Sharjah is embracing the slow-travel movement with Nomad, a new eco-retreat featuring 20 solar-powered trailers set deep within the Kalba mountains and intentionally stripped of Wi-Fi, artificial lighting and modern distractions. Created by the emirate’s investment arm, Shurooq, the retreat aims to offer a true nature-immersion experience where guests reconnect with natural rhythms under dark skies and desert silence instead of screens and schedules.
The project is part of Sharjah’s broader Dh 850 million investment in sustainable tourism, which has already seen the launch of seven eco-properties spanning deserts, coasts and heritage villages. By extending this footprint into the mountains, the emirate is doubling down on high-value visitors seeking authenticity, wellness and digital disconnection over high-octane luxury. Each Nomad trailer has been locally manufactured with solar functionality to minimise environmental impact and allow off-grid operation without damaging fragile ecosystems.
Analysts note that this positioning taps into the global appetite for mindful travel, a segment growing faster than mainstream tourism as affluent explorers seek experiences that offer meaning, peace and ecological integrity. For Sharjah, absence is the new luxury: the deliberate lack of connectivity and lighting protects nocturnal wildlife and elevates stargazing to a key selling point. Activities focus on quiet reflection, wildlife observation and cultural exploration rather than curated Instagram moments, signalling a recalibration in how travel value is measured.
The initiative also reflects strategic differentiation within the UAE’s competitive tourism landscape. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to champion ultra-luxury and event-led tourism, Sharjah is carving out a niche centred on cultural authenticity, conservation and introspection. If Nomad succeeds in drawing international visitors willing to trade convenience for connection, it could position the emirate as a global leader in sustainable retreats – upending expectations of what luxury in the Middle East looks like.
