Desert Drive in Dubai
Behind the wheel in soft sand
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Dunes, camels and an evening at the camp
Desert Safari in Dubaiwith theMX-Academy
A desert safari in Dubai takes you from your hotel into the dunes in a four-wheel drive, usually with a camel ride, sandboarding and time at a desert camp. Here is what each type of trip includes and how to pick the right one.
Desert outside Dubai, with hotel pick-upMorning, evening and night safarisHeritage safaris without dune drivingAround six hours' flight from Switzerland
What a desert safari in Dubai includes
Most trips start at your hotel. A four-wheel drive, often a Land Cruiser, picks you up and heads out to the dunes beyond the city. On shared tours you travel with guests from other hotels – one offer on the official Visit Dubai platform seats up to six people per car – while a private booking keeps the vehicle for your own group. Pick-up times depend on the season and on where you stay, so confirm them the day before.
Out in the sand, the classic desert safari Dubai programme combines a fast, bumpy drive over the dunes, known as dune bashing, with photo stops, a short camel ride and a try at sandboarding. Evening trips then continue to a camp for dinner. A ride on a quad bike is often not part of the package and is paid for on site, so read the list of inclusions before you compare prices.
MX-Academy Dubai
Ride the dunes yourself
In a 4x4, on a quad or in a buggy you see the desert – on a motocross bike you ride it. MX-Academy Dubai, the school of Chris Möckli and Mohammed Al Balooshi, takes you into the dunes on a guided desert ride in Dubai.
- On the handlebars yourself instead of in the passenger seat
- First the basics on the training track: riding standing up and in sand
- Bike and a full set of protective gear for hire
- Experienced desert riders as your guides, on a date of your choice
Morning, evening or night: the three classic formats
Operators sell the same desert in several moods. Which one fits depends on how much time you have, how well you cope with heat and bumps, and whether dinner under the stars is part of your plan. These are the formats you will meet most often:
- Morning safari: around four hours with a dune drive, a camel ride and sandboarding in winter when the weather allows; a quad ride can be added for a fee
- Evening safari: an afternoon departure, sunset in the dunes and a camp evening with a barbecue dinner and live entertainment
- Night safari: camel rides and sandboarding after dark, a Bedouin-style dinner and stargazing, on some trips with a telescope
- Heritage safari: a wildlife drive in vintage Land Rovers, a falcon show and a four-course Arabic dinner, with no dune driving
The desert camp: henna, Arabic coffee and fire shows
The evening part of a desert safari in Dubai takes place at a Bedouin-style camp. Guests are usually welcomed with dates and Arabic coffee, then have time to relax in the seating area, try shisha or have a henna design painted on their hands. Some camps add traditional Arabic costumes to try on or live demonstrations of coffee and bread making.
Once the sun has set, the entertainment begins while dinner is served, often as a barbecue buffet. Typical acts are the Tanoura, an Egyptian folk dance in which the performer whirls in a weighted skirt, a belly dance and a fire show. During Ramadan and on Islamic holidays there is no belly or Tanoura dance and no alcohol, so the evening is quieter at those times.
Calm alternatives: heritage safaris and a direct camp transfer
The dune drive is rough, and operators do not take pregnant women or guests with heart, back or neck problems on it. Small children are restricted too: one morning tour keeps children under three out of the vehicle for the dune drive. Missing the drive does not mean missing the desert, because many companies drive anyone who sits it out directly to the camp, and the group meets up again there.
A desert safari without dune bashing is also available as a heritage safari. In the protected Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, guides take you on a wildlife drive in open-top vintage Land Rovers, watch out for Arabian oryx and stop at a grove of ghaf trees. A falcon show at sunset and dinner at a lamp-lit camp follow. One of these safaris is open to pregnant guests until their second trimester.
Choosing your trip: quick comparison and checklist
There is no single best desert safari in Dubai: the right choice depends on whether you want to sit back or take control. The table sets the classic 4x4 trip next to the vehicles you steer yourself, from the quad bike and the dune buggy to the motorbike. Before you book any of them, check these points with the operator:
- Shared vehicle or a private car for your group
- Which activities are included and which, such as quad bikes, cost extra
- Minimum age for children and the rules on pregnancy and back problems
- Whether the evening shows run during your travel dates, for example in Ramadan
- Comfortable, modest clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a light layer for the cooler evening
| Dune bashing (4x4) | Dune buggy | Quad bike | Motocross | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the wheel | An experienced driver steers; you sit as a passenger | You drive, unless you book a passenger ride | You, once the safety briefing is done | You, on the handlebars yourself |
| How you sit | Belted into a car seat | In a seat with harness and roll cage | Astride the seat, steering with handlebars | Standing on the bike, practised first on a training track |
| Protection | Seat belt in a closed car | Roll cage, harness, helmet and goggles | Helmet, gloves and closed shoes | Bike and full protective gear for hire |
| How to book | Part of most morning and evening safaris | Guided tours or rental on the Dubai–Hatta road | Often an extra at the camp, or as a guided tour | Date of your choice, with experienced desert riders as guides |
Swap the passenger seat for a motorbike
A safari shows you the desert from the back seat. If you would rather set the speed and choose the line yourself, MX-Academy Dubai takes riders into the sand on motocross and enduro bikes. Its guides are seasoned motocross and rally riders who are at home in the local desert. The MX-Academy does not run 4x4, quad or buggy tours: it is all about motorbikes.
The date is up to you. Book the MX package, or arrange your hotel and flight on your own and contact the MX-Academy just for a desert ride in Dubai. A riding day fits well alongside a safari evening at the camp or the city sights covered on our things to do in Dubai page.
FAQ: Desert Safari in Dubai
What is included in a desert safari in Dubai?
Most trips include a pick-up from your hotel by four-wheel drive, a drive over the dunes, a camel ride and sandboarding. Evening safaris add dinner and live shows at a desert camp, while quad bikes are often paid for on site.
Which is better, a morning or an evening desert safari?
A morning safari lasts around four hours and focuses on the dunes, camels and sandboarding. An evening safari adds the sunset, dinner and shows at the camp, so it suits travellers who want the full programme.
Can I book a desert safari without dune bashing?
Yes. Heritage safaris in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve use vintage Land Rovers for a wildlife drive instead of dune driving. On regular safaris, many operators also take guests who skip the dunes directly to the camp.
Are there shows at the desert camp during Ramadan?
Safaris still run, but there is no belly or Tanoura dance during Ramadan and on Islamic holidays, and no alcohol is served.
What should I wear on a desert safari in Dubai?
Choose loose, modest clothes and bring a hat, sunglasses and sun cream. Sports shoes help if you want to try sandboarding, and a light layer is useful once the desert cools down after sunset.
More topics
Quad Biking in Dubai
Four wheels, handlebars and red sand
Dune Buggy in Dubai
Roll cage, harness and soft red sand
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