13 Best Desert Safaris in Dubai You Can’t Go Wrong With

A desert safari is one of those must-do experiences in Dubai that truly lives up to the hype. Whether you’re into adrenaline-pumping dune bashing, dreamy sunset camel rides, or stargazing in the middle of the desert, there’s a safari for every kind of traveler.

But with so many options out there, it can be tricky to know which one to choose. That’s where this list comes in! I’ve rounded up the best desert safaris in Dubai that you really can’t go wrong with, covering everything from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly adventures. Let’s get started!

*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Quick Lockdown of the Best Dubai Desert Safaris

• Most unique: Heritage Safari in Vintage Land Rover
• Most budget-friendly: Morning Desert Safari with Sandboarding & Camel Ride
• Best for adrenaline junkies: Self-Drive 4WD Dune Buggy Adventure
• Best views: Hot Air Balloon, Desert Safari, Quad Biking, and More
• Best overnight tour: Red Dunes and Camel Safari with Overnight Camp

Most Popular Desert Safaris in Dubai

The following 5 listings are the most popular desert safari tours in Dubai based on the opinions of previous customers. These tours offer a balanced blend of adrenaline and culture and each has various additional extras if you want to personalize your tour. 

1. Premium Red Dunes, Camel Safari, & BBQ at Al Khayma

Price range: $$
Duration: 7 hours 
Meals: BBQ buffet 
Highlights: Dune bashing, camel safari, sandboarding, falconry show

An excellent all-rounder tour, this desert safari takes you across the Lahbab Desert where you will experience the thrill of dune bashing. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you will be taken to the Al Khayma Desert Camp for an evening of relaxation and further activities.

A short camel ride is included in this tour and there is the option to add a second ride and feed the camels yourself. You are also invited to partake in a spread of cultural activities including henna painting, meeting the resident falcons, and watching a traditional dance performance. 

Additional add-ons include the chance to go quad biking or expand the dune bashing to a longer duration. The meal included is a BBQ buffet but another upgrade gives you the choice to receive VIP table service. 

Setting the precedent for most of the tours on this list, the excursion includes your pick up and drop off from your chosen hotel by a licensed desert guide in an air-conditioned 4X4 Land Cruiser.

The tour lasts for 7 hours in total and the pickup times are 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 3 pm. I recommend choosing one of the afternoon options so you can witness the sunset in the desert.

Considering the inclusions, tour duration, price point, and customizations, I consider this to be the best Dubai desert safari in terms of the overall experience. 

2. Red Dunes Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & Sand Board

Price range: $
Duration: 4 hours 
Meals: None 
Highlights: Dune bashing, camel safari, sandboarding 

This Dubai desert safari is essentially a condensed version of the first tour on my list. The shorter time span (and subsequent price reduction) means that this is perfect for you if you have a shorter stay or you’re on a tighter budget.

The dune-bashing aspect of the safari will last around 40 minutes after which you can enjoy a short camel ride and a spot of sandboarding. If you’d rather not take part in this then you can simply relax and soak up the landscape. There are plenty of opportunities to take photos during the safari. 

Starting times vary from 8 am, 9 am, or 10 am in the morning, and 2:30 pm or 3 pm in the afternoon which means that you will catch the sunset before you depart. Again, you will be collected from your hotel or desired location.

As with the first tour, this safari offers a couple of customization options. Those include upgrading from a shared tour to a private tour and adding quad biking if you wish.

However, there is no inclusion for food with this excursion so ensure that you eat well prior to leaving and pack some snacks to keep your energy levels up.

3. Sunrise Desert Jeep Safari with Wildlife Experience

Price range: $$
Duration: 4 hours 
Meals: Breakfast picnic 
Highlights: Sunrise in the desert, falcon show

If you’ve ever fantasized about witnessing the sunrise above the Arabian Desert, then this is the best Dubai desert safari for you.

Once you’ve got the early pick-up out of the way (don’t worry, you can snooze in the car) your licensed guide will whisk you away to the remote sand dunes where you will watch the horizon glow with the first rays of sunshine. 

As the sun makes its final ascent you will be invited to take your seat for an Arabian breakfast picnic while you watch the falcon show. There will be plenty of time to ask questions about the desert lifestyle and customs, and you will gain heaps of trivia about the birds of prey during this tour.

This option is perfect for the culturally curious and those with an interest in wildlife – and early birds, it goes without saying. 

Please note that this tour does not include dune bashing or any other extreme activities. The tour starts at 4:30 am so you will need to get up quite early.

4. Morning Desert Safari with Sandboarding & Camel Ride

Price range: $
Duration: 4 hours 
Meals: Light snacks or brunch (optional)
Highlights: Dune bashing, camel safari, sandboarding

If sunrise is pushing you too far out of your comfort zone then how about a more leisurely safari with the option to add brunch? This desert safari combines the rush of dune bashing and sandboarding in the Dubai desert with the opportunity to experience the landscape in tranquility before the afternoon tours arrive. 

Once you’ve had your fill of adrenaline your guide will take you to Al Khayma where you will be greeted with traditional Arabic coffee (Gahwa), dates, and other sweets. Once at the camp, you will have the chance to meet and ride the local camels and learn about the Bedouin way of life.

If you want to indulge in the traditional Arabian brunch then this will take place upon completion of the safari quest, at Al Khayma Heritage House in the Al Fahidi Historical District. 

This safari offers four morning start times, 7:30 am, 8 am, 9 am, and 10 am. However, there is also the opportunity to book an afternoon slot at 2 pm or 2:30 pm which will conclude with golden hour. Again there is the option to add quad biking to your session.

This is the best Dubai desert safari for those on a budget who still want to experience a bit of everything. For those seeking luxury, you can select the private tour version of this excursion. 

5. Red Dunes and Camel Safari with Overnight Camp

Price range: $$
Duration: 17 hours 
Meals: Light snacks, BBQ buffet, breakfast 
Highlights: Dune bashing, sandboarding, camel safari, camping overnight in the desert, sunset, and sunrise 

Now that you’re all warmed up with the first couple of tours, how about upgrading your desert safari to a camping adventure? Surely the most immersive safari tour in Dubai, this option gives you the chance to live the real desert life by spending a night in a Bedouin tent!

The tour starts at 2:30 pm and is excellent value for what you receive. Following your hotel collection, you will journey to the desert and enjoy a sequence of dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel riding. If you so wish you can also add quad biking at this stage for an additional fee.

After all the excitement you will be offered Gaymat (Arabic sweets) and Chai (Arabic tea) before making yourself comfortable to observe the sunset in the camp. 

You will spend the night sleeping in a Nawar, a Bedouin-style bed housed within a tent, beneath a quilt of stars. But before you hit the hay you will share a BBQ feast while you watch Tanoura dancing and belly dancing displays.

There is also the option to smoke shisha and meet the resident falcons, and ladies may participate in henna painting.

You will start your second day by rising early to undertake a camel trek through the dunes to the nearby sunrise spot. Before returning to Dubai bright and early, you will tuck into a freshly cooked Arabian breakfast.

Best Dubai Desert Safaris for Adrenaline Junkies

Did the first 5 tours pique your interest, but would you say you’re a self-confessed daredevil seeking something even more adventurous? In that case, I’m sure one of the following desert safari tours in Dubai for adrenaline junkies will satisfy your thirst for thrills!

6. Evening Desert Quad Bike Adventure and BBQ Dinner

Price range: $$
Duration: 7 hours 
Meals: BBQ buffet
Highlights: Quad biking, Tanoura and belly dancing show

Hang on tight, very tight, this exhilarating desert safari invites you to rev up and tackle the dunes yourself on the back of your own quad bike.

Prior to starting the Dubai desert tour, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing about how to drive and control your vehicle. Your professional guide will then embark across the red dunes as you follow courageously in their stead. Each quad bike is designed to carry one rider, there is no option to ride a pillion. 

After exhausting yourself with this high-octane activity you will be presented with a shisha and Arabic-style BBQ dinner. For entertainment, you can look forward to a cultural display of Tanoura and belly dancing. There is also the opportunity to enjoy a brief camel ride in between relaxing in the camp. 

The tour comes as both a shared tour and the possibility to upgrade to a private tour. You can also choose to have dinner or book a tour without dinner. There are several starting times during the day.

7. Evening Dune Buggy and BBQ Desert Adventure 

Price range: $$$
Duration: 7 hours 
Meals: BBQ 
Highlights: Dune buggy experience, sandboarding, Tanura and belly dancing show

If quad biking isn’t for you but you’re looking for a more daring way to experience the Dubai desert then a dune buggy is the perfect compromise. This desert safari provides two-seater buggies so you can buddy up with your travel mate or go solo.

Safety is paramount and each buggy is equipped with a full roll cage and a full safety harness. Before your guide unleashes you on the dunes they will provide a full safety briefing to give you the confidence to tackle the giant dunes. 

The dune buggy expedition lasts one hour after which you will disembark at the desert camp and feast on a lavish desert BBQ while the sun sinks into the horizon. Make sure you grab the opportunity to surf down the dunes before the desert is plunged into twilight.

You will spend the rest of your excursion being entertained by an Arabian dance performance and sharing stories with the desert residents. Female guests may have a customary henna tattoo, the perfect souvenir of a wonderful Dubai desert tour. 

8. Self-drive Guided Desert Adventure by 4WD Dune Buggy

Price range: $$$
Duration: 1-2 hours 
Meals: None
Highlights: Self-driving your own customized dune buggy

Cranking up the volume a notch, this tour invites you to take charge of your own Polaris XP 1000 customized 4WD dune buggy. Pay attention while making your reservation as there are several variations available to suit your requirements.

For example, you may choose a one-seater, two-seater, or even a four-seater if you wish to turn this into a family bonding experience! You also have the option of a one or two-hour experience. 

From behind the wheel, you will explore the most breathtaking desert and mountain areas in the whole of the UAE, such as Big Red, Pink Rock, and Fossil Rock. The buggies are top-notch and you will be fully kitted out with a helmet, goggles, and gloves. 

Children from age 10 are permitted to ride in the buggy but the minimum age to drive the vehicle is 15. You must take your passports or ID in order to proceed with this hair-raising tour.

9. Self-drive 2000cc Ranger-Dune Buggy

Price range: $$$
Duration: 4-6 hours
Meals: BBQ dinner (for 6-hour tour)
Highlights: 50-minute drive in a customized desert buggy

If you want to go even faster then this spine-tingling self-drive adventure might be the best Dubai desert safari for adrenaline junkies. Your customized ‘ranger’ buggy enables you to get even closer to the dunes and feel every twist and turn as you navigate your way through the desert. 

These buggies accommodate one or two passengers so you can book this activity as either a solo driver or as a duo. The driver must be aged 16 or over and an adult over the age of 16 needs to accompany those between the age of 10 and 15. 

There are two time durations available. However, regardless of whether you book the 4 or 6-hour tour the total drive time is 50 minutes. Both tours also include the provision to try sandboarding and take a short camel ride.

The 6-hour option (starting at 3 pm) includes the cost and time for dining on a desert BBQ dinner and additional activities within the Al Khayma Camp. Only soft drinks are provided to those who opt for the 4-hour tour,

10. Hot Air Balloon, Desert Safari, Quad Biking, and More

Price range: $$$
Duration: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast 
Highlights: Sunrise hot air balloon flight, quad biking, camel safari 

Packing in adrenaline left, right, and center, this tour starts with a sunrise hot air balloon over the dunes and concludes with quad biking and camel riding across them! 

Subject to the weather conditions your flight will last 45-60 minutes and enable you to appreciate sunrise from a whole new perspective. There’s no time for jelly legs because the second you land you will plunge straight into a thrilling quad bike ride before the bulk of the morning tours arrive.

You also have the pleasure of riding a camel and sometimes there is the option to ride a horse too. Not forgetting meeting the falcons of the traditional Bedouin camp and diving into a gourmet Arabic breakfast.

This is the best desert safari in Dubai for adrenaline junkies who want to experience the majesty of the red dunes from all angles. It’s perfect for couples and families, with children over the age of 5 permitted to take part.

There is no dune bashing in this offering however the other inclusions more than make up for it and the quad biking is automatically included at booking. 

As hot air balloon flights must depart early to beat the wind, the start time of this activity is 4 am.

Most Unique Desert Safari Tours in Dubai

For the final section of my guide to the best Dubai desert safaris, I’ve chosen 3 tours that offer something utterly unique.

The following tours are preoccupied with showcasing the heritage, culture, nature, and wildlife of the desert and sustainable tourism. None of these excursions include dune bashing but they all offer something remarkable in its place. 

11. Heritage Desert Safari in a Vintage Land Rover

Price range: $$$
Duration: 7 hours 
Meals: Dinner
Highlights: Vintage Land Rover transportation, tour of Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, bread-making experience

This safari tour in Dubai is radically different from the others. First of all, you’ll notice that your vehicle is a vintage, open-air 1950s Land Rover rather than a modern 4X4.

As I explained, there is no dune bashing in this tour but rather the safari focuses on the heritage of desert culture and the exotic wildlife that resides in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

This is a 225 square kilometer (87.1 square miles) natural reserve which limits the number of tour operators who are permitted to organize trips here. This means that with minimal impact on the environment, you can see what the region would have looked like centuries ago. In fact, another wonderful factor about this safari tour is that a contribution is made directly to the reserve when you book your place. 

After taking an informative tour through the conversation reserve you will relax at an evocatively lit Bedouin camp and immerse yourself in activities such as camel rides, henna artistry, shisha, and befriending the falcons. 

Another unique feature that this tour offers is that you will learn how to prepare a local bread recipe that has been carefully handed down through the ages. The tour starts at 2:30 pm and your booking includes your dinner beneath the stars.

12. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve 5-Hour Tour with Breakfast

Price range: $$
Duration: 5 hours 
Meals: Breakfast 
Highlights: Chance to spot native wildlife, expert knowledge from conservationists

For this unique tour, you will head deep into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. As you observe the likes of native birdlife, Arabian Oryx, desert monitors, and free-roaming gazelles, your safari guide will nourish your exploration with a wealth of knowledge about the flora, fauna, and history of the first national park in the United Arab Emirates.

It’s not guaranteed but if you’re really lucky you might even catch a glimpse of the rarely sighted Gordon’s wildcat.

Children over the age of 10 are welcome on this tour and it’s the perfect activity for solo wanderers, families, or couples alike. The start time for this tour is 7 am and it concludes with a decadent breakfast at the Al Maha Desert Resort before you return to the city.

13. Private Falconry Safari

Price range: $$$
Duration: 5 hours 
Meals: Luxury breakfast (optional)
Highlights: 1.5 hours of falcon handling, nature drive

Designed for those with a keen interest in and appreciation for birds of prey, this safari provides you with the bucket list experience of training a falcon to fly from your own wrist.

During the course of the private safari, you will also interact with an owl and an eagle. The falconry experience of the tour lasts 1.5 hours and is led by a professional falconer who is passionate and committed to taking care of the beautiful creatures. 

For the remainder of the tour, you will be able to enjoy a nature drive by 4X4 during which you will be poised to spot the likes of houbara bustards, Arabian oryx, and sand gazelles. As you can imagine, this is the best desert safari in Dubai for those who possess an eagle eye of their own! However, your qualified guide will do his/her best to help you detect the wildlife. 

As the tour starts at 5 am you may want to upgrade the experience to include a luxury breakfast. At least two participants are required to book this unique tour.