Dubai desertscapes are a sight to behold, there’s no denying it; but we have a suggestion that will win the serene contemplation by a default — book a desert safari tour in Dubai and become one with its red sand dunes and mythical oases.
To tell you the truth, desert safari should top all the lists of things to do in Dubai that exist, both in physical and online forms! Getting thrown about a car with sand on all sides and pure adrenaline in your veins — this is what life is all about!
If you’ve never had such an experience, you’ve come to the right place: We will give you all the details you need to know before booking your dune bashing escapades, from breaking down the entire process to giving you pointers on what advice to follow and why. Without further ado, this is what Dubai desert safari is all about; enjoy!
Article contents
- What to expect?
- How much does a desert safari in Dubai cost?
- Our list of the best Dubai desert safari tours
- Our review of desert safari experience
- Tips and tricks
- Other top-rated Dubai tours and experiences
Dubai desert safari experience: What to expect?
Even though desert safari tours in Dubai are among the UAE’s most popular experiences, we personally had no idea what to expect when booking the activity for the first time. Why? Well, partly because we wanted to go into the process with an open mind, without a pre-conceived notion that some review online might’ve put into our heads. Mostly though, we loved being surprised! However, when it comes to any tour or activity in the UAE, we came to find that the more you know about it, the less wiggle room the service providers have to rip you off. So, here we are, years later, with a few different desert safari tours under our experienced belts, ready to break the entire process down for you so that you can have the time of your life in this beautiful but barren land!
Dubai jeep safari isn’t exactly a scene from Lawrence of Arabia, although there are a few points during the day where you might find yourself in dire need of some classic Bedouin attire or even some dark eyeliner to stave off the glare from the dunes (modern-day sunglasses work just fine, fyi).
The entire process is way more advanced and comfortable, and looks something like this:
1. Hotel pick-up
Most tours offer pick-up and drop-off, so you can simply roll out of bed and into an air-conditioned SUV or a jeep (there may or may not be other tourists already there, depending on the size of your group that’s booked the activity).
2. Drive to the desert
Then, it’s a 30–45 minute drive to the Lahbab Desert, close to the border with Oman, where all the fun happens! The length of the drive is highly depended on the traffic, though longer times usually means more opportunities for your driver (and guide) to regale you with tales of the city’s intriguing history and its modern-day accomplishments. It’s a win-win in our book, either way!
3. Enjoying the safari
After you’ve reached the meeting point, they let out some air out of the vehicle’s tires (sounds scary, but it’s necessary to be able to drive on sand) and the adventure begins. The actual jeep safari, or dune bashing, is a hair-raisingly fun experience! Usually done in a convoy of cars (Land Cruisers mostly, but we saw some Range Rovers and even Hummers here and there), the activity lasts around 30 minutes total. The experienced drivers make your adrenaline levels soar as they take you on a rollercoaster on sand, with heart-stopping drops and swerves that leave the sand suspended in the air long enough for you to confuse which way is up or down.
4. Quad biking (optional)
Once you’ve conquered the rolling sand dunes, it’s time for some quad biking — an activity that is mostly optional, though it may be included in some pricier tour packages (more on them later). Usually, it costs 250 AED / $68 for two. We recommend you give it a try: It’s easy to imagine you’re Mad Max in Fury Road when you blast through the sand and across the desert, wind in your hair, in full control of your destiny (there’s a safety briefing that you should never miss, as usually quad biking isn’t covered by the activity’s provider insurance). If you’re all out of daredevil energy from your dune bashing, you can sit this one out — take a breather in your car or use this opportunity to do a little photoshoot in the desert.
5. Sandboarding (optional)
When you’ve finally caught up your breath (dune bashing is usually accompanied with a lot of screaming), then you might want to take part in another fun activity — sandboarding. It’s exactly what it sounds like — you take a board and “surf” down some kick-ass sand slopes. While some people learn the ropes of the process pretty fast, we still encourage you to get ready to fall in the sand a lot. Oh, and leave your phone with a trusted friend: You don’t want to spend the rest of the night looking for it in the towering dunes.
