ATV Riding Dubai: Self-Drive 1000cc Polaris Buggy

Red dunes, a buggy you control, and a day built around the drive

Self-drive 1000cc Polaris buggies across Dubai's red dunes with a guide leading the way. A 6- to 7-hour day that includes hotel pickup, dune bashing, a Bedouin desert camp with camel rides and a barbecue meal, belly dance and fire show, henna painting, and a sunset photo stop. Driving and safety instruction is provided. All buggies are fully automatic with roll cages and seat belts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with buggy ride

• Pickup by 4x4 WD in Dubai
• Drive 45 minutes to buggy ride area
• See camel farms
• Self-drive 1000 CC Polaris buggy ride
• Enjoy refreshments and use toilets
• Drop back to accommodation in Dubai

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Dubai hotel in a 4x4 vehicle, then a 45-minute drive to the buggy area. You'll get a safety briefing and driving instruction before taking the wheel of a 1000cc Polaris: a four-seated, fully automatic off-road buggy built for the dunes. The guide leads the group across the red sand in a 30- to 40-minute dune-bashing session where you're operating the vehicle, not watching from a passenger seat. All buggies have roll cages, seat belts, and four-wheel drive suspension designed for this terrain.

After the ride, the day moves to a Bedouin desert camp where the pace shifts. You'll have refreshments, then a barbecue meal with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The camp includes camel rides (repeatable if you want another), henna painting for adults and children, a shisha pipe in the designated area, and traditional performances: belly dance, Tanura dance, and a fire show. There's also a free sandboarding experience and a sunset photo stop where you can dress in Arabic clothing for pictures. Unlimited cold water, soft drinks, coffee, dates, and sweets are provided throughout.

The return journey is by 4x4 to your hotel or villa anywhere in Dubai. The whole experience runs 6 to 7 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Dubai.
• 45-minute drive to the buggy area in a 4x4 vehicle.
• safety instruction and driving briefing.
• 30 to 40 minutes of self-drive dune bashing in a 1000cc Polaris buggy.
• barbecue meal with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• camel rides at the Bedouin camp.
• belly dance, Tanura dance, and fire show.
• henna painting for adults and children.
• shisha pipe.
• sandboarding.
• sunset photo stop with Arabic dress provided.
• unlimited cold water, soft drinks, coffee, dates, and sweets.
• photos in Arabic dress.

Options for this experience

2 options

Red Dune Desert Safari DubaiGuide in English · 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30Without the quad bike: the Red Dune Desert Safari Dubai is a thrilling outdoor adventure through the Arabian desert. Pickup is included.

Red Dune Desert Safari DubaiGuide in English · 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30Includes a 30-minute quad bike ride when you select this option: dune bashing, photo stops in the desert, sandboarding and more. Pickup is included.

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (8 to 85 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): 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 12 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Tribal Trails Tours

Is this one for you?You're in the driver's seat for 30 to 40 minutes of dune bashing, so the activity demands attention and some physical engagement, but the buggies are fully automatic and instruction is included: no off-road experience required. The rest of the day is paced around the camp, so it suits anyone who wants the thrill of driving without a grueling schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

Can I actually drive the buggy myself, or is it a guided ride where someone else operates it?

You drive the 1000cc Polaris buggy yourself across the dunes. The guide leads the group and provides instruction before you start, then travels with you during the dune-bashing session to ensure safety.

What's included in the day after the buggy ride?

After dune bashing, you visit the Bedouin desert camp for a barbecue meal, camel rides, henna painting, belly dance and fire show performances, shisha, sandboarding, and a sunset photo stop with Arabic dress provided for pictures.

Do I need any driving experience or special license to ride the buggy?

Driving and safety instructions are provided before you start. The buggies are fully automatic, so no manual transmission experience is needed. A valid driver's license is required.

What time does pickup happen and how long is the whole experience?

Pickup is from your Dubai hotel at a time arranged with the operator. The full experience, including the 45-minute drive to the buggy area, the dune ride, the camp visit, and the return, runs 6 to 7 hours.

Is there a camel farm stop on the way to the buggy area?

Yes, you can see camel farms during the 45-minute drive from your hotel to the buggy riding area in the desert.