Arabian Desert Safari Abu Dhabi: 6-Hour Evening Tour with BBQ

Dune bashing at sunset, then dinner and live shows under the stars.

An evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi combines a 6-hour experience of dune bashing in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, camel riding, and entertainment at a Bedouin-style camp, ending with a barbecue buffet dinner and live belly dancing, fire and tanoura shows. Hotel pickup is included, and a professional English-speaking guide drives throughout. The itinerary builds from the drive into the desert through a photo stop at the highest point, then settles into camp activities (henna, shisha, Arabic clothing) before the evening shows and dinner.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening desert safari with activities

• Drive into desert outside Abu Dhabi
• Enjoy dune bashing in 4x4 Land Cruiser
• Stop at highest desert point for photos
• Try sand boarding or camel riding
• Experience traditional Arab music
• Watch belly dance, tanoura, and fire shows
• Have full buffet dinner with refreshments

The experience

What's the best way to spend an evening in Abu Dhabi if you want the desert without arranging a vehicle or a guide yourself? This tour handles both: a professional driver picks you up, takes you into the desert outside the city, and spends the evening moving you through a sequence of activities that builds from the adrenaline of dune bashing to the stillness of sitting down to eat under the sky. The 4x4 Land Cruiser does the work (you hold on through the dunes while the driver reads the sand), and stops at the highest point in the desert so you can photograph the landscape before the light goes.

Once the vehicle parks at the Bedouin camp, the day shifts. You can ride a camel, get henna painted on your hands, wear traditional Arabic clothing for photos, or smoke shisha while live musicians play. The camp is set up for this: the activities run in parallel, so you move between them at your own pace. A full buffet dinner with vegetarian and meat options arrives alongside tea, coffee and soft drinks, and the evening closes with three live shows: belly dancing, a fire performance, and the tanoura, a spinning skirt dance that is the visual anchor of the night.

The whole sequence takes 6 hours from pickup to return. Sand boarding is included if you want to try it during the dune section, and the camel ride is part of the camp experience, not a separate booking. Transportation is wheelchair accessible, and the camp areas are flat and navigable. Infants can sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle or ride in a stroller at camp.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• dune bashing in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a professional driver.
• a photo stop at the highest point in the desert.
• sand boarding.
• camel ride.
• henna tattoo.
• traditional Arabic clothing for photos.
• shisha smoking.
• live entertainment including belly dancing, fire show and tanoura show.
• full buffet dinner with vegetarian and meat options.
• tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00 and 14:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zohaib anjum

Is this one for you?At 6 hours, the tour fits into an evening (you leave in late afternoon and return after dark), so it does not consume a full day and leaves your morning and early afternoon free for other plans in Abu Dhabi. The sequence moves from active (dune bashing and sand boarding) to stationary (camp activities and dinner), so the physical intensity drops as the evening goes on.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is dune bashing like in a Land Cruiser?

Dune bashing is a ride across the desert sand dunes in a 4x4 Land Cruiser driven by a professional who knows how to angle and speed through the slopes. The vehicle climbs and descends the dunes in sequence. It is thrilling and physical, and the driver stops at the highest point so you can step out, take photos and videos, and see the desert stretch out before sunset.

Can I do sand boarding, or is it just the dune ride?

Sand boarding is included in the tour and available during the dune bashing section if you want to try it. It is optional. You can skip it and stay in the vehicle for the full dune ride instead.

What happens at the Bedouin camp after the dune bashing?

At the camp, you can ride a camel, get henna tattooed on your hands, wear traditional Arabic clothing and pose for photos, or smoke shisha while listening to live Arabic music. A full buffet dinner with vegetarian and meat options is served, along with tea, coffee and refreshments. The evening ends with three live shows: belly dancing, a fire performance, and the tanoura spinning skirt dance.

Is the camel ride included, or do I pay extra?

The camel ride is included in the tour price. It is one of the activities available at the camp, along with henna, shisha, and the costume photos.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes, hotel pickup is included. A driver picks you up from your hotel, takes you into the desert, and returns you at the end of the 6-hour tour.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English throughout the tour, from pickup through the evening shows and dinner at camp.