There is no shortage of unique places to visit in Dubai. Every year, it opens more and more wonders that take all of us by surprise. Apart from the tallest tower and largest mall, there are also natural attractions in Dubai. What comes to mind when you think of the greenest places in Dubai? Most of you would answer, “The Miracle Garden Dubai,” and you could be just right if you have not yet seen Love Lake Dubai.
The world came to know about Love Lake Dubai when the crown prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Dubai, shared a picture of this artificial lake on his Instagram handle. Since then, Love Lake Dubai has been gathering visitors thousands. Love Lake is part of an artificial lakes complex modeled as a natural habitat for birds, desert animals, and desert bush trees. The entire lake complex is known as Al Qudra.
A lake In The Middle of the Sands
Located in the middle of an arid desert, Love Lake and the lush green surrounding area have an otherworldly look. When you look in any direction from Love Lake, it is just sand as far as the eyes can see, except for this patch. Love Lake is considerably away from the busy and densely inhabited Dubai City. So why is it called Love Lake?
Love Lake is a combination of two lakes formed through interlocking heart shapes. It is purpose-built to generate curiosity and invite young heart visitors to find expression in their love. The lakes are mapped over an area of 550,000 square meters. So, what better name to call it than Love Lake? Even the trees here spell out the word ‘Love.’ Dedicated to every inch to love, it can easily qualify as one of the most romantic places in Dubai.
Al Qudra Lakes – A Romantic Place in the Desert
The Al Qudra Lake complex is on its way to Al Ain from Dubai, in the Al Salaam Desert area. It is part of the Al Marmoom Conservatory. Al Qudra Lake is 30 Minute drive away from Downtown Dubai. As it is in the serene Desert, away from the crowded city, you need to make special efforts to come here. Your best option is to take your vehicle and drive to this place or hop in a cab. The RTA bus no. 67 comes to Al Qudra Road Bus station from Dubai and takes almost 3 hours to reach. Even after you reach the Bus station, there is a good 20 minutes walk to Al Qudra Lakes. So choose wisely as you might like to save all your energy to enjoy your day in the Love: Lake. Also, The walk around Love Lake could tire you out. So choose your options wisely and enjoy maximum fun when you are here.
Why Visit Love Lake
The lake is so much more than just a barbecue spot or a place for an evening stroll. The lake is undoubtedly one of the innovative attractions in Dubai. The site is so peaceful and serene, far away from the city. The Lake is your option if you spend an evening with your loved one or friends and enjoy some quiet time.
From here, you will witness the most beautiful sunset in Dubai. The sun’s orange glow, golden sands, and greenery are beyond what words describe. Therefore, the best time to visit Love Lake is an hour before sunset. When the weather is right, you can spend hours in the park just looking at everything around you and listening to birds’ songs.
Over 16,000 trees and plants in the park surround Love Lake. The branches of the trees, begonia, shrubs and everything are in the heart’s shape. Here, nature becomes a part of your love. Come here to fall in love over and over again.
Besides, this is an excellent park for jogging, pet walking, and picnicking. Because there are no residential centers nearby, you won’t see many joggers here. You will come across a few cyclists who frequent the park, though.
You can get your feet wet and walk in the water, and signboards mark the shallow portions of the lake. One portion of the lake is a fish pond teeming with Koi Carp and Goldfish. Koi Carp may scare you with their giant mouth, but these fish are perfectly safe to touch. They don’t bite. There are also numerous Instagrammable spots in Love Lake Park. All of them are in different shapes and forms of the heart. Please note that fishing is completely prohibited and punishable.
When you look at the lake from the shore, you won’t see the heart shape but a curved lake. It would be best to get the entire picture at least 50 meters above the ground. So your only option is to fly a drone or get on a helicopter. The latter option is not possible now. There is an easy workaround. Just look at the satellite view of the lake on Google maps.
You go to Love Lake because you love the silence, the greenery, the calm waters, and the variety of birds you see here. It is far from the actual concrete jungle of Dubai City as possible. It is full of oxygen and good for your lungs and good for your heart. It is also home to desert animals and like desert foxes and guzzles. It is also a place to rediscover romance, family connections, and an abundance of laughter. It is where time almost stops.
