Dubai: ATV Quad Bike, Camel Ride & Sandboarding at Sunset

Quad Bikes and Dunes: A Half-Day Desert Run from Dubai

You get picked up from your Dubai hotel, driven to the desert, and spend the afternoon on a quad bike riding dunes and sandboarding down them. The camel ride and sunset photos happen near the end, and you're back in the city before dark. Helmets, goggles, drinks and the guide are all included, so you show up ready to ride.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert adventure with ATV and camel ride

• Pickup from Dubai location
• Transfer to desert in 4x4 vehicle
• Listen to safety instructions
• Self-drive quad bike on dunes
• Ride to highest dunes for sandboarding
• Enjoy sunset and take photos
• Ride camel in desert
• Drink Arabic coffee
• Return to Dubai location

The experience

Your 4x4 is already rolling when you climb in: the air conditioning hits you first, then the hum of the engine as the driver steers out of Dubai toward the open desert. You're heading to the dunes with a helmet and goggles waiting in your lap, a quad bike reserved with your name, and maybe three hours before the light starts to change. The guide will walk you through the safety basics once you arrive, but right now it's just the drive out, the city shrinking behind you, and the first sight of sand rising up ahead.

Once you're on the quad bike, the dunes feel different than they look from a distance: softer underfoot than you'd expect, and the engine noise gets swallowed by the space around you. You ride across the flats and climb toward the highest points, where the view opens up and you can see how far the desert actually stretches. At one of those peaks, you stop and trade the bike for a sandboard. It's not skiing, but the physics are close enough, and the descent is faster than you think it will be. Your guide stays with you through it, and there's water and soft drinks waiting at the rest points: unlimited, which matters more than it sounds when you're moving in the heat.

The sunset is the reason the timing works. You're positioned on the dunes when the light starts to go gold, and it's the kind of moment where everyone stops talking and just points their phone at the sky. After that, you'll ride a camel back toward the vehicle: a slower pace, a different angle on the same landscape you've been moving through all afternoon. The camel ride isn't long, but it's the part that sits with you after. You'll also get a photo with the national bird of the UAE before heading back to the air-conditioned vehicle for the return to Dubai.

Pickup and drop-off are from your selected location in the city, so you don't arrange transport separately. The whole thing runs about half a day, which means you can do this and still have time for dinner or an evening plan.

What’s included

Your half-day includes hotel or location pickup in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, quad bike rental with helmet and goggles, self-guided riding across the dunes, sandboarding on the highest points, unlimited soft drinks and water throughout, a camel ride at sunset, a photo with the national bird of the UAE, and return drop-off to your starting point in Dubai.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00

AgesAdult (4 to 55 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 60

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Holiday Desert Tourism

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a structured desert afternoon without arranging your own transport, bike rental or timing: the fixed schedule and included pickup mean you just show up and ride.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long is the whole experience?

It's a half-day activity, typically around three to four hours from pickup to drop-off.

Do I need ATV experience to ride the quad bike?

No. The guide gives safety instructions before you start, and the activity is self-paced on the dunes.

What's included in the price?

Quad bike rental, helmet and goggles, sandboarding, camel ride, sunset photos, soft drinks and water, air-conditioned transport to and from Dubai, and a photo with the national bird.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup is from your selected location in Dubai. The timing is arranged to catch the sunset on the dunes.

Is it hot during the ride?

Yes, the desert is hot in the afternoon. You'll have water and soft drinks at rest stops, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the drive to and from the dunes.

Can I bring my phone or camera?

Yes. You'll have time to take photos during the sunset, and a guide photo with the national bird is included.

What should I wear?

Wear closed-toe shoes, light long sleeves or a shirt you don't mind getting dusty, and sunscreen. The helmet and goggles are provided.

Is this suitable for children?

The activity is open to all fitness levels. Check with the operator about age or size requirements for the quad bike.