Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ

Ride camels through shifting sands, savor BBQ under stars, and watch fire dancers ignite the night

An evening desert safari in Dubai combines six hours of off-road driving through sand dunes, camel riding, traditional cultural activities like henna art and shisha smoking, and a BBQ dