Desert Safari (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve)

سفاري الصحراء

Dubai's classic half-day experience: 4x4s race over red dunes, you ride camels to watch the desert sunset, and a Bedouin camp serves barbecue with belly dancing and fire dancing.

The desert safari is an activity almost every visitor to Dubai takes part in. A standard evening tour picks guests up from their hotel at about 15:00 and drives 45–60 minutes to the red dunes of Al Lahbab, southeast of the city, or to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Licensed drivers take Land Cruisers over the dunes for about 30 minutes of dune bashing. You can ask for a gentler ride, and anyone prone to motion sickness should take medication beforehand. Next, you watch the sunset from the dunes, try sandboarding, ride a camel (usually 5–10 minutes) and pose with a falcon. After sunset, you enter a Bedouin-style camp for Arabic coffee and dates, henna painting, shisha, a buffet barbecue dinner, and shows of belly dancing, Tanoura (whirling dance) and fire dancing. Guests are returned to their hotels at about 21:30. Prices range from economy tours at about AED 150–250 to more than AED 800 for private vehicles, vintage Land Rover 4x4s and high-end camps inside the reserve, such as Platinum Heritage and Al Maha. You can book through Trip.com, Klook or your hotel, and should choose a licensed operator recognised by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Other options include early-morning hot-air balloon rides (about AED 1,100, where you may see gazelles and the sunrise), quad biking across the dunes, and night stargazing dinners. Wear light trousers and running shoes, and bring a jacket, as the desert can drop to around 10°C after sunset in winter. Keep your phone and camera stowed away during dune bashing. During Ramadan, camps do not serve alcohol or hold performances.

Desert Safari (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve)

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby