Dubai Desert: ATV or Buggy Self-Drive, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

Red dunes adventure quad biking camel ride and desert camp dinner

You’ll get your hands sandy driving an ATV or buggy across Dubai’s red dunes before unwinding at a desert camp with camel rides, sandboarding, henna painting, and a barbecue buffet dinner. Expect laughter (and maybe some sand in your shoes), local guides who keep things light, and moments where everything goes quiet except for the desert wind.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert ATV ride and camp activities

• Arrive at red dunes
• Take water break and restroom
• Attend quad bike or buggy safety briefing
• Wear helmet and start ride
• Stop for sandboarding and photos
• Continue ride to starting point
• Go to desert camp
• Try henna tattoo and shisha smoking
• Dress in Arabian attire
• Meet falcon expert and pose with bird
• Take short camel ride
• Enjoy barbecue dinner buffet
• Watch Tanoura, fire, and dance shows
• Relax and meditate
• Return to city

The Experience

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous when we pulled up to the Lahbab desert — you could already feel the sand in the air, gritty and dry, and there was this low hum from all the engines waiting around. Our guide, Ahmed, handed us helmets with a grin that said he’d seen plenty of first-timers. Honestly, I didn’t expect to laugh so much trying to figure out the quad bike controls (my left thumb still aches). The sun was starting to dip when we set off — not too hot anymore but still bright enough that everything looked kind of gold. We stopped halfway for water and sandboarding; my attempt ended with sand in places I won’t mention here.

After the ride, we headed over to this camp that looked straight out of a movie — carpets everywhere, lanterns swinging a bit in the breeze. There were trays of dates and tiny cups of gahwa coffee (I tried saying “shukran” properly; Ahmed just laughed). Some people got henna tattoos or dressed up in those flowing robes for photos. The falcon guy let us hold his bird — heavier than it looks! And then came the camel ride. It was short but weirdly calming, just this slow swaying while you could smell something sweet from the kitchen fires nearby.

The barbecue buffet was honestly more food than I needed (but I ate most of it anyway). There was live music and those swirling Tanoura dancers — their skirts spun so fast I felt dizzy just watching. At one point someone handed me shisha; I coughed immediately but pretended otherwise. The whole thing felt both chaotic and peaceful at once, if that makes sense. On the drive back to Dubai I kept thinking about how quiet it got out there once everyone stopped talking — just wind and distant drums fading out behind us.

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Dubai desert tour?

Yes, round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off are included in an air-conditioned vehicle.

How long is the ATV or buggy ride during the tour?

The quad bike or buggy ride lasts about 60 minutes on the red dunes.

Can I choose between ATV or buggy self-drive?

Yes, you can select either an ATV or buggy option when booking.

Are meals provided at the desert camp?

Yes, there’s a 5-star Arabian buffet with live BBQ station plus vegetarian options.

What other activities are included besides driving?

You can try sandboarding, camel rides (repeatable), henna painting for ladies, shisha pipe smoking, Arabic costume photos, and meet a falcon expert.

Are there age restrictions for driving ATVs or buggies?

Participants must be between 14-55 years old and have basic driving knowledge.

Is insurance included for self-driving activities?

No, participants are responsible for any injuries or damages during quad/buggy use; travel health insurance is recommended.

What should I wear for this tour?

Loose clothes are best during summer; long clothes or jackets are recommended in winter months.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup by air-conditioned vehicle from anywhere in Dubai. You’ll get all gear for your chosen 60-minute ATV or buggy ride on Lahbab’s red dunes (fuel and helmet included), plus time for sandboarding and photo stops. At the camp there’s unlimited water and soft drinks, Arabic sweets with coffee and dates on arrival, repeatable camel rides around camp grounds, henna painting (for ladies), shisha pipes in a special area, Arabic attire makeovers for photos if you like dressing up (no pressure), falcon expert meet-and-greet with photo ops, plus a full BBQ buffet dinner with live bread making stations—vegetarian options available—while you watch Tanoura spinning shows and dance performances before heading back to your hotel.