Unveiling Hidden Treasures with the "Off the Beaten Track UAE" Mobile App
About the Client
Off the Beaten Track UAE is a travel initiative that helps residents and tourists explore lesser-known destinations and hidden gems across the United Arab Emirates. The client envisioned a mobile app that would offer curated travel experiences beyond typical tourist attractions—highlighting nature trails, cultural spots, eco-activities, and authentic local experiences. Their goal was to inspire exploration, boost local tourism, and provide a digital platform that would combine travel guides, maps, and community contributions.
Project Goals & Objectives
- Design a visually engaging mobile app with curated travel destinations
- Integrate interactive maps and location-based recommendations
- Allow users to bookmark, rate, and share their favorite hidden spots
- Support bilingual interface (English/Arabic)
- Enable content submission and moderation features for the travel community
- Add gamification features like badges and travel milestones
Challenges Faced
- Needed a custom content management system for location curation
- Integration of GPS-based tracking and offline map access
- Maintaining lightweight app performance despite media-heavy content
- Culturally sensitive content filtering and user-generated submission approval
- Accurate tagging and categorization of diverse location types
Our Solution
Royex designed and developed a cross-platform mobile app using Flutter, tailored for both Android and iOS users. The app includes smart filtering, GPS navigation, hidden location recommendations, and user-submitted content that’s verified by admins.
We also built a custom CMS where the Off the Beaten Track team could add and manage new travel spots, photos, safety notes, and seasonal alerts. For user engagement, we incorporated gamified travel badges, allowing users to earn rewards for exploring new regions.
Technology Stack Used
- Mobile Framework: Flutter (iOS & Android)
- Backend: ASP.NET Core
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server
- Maps & Navigation: Google Maps SDK, OpenStreetMap (for offline use)
- CMS: Custom content management portal
- Hosting: Microsoft Azure
- Security: SSL, OAuth2, content moderation controls
- Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging
Application Gallery
Key Features Delivered
🔹 User Features
- Interactive map with filters (nature, culture, adventure, etc.)
- Saved trips, favorite spots, and shareable itineraries
- Arabic-English language toggle
- Travel badges and milestone tracker
- User content submission with optional photos and notes
🔹 Admin Features
- Add/edit/delete hidden locations
- Moderate community submissions
- Push notification campaigns (e.g., “Desert Trails this Winter”)
- Seasonal trip curation and thematic content groups
🔹 Technical Highlights
- Location-based suggestions using GPS
- Support for offline access to saved locations
- Integrated social sharing for user-generated guides
Results & Impact
- 5,000+ downloads within the first month of launch
- Users reported a 60% increase in discovering new place
- Positive reviews on app stores praising the UI and curated content
- Boosted visibility of eco-tourism and cultural spots in the UAE
- Strong engagement with user-submitted recommendations