6. Taking a break in the Bedouin-style camp
Now that the most adventurous and crazy activities are out of your way, you can relax a little on your way to one of the many Bedouin-style camps that are scattered all over the desert. As you find your path towards the white tents that are adorned with colorful Arab carpets (think Sex and the City 2 movie, but less lavish and definitely less private — you will have to pay big money to get yourself an intimate setting to relax in here), you might want to stop for a camel ride. Though usually short, the activity provides a long-lasting effect, especially if it’s your first time interacting with these unique creatures.
Speaking of creatures, some tours include a falcon show; though, usually, these royal-looking birds are used as props to get the tourists to pay even more money for photos with them. Still, falcons are truly majestic in their own right, and the mere sight of them is an experience in itself.
Once inside the Bedouin camp, your experience will be determined by the type of desert safari tour you’ve signed on to:
- A morning desert safari usually includes welcome drinks and snacks (mostly Arabic coffee, cold juices and soft drinks, dates and some traditional local sweet treats), and that’s pretty much it. After you’ve regained some of the energy, you’re taken back to the city with plenty of time to have some other experiences (with less sand involved).
- Evening tour packages, however, are an entirely different beast with a true smorgasbord of experiences: Henna tattoos, trying on of traditional Arabic attire, smoking of shisha, buffet-style BBQ dinner, and head-spinning night entertainment are to be expected once the sun comes down (also, a sight in and of itself). Pull out your camera, because you will want to capture the beautiful show that is put on in camps every night: The exotic belly dancers, spell-bounding whirling dervishes, and all the performers included in a spectacular fire show, — you won’t believe the skill and charisma it takes to captivate a large audience of some pretty tired tourists. The overnighters, then, are taken to their resting area (sleeping under the stars in the desert might be one of the few bucket-list experiences that we are yet to strike off our list), while the other tourists are dropped off back at their hotels, exhausted but happy.
All in all, the entire Dubai safari process relies solely on the organizers of your tour package. Your driver can make or break an entire experience, so read the reviews of each option thoroughly (the travelers usually highlight the guides they loved the most). The activity is exciting in its own right, and is on our list of absolute must-do Dubai experiences. It beautifully combines adventure, natural beauty, and cultural heritage into one glowing outing.
Now that you know what to expect from a desert safari in Dubai, it’s time we dig into some practical details that will help you plan your UAE itinerary.
All desert safari tours on Getyourguide >>
How much does a desert safari in Dubai cost?
How much does a Dubai safari cost? Well, it’s hard to answer the question without first looking at the activity list included in the package and the level of detail-orientation that the service provider puts into the experience.
To sum up our findings, we have created this table that will help you navigate among four different levels of services (and their respective prices) you can expect when booking a jeep safari in Dubai.
| Price (per person) | Duration | Key features | |
| 🔶 Budget Desert Safari | $30–$50 | 4–5 hours | Morning packages with basic dune bashing and optional camel rides and sandboarding. Includes a stop at camp, but no dinner |
| 🔶 Mid-Range Desert Safari | $60–$90 | 6 hours | Basic evening packages with a BBQ dinner and live entertainment |
| 🔶 Luxury Desert Safari | $100–$200 | 6–7 hours | Private safari (usually luxury vehicles), sandboarding, camel ride, falcon show; VIP seating for an evening show |
| 🔶 Overnight Desert Safari | From $200 | 17 hours | Dune bashing, stargazing and all that fun while staying overnight in a luxury camp! |
If you don’t know which option to choose yet, let us elaborate on each level a little:
- Budget Desert Safari ($30–$50) is a surefire option for first-time Dubai visitors: No frills, but still lots of thrills included! Morning tours usually fall into this category, so you can expect to be in and out by lunch. This is a so-called “introductory course” to dune bashing in Dubai. If you find yourself enjoying the adventure, you can always splurge on additional activities on site — the providers welcome it!
