Dune Bashing in Dubaiwith theMX-Academy

Dune bashing in Dubai means a fast, bumpy drive over the sand in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with an experienced desert driver. Here is how it works, which variants exist, who should skip it and what to check before you book.

In the desert outside DubaiNot recommended for pregnant women or babiesMorning, evening and night toursAround six hours' flight from Switzerland

Motocross Dubai Desert ride Dubai

Already in the UAE? Dune bashing in Dubai on mx-academy.ae

Dune bashing in Dubai: three white four-wheel drives race over orange sand and throw up clouds of dust — Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What dune bashing in Dubai actually is

Dune bashing means driving off-road over sand dunes. On a typical tour you sit in a four-wheel-drive SUV while a driver who is an expert in desert driving climbs the dunes, slides along their flanks and drops down the other side. It is a passenger ride rather than a driving lesson, and it is part of many desert safaris around Dubai.

Before the drive, the driver lets some air out of the tyres. Lower pressure gives each tyre a bigger footprint, a little like snowshoes on snow, so the vehicle floats on soft sand instead of digging in. Vehicles usually travel as a group behind a leader, one after the other, so that nobody loses the way in the dunes.

Dune bashing in Dubai: a white SUV slides along a sand slope and sends a wave of orange sand into the air — Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Motocross in the dunes of Dubai: two riders on motocross bikes with sand spraying up behind them

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

Desert ride Dubai Motocross training in Dubai

A classic dune bashing tour in a 4x4

On a typical dune bashing tour, a four-wheel-drive vehicle collects you from your hotel. Once you reach the desert, you strap in and the ride gets bumpy, with steep climbs and sudden drops that make your stomach leap. Morning tours often add a camel ride and, in winter and weather permitting, sandboarding; evening and night tours usually end at a desert camp with dinner.

Operators sell shared tours, where you join other guests in the vehicle, and private tours for your own group. If someone in your group would rather not take part in the dune drive, ask about this when you book: some operators take guests who skip it straight to the camp, where they join the others for the evening.

Dune bashing is not limited to Dubai. In the neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi, tours explore the desert outside the Liwa Oasis in Al Dhafra, where the Tel Moreeb dune rises around 300 metres above the sand. Each December and January the Liwa International Festival brings the Moreeb Hill Climb to the dune; outside the festival you can book a guided 4x4 ride to the top.

Dune bashing tour: three white SUVs follow each other over the crest of a red dune under a hazy sky — Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Driving yourself on the Dubai dunes: buggies and quads

If you want to drive yourself, a dune buggy is the closest thing to dune bashing at the wheel. Buggies used in the dunes are often fitted with a roll cage, and on self-drive tours an instructor or guide briefs you before you take the wheel. Ask the operator in advance which safety gear is provided and where exactly you will be driving.

A quad bike tour is the other self-drive option. On some desert safaris, quads are not part of the package and are booked and paid for on site, and quad biking is described as a self-driving activity that you take on at your own risk. Listen carefully to the briefing, keep a safe gap to the quad in front and stay on the line your guide chooses.

Dubai dunes by quad bike: a rider in a helmet steers a red quad across orange sand, with others far behind — Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dune bashing, quad, buggy or motocross: the comparison

Which way of crossing the sand suits you depends on whether you would rather sit back or take control. On a classic dune bashing tour you leave the driving to an expert, while quads, buggies and motorbikes put you in charge. The table sums up the main differences; check the rules of your operator before you book.

	Dune bashing (4x4)	Quad bike	Dune buggy	Motocross
Who is in control?	An experienced desert driver; you ride as a passenger	You ride it yourself, at your own pace and your own risk	You drive yourself or ride along as a passenger	You ride the bike yourself, hands on the handlebars
Before you start	The driver lets air out of the tyres for the soft sand	Often an extra on a safari, booked on site	A safety briefing from a trained instructor	Basics on a training track first: standing up and riding in sand
Safety gear	Seat belt fastened for the whole drive	Operators require a helmet, often with gloves and goggles	Often a roll cage; ask about helmets and goggles	Bike and complete protective gear available to hire
Good to know	Not recommended in pregnancy or with back or heart problems	Keep to a safe speed for the terrain	Some operators ask for a driving licence and a minimum age of 16	Guided by experienced desert riders on a day you choose

Dubai dunes on a motorbike

The most hands-on variant is a desert ride on a motocross or enduro bike. Unlike in a 4x4, you balance, steer and choose your line yourself, and the soft sand quickly shows you how much throttle and body position matter. MX-Academy Dubai is run by Chris Möckli and Mohammed Al Balooshi, riders with motocross and rally experience who know the desert around Dubai.

The date is yours to choose, and Switzerland is around six hours away by plane. Either book the MX package or handle travel and accommodation yourself and get in touch with the MX-Academy only for the riding days. For other Dubai tours, from dhow cruises to day trips, see our overview.

Dubai dunes on a motorbike: a rider in red and white gear sits on a red motocross bike on rippled sand

Safety tips for dune bashing in Dubai

Dune bashing is not recommended for pregnant women, babies or people with back or heart problems, and some operators do not allow infants in the car during the dune drive at all. For everyone else, a few simple habits make the ride more comfortable:

Fasten your seat belt before the first dune and keep it on
Eat a light, early lunch before an afternoon tour, as the bumpy ride can make you feel sick
Tell the driver at once if you feel unwell, so they can slow down
Bring a hat and sunglasses against the sun and the glare of the sand
On buggies, quads and motorbikes, wear the helmet and follow every instruction from the guide
Ask the operator about minimum ages for children before you book

Seeing the Dubai dunes without dune bashing

If you are pregnant or simply prefer a calmer trip, you do not have to miss the desert. Some companies offer a heritage version of the desert safari in Dubai: vintage Land Rovers take you on a wildlife drive without any dune driving, and the evening continues with a falcon show, a short camel ride and an Arabic dinner at the camp. One such operator welcomes pregnant guests up to the second trimester, so ask about the rules for your situation.

Once you have had your fill of sand, the city is waiting. For more ideas outside the desert, our pages on things to do in Dubai and Dubai attractions cover the city itself, from first-visit classics to the big landmarks.

Desert safari in Dubai: floor cushions, shisha pipes and lanterns glow at a desert camp at dusk — Photo: www.traveljunction.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

FAQ: Dune Bashing in Dubai

Is dune bashing safe for children?

It is not recommended for babies, and some operators do not allow infants under three in the car during the dune drive. Ask your operator about the minimum age before you book.

Can I go on a desert safari in Dubai if I am pregnant?

Dune bashing is not recommended during pregnancy, but some operators take guests who skip it straight to the camp. Heritage safaris in vintage Land Rovers do not include dune driving at all.

What should I wear for dune bashing?

Comfortable, decent clothing, plus a hat and sunglasses against the sun. For evening tours, pack a shawl or light jacket for the cooler night in the desert.

Do I drive myself on a dune bashing tour?

Not in the classic 4x4 version: an experienced desert driver is at the wheel. On dune buggy and quad bike tours you drive yourself after a safety briefing.

Why do drivers let air out of the tyres before dune bashing?

Lower tyre pressure gives the tyre a larger footprint and more grip, so the vehicle floats on soft sand instead of sinking in.

Can you go dune bashing in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Tours explore the desert outside the Liwa Oasis in Al Dhafra, home of the Tel Moreeb dune, which is around 300 metres high. Outside the festival in December and January, you can book a guided 4x4 ride to its top.