Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXV

8 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I If you are looking for a private and perhaps more unique dining experiences, the Villa Barbeque can be set in the intimacy of your own villa, attended by your private chef and butler, while Dining by Design in the sand dunes, considered one of the world’s most romantic experiences, is ideal to celebrate a special occasion. For those who are visiting the resort on business, Qasr Al Sarab offers unparalleled meeting facilities. The conference centre consists of the Liwa Ballroom (375 sqm) for up to 350 participants, divisible into three parts, as well as two boardrooms for up to ten guests, benefiting from natural light and access to a terrace. Though it seems to stand in the face of the harsh, wild nature of the desert, Qasr Al Sarab was in reality considerately developed by Abu Dhabi Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) with respect to nature and the environment using design principles that combine best practice with maximum efficiencies and minimal environmental impact. We were fascinated to learn that in order to minimise the harsh effects of wind and sandstorms, a wind modelling technique was used to select the best location for the development, and water consumption is reduced by applying best practices for plant irrigation and outdoor landscape design. On-site natural water resources are conserved by avoiding environmental impact on aquifers. The architecture of the landscape has been carefully considered by selecting plants and trees that are tolerant of sand, wind and drought, and all buildings have intelligent building management systems (IBMS), as well as intelligent lighting and energy control, thus reducing excessive and unnecessary use of electricity by around 40 percent.