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Abu Dhabi Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner & Live Shows

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (145 reviews) 92% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/29

Duration6h

GroupUp to 200

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Evening desert safari from Abu Dhabi with dune drive, camel ride, barbecue and shows

You’ll feel your heart race during dune bashing outside Abu Dhabi, then slow down as you sip tea on soft carpets watching sunset over endless sand. Ride a camel, try henna or sandboarding if you’re brave, and end your evening with barbecue dinner and live dance shows under desert stars.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arrive and enjoy coffee, tea, sweets
Experience 4×4 dune bashing
Stop for refreshment and sunset
Ride camel briefly
Try sand boarding
Wear traditional Arabic dress
Women get henna painting
Relax in sitting area with cushions
Enjoy buffet dinner with barbecue
Drink free-flowing soft drinks and water
Watch belly dance show
Watch tanura dance show
Watch fire shows

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the crunch of sand under my shoes as we stepped out of the 4x4 — the kind of fine, warm sand that gets everywhere but somehow feels good. Our driver, Khalid, grinned at us before letting some air out of the tires. “Ready?” he asked. I nodded, not really sure what to expect from this Abu Dhabi desert safari. The dunes looked soft in the late afternoon light, almost pinkish gold. Then suddenly we were flying over them — honestly, I squealed once or twice (okay, maybe three times). The car tilted so far I thought we’d tip over but Khalid just laughed and kept going. I could smell hot brakes and something sweet from someone’s spilled tea in the backseat.

After dune bashing (my heart was still thumping), we stopped for tea and these little date sweets that stuck to my fingers. There was this quiet moment where everyone just watched the sun drop behind the dunes — it got cooler fast and you could hear nothing but a bit of wind and someone’s phone camera clicking. I tried riding a camel named Rasha; she seemed unimpressed with my balance skills. Li laughed when I tried to say “shukran” to our guide — probably butchered it but he smiled anyway.

Later on there was henna painting (I let them do one tiny flower on my wrist), sandboarding (harder than it looks!), and then we all sprawled on carpets under string lights for dinner. The barbecue smoke mixed with spices in the air — lamb skewers, grilled veggies, flatbread still warm. There were dancers too: swirling skirts and a fire show that made everyone gasp at least once. It felt like time stretched out here; I didn’t check my phone for hours. Even now I can picture those lanterns flickering against the dark sky.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup in Abu Dhabi by 4x4 vehicle for a guided drive into the desert with dune bashing, short camel riding experience, sandboarding session if you want to try it out, arrival refreshments like coffee or tea with sweets, henna painting (for women), soft drinks throughout the night plus a full barbecue buffet dinner with vegetarian options before returning to your hotel after live belly dance and fire shows beneath the stars.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by DESERT TRACK TOURISM