When I first caught a glimpse of Magic Camps Dubai, a boutique campsite set among the rolling, yellow-tinged sand dunes of Dubai, it felt like a mirage. We had spent almost two hours travelling from the city’s hectic, built-up Palm Jumeirah and watching the hustle and bustle slip away felt therapeutic.

If you’re travelling from central Dubai, you will be on the highway for an hour before disappearing into the scenic dunes of the desert. This is where your driver, with your nod, gets to have some fun. We spent the final 30 minutes of our journey sand duning: speeding and swirling like mad across the desert. It’s a surreal, only-in-the-Emirates experience. When we slowed down, there was a personal attendant and private chef, smiling and eager to welcome us. This is camping at its most luxurious. In fact, ‘camping’ seems a bit of a misnomer for such a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

At this point, there is still no campsite to be seen. Instead, there is a Persian rug, pillows and buckets of prosecco, wine and beer. We settle down to watch the sunset while locals run about training falcons to chase drones. Then it’s back in the Jeep for a quick drive to where we’ll be sleeping. Hidden behind a dune, and lit by dozens upon dozens of flickering candles, is our tent. At night, the desert is pitch black and silent, but this quickly becomes soothing rather than frightening.

Travel inspiration: Spend 24 hours in Dubai's golden desert