Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Tour: Dune Bashing & Markets

Desert dunes, then the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Date Market, Heritage Village and Corniche in one day

A full-day tour of Abu Dhabi combining a four-hour morning desert safari with dune bashing, camel riding and sand boarding, followed by a half-day city tour of the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, traditional Date Market, Heritage Village, Corniche waterfront and photo stops at Emirates Palace Hotel. An English-speaking driver-guide leads the tour. Pickup is included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Morning desert safari and city tour

• Dune bashing in desert
• Camel ride experience
• Sand boarding activity
• Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Explore traditional Date Market
• Tour Heritage Village
• See Corniche area
• Photo stop at Emirates Palace Hotel

The experience

The day starts before dawn in the desert. You'll ride across high dunes in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, then dismount for camel riding and sand boarding on the open slopes. After four hours in the Arabian Desert, the tour shifts to Abu Dhabi's landmarks. The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque comes first: the largest in the country and open to visitors outside prayer times. From there, the itinerary moves through the traditional Date Market, where vendors sell varieties grown across the region, then the Heritage Village, a reconstruction of pre-oil Emirati life with traditional architecture and crafts.

The Corniche waterfront closes the city portion, a long promenade along the Gulf where locals walk and families gather in the late afternoon. Photo stops at Emirates Palace Hotel punctuate the route. Throughout both halves, your driver-guide handles navigation and commentary in English. The vehicle stays air-conditioned, and coffee or tea is served. The combination means you see the desert and the city without switching guides or vehicles midway.

What’s included

• Driver-guide speaking English.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full eight hours.
• coffee and tea.
• hotel pickup.
• dune bashing, camel ride and sand boarding in the desert.
• entry to the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque.
• stops at the Date Market, Heritage Village, Corniche and Emirates Palace Hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Friday and SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to8h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Extreme Arabia

Is this one for you?Eight hours is a full day, so plan the rest of your Abu Dhabi schedule around it. The tour leaves no time for a separate morning or afternoon activity. If you want both desert and city in one outing without switching guides, this combination does it without a break between the two halves.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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 exactly happens during the morning desert safari?

The safari includes dune bashing in a four-wheel-drive vehicle across high dunes, camel riding, and sand boarding on the slopes. This portion runs four hours and forms the first half of the day.

Is the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque included, and can I go inside?

Yes, the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque is a stop on the city tour portion. Visitors can enter outside of prayer times. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is required, and women may need to cover their hair depending on the time of day.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours total. The morning safari begins early to catch the desert before heat peaks. Exact pickup times depend on your hotel location, which the operator confirms when you book.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the driver-guide, air-conditioned vehicle for both desert and city portions, and coffee or tea. Hotel pickup is included. Gratuities for the guide are not.

Is the Date Market a working market where I can buy dates?

The Date Market is a traditional marketplace where vendors sell fresh and dried dates grown across the UAE. You'll walk through and can purchase directly from stalls, though this is a photo stop rather than an extended shopping break.