Desert Safari Dubai: Dune Bashing, Belly Dance & BBQ Dinner

Ride the dunes, watch the fire dancers, eat under the desert sky

A desert safari in Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4 across the Arabian red sand with live entertainment (belly dance, Tanura dance and fire show) plus henna tattoos, a short camel ride, sand boarding and a BBQ dinner with tea and soft drinks. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included in the standard option. You can also book without transport. The activity runs about 6.5 hours, with departure between 2:30 and 3:30 pm and return by 9:30 pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening desert safari experience

• Pickup from hotel by 4x4
• Dune bashing in desert
• Enjoy henna tattoos
• Watch live entertainment shows
• See belly dance and Tanura dance
• Watch fire show
• Have dinner with drinks
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your hotel in a luxury 4x4 vehicle (if you choose the option that includes it), then heads straight into the desert. Once you hit the red sand, the driver takes the dunes at speed: 20+ minutes of dune bashing that pitches and rolls the vehicle across the landscape. It's the core of the experience and the reason most people book: the sensation of the 4x4 climbing and dropping over the dunes, with nothing but sand around you.

Between the driving and dinner, you'll do sand boarding on the slopes, take a short camel ride, and get henna applied to your hands or arms if you want it. There's time to change into Arabic costumes for photos. The entertainment starts as the sun sets: two separate belly dance performances, a Tanura dance (the spinning skirt tradition), and a fire show. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and six other languages, so the commentary and the performances connect even if you don't speak Arabic.

Dinner is a BBQ spread with both vegetable and meat options, plus tea, water, coffee and soft drinks throughout the evening. The whole thing wraps by 9:30 pm, with drop-off back at your hotel if you booked the pickup option. If you'd rather arrange your own transport, the same safari experience is available without it. You just meet the group at the desert site instead.

What’s included

• Dune bashing in a luxury 4x4 across the red sand desert.
• sand boarding.
• a short camel ride.
• henna tattoos for ladies and kids.
• Arabic costumes for photos.
• two belly dance performances, a Tanura dance and a fire show.
• BBQ dinner with vegetable and meat options.
• tea, water, coffee and soft drinks.
• pickup and drop-off from your hotel (if you select that option).

Options for this experience

4 options

Without pickup, self-drive to desert parkingGuide in 13 languages · 15:30Guests drive themselves to the desert parking area, since this option has no pickup; tea, water and soft drinks are included.

Guide in 13 languages14:00

With pickup and quad biking across the dunesGuide in 13 languages · 14:00

Guide in 13 languages15:00

You pick the guide language when booking. 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, 15:00 and 15:30

Book up to2h before

AgesUp to 80 years

GroupUp to 203

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, FA|, Hindi, Japanese and Russian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Persian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled 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

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Adventure Time Tourism LLC

Is this one for you?Book with pickup if your hotel is in Dubai and you want to skip the logistics of finding the desert site and arranging your own ride. Book without pickup if you're already in the area or prefer to meet the group directly. The 4x4 vehicle handles the dunes, so dune bashing doesn't require any driving skill or experience on your part. It's a passenger experience, not a hands-on one.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hindi, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and FA|.

What exactly happens during the dune bashing part of the desert safari?

Dune bashing is a 20+ minute drive across Dubai's Arabian red sand desert in a 4x4 vehicle, where the driver navigates the dunes at speed so the vehicle climbs and drops over the slopes. It's the main activity and the reason the experience is called a safari.

Is the pickup from my hotel included, or do I need to arrange my own transport?

Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included if you book the "Desert Safari with Pickup" option. A separate option lets you book the safari without transport and meet the group at the desert site instead. Both options include the same dune bashing, entertainment and dinner.

What entertainment shows are part of the evening?

The desert safari includes two belly dance performances, a Tanura dance (a traditional spinning skirt performance), and a fire show. A live guide provides commentary in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Italian and French.

What's included in the dinner, and are there vegetarian options?

Dinner is a BBQ spread with both vegetable and meat dishes, plus tea, water, coffee and soft drinks served throughout the evening. Snacks are also provided during the activity.

Can I do sand boarding and ride a camel as part of the safari?

Yes, sand boarding on the desert slopes and a short camel ride are both included in the activity. Henna tattoos are also available for ladies and kids who want them.

How long does the whole experience take, and what time does it end?

The desert safari runs about 6.5 hours total. Pickup happens between 2:30 and 3:30 pm, and drop-off is by 9:30 pm, so you're back at your hotel by late evening.