- Mid-Range Desert Safari ($60–$90) is great for travelers who seek an action and adventure-packed day out. This is a wonderful category for return tourists, who know what they want and are not afraid to ask for it. These packages mostly include an elaborate buffet-style dinner at camp, as well as live performances by talented traditional artists.
- Luxury Desert Safari ($100–$200) — the premium, the luxurious, the VIP of experiences; when it comes to the price, the sky’s the limit here! From luxury vehicles to very private dinner settings, — this category is ideal for celebrating special occasions (or an ordinary Tuesday away, if you have money to spend). The options that fall under this umbrella are worth the extra costs: They provide a more personalized attention, enhanced comfort, and unique activities already included in the price.
- Overnight Desert Safari (from $200) — an option for dreamers and romantics at heart: There is nothing more idyllic than looking up at the inky night sky littered with myriads of brightly shining stars that you so rarely see in the city! The desert has a way of making your experience even deeper, as the never-ending dunes complement that same vast Stygian sky in a beautifully profound way, leading to an existential awakening (for some), or to a wonderful evening away (for all). Expect to be out all night long (with the extensive list of activities filling up your daytime hours), and leave your sleeping mask at the hotel: You will be lulled to sleep by the winds playing with the sand and the shooting stars lighting up the heavens for a second at a time!
To sum up, Dubai desert safaris offer something for everyone, whether you’re a first-time explorer or a seasoned traveler. Budget-friendly tours cover the most basic activities, while more expensive options add additional layers to the process.
If you plan to bring your kids along for the ride (literally), keep in mind that their package costs the same as an adult ticket starting from the age of 12 (!). Children aged 3 to 11 can take part in the activities for slightly cheaper (although a mere couple of bucks cheaper, so don’t get your hopes up). From our experience, we wouldn’t recommend bringing your rugrats to the dune bashing itself — it’s way too dangerous for the littles, who are already very prone to injuries. Teenagers, however, are the key demographic for some unabashedly crazy fun, which Dubai desert safari falls into.
Our list of the best Dubai desert safari tours
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When it comes to finding the best Dubai desert safaris in 2024, we cannot go on without mentioning the quintessential services needed for the undertaking:
- Viator,
- Klook,
- and, our personal favorite, GetYourGuide are the websites we scour daily in preparation for our next UAE pilgrimage.
The number of choices at hand is truly head-spinning, so we went ahead and picked out the top Dubai desert safari deals that are completely worth the time and money you’ll spend on them during your next 2024 trip to the Emirates.
Here they are:
| What They Offer | Price (per person) | Duration | Most Exciting Feature | |
| 🔶 Half-Day Desert Safari | Morning dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, refreshments at camp | from $30 | 4 hours | Thrilling dune bashing with professional driver |
| 🔶 Desert Safari & Al Khayma Camp | Basic dune bashing and sandboarding, an evening show and a dinner if a 7-hour option is selected | from $35 | 4–7 hours | Sandboarding on rolling golden dunes |
| 🔶 Safari and Buffet Dinner | Dune bashing and all the other fun activities, as well as a live evening show and a dinner at camp | from $50 | 7 hours | BBQ buffet dinner |
| 🔶 Abu Dhabi: Desert Safari | An all-in-one Arabian Nights experience: Jeep safari, sandboarding, camel rides, henna painting, dinner buffet, evening performance | from $75 | 6 hours | Abu Dhabi pick-up! |
| 🔶 Premium Safari | Evening desert safari with three (!) BBQ dinner buffets, falcon experience, and stargazing atop the usual list of activities | from $80 | 7 hours | Stargazing with a telescope |
Note that the cheaper the offer, the less private your experience will be, with more fellow tourists in the group, more wait times between the activities, and lots of options not included in the package (that will not stop the providers from urging you to spend some cash on-site).
Our honest review of Dubai’s desert safari experience
Our first desert safari in Dubai wasn’t a life-altering experience per se, but it definitely left a lasting impression (and the following tours only added to the “pro” list of why we want to do it again and again!) Though the activity is advertised as exciting on all levels, there are still some things that can either go wrong or simply not up to your personal standard of entertainment. Now that you know the general step-by-step process of how desert safari in Dubai works, we want to add to that our personal experience.