Barbeque in Love Lake
The government created an ideal place for a barbeque when the Love Lake in Al Qudra came about. On any day of the year, hundreds of families reach Love Lake with full Barbeque and camping gear, as the Love Lack Al Qudra has all the facilities of a washroom/ powder room, prayer room, etc. It is a more popular area for Barbeque than the other lakes of Al Qudra. However, there are some points in the Love Lake surroundings where you can not do Barbeque, and you could be fined. Please ensure that you choose the area for the Barbeque. Currently, there are no barbeque pits, so you MUST carry your pit. When the night sets in the pit lit, an aroma wafts into the air of slowly cooking marinated meat and vegetables. The end product is the barbequed meat and the happy faces of friends and families. The Middle East is famous for its family bonding, respect for elders, and barbeque culture. All this is amply displayed in the Love Lake barbeque.
Do not forget to clean up when your barbeque dinner is over. It is a courtesy to your fellow tourists who come here and find the place neat and clean. Teach your kids to pick up the trash and carefully place it in the bins provided.
One more thing about Barbeque! You don’t need to worry if you forget charcoals, dry wood, fuel oil, and other related stuff. While on the way to Al Qudra Lakes, you will find vendors plus more. Dubai is one city where nothing is far from you.
The Last Exit
Love Lake is incomplete without the Last Exit, a unique open food park concept by Mera’s developers. The Last Exit is an informal food truck park where you will have an exotic variety of cuisines served from the food truck to the relaxed environment of your vehicle. You don’t need to get down from the vehicle. What is more, there are little corners made for kids to enjoy. In winter, many kids run around in that little park while their elders savor delicious food sitting on informal makeshift tables and chairs. The atmosphere is very chilled and relaxed. Near the food park, there is a petrol station and a massive store for your camping needs. The Last Exit can also be a short destination before you head out of the wilderness of Love Lake.
Night Camping in Love Lake Dubai
Love Lake Dubai is open 24 X 7. Night camping is one of the best pursuits here. Come and camp near Love Lake if you want to experience waking up with the sun, birds, and animals. Sleep inside your tent and under the open sky. Enjoy the calm and wet breeze. Do not worry about any creepy crawlers, as there are none. You are advised to take sufficient warm comforters if you are doing night camping in the winter. Are you waking up with problems? Don’t worry, as the birds will do that job for you. A cacophony of birds quaking would wake you up early in the morning so that you watch the beautiful sunrise with a hot cup of tea in your hand. Even when you say goodbye to Love Lake, you will come across hundreds of swans, ducks, and other sea birds.
Ideally, for the night camp, you will require Tent, light bulbs, a Torch, pillows, comforters, and drinking water. A light night suite is suitable for summer. For winters, do carry woolies.
Facilities in Love Lake Dubai
Love Lake is a testimony to Dubai’s environmentally friendly vision for the future. Every inch of the lake is eco-friendly. The park benches to tissue boxes are made of biodegradable materials. You can even see basins made of bamboo and tree.
A fenced area named Hadirah in the park has picnicking facilities, like running water, barbecue stands, washrooms, and benches. The park has three jogging tracks stretching over 7 kilometers. These parks’ paths glow in the dark, making the park suitable for running even after sunset. Even the stones that mark the distance of the route are in the shape of hearts.
A map of the lake and the park is engraved on a wooden plank near the entrance. You can see the heart in anything here. There is a heart-shaped badminton court which you are not allowed to touch. It is only for snapping pictures. The group of red flowers in the garden forms a giant red heart. Because of this, the lake is one of the most photogenic places in Dubai.
There are no shops or restaurants near Love Lake as of now. So remember to bring food and water with you when you come. There are also no lamps. There are a lot of wooden park benches for you to sit and enjoy the view. And there are swings of large tree branches if you like some fun. But these are not suitable for young children.
Things To Know Before Going To Love Lake
- Entry to the park is free.
- If you plan to fly drones in the park, get proper permits from the authorities.
- Don’t feed the fish and birds in the park.
- Note that Love Lake is not a wheelchair, friendly place.
- Deserts in winter are much colder than in the cities. So dress appropriately and wear a jacket when you come.
- Do not barbecue in spots other than those restricted for the purpose.
- The leftovers of burnt charcoal are harmful to wildlife, especially if they get in the water stream.
- High heels are not allowed in some parts of the park.
- A four-wheel drive is better when you go to Love Lake. That being said, there is no harm in driving an average car.
- Littering in the park or anywhere near it is easy to get fined. There are plenty of receptacles in the area. Use them. Most of the parks in Dubai follow similar rules.
Restaurants near Love Lakes
The nearest restaurant to love lake is almost 18 kilometers away from the lake.
- Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge
- Al Hadheerah
- Bab Al Shams Dining – Al Hadheerah, Al Forsan, Masala, Le Dune
- Masala
- Al Forsan Restaurant
Other Attractions Near The Love Lake
Love lake is located near an ecological bastion in Dubai. There are many farms, desert conservation areas, and horse stables in the surrounding lake.
