Author
Tabassum Afzal
Founder & CEO, Sparkling Sandset
Tabassum founded Sparkling Sandset in 2012 and has run the Al Khatim camp through more than 500 private weddings, celebrations and cultural events since. She writes about the celebration and hospitality side of the business: weddings, birthdays, cultural programming and what it actually takes to host a private desert night well.
By this author
Articles by Tabassum Afzal
Culture & Excursions
Diwali Celebrations in the Abu Dhabi Desert: A Planning Guide
Events & Seasons
Graduation Party Ideas in Abu Dhabi: Beyond the Restaurant Booking
Events & Seasons
Planning a Family Reunion in the Abu Dhabi Desert
Events & Seasons
Private Desert Camp or Hotel for a Group Occasion
Events & Seasons
Birthday Party Cost in Abu Dhabi: What Actually Changes the Number
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Personalized Gifts in Abu Dhabi: What Actually Feels Thoughtful
Culture & Excursions
Sleeping in the Desert: What to Expect at Night
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Customized Gifts in Abu Dhabi: Corporate and Personal, Done Properly
Culture & Excursions
Camel Riding in the UAE: What It Is Actually Like
Culture & Excursions
Desert Accommodation in the UAE: The Four Types
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Corporate Gift Ideas in the UAE That Do Not Read as Filler
Culture & Excursions
What Is Actually Included in a Desert Safari Package
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Unique Places to Stay in the UAE, by Format
Culture & Excursions
Desert Camp Activities: What There Is to Actually Do
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
The Abu Dhabi Staycation Nobody Books: The Desert
Events & Seasons
Iftar and Suhoor in the Desert: Planning Around Ramadan
Culture & Excursions
Desert Camp Stay or Desert Safari: Which to Book
Events & Seasons
Desert Events in Summer: How to Make May to September Work
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Khayal Al Sahra: A Guide to Our Al Khatim Camp
Events & Seasons
Desert Event Permits in Dubai: What Applies and Who Files It
Events & Seasons
Renting a Private Venue in Abu Dhabi for One Day
Culture & Excursions
Sandboarding in the UAE: A Straight Guide
Events & Seasons
Booking a Whole Desert Camp for a Large Group
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Anniversaries in the Desert: Small, Private and Deliberately Simple
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Our Abu Dhabi Desert Camp Is Now on Airbnb
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Desert Photoshoot Locations Near Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
A Private Desert Dinner in Dubai: How the Evening Runs
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Proposing in the Desert: Nine Setups and the Logistics Behind Them
Events & Seasons
Birthday Parties in the Desert: Milestones, Surprises and Kids
Events & Seasons
Desert Wedding Venues Near Dubai: What to Check Before You Fall in Love
Culture & Excursions
Falconry in the UAE: The Tradition, and What an Experience Involves
Culture & Excursions
Emirati Cultural Experiences Worth Building Into an Event
Events & Seasons
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Desert Event in Abu Dhabi?
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Things to Do in Abu Dhabi With Kids: A Family Guide
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Free Things to Do in Abu Dhabi: A Genuinely Useful List
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
20 Indoor Things to Do in Abu Dhabi When It Is Too Hot Outside
Yas Island & Entertainment
After ADNEC: Planning the Post-Conference Evening in 2026
Yas Island & Entertainment
SeaWorld Yas Island for Corporate and Group Bookings
Yas Island & Entertainment
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi for Corporate Groups and Private Events
Yas Island & Entertainment
teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi for Corporate Groups
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Weekend Getaways From Dubai: Where to Go When You Have Two Days
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Things to Do in Abu Dhabi in 2026: A Complete Roundup
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Abu Dhabi's 2026 Events Calendar: A Planner's Hotlist
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Abu Dhabi
Events & Seasons
Year-End and Christmas Party Ideas for Companies in Abu Dhabi
Events & Seasons
Gala Dinner Venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Beyond the Ballroom
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Unique Private Dining in Abu Dhabi, Beyond the Desert Table
Culture & Excursions
Booking Emirati Cultural Performances for a Private Event in Abu Dhabi
Culture & Excursions
Emirati Hospitality Traditions: A Guide for Business Hosts
Culture & Excursions
Saadiyat Island's Cultural District: A 2026 Guide
Events & Seasons
Desert Venue Types Explained for European Incentive Groups
Events & Seasons
Frankfurt to the Dunes: A 4-Night Abu Dhabi Incentive Blueprint
Events & Seasons
Best Weeks for an Abu Dhabi Desert Gala When Flying Groups From Europe
Culture & Excursions
Louvre Abu Dhabi: A Visitor and Group Booking Guide
Culture & Excursions
Qasr Al Watan: Tickets, Tours and the VIP Experience
Culture & Excursions
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: A Practical Visitor Guide
Culture & Excursions
Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: A Visitor Guide
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
The Best Time to Visit a Desert Camp Near Abu Dhabi
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Hidden Gems of Al Wathba and Al Khatim
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Liwa and the Empty Quarter: An Orientation Guide
Events & Seasons
Incentive Travel in the UAE: Building a Programme That Earns Its Budget
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
A Dark Sky Guide to Stargazing Near Abu Dhabi
Events & Seasons
Hosting International VIPs in Abu Dhabi: A Sample Itinerary Framework
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Camping in the UAE: Your Options, Compared
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Glamping in the UAE: A Buyer's Guide to Choosing the Right Tier
Events & Seasons
What to Wear to a Desert Wedding in the UAE, for the Couple and for Guests
Events & Seasons
The Abu Dhabi Desert Wedding Planning Checklist, 12 Months to I Do
Events & Seasons
Desert Wedding Cost in Abu Dhabi: The Quick Answer for 2026
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Camping in Liwa: A Complete Guide to the Empty Quarter's Edge
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Abu Dhabi at Night: The Things to Do Once the Heat Breaks
Culture & Excursions
A Liwa Desert Safari Is Not a Dubai Desert Safari
Events & Seasons
10 Best Desert Camping Experiences in the UAE for an Unforgettable Arabian Night
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Liwa Desert Weather: When to Go, Month by Month
Events & Seasons
Intimate Desert Weddings in Abu Dhabi: A Guide for Under 40 Guests
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Overnight in the Desert: What the Night Is Actually Like
Events & Seasons
Planning an Abu Dhabi Proposal: A Practical Guide
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Desert Glamping in the UAE: What the Word Is Hiding
Events & Seasons
Romantic Things to Do in Abu Dhabi: A Real Date Night Guide
Culture & Excursions
What a Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi Actually Costs
Events & Seasons
What to Do for Your Birthday in Abu Dhabi: The Complete Guide
Culture & Excursions
Abu Dhabi or Dubai for a Desert Safari
Culture & Excursions
Desert Safari Timings: When to Go, and Why It Matters
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
What to Wear on a Desert Safari, Including Winter
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Desert Safari With Kids: What Works and What to Skip
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Can You Camp in the Desert in the UAE? The Rules, Honestly
Culture & Excursions
How Far Is the Desert from Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Culture & Excursions
How Many Desert Camps Are There, and How Do You Pick One?
Events & Seasons
What a Desert Wedding Actually Costs in Abu Dhabi (2026 Breakdown)
Culture & Excursions
What a Private Desert Safari Actually Buys You
Culture & Excursions
Reading Desert Safari Reviews Without Being Misled
Culture & Excursions
Al Khatim or Liwa: Choosing Between Abu Dhabi's Two Deserts
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Stargazing in the UAE Desert: Where, When and What You Will See
Events & Seasons
Desert Event Permits in Abu Dhabi: What You Actually Need
Events & Seasons
The Best Time of Year for a Desert Event in the UAE, Month by Month
Events & Seasons
Gala Dinner Venues in Abu Dhabi: Why Brands Are Leaving the Ballroom
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Glamping in Abu Dhabi: What an Overnight Desert Stay Actually Includes
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Desert Proposal Ideas in Abu Dhabi That Do Not Feel Staged
Events & Seasons
Planning a Desert Wedding Ceremony in Abu Dhabi
Events & Seasons
Briefing a Private Desert Event: What We Need From You
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
Taking Children to the Desert: What Actually Works
Culture & Excursions
How to Judge a Desert Camp in Abu Dhabi
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
A Private Desert Dinner in Abu Dhabi: How the Evening Runs
Culture & Excursions
Desert Safari or Private Desert Event? They Are Not the Same Product
Hidden Gems & Lifestyle
What Sparkling Sandset Is, and What We Deliberately Do Not Do
Events & Seasons
How a Desert Event Setup Is Actually Built