Dubai Desert Safari: Red Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner & Live Shows

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/17

Duration6h 30m

GroupUp to 149

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Red dunes, sandboarding thrills and desert night feasts near Dubai

You’ll feel the rush of dune bashing across Dubai’s red sands before winding down at an Arabian camp with BBQ dinner under desert stars. Try sandboarding or a camel ride if you’re up for it, watch nine live shows from Tanoura dance to fire spinning, and share laughter over sweet tea or henna painting — all with easy hotel pickup included.

6h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening desert safari and cultural show

Pickup from hotel in 4x4 vehicle
Visit Quad & Buggy camp for rides
Dune bashing and sandboarding
Camel ride and henna painting
Enjoy 9 live cultural shows
Dine at international buffet with BBQ
Drop off at hotel

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the crunch of red sand under my shoes when we stepped out of the Land Cruiser — not sure why I expected it to be softer, but it felt almost gritty, like walking on cinnamon. Our driver, Ahmed, grinned as he let some air out of the tires (apparently that’s important for dune bashing), and then we were off. The car tilted so far I actually grabbed my friend’s arm and we both burst out laughing — honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy dune bashing that much. There was this moment when the sun hit the horizon and everything went gold; even Ahmed got quiet for a second.

We stopped at a quad bike spot first — you can ride if you want, but I just watched a group of teenagers try to race each other (one nearly toppled over, everyone cheered). After that came sandboarding down these steep slopes; it’s harder than it looks! Sand got everywhere, but I kind of loved it. Then we drove further into the desert until the lights from the Arabian Heritage Camp appeared. It smelled faintly like grilled meat and cardamom as we walked in — someone handed me sweet tea right away.

I tried a short camel ride (the camel looked bored but patient) before getting my hand painted with henna by a woman named Fatima who laughed when I asked her how long it would last (“Depends if you wash dishes!”). Inside the camp there were these low cushions and tables set up around a stage. The buffet dinner was huge — kebabs sizzling on open grills, salads with mint and lemon, so many desserts I lost count. While eating, there were all these performances: swirling Tanoura dancers in bright skirts, fire spinners making everyone gasp, belly dancers with bells on their ankles. At one point they pulled people up to drum along; I still think about that rhythm sometimes.

By the end of the night my shoes were full of sand and my phone memory was full of blurry videos. The drive back to Dubai felt quieter somehow — maybe because everyone was tired or just thinking about all those colors and sounds still echoing around their heads. Anyway, if you’re looking for a real evening desert safari from Dubai with BBQ dinner and live shows… this is pretty much what you get. And more than you expect.

What’s included

Your evening includes flexible hotel pickup in a 4x4 vehicle from Dubai or Sharjah.
optional quad bike or buggy rides at your first stop.
dune bashing adventure on red sands.
sandboarding.
entry to an Arabian Heritage Camp where you’ll enjoy a short camel ride.
traditional henna painting.
unlimited soft drinks plus tea and coffee.
nine different live entertainment shows.
clean seating areas.
a gourmet international buffet dinner with vegetarian options.
sizzling meats from a live BBQ grill.
and drop-off back at your hotel afterwards.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Arabian Heritage Tourism