Abu Dhabi: Overnight Desert Safari BBQ, Camel Ride & Camp

Desert nights in Abu Dhabi with BBQ, camel rides, and stargazing

You’ll ride over golden dunes from Abu Dhabi with a local guide before sharing mint tea at camp and trying camel rides or henna painting. Enjoy a smoky BBQ dinner under desert stars and sleep in Bedouin tents before waking up to sunrise coffee and breakfast. The desert’s silence stays with you long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Overnight desert safari and camp experience

• Hotel pick-up in Abu Dhabi
• Enjoy dune bashing ride
• Visit traditional camel farm
• Stop for sunset photos
• Arrive at desert camp
• Refreshments and short camel rides
• Try sandboarding and henna tattoo
• Wear traditional Arabic costume
• Feast on BBQ buffet dinner
• Watch belly dance and Tanoura show
• Enjoy fire dance performance
• Relax with shisha and stargazing
• Sleep in Bedouin-style tent
• Wake up to sunrise
• Have light Arabian breakfast
• Return to Abu Dhabi hotel

The Experience

I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous about sleeping out in the Abu Dhabi desert — I mean, what if I needed the bathroom at 3am? But as soon as we left the city behind and our guide cranked up some Arabic pop on the Land Cruiser radio, it felt like a proper adventure. The first jolt over the dunes made my stomach drop (in a good way), and sand got everywhere — shoes, hair, even inside my phone case somehow. Our driver Khalid just grinned and said, “This is how you know it’s real.”

We stopped at a camel farm where one of the handlers let me feed a grumpy-looking camel who turned out to be called Majnoon (“crazy” in Arabic — fitting). The sun started dipping low and everything went gold. There was this weird silence after the wind died down — just us, some camels snorting softly, and that endless sky. At camp later, someone handed me sweet mint tea before I’d even sat down properly. Henna ink cooled on my hand while kids tried sandboarding nearby. I tried on a thobe for laughs; Li took photos and nearly choked on her laughter when I tripped over it.

Dinner was smoky lamb kebabs from the grill and warm bread that tasted faintly of woodsmoke. There was belly dancing — honestly more fun than I expected — plus this wild fire show that had everyone holding their breath for a second. Later we sprawled on cushions with shisha pipes while Khalid pointed out constellations in Arabic (I forgot every name except “Al Thurayya”). Sleeping in those Bedouin-style tents felt softer than I thought it would; I woke up once to total silence except for someone snoring two tents over.

The sunrise was pale pink and cold enough to make me wish for another blanket. Breakfast was simple: strong coffee that almost knocked me sideways awake, flatbread still warm from somewhere out back, cut fruit. On the drive back to Abu Dhabi, sand still clinging to everything we owned, I kept thinking about that quiet moment after sunset — you don’t get that kind of hush anywhere else.

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this overnight desert safari?

Yes, pickup from your Abu Dhabi hotel is included in the tour.

What activities are offered during the Abu Dhabi overnight desert safari?

You can try dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, henna painting, shisha smoking, watch belly dance shows, fire dance performances, Tanoura dance, and dress in traditional attire.

Do we sleep outside or in tents during this tour?

You’ll sleep in comfortable Bedouin-style tents equipped with beds, pillows, and blankets.

Are meals provided during the overnight desert safari?

Yes—BBQ buffet dinner is served at night and a light breakfast is offered in the morning before returning to Abu Dhabi.

Is this overnight safari suitable for families?

Yes—the camp experience is family-friendly with activities for all ages.

Are there any health restrictions for joining this safari?

This tour isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your night includes hotel pickup from Abu Dhabi by 4x4 Land Cruiser, dune bashing across golden sands with your local driver-guide, stops at a camel farm for photos (and maybe feeding), short camel rides at camp plus sandboarding if you want to try it. You can get henna painted or dress up in traditional clothes before enjoying a BBQ buffet dinner under the stars with desserts like Um Ali. Evening shows feature belly dancing and fire performances; there’s shisha too if you’re curious. After sleeping in Bedouin-style tents with proper bedding provided (beds—not mats), wake up to strong coffee and light breakfast before heading back into town.