Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing & Dinner: Red Dunes

Dune bashing hits different when the driver deflates the tires first.

An evening desert safari from Dubai into the Lahbab Desert combines 30–40 minutes of 4x4 dune bashing across red sand dunes with camel rides, sandboarding, and a traditional Bedouin campsite experience. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours with hotel pickup, a shared English-speaking guide, BBQ buffet dinner, and live entertainment: belly dance, Tanoura dance, and fire show. Quad biking and falcon photography are available as paid upgrades on-site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai Desert Safari with Dinner and Shows

• Meet and pickup from hotel
• Drive to Lahbab Desert
• Short break and tire deflation
• Optional ATV or buggy rides
• Dune bashing in 4x4 Land Cruiser
• Try sandboarding and falcon photography
• Visit Bedouin-style desert camp
• Enjoy Arabian coffee and snacks
• Smoke shisha and try traditional attire
• BBQ buffet dinner
• Watch belly dance, Tanoura, and fire shows
• Return to hotel

The experience

You get picked up from your Dubai or Sharjah hotel in an air-conditioned Land Cruiser and driven 45–60 minutes into the Lahbab Desert, watching the city skyline fade into open sand. The route passes luxury resorts and desert outskirts, so you see the contrast before the red dunes fill the horizon. At the desert meeting point, separate restroom facilities let you freshen up while the driver prepares the vehicle: deflating the tires to grip the sand safely for what comes next.

The dune bashing itself runs 30–40 minutes, a rollercoaster ride up and down the towering red dunes in the Land Cruiser. After that rush, you try sandboarding on the soft slopes, and if falcon photography is part of your package, you pose with a bird for the shot. The pace is built around the adrenaline: thrills first, then time to breathe and capture photos while the light holds.

By evening you're at a traditional Bedouin-style campsite where the rhythm shifts. Arabic coffee and tea arrive first, then you can try on Emirati dress for photos, smoke shisha in the designated area, or sit with the desert quiet around you. The BBQ buffet dinner includes veg and non-veg dishes, fresh salads, and Arabic desserts with unlimited beverages. As darkness falls, live shows take over: belly dance, the hypnotic whirling Tanoura dance, and a fire show that closes the night. Your guide then drives you back to your hotel, ending the loop around 10 or 11 p.m.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by an English-speaking safari guide on a shared basis.
• 30–40 minute 4x4 dune bashing across the red dunes.
• free sandboarding.
• short camel ride with photo in local Emirati costume.
• BBQ buffet dinner with veg and non-veg dishes, salads, and Arabic desserts.
• unlimited beverages.
• belly dance, Tanoura dance, and fire show performances.
• shisha smoking in the designated area.
• henna painting for ladies.

Options for this experience

5 options

4-hour desert safari dune bashingUp to 7 people · Guide in 6 languages · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Pickup and drop-off in a shared 4WD for dune bashing, sand boarding and a camel ride. Duration: 4 hours. Complimentary water. No dinner and no camp activities. Luxury 4WD SUV, either a Land Cruiser or a Nissan Patrol. Pickup is included.

Morning Desert Safari, PrivateUp to 6 people · Guide in 6 languages · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Pickup and drop-off in a private 4WD for sandboarding, dune bashing and a camel ride. A quad bike ride is optional and can be arranged at an additional cost. Duration: 4 hours. Complimentary water. Luxury 4WD SUV, either a Land Cruiser or a Nissan Patrol. Pickup is included.

Dubai desert safari and dinnerGuide in 6 languages · 13:30 and 14:00Pickup and drop-off in a shared vehicle, with a 4WD for dune bashing, sandboarding and a camel ride. Campsite activities with live entertainment, featuring 3 shows. Duration: 6 hours. Self-service buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, plus barbecue. Luxury 4WD SUV, either a Land Cruiser or a Nissan Patrol. Language: the driver guide speaks English. Pickup is included.

See 2 more options

Desert Safari Tour, PrivateUp to 7 people · Guide in 6 languages · 13:00 and 14:00Pickup and drop-off in a private 4WD for dune bashing, sandboarding and a camel ride. A quad bike ride is optional and can be arranged at an additional cost. Duration: 6 hours. Self-service buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, plus barbecue. Campsite activities with live entertainment, featuring 3 shows. Luxury 4WD SUV, either a Land Cruiser or a Nissan Patrol. Pickup is included.

Safari and 30-minute quad bike rideGuide in 6 languages · 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00Pickup and drop-off in a shared 4WD for a 30-minute quad bike ride in a closed, fenced area. Desert safari with dune bashing, sandboarding and a camel ride. Duration: 6 hours. Self-service buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, plus barbecue. Campsite activities include live entertainment with 3 shows. Travel in a luxury 4WD SUV, either a Land Cruiser or a Nissan Patrol. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 to 86 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish, Bangla, Hindi, Pashto, Punjabi and Urdu

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 effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saifco Travel and Tourism

Is this one for you?Book the shared evening safari if you're arriving in Dubai with a free afternoon and want the full experience (dune thrills, cultural camp time, and dinner) without arranging transport or timing yourself. Choose the private option or the 4-hour dune-bashing-only version if you prefer a smaller group or a shorter window, or add quad biking on-site if you want to control your own ride across the dunes.

Traveler reviews

4.80★★★★★★★★★★

796 verified traveler reviews

5 ★690

4 ★76

3 ★15

2 ★7

1 ★8

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Pashto, Bangla, Punjabi and Urdu.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long does the drive from Dubai to the desert take?

The scenic drive to Lahbab Desert takes around 45–60 minutes from your hotel, passing Dubai landmarks and luxury resorts before the red dunes appear.

What happens during the dune bashing part of the safari?

Dune bashing is a 30–40 minute ride in a 4x4 Land Cruiser where the driver takes you up and down the towering red dunes of Lahbab Desert in a rollercoaster-style adventure, with the tires deflated beforehand for safe grip on the sand.

Is sandboarding included, or do I pay extra?

Sandboarding is free and included after dune bashing. You strap on a board and slide down the soft sandy slopes at your own pace.

What food and drinks are served at the desert camp?

A BBQ buffet dinner includes veg and non-veg dishes, fresh salads, Arabic desserts, and unlimited beverages. Shisha smoking is free in the designated shisha area, and Arabic coffee and tea are served when you arrive at the campsite.

Can I add quad biking or falcon photography to my tour?

Quad biking and falcon photography are available as paid upgrades. You can arrange them on-site when you arrive at the desert meeting point, or book them in advance with the operator.

What live entertainment happens at the camp in the evening?

The evening shows include belly dance, the Tanoura dance (a whirling performance), and a fire show. Note that during Ramadan and certain religious holidays, live entertainment is limited per UAE guidelines, though the Tanoura and fire shows continue.