The United Arab Emirates is home to a thriving tourism industry, with one of the main attractions for tourists being a desert safari. In the area, this exciting excursion has taken on a life of its own, complete with distinct charm. We’ll discuss the many kinds of desert safari in UAE that are offered and highlight their distinctions in this guide.
Why is it a Must-Do Experience
- An Unforgettable Adventure: The stunning spectacle of the sun sinking over the sand dunes should not be missed by any traveler to the Emirates. Highlights include the exhilaration of driving large, silent dunes in powerful jeeps, watching the mesmerizing Tanoura dance, and experiencing an authentic meal at a Bedouin camp deep in the desert.
Interesting! In Dubai, the Jeep Safari is among the most popular choices. Usually offered in the afternoon and evening, this excursion takes you into the magnificent desert before dusk in air-conditioned, comfortable SUVs. Expert drivers will drive through the high dunes, offering an adrenaline ride that will make you feel like you’re in an action movie.
- Great for Stunning Photography: An Arabian sunset sets the dramatic tone for this picture, which features red and light beige sand dunes Any travel collection would benefit greatly from photos made in this unusual setting.
- Joy for All Ages: Children three years old and above can participate in the excitement of this experience as well, so it’s not only for adults. By doing things like riding camels, feeding these amazing “ships of the desert” and even interacting with a falcon during its hunt, they can completely lose themselves in Bedouin culture.
Desert Safari Options
There are many safari experiences available from reliable ticket dealers and tour service providers. Let’s examine the main offerings and differences that travelers have.
- Morning/Afternoon/Evening Adventures: Early risers can catch a beautiful sunrise over the dunes; trips usually begin between 4-4:30 AM. This is followed by a delicious traditional Arabic picnic breakfast. But you can also find packages offering later departures. There are also afternoon jeep safaris available, which are ideal for taking beautiful pictures if the weather is appropriate. You can witness the captivating orange tones of the setting sun if you choose an evening trip. As night falls, the drive continues to a Bedouin village where you may discover a magical setting akin to that of the Arabian Nights.
Interesting! As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. Unique early-morning experiences are available on some morning safaris, such as a stunning hot air balloon ride over the desert. Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the Bedouin camp, which includes Arabic coffee, dates, and a variety of traditional desserts, to cap off the morning trip.
- Duration: An 11-hour sunset safari mixed with a city tour is available if you choose to go on an early morning expedition. If you want a more all-inclusive experience with photography, sandboarding, camel trekking, a jeep ride or other kind of transportation, and a barbecue, allow 6 to 7 hours. If you’re pressed for time, there are also choices for a shortened 2-hour trip, which includes a smaller range of activities but does not include transportation to the desert.
Note! If you can’t decide between an evening and a daytime safari, think about going on an overnight desert safari, which offers the best of both worlds. Your journey will begin in the afternoon and last between 14 and 18 hours. Enjoy delicious food and live entertainment as night falls. Then, spend a beautiful night in a Bedouin tent under the magnificent desert sky. Before returning to Dubai for a full day of urban adventure, wake up in the morning to the aroma of freshly prepared Arabic coffee.
- Trip plan: A range of activities, including photo ops with magnificent falcons perched on your arm, exhilarating off-road journeys, and a lavish dinner paired with live performances of fire shows, belly dancers, and tanouras, can be included in your vacation. In addition, you may take rides on camels, sandboards, and buggies. After that, unwind in Bedouin settings where you can smoke shisha and take pictures in traditional clothing. It is totally up to you what you choose to do!
- Transportation Options: Drive across the wide desert in comfort in a Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Land Rover, or Land Rover Defender. These strong SUVs can maneuver across the tall sand dunes and transport you far into the desert. For those looking for even more thrill, there are also choices for renting ATVs and buggies.
- Desert Locations: The Lahbab Desert or Al Faya, renowned for its eye-catching orange dunes, Al Qudra with its picturesque vistas of lakes, and the Al Awir Desert, with its gentle dunes and silky white sands, are some of the most popular safari spots.
- Private or Group Tours: Depending on your budget, you can select between private trips and small group tours that accept 4, 6, or 8 people. While VIP safaris are usually more expensive, we suggest smaller trips if you’re looking for a more affordable choice; most vendors include a maximum group size in their offers. Up to 30 passengers can be accommodated on tours for larger groups.
Note! There are guides available to improve your experience; many of them are multilingual and professionally trained. Although most tours are given in English, for a more customized experience, platforms like GetYourGuide provide choices in Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, French and other languages as well.
Desert Safari Packages
This exciting activity has a wide variety of alternatives, and no matter where it is, it always represents adventure, excitement, and life-changing experiences. There are several extra services and activities offered to make sure tourists have memorable experiences on their safari:
- Dune bashing.
- Camel racing.
- Sandboarding.
- Quad bike ride.
- Henna tattoo.
- Breakfast (for morning safaris)/lunch/dinner.
Note! Barbecue picnics and buffet-style dining are among the options available, and VIP tours enhance the experience with chef-prepared meals or dishes cooked from special Emirati signature recipes that let visitors totally engage themselves in the local way of life.
- Drinks (alcoholic/non-alcoholic).
Note! Alcoholic drinks can usually be purchased in a camp or tent venue for an additional fee. However, it varies depending on where you choose to stay; certain camps have strict no-alcohol policies and are unable to sell alcohol.
- Folk dances (Tanoura & Khaliji Dance) or belly dancing.
- Theatrical performances.
- Fire shows.
- Photoshoots in traditional clothes.
- Photoshoots with falcons.
- Falconry – traditional hunting for the Bedouins.
- Shisha lounge.
- Stargazing through a telescope.
Want to stay longer in the desert? Explore the best desert hotels.
Tips for Desert Safari in UAE
- Winter, from November to March, is the ideal season to take a desert safari in Dubai because the intense heat is lessened. But be aware that this is the busiest travel season, so expect larger crowds at major destinations due to the great weather.
- Avoid eating at least two hours before your trip to minimize suffering because the bumpy ride may cause nausea.
- Note the particular limitations for each tour; in general, pregnant women, those with heart or back issues, and children under three shouldn’t attempt to join the safari.
- Think carefully about what you’re going to wear; in the winter, you should bring a jacket because it might get chilly on evening and nighttime voyages. Lightweight trousers, capri pants, or long shorts with a T-shirt or blouse work well in the other months. Make sure you protect your feet from the sun and sand by wearing closed-toe shoes, carrying a head covering or kaffiyeh, and wearing sunglasses.
- Wearing dresses or skirts with long hems can be dangerous if you’re going to be participating in intense activities like camel rides, sandboarding, and quad bike rides. Remember that shorter and more revealing clothing is not advised in the UAE as well.
- Given how quickly valuables might get lost in the sand, it is preferable to avoid wearing or bringing them.
- Use a lot of sunscreen, preferably SPF 30 or higher, on your face, ears, and other exposed parts of your body. To further prevent sunburn on your arms and neck, bring a breathable long-sleeve shirt.
- Be sure you have enough water with you and that you have some cash on hand in case you need to buy more while traveling.
- A backpack is a preferable option for carrying necessities like a water bottle; stay away from large bags that could fall off your shoulder or impede your activity.
- Make sure to reserve your desert safari with a trusted tour operator or ticket seller, for example, Rayna Tours, GetYourTicket, Viator, Tiqets, Klook, or Platinumlist.
- It may be very dangerous without a professional driver and guide, so never try driving into the desert by yourself unless you are familiar with driving in sandy conditions and have the right kind of car.
- Please be aware that most tour operators do not provide morning desert safaris during the summer months due to the high temperatures.
Desert Safari in Dubai
Among the most popular locations for desert safaris are the Al Awir and Al Lahbab deserts.
