ATV Riding in Dubai: 30-Minute Buggy Drive with Desert Safari

Drive your own buggy across the dunes, then watch fire and belly dance under the stars.

ATV riding in Dubai combines a 30-minute self-operated buggy drive across desert dunes with a shared 4x4 dune bash, camel ride, sandboarding, and an evening at a desert camp featuring buffet dinner with unlimited soft drinks and live entertainment. The full experience runs about 6 hours and includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle for up to 6 passengers. A valid passport or ID is required to operate the buggy.

The experience

What makes this different from a standard desert tour is that you get behind the wheel yourself. After hotel pickup, you'll head to the dune bashing area where you spend 30 minutes driving your own buggy across the sand: the adrenaline part that most desert experiences only let you watch. The operator handles the 4x4 dune bash drive, so you're not managing both the vehicle and the navigation. You're just riding the terrain. Between the buggy and the dune bash, you'll also ride a camel and try sandboarding, which breaks up the day without adding extra logistics.

Once the riding is done, the group moves to a desert camp where the pace shifts completely. You'll have time to cool down in the lounge area with sheesha, get henna painted (small size), and change into traditional dress for photos. The buffet dinner includes unlimited coffee, tea, water and soft drinks: no hunting for the bar or deciding what to order. The evening wraps with live shows: a belly dance performance and a fire show, both running while you eat.

The whole outing takes about 6 hours from pickup to drop-off at your hotel. You'll need to bring your original ID (passport works) to operate the buggy, and the vehicle seats up to 6 passengers, so you're sharing transport but driving solo on the dunes. The operator offers guides in English, Italian, French, Arabic and several other languages, so language won't be a barrier to instruction or questions during the ride.

What’s included

• 30-minute self-operated buggy ride across desert dunes.
• 4x4 dune bashing drive in a shared vehicle.
• camel ride.
• sandboarding.
• henna painting (small size).
• photo session in traditional dress.
• sheesha in the lounge area.
• buffet dinner with unlimited coffee, tea, water and soft drinks.
• live entertainment shows (belly dance and fire show).
• hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle for up to 6 passengers.
• live guide in English, Italian, French, Arabic and additional languages.

Before you book

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian, Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Filipino and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Royal Desert Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in a Dubai hotel without a rental car. The pickup means you don't arrange transport to the desert, and the fixed schedule lets you plan the rest of your day around a single departure time. The buggy ride itself is the draw: most desert experiences put you in a passenger seat. Here you spend 30 minutes driving your own vehicle across the dunes.

Traveler reviews

4.96★★★★★★★★★★

114 verified traveler reviews

5 ★110

4 ★4

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Filipino, Burmese, Bangla, Danish and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is the 30-minute buggy ride the only time I'm actually driving, or do I get behind the wheel for the dune bashing too?

The 30-minute buggy ride is your time in control. The dune bashing happens in a shared 4x4 vehicle driven by the operator, so you're a passenger for that part of the desert experience.

What's included in the dinner at the desert camp?

Buffet dinner with unlimited coffee, tea, water and soft drinks is included. The meal happens at the camp after the riding activities wrap up.

How does the group get to the desert, and what if I don't have a rental car?

Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle is included, so you don't need your own transport. The operator collects you from your hotel and brings you back at the end of the day.

Are there any health or physical conditions that would stop me from booking this?

The activity is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. It is suitable for all other fitness levels.