Abu Dhabi city tour & desert safari: Mosques, dunes, dinner

Islamic architecture and desert camps in a single day

A 12–13 hour tour from Dubai combining Abu Dhabi's landmarks with a full desert safari. You visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, pass the Etihad Towers and Emirates Palace, then move to the desert for a camel ride, dune bashing, sandboarding, and a campfire dinner with belly dancing and Tanoura folk dance performances. Pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel are included. The guide speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu. Children from age 3 are welcome, though infants under 3 cannot ride in the vehicle during dune bashing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque1h 30m
2. Etihad Towers15m
3. Emirates Palace15m
4. Abu Dhabi Corniche15m
5. Louvre Abu Dhabi15m
6. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi15m
7. Abu Dhabi Heritage Village20m
8. Qasr Al Watan20m

Abu Dhabi city tour and desert safari

• Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Photo stop at Etihad Towers
• Photo stop at Emirates Palace
• Photo stop at Abu Dhabi Corniche
• Photo stop at Louvre Abu Dhabi
• Photo stop at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
• Visit Abu Dhabi Heritage Village
• Visit Qasr Al Watan Palace
• Pickup from Dubai in airconditioned 4x4
• Ride a camel in the desert
• Dune drive through red dunes
• Sand-surfing on dunes
• Relax at desert campsite at sunset
• Get a henna tattoo
• Enjoy barbecue dinner
• Watch belly dancing, Tanoura dance, and fire show
• Drop off to your location

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dubai hotel and the drive to Abu Dhabi's city center. You'll spend the morning and early afternoon visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (one of the world's largest, designed to blend Islamic architecture from different Muslim civilizations), then stop for photos at the Etihad Towers (which appeared in the 2015 film Furious 7), Emirates Palace, and the 8-kilometer Abu Dhabi Corniche. The itinerary also includes photo stops at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the Heritage Village, and Qasr Al Watan palace, so you're seeing the full range of the city's cultural and modern attractions without entering each one.

In the late afternoon, the focus shifts to the desert. An air-conditioned 4x4 takes you into the red dunes for dune bashing (about 30 minutes of driving), a camel ride, and sandboarding down the slopes. As the sun sets, you settle at a desert campsite where a guide applies henna tattoos and the entertainment begins: a belly dancing performance, Tanoura folk dance, and a fire show, all happening around the campfire. A barbecue dinner with soft drinks, tea and coffee is served throughout the evening.

The tour runs 12 to 13 hours total, including the time needed for hotel pickup and drop-off. Pickup happens within 45 minutes of your booked start time. Note that the Sheikh Zayed Mosque has strict dress codes: women must wear long loose clothing covering arms and legs, with a headscarf. Men must cover shoulders and knees. The mosque is closed during Islamic festivals, and on Fridays only photo points are available due to prayer times. Alcoholic drinks and quad bikes are available to purchase or request at the desert camp if you want them.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel.
• air-conditioned 4x4 transportation.
• entry to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
• photo stops at Etihad Towers, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Heritage Village, and Qasr Al Watan.
• camel ride.
• dune bashing (30 minutes).
• sandboarding.
• henna tattoo.
• barbecue dinner.
• soft drinks, tea and coffee.
• belly dance performance.
• Tanoura folk dance.
• fire show.
• driver/guide in English, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu.

Options for this experience

2 options

Exclusive VehicleUp to 6 people · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00Private vehicle: holds up to 6 people per car. Pickup is included

Desert safari with a city tour of Abu Dhabi, featuring a BBQ, camel riding and sandboardingUp to 14 people · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (3 to 13 years): free · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 200

Live guideEnglish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Desert Thrill

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both city landmarks and a full desert evening in one day. Choose a city-only tour if you'd rather focus on Abu Dhabi's mosques and palaces without the evening desert activities.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 13 years): free. Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What should I wear to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?

Women must wear long loose clothing that fully covers arms and legs, plus a headscarf or abaya. Men must cover their shoulders and knees. The tour operator cannot provide clothing, so bring appropriate attire or plan to rent an abaya on-site. Tattoos must be covered.

What happens during the desert portion of the day?

You ride a camel, experience dune bashing in a 4x4 for about 30 minutes, try sandboarding down the dunes, and relax at a desert campsite as the sun sets. Entertainment includes a belly dance performance, Tanoura folk dance, and a fire show, with a barbecue dinner and drinks served around the campfire.

Is this tour affected by weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it's canceled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund. Entertainment activities (belly dance and Tanoura dance) are also unavailable on certain dry days as per UAE law.

What's included in the tour price?

Pickup and drop-off from your Dubai hotel, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, visits to the Etihad Towers, Emirates Palace, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Heritage Village, and Qasr Al Watan (photo stops), the camel ride, dune bashing, sandboarding, henna tattoo, barbecue dinner, soft drinks, tea and coffee, belly dance, Tanoura dance, and fire show are all included. A guide in English, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu accompanies you throughout.

Can I book this tour if I have a return flight the same day?

It's not recommended, especially on Fridays. The 12–13 hour duration includes pickup and drop-off, and traffic can affect the final drop-off time, which cannot be guaranteed. If your flight is the same evening, you risk missing it.