Keep in mind that each person is different, and what might work/or not work for us isn’t exactly an upside or downside that you will find relevant to the topic:
- After we were picked up from our hotel, the drive to the meeting place was around an hour. Though longer than advertised, we didn’t mind it too much: The car had a working AC and the views weren’t too bad! It’s always exciting to watch the city scape change into endless desert, with camels starting to pop in and out of view the closer you get to the meeting point.
- The dune bashing itself was absolutely spectacular! There were times we felt the car was going to topple over and get buried underneath all the sand, but of course it didn’t — the drivers here are very professional, and, obviously, used to the strange terrain. The steep drops and crazy turns make for an exciting adventure, but also vertigo-inducing state: Do not eat for at least two hours prior to the safari! Personally, we wanted the bashing to last longer than 30 minutes, but most reviewers say it’s the perfect amount of time to get that adrenaline rush and avoid the car sickness that is to follow.
- Sandboarding wasn’t as fun to watch from the sidelines (we opted out, since we didn’t want all that sand in our clothes for the rest of the night), but it looked quite amusing to those who participated! It’s not often you see grown adults fall on their butt so much and thoroughly enjoy it!
- It was our first time riding on camels, and the novelty of the experience alone was something that we still remember today. However, upon closer investigation, we thought that the animals looked mistreated, thus leading us to drop the camel ride option from our consecutive visits.
- Our morning desert safari in Dubai was then followed by a stop at the camp: They gave us some Arabic coffee (with cardamom, which we aren’t that fond of) and a few dates (which were very sweet and delicious). There was also some coca-cola, which, in contrast with traditional setting, looked as out of place as that plastic water bottle in one scene of the latest rendition of Little Women.
- When we finally splurged on an evening safari, we were pleasantly surprised by the dinner service: The buffet-style spread included lots of different grilled meats, as well as fresh and cooked vegetables, and a plethora of curious-looking desserts! We had some vegetarians in our group, and even they got so full they could hardly walked back to their cars!
- Though the last time we went on a safari in Dubai was during Ramadan, they still put on a great show: There were no belly dancers, obviously, but the whirling dervishes and fire performers alone made for a wonderful evening full of top-notch entertainment!
Tips and tricks to make your Dubai desert safari experience a grand one
The following desert safari experience tips might sound pretty obvious, but you should read them anyways. Remember, harsh desert conditions are no joke, so please, follow your guide’s instructions and take proper precautions to have a fun and worry-free day!
🔶 Even though desert temps are a tad lower than the temperatures in the cities, you’re still in the Emirates: Be prepared for the heat! Wear loose and light clothing that covers most of your body (do not forget a hat and sunglasses), and reapply SPF as often as you can.
🔶 However, nights in the desert are quite chilly: Bring a layer to throw on right as the sun rounds up the dunes, as it’ll get cold fast.
Side note: Find out the best time to visit Dubai (hint: It’s mainly fall/winter months of November, December, January, and even February).
🔶 When it comes to shoes, open-toe ones are better: They will protect your soles from scolding-hot sand but not fill up with it while you walk.
🔶 Hydration is key: Bring some water with you (they also have free water at camp), but do not drink too much right before dune bashing, or you’ll get sick.
🔶 Speaking of getting sick, if you usually suffer from motion sickness, we recommend you take some prescribed medicine for that beforehand: Dune bashing is a thousand times worse than a regular car ride!
🔶 It won’t hurt repeating: Do not eat for at least two hours before the dune bashing. Otherwise, that food will be riding in the car with you (and not in your stomach).
🔶 If you want to watch the sunset, book an evening desert safari tour. However, if the safari itself is the thing you’re after, a morning tour will be just fine. It doesn’t last as long and you won’t lose an entire day in Dubai on just one activity. Plus, the sight of the sun casting its first light on endless rolling dunes is as close as you can get to spiritual awakening in the desert!
🔶 Do not wander off too far on your own: All the dunes look the same, and it’s hard to find your way back to camp if you get lost.