The light beige dunes of Al Awir, which are only 35 kilometers from Dubai’s downtown, provide a perfect backdrop for families and first-time safari visitors. Many tour companies also let kids under three join for free. This desert is well known for its camel breeding, so visitors can partake in a variety of activities, especially those that involve the animals. Competitively priced tours to Al Awir begin at 35 AED, and transfers are available for approximately 59 AED.
Al Lahbab Desert, around 50 kilometers from Dubai, is a popular destination for tourists who come to see the Al Khayma Desert Camp. This desert lies among the vast Rub’ al Khali, the largest sand desert on the Arabian Peninsula – it’s larger than several countries including France or Germany!
The area is called the “Red Desert”, because of its remarkable orange-red sands, which are most beautiful at sunset. The price of a desert safari might differ significantly based on the tour operator, the activities included the mode of transportation, and the meal options. It can also vary based on the time frame of the expedition (day, evening, or overnight). Prices range from 95 to 200 AED per person on average, with VIP packages starting at 600 AED.
Explore the great diversity of Arabian flora and fauna, including a variety of gazelle species, oryx, and birdlife, at the Dubai Desert Conservation Resort for an authentic wildlife experience in the United Arab Emirates. Riding in 1950s-era Land Rover SUVs, which are ideal for these kinds of excursions, adds to the experience’s attractiveness. The starting price for this exclusive safari encounter is about 695 AED per person.
Desert Safari in Sharjah
For those seeking thrills, the Al Faya Desert is an adventurous location that offers sandboarding, camel riding, and fun off-road dune rides. For individuals who have a strong desire for adventure and want to feel the rush of extreme sports in a breathtaking desert setting, this is the perfect place.
Another great place for sandboarding and dune bashing is Al Badayer, which is well-known for its vivid orange sands. It’s a well-liked option for tourists as well as locals because of the dunes’ distinctive colors, which create a stunning backdrop for your desert adventures.
Expect safari costs to begin at approximately 65 AED for individuals wishing to explore the Sharjah desert.
Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi
With the highest sand dunes in the entire United Arab Emirates, Liwa Oasis is well-known for its severe weather. 365 kilometers from Dubai toward Abu Dhabi, this magnificent desert is home to enormous dunes that change color in the light. One of its most notable features is the 300-meter-tall Moreeb Dune, which is among the world’s tallest dunes.
The oasis often organizes off-road championships, attracting racers from all over the world who compete for the top spot in both bikes and cars. In addition to the exhilaration of competition, guests can explore ancient Bedouin villages sail over the dunes on skis or snowboards, and take rides on camels. There are fewer tours to this magical oasis than there are to Al Faya and Al Lahbab.
Visitors can go for private guided tours beginning at 600 AED and ask about viewing this hidden gem at nearby hotels.
Desert Safari in Ras al Khaimah
Some of the best options in the Emirates are these packages, which offer an amazing chance to experience Bedouin culture while seeing the breathtaking dunes of the Arabian desert.
If you’re wondering what goes into a desert safari, it usually comprises several conveniently grouped activities. Most trips start with an exciting four-wheel drive ride that gives you around an hour to spend driving over the stunning red dunes of the Arabian desert. Such excursions are priced starting at 175 AED.
Desert Safari Ajman
Ajman is one of the meeting places for most trips, from where you can go on an adventure to the Lahbab Desert and then visit Al Khayma Desert Camp. Following an exciting jeep or 4×4 ride, you may have a camel ride, a BBQ dinner with freshly baked bread, a buffet, or just kick back with a hookah and take in a spectacular fire show.
Jeep trips without transfers usually cost about 40 AED, while trips that include transportation from Ajman and a visit to the camp cost 150 AED.
In conclusion, it’s a good idea to browse reviews to find the desert safari that most closely matches your interests, travel style, and budgetary limitations. Most importantly, embrace the experience, trust in the beauty of nature, and allow yourself to embark on an unforgettable adventure.
About The Author
I am Anastasia, the author of this blog and a passionate and experienced traveler who resides in the UAE.
I have visited every Emirate, every popular sight, and every hidden gem.
I m here to help you make your trip to the UAE unforgettable.
