Seih Al Salam trailhead hires bikes, including road bikes and children’s bikes, and has a café.
Ride at dawn. By nine in the morning from April onwards it becomes genuinely dangerous, and people are hospitalised for heat exhaustion here every season.
Camping and stars
Camping is permitted in designated areas around the lakes and is a normal Emirati weekend activity from November to March. Fires are allowed in the fire pits provided.
Because it is well beyond the city’s light, the night sky is excellent — one of the few accessible dark-sky locations near Dubai.
Practicalities
You need a car. There is no public transport, and a taxi out will not wait; arrange a return or use an app, but check signal first.
Bring water, sun cover and a full tank. There are no fuel stations near the lakes themselves.
Do not drive off the tarmac in an ordinary car. Soft sand is unforgiving and recovery is expensive.
Do not feed the birds or the animals, which is signposted and routinely ignored.
November to March is the season. In summer this is not a leisure destination at any hour.
More Parks & Outdoors
Dubai Miracle Garden
150 million flowers arranged into an Emirates A380, a Disney castle and a great deal else, in the middle of a desert, for six months a year.
Kite Beach
A free public beach with showers, a running track, a view of the Burj Al Arab and none of the resort pricing.