🔶 If a person puts a falcon on your arm and requests to take a photo for you, know that they will demand a payment soon after (and a hefty one, to say the least). If you’re short on cash, a strong “NO” and a shake of the head are your best friends.
🔶 If you’re not based in Dubai, then look into your hotel pick-up options: Most tours cover Sharjah and Ajman, but other emirates are trickier. You can either find a tour that is based in your city, or call and ask the tour providers if they will pick you up for an additional charge.
🔶 As for the safety measures, obviously, seatbelts are a must when you get thrown around the car as it leaps off the dunes (remember to protect your head at all times).
🔶 If you love the adrenaline, try and claim shotgun: This is the best seat in the car, where you’ll get first-hand experience of blasting through the dunes at top speeds.
🔶 Some buffet dinners close as soon as the guests have gotten their first round of food (true story), so fill up your first plate as though it is your last one.
All in all, Dubai desert safari is an exciting experience that we encourage you to try out at least once in your lifetime: Although it looks like there’re a lot of rules and potential pitfalls, remember to enjoy yourself!
Our list of other top-rated Dubai tours and experiences
Though very popular and highly reviewed, desert safari isn’t the only activity we encourage you to look into when planning your itinerary for the emirate! Particularly in peak tourist season, it is advised you book your tours at least two weeks in advance (sometimes even more) to ensure you will be able to participate in them during your stay in Dubai.
Here are the things we believe you absolutely must do next time you’re in the Emirates:
- Look into the latest high-tech advancements and scientific discoveries in Museum of the Future: For $40, you will be able to look at Earth as if you’re on the International Space Station and discover the species that once roamed the land but are now extinct.
- Dubai Frame is a unique sight with even more arresting views. The price of $14 seems more than perfect for the amount of feelings it evokes (it’s transparent deck floor is not for the faint-hearted!).
- While we’re on the topic of viewpoints, you can never go wrong with Burj Khalifa — its decks are perfect for looking at Dubai in its entirety (and for $50, might we add), even going as far as the emirate’s historical districts.
- A Dubai Marina yacht tour is a perfect follow up after your morning desert safari: Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery that opens up from the water! The prices for this water activity vary greatly, depending on the type of boat and the number of extra amenities on offer.
- Our personal favorite Dubai activity is a helicopter ride over the emirate: It’s equal parts thrilling and calming, which is the combination we’re always striving for! This experience is definitely on a more expensive side, but trust us, it is worth it, a hundred percent!
Side note: If you’re not into adrenaline-inducing helicopter flights, enjoy Dubai’ landscape from its numerous viewpoints!
Dubai, as you’ve guessed by now, is not mere showy malls and stuck-up luxurious hotels, but an entire world that is just waiting to be discovered. If you’re still planning your next trip to the emirate, make sure to use our one day Dubai itinerary and the list of top-rated Dubai beaches to create a game plan so elaborate you will never want to leave!
As for other trip-related topics, we have a few that can make your time in Dubai as stress-free as possible:
- Figure out where to stay in Dubai (best neighborhoods and hotels);
- Plan your budget with our breakdown of prices in Dubai.
Final thoughts
Is desert safari in Dubai worth it? Our verdict: Yes, a hundred percent! Just imagine a never-ending desertscape; and then imagine it doing a flip in the air, — that’s exactly what you’ll get when dune bashing at top speed, wind and sand connecting into one all around you. The crazy part is all fun and games, but the excitement doesn’t run dry when at camp: Belly dancers circling their way around the stage while you take your henna adorned hand and pull a shisha pipe closer to you, resulting in magical smoke that attracts all the light to its mish-mash of shapes… The sheer visuals are alluring enough that we want to book our next tour PRONTO!
We hope that we’ve given you as much practical info as we did pure inspiration; but if you still have any questions regarding desert safari tours in Dubai (or if you want to share your experience with us, we always welcome your stories!), feel free to leave your message in the comment section down below. Stay weird, stay brave, and look out into the desert — the mystical womb that birthed Dubai a long time ago.