Al Qudra Cycling Track
Al Qudra cycling path is where cyclists anywhere in Dubai yearn to come. This 86-kilometer-long cycling track is for adventurous minds. Cycling here is an excellent way to see the Desert. And if you are lucky, you can see camels and oryxes. Come here during the sunrise or sunset. If you don’t have a bike, you can always rent one. The cycling track is located towards the end of Al Qudra lake. You need to carry a cycle in your car. When you reach the Last Exit, you will find a vast cycle store that rents cycles. You may hire the cycle on an hourly basis and peddle on. You can return any time as completing the 86 Km track is only an option. Test your mettle while enjoying the glorious sunset. It is advisable to take the full gear, including a headlight and reflective jacket if advised.
Al Qudra Lake
The Al Qudra lake is not just one lake. It is a cluster of many lakes in the middle of the Desert. Al Qudra Lake is a haven for birds. It is the habitat for at least 175 species, some of which come under the endangered category. Al Qudra Lake complex has more than 10 lakes, and a new lake has been added, aptly called Expo2020 Lake. The Expo2020 Lake is in the shape of the Expo2020 brand logo of interconnected rings. You will find this logo on Dubai Frame also. The new Lake is fantastic and immensely big.
Dubai Camel Racing Club
In the Al Marmoum desert is the racing track where the centuries-old camel racing tradition is still animating. Camel racing club is located near the Al Marmoum heritage village and Al Lisaili area, Dubai’s largest camel racing track.
Al Marmoum Desert Conservation Reserve
Covering about 10 % of the land area of Dubai, the Al Marmoum desert conservation reserve is the largest unfenced conservation reserve in the whole of the UAE. Numerous rare species are protected here. You can see Arabian Oryx and Flamingos. The most ancient archeological site in the country, the Saruq Al Hadid, is also in Al Marmoleum. This area is prohibited from desert safari and such activities.
The Camel Farm
See the magnificent animals up close in the Desert. The camel farm also has other domestic animals like goats and hens, and you can pet and hug the camels and even ride on them. The farm offers an extended camel ride from half an hour to one hour. But the camel farm is open to tourists during the winter months only.
Al Marmoum Heritage Village
The heritage village in Al Marmoum offers guided tours to visitors. They have exhibitions of traditional crafts and cuisine. You can also see the enactment of a traditional wedding. Every year, the heritage village hosts heritage festivals during the winter season. That’s the best time to visit this place.
Hotels Near The Lake
- Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
- Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
- Studio One Hotel
- Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City
- Abidos Hotel Apartment Dubailand
How To Reach Love Lakes
Love Lake is located in the Al Salam desert region, ten minutes from the last lake in Al Qudra, just off Umm Suqeim-Al Ain Road. Driving to the lake should not be complicated as signs along the route. You can also look on google maps for the two overlapping hearts and turn on the navigation. But make sure it is showing the right one by turning on the satellite view. The Al Qudra lakes also look roughly like a heart. But Love Lake is in the shape of two perfect hearts intertwining.
FAQ
What is the best time to go to Love Lake?
It is open all around the year. However, it is best to go during the winter to see the most diverse birds, plants, and animals.
What is the entrance ticket to Love Lake Al Qudra?
It is free as there are no entry charges to visit Love Lake Al Qudra.
Is there any dress code to go to Love Lake?
Though there is no specific dress code to visit Love Lake Dubai, you MUST respect the good clothing rule of Dubai. In Summer, wear something light and light slippers. However, in summer, carry woolies with you. The Desert becomes very cold, and the temperature may reach below 5C!
Are there parking facilities in Love Lake Dubai?
Yes! There are 2 parking facilities, and you may also park away from Love Lake. However, as most carry camping, food, and barbeque gear, you are advised to reach early so that you don’t need to park far away. Also, we advise you to carry everything in an easy-to-roll trolly cart. This will make things easy for you.
Can you swim in the Love Lake Al Qudra?
Love Lake is not very deep for swimming. These lakes are shallow. The idea of making these lakes systems use recycled water from the Jabel Ali Water Cycling plant. You can neither drink this water nor should you swim. You may walk on it and enjoy getting your feet wet. It is more for biodiversity. Thousands of fish, birds, and desert animals call Love Lake their homes.
What is the best way to reach Love Lake Dubai?
We advise you to use your vehicle if you plan to spend a whole day or night camping. A cab or bus won’t help as you carry many things. Also, you may like to do some activities which need time. Go there by keeping your mobile phone and watch in “stop” mode. Enjoy nature, its different sounds, and the beauty of darkness and silence in life.