Al Qudra lake - Dubai

In the process of hunting places never been explored before by me, I stumbled upon an article in a reputed newspaper about the visit of an unwelcome Egyptian rodent, which appeared like a kangaroo to the people who were taken by surprise that night at the place they were camping. Immediately, I searched it over the internet, and came across few articles with the directions to the location. I even checked if the Images tab of google showed any pictures of the exciting place, and to my surprise it showed a few. With the necessary information, I made up my mind to visit the place next weekend.
Once my husband was back from work, I showed him the articles about the newly found place to explore. Even he showed some excitement, and assured me that we will check out this place asap. In a matter of days, the weekend arrived as usual. So we decided to put our plan into action, and set our course to the much awaited destination. On his mobile, I opened the google map and selected the from location as our place & to location as Al Qudra Lake. The map showed 2 routes, with not much of a difference in terms of km. and time. Roughly, it would take 1hr. and 20 mins.
The climate was getting pleasant, so the ride was not such a sweaty one. Al Qudra lake is located on the outskirts of Dubai. If you plan to visit this place, leaving in the morning or afternoon is advisable, since it gets dark soon during the winter season. The place is not yet fully developed into a tourist spot, so you wont find street lights or any other kind of lighting around the Al Qudra lake. It kind of gets creepy once the sun sets. It becomes pitch dark except for the headlights of the car, and mobile torches. Make sure to cover yourself well if you cant bear the cold, because its an open and breezy place, due to which the temperature is less compared to other places in Dubai.

 



There are 3 lakes, which form the Al Qudra lake. The water seems shallow, but covers huge area. The first thought you get is that of an oasis in the desert. But this lake is surrounded by trees and shrubs covered 

with mesh, neatly lined covering a huge area. You will find swans, ducks, stork, and few other species of birds at the lake. 

Even though not popular amongst the public yet, you will find lots of cars and people around the lake. I guess they must have also found out about the lake just like me. Many people bring along their dogs. So if you are a dog lover, you will get to see few breeds here. Some people camp there, while some enjoy the tranquility of the place, and leave with some pictures clicked.

 

 

 

How to get there :

1. If you are leaving from Sharjah, you have 2 route options to choose from - With tolls/Without tolls.

2. If you choose with tolls, you will take E11, Al Khail road, D63 & Al Qudra rd. Exit 35.

3. If you prefer without tolls, then you will take Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road E311 & Al Qudra rd. Exit 35.

4. After you have made your choice and reached the Al Qudra road, the drive to the lake takes around 18mins.(7.1km) according to google maps.

5. The Al Qudra lake is located in the middle of the Seih Al Salam desert and Bab Al Shams, which the google map will not exactly show.

6. As you keep driving you will come across 1-2 roundabouts, at the 3rd roundabout you will find a Trek Bicycle Store. Take a left from there and drive on the mud road for 2-3mins, and you will spot the 1st lake.

7. The other option is to take left from the roundabout onto the Private Way/Acess road. On your left you will see horse riding practice going on. Drive straight, then take the 1st right, keep driving straight for 5 mins. Then you will reach a site where there will be trucks/ construction workers. Take the road just opposite to it by driving over the mud road till you reach the lake, which is approximately 5-6mins.

 

Tips :

1. Carry water and eatables, as you will not find a store nearby the lake.

2. There are no lavatories around the lake. If you need to use the loo, you will have to drive back to the Trek Bicycle store, and you will find a small café/restaurant near it.

3. Cover yourself well with sweater/shawls/skull caps etc. if you are prone to cold climates, as it can get very breezy and chilly around the lake.

4. Carry torch/emergency lamps if you plan to camp there.

5. Inform your family/friends before you decide to camp at such places, because there are chances you might get lost in search of the lake; since google map doesn't give you a clear route to the lake.

 

Note :

1. Please don't throw empty plastic water bottles, chips bags, soft drink tins, paper plates, food, diapers, chocolate wrappers etc. in the vicinity of the lake.

2. Please carry some polythene bags with you to collect the garbage in it, and dispose it in the trash cans of the nearby cafes/restaurants or carry it back with you, and dump it in your buildings garbage chute.

3. Please keep the surrounding clean and enjoy the beauty of the Al Qudra lake.