Desert Safari Dubai: Dune Bashing, Dinner & Live Shows

Watch the sunset turn the sand orange, then stay for belly dance and fire.

A desert safari from Dubai combines dune bashing in a 4x4, a camel ride, henna painting and a full dinner with live shows (belly dance, tanura and fire performance) all in one afternoon away from the city. Pickup and drop-off from a central location are included, along with the vehicle, the guide, all meals and drinks. The whole outing runs about 6 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with dinner and show

• Pickup from given location
• Drive 30 minutes to desert
• Experience dune bashing
• Arrive at desert camp
• Enjoy camel ride
• Relax with Arabian coffee and dates
• Get henna hand painting
• Have buffet dinner with BBQ
• Watch live entertainment shows

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel or a central meeting point and driven about 30 minutes into the desert, where the dune bashing starts right away. The 4x4 climbs and drops the rippled slopes while you sit inside the air-conditioned vehicle. It is the core of the afternoon, and it is not something you do yourself but something the driver does while you experience it. The vehicle handles the terrain. You watch the landscape tilt and shift around you.

Once the driving settles, you arrive at the desert camp. A short camel ride follows, then you sit on low cushions with Arabic coffee and dates while someone paints henna designs on your hands: the kind of detail that fills the time between activities without rushing you. Dinner is a buffet with traditional BBQ, and water and soft drinks flow throughout. The live entertainment runs back-to-back: belly dance, tanura (the spinning skirt), fire performance and live Arab music. By the time the show ends, the sun has long gone and the camp lights take over.

Sand boarding is available if you want it, though it is not mandatory. The whole day is structured so that nothing requires you to arrange transport, book separate tickets or figure out timing: the pickup, the route, the camp, the meal and the shows are all one package. You arrive at the desert as a passenger and leave the same way.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from a central location.
• air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for dune bashing.
• short camel ride.
• henna hand painting.
• BBQ dinner buffet with unlimited water and soft drinks.
• belly dance show, tanura show and fire show.
• live Arab music.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to2h before

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

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Travel Dubai

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided afternoon tour with fixed pickup times and a set itinerary. You'll watch the sunset, ride a camel, and see performances, all without coordinating separate activities or transport yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

How long does the desert safari take from start to finish?

The safari runs about 6 hours total, including the 30-minute drive each way to and from the desert, the dune bashing, the camel ride, dinner and all the live shows.

What happens during the dune bashing part?

Dune bashing is the drive itself. The 4x4 takes you up and down the sand dunes while you sit inside the air-conditioned vehicle. The driver handles the terrain. You experience the movement and the landscape shifting around you.

What food and drinks are included?

Dinner is a buffet with traditional BBQ, and unlimited water and soft drinks come with it. Arabic coffee and dates are served during the camp time before dinner.

Which live shows are part of the safari?

The entertainment includes a belly dance show, a tanura dance show (the traditional spinning skirt), a fire show and live Arab music.

Is the camel ride included, or do I pay extra?

A short camel ride is included in the safari package at no extra cost.

Can I do sand boarding on this safari?

Sand boarding is available as part of the experience, though it is not required. You can skip it if you prefer.