There’s a definite magic in a long weekend. Something about it brings back the end of term excitement as glorious long weeks of summer stretch ahead. And whilst its a few days and not a few weeks, we're here to take every bit of that feeling possible.

The next public holiday is the perfect excuse. We're not asking for much, sunlight, something good to eat, a soft place for a nap, and the kind of silence you only notice when you finally put your phone down.

Let go of the itinerary

We're not about doing the long weekend. We're about feeling it. Late breakfasts, sunsets with an Aperol Spritz, long showers. A swim with no clock. A nap in the middle of the day. We're leaving this long weekend really feeling that it was long.

This kind of weekend doesn’t require a passport. It doesn’t even require a suitcase, if you play it right. Here are three ways to reclaim your energy without going far.

Beach Day at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Old-world elegance. Turkish hammam. A reset without leaving the city. You don’t need to leave Dubai to feel like you’ve escaped it. There’s something cinematic about this spot, all Ottoman arches and overwater serenity. Book a day pass to Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and spend the day where time slows down. A private beach, shaded loungers and private cabanas in an unpretentious atmosphere and attentive service make for a perfect beach day. You'll leave feeling truly reset.

The Chedi Al Bait

History and stillness, just 45 minutes away. Sharjah isn’t usually where people run to for the long weekend, which is exactly why you should go. The Chedi Al Bait is slow travel at its best: heritage buildings turned tranquil suites, inner courtyards lit by lanterns, and the kind of spa that doesn’t just offer massages, they recalibrate your nervous system. Read in the library, have Arabic coffee under the arches, and rediscover the rare pleasure of a place designed not to impress, but to restore.

Six Senses Zighy Bay

Choose Oman where the luxury is barefoot and the quiet is deep. This one’s for when you can stretch the weekend into something a bit longer. Drive across the border to Oman and arrive at one of the region’s most grounding properties. Stone villas. Private plunge pools. Beachfront dinners you’ll remember for years. It’s luxurious, yes, but never loud. Everything is intentional, down to the scent of the room and the rhythm of the service. You’ll sleep like you haven’t in months. You’ll wake up remembering what you came for, space, air, quiet.

Let it be small but let it be enough

A long weekend doesn’t need a boarding pass or a performance to make you feel your best, it just needs your presence. Choose one thing to do, and do it to the very best that you can. Bring a book, not your laptop. Take one outfit you love and wear it twice. Take your time to make your coffee and drink it leisurely. Don’t try to cram it all in. The best weekends feel like a soft reset, a return to yourself, not a race away from your life. And when you do it right, three days really can feel like seven.

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