Dubai City Tour & Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner Combo

Summary

Dubai Full Day Tour: City Sights & Desert Adventure

If you want to see Dubai’s highlights in one day—historic neighborhoods, famous beaches, then adventure out into the desert for dune bashing and a BBQ dinner—this combo tour packs it all in without feeling rushed.

What’s the experience like?

Early morning in Dubai feels different—there’s a soft buzz as the city wakes up. Our guide, Ahmed, met us right on time outside our hotel, and we set off in a comfy minibus. First stop: Al Fahidi Fort, home to the Dubai Museum. The thick walls kept things cool inside, even though it was already warming up outside. I remember the faint scent of old wood and spices in the air, and the guide’s stories about pearl divers and traders made it easy to picture what life was like here before all the skyscrapers.

Later, we wandered along Dubai Creek. You’ll see abras (those little wooden boats) zipping back and forth, locals chatting in Arabic, and the odd seagull swooping in for a snack. We stopped for a quick chai at a tiny café—can’t recall the name, but the cardamom flavor stuck with me. At Bur Dubai Village, it felt like stepping into another era. There were women weaving baskets and men showing off old fishing gear. The kids in our group loved it, especially when they got to try on traditional clothes for a photo.

By midday, we reached Jumeirah Beach. The sand was warm but not scorching yet, and there were seashells everywhere—some as big as my palm. The view of Burj Al-Arab is something else; you can’t help but snap a few photos. We didn’t go inside (that’s for hotel guests), but just seeing it up close was enough. After a quick stroll, it was time to head back for the real adventure.

The afternoon desert safari started with a 4x4 ride—our driver, Faisal, had a playlist of Arabic pop that set the mood. The drive out took about 45 minutes, and you could see the city slowly give way to endless sand. We stopped for photos with a falcon (the handler let us hold it—feathers softer than I expected). Then came dune bashing. Honestly, I laughed so hard I almost lost my sunglasses. Faisal asked if we wanted “more bumps”—we all said yes.

After that wild ride, we tried sandboarding (I wiped out twice) and took a short camel ride as the sun dipped low. At the Bedouin camp, the smell of grilled meat hit us before we even sat down. There were henna artists, shisha pipes in one corner, and a small stage where dancers performed later on. Dinner was buffet-style—lots of options for everyone, even vegetarians. By the end of the night, I was tired but happy, with sand in my shoes and a phone full of photos.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dubai City Tour and Desert Safari

• Visit Dubai Museum
• Relax at Jumeirah Beach
• Pass by Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
• Pass by Dubai Creek
• Explore Bur Dubai Village
• Travel to desert safari
• Dune bash off-road drive
• Desert activities: camel, sand board

Top questions

Is this Dubai city tour & desert safari suitable for kids?

Yes! Kids love the museum, beach time, camel rides, and shows at camp. Just note dune bashing can be bumpy—let your driver know if you want it gentler.

What should I wear for this combo tour?

Light clothes work best for daytime; bring sunglasses and sunscreen. For desert safari, closed shoes are good for sandboarding. Evenings can get breezy.

Are vegetarian options available at the BBQ dinner?

Absolutely—there are plenty of vegetarian dishes at the buffet alongside grilled meats and desserts.

Will I get picked up from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for both city tour and desert safari portions.

What’s included

Your day covers all transfers by air-conditioned vehicles (city tour by minibus, desert by 4x4), entry to Dubai Museum, stops at Dubai Creek, Jumeirah Beach, Bur Dubai Village, plus an afternoon desert adventure with dune bashing, sandboarding, camel rides (repeatable), falcon photo stop, sunset photography (if weather allows), plus unlimited soft drinks, tea/coffee at camp, henna painting, shisha (in designated area), live shows (except during Ramadan/public holidays), separate restrooms for men/women, and a buffet BBQ dinner with veg/non-veg choices.