Hero Doughnuts Dubai
Taneka Tarring
As the only Ecotourism Desert Safari company in Dubai, Platinum Heritage are advocates of sustainable travel, and their mission is to conserve the natural environment, wildlife, and culture of Dubai and its people.
The first arm of the business we founded was Platinum Heritage in 2012 by my co-founder, Bassam and myself. After working in the desert safari industry for years, we realised we could create experiences than are more authentic and sustainable than regular mass tourism activities. So, we embarked on the mission of curating unique desert safaris that truly showcase the traditional heritage and history of the UAE. We wanted our guests to become the heroes of their adventure in a fun and engaging way, so we decided to offer nature drives in fully restored vintage Land Rovers from the 1950s. We also identified the need for a more private, premium experience, so we started our luxury collection with the latest model Range Rovers, a 6-course fine dining menu, and stunning gazebos around an intimate, private lake. After seeing the positive response in the market for activities that offer something unique for the more discerning travellers, we acquired Balloon Adventures Dubai (sunrise hot air balloon flights) in 2015. We also opened HERO OdySea Self-Drive Boat Tours in 2018.
Each of the three companies made guests feel empowered in one way or another, and we want our guests to feel like heroes. In 2019 we decided to place all of our experiences under one umbrella, so we formed the Hero Experiences Group, the travel experience group behind some of the most engaging and immersive air, sea and land adventures across the UAE.
Our newest collection, the Overland Collection, is enjoyed by travellers looking for off-the-beaten- track experiences. Each safari spans a whole day and is completely customised and private. The guests will work closely with our Experience Consultants to set up an itinerary that will meet all of their needs. They can go biking, hiking or kayaking in other areas of the UAE, such as Wadi Shawka and Hatta. After a day of adventure and adrenaline, they will join a Heritage Safari in the desert.
There is so much to learn about the desert in the UAE! The desert is such a magnificent place with a thriving ecosystem. As most of the desert life is nocturnal and hides under the sand during the day, people often miss the opportunity to see them. Activities like dune bashing and ATVs or buggies harm their environment and kill them without people even realising they are doing it. If you visit the desert with the right mindset and company, you will not only see and experience more of what it offers but also play an active role in protecting it.
When looking into the history of the UAE and how the Bedouins used to traverse the desert in search of their next stopover, you will be amazed at where a lot of the customs of Arabian hospitality originated from and how it is still being used today. Learning about all these anecdotes and traditions while on a safari with Platinum Heritage is truly unique.
Another sustainable practice we follow is providing each guest with a stainless steel water bottle when they arrive in the desert, with several opportunities to fill it with water. This ensures we reduce the amount of plastic brought into the desert, as guests are asked to leave their plastic bottles at the gate.
Breakfast is either a traditional Emirati or Bedouin Breakfast and has dishes like Chabab (traditional pancakes), Desert Truffles, Luqaimat (Arabic doughnuts) and many more. Dinner in the Heritage Collection is a four-course menu with the very traditional Lamb Ouzi as the star of the menu. Other dishes include Fattoush Salad, Kibbeh and Chicken Tagine. If guests opt for a Platinum Desert Safari, they will indulge in a six-course fine dining menu where they can choose their dishes. Options include Roasted Duck, Australian Grass-Fed Beef Fillet, Norwegian Salmon and Grilled Prawns, Risotto and many more in the other courses.
We adjust the start and end times of the safaris to be between the coolest times of the day. In summer, we offer the option to do the whole safari in an air-conditioned vehicle. We change our menus for each season and add dishes to complement the weather.
There are two types of travellers visiting Dubai. Most people enjoy doing mainstream activities and ensuring they capture them on camera. We cater to the other travellers: those who are looking for a unique experience where they will learn about the culture and history of the UAE while contributing to the environment.
With so many operators in the markets, guests will always compare prices first. With our premium prices of safaris, we know guests who book with us will expect luxury and will also truly appreciate the experience we give them.
When guests are dropped off at their hotel at the end of their morning or evening, we can only hope they are awe-struck and inspired. We hope they will take away everything they learnt from us and share it with their loved ones. We also want our guests to be more conscious about sustainability and how they choose their travel activities in the future.
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