2 days ago
No Wi-Fi, no lights: Sharjah's Nomad luxury trailers to open soon in Kalba's mountain valleys
Sharjah will open a new eco-retreat on its east coast later this year, introducing an off-grid hospitality concept that combines luxury accommodation with minimal environmental impact.
Scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, Nomad will feature 20 solar-powered trailers in Kalba's mountain valleys, near the Kalba Nature Reserve. Built locally, the units will operate with a no-Wi-Fi, lights-off approach to encourage digital disconnection and protect night-sky visibility.
The project is the latest addition to the 'Sharjah Collection,' a portfolio of eco-retreats operated by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). The authority has invested more than Dh300 million in recent years to expand the network, which now covers seven destinations spread across the emirate's deserts, coasts, mountains and heritage towns. Officials say the developments aim to preserve cultural identity and biodiversity while offering visitors slower, more meaningful travel experiences.
Global demand for such experiences has been on the rise. The Global Wellness Institute estimates that wellness tourism will exceed $1 trillion in 2025, while the 'slow travel' movement — which focuses on cultural depth, tranquillity and sustainability — is expanding at around 10 per cent annually. Sharjah's own tourism figures reflect the trend: guest numbers rose 11 per cent in 2024, with international occupancy continuing to climb in the first quarter of this year, according to Shurooq.
Together, the Sharjah Collection now offers 154 accommodation units across varied landscapes. Officials describe the retreats as part of a wider Dh850 million hospitality portfolio.
Al Faya Retreat, located in Mleiha's desert, has repurposed two 1960s buildings into a five-room boutique property with desert trails and contemporary dining.
In Kalba, Kingfisher Retreat sits within a mangrove reserve managed with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, offering 40 sea-facing tents built with sustainable materials. Moon Retreat in Mleiha is a glamping site, with domes and premium tents hosting activities from yoga to stargazing.
Other projects include Al Badayer Retreat in Sharjah's red dunes, styled after a caravanserai and offering dune adventures and camel rides.
On the east coast, Najd Al Meqsar in Khorfakkan incorporates restored heritage houses and access to a 300-year-old fort, while Al Rayaheen Retreat in the town's historic centre has seen 19 traditional homes transformed into guest facilities and cultural spaces in collaboration with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.
