I SUSTAINABILITY
A collection of ecoretreats hidden in the Sharjah desert contribute to the region’s rich biodiverse landscape
Sharjah’s hidden jewels
Enveloped by towering dunes, Mysk Al Faya Retreat lies at the foothills of the sandy mountains of the sprawling Mleiha desert. This archaeological site near Fossil Rock looks out over centuriesold natural landscape, providing guests with panoramic views of the sweeping mountain ranges and transporting them to a different time. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) have succeeded in creating a truly local and authentic experience, achieved by unique touches including, the use of sustainable materials derived from a stone structure originally constructed during the 1960’s.
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Developed under the Sharjah Collection brand, and operated and managed by Mysk by Shaza, Shurooq reinforced its emphasis on site-responsive criteria to govern the design, architectural interventions and choice of materials in construction when re-imagining the existing structure. Sustainability, thus, emerged as an integral element in reimagining this decades-old structure, which Shurooq masterfully transformed into an elegant contemporary boutique luxury retreat. The intense and prolonged sun exposure and extreme temperature fluctuations of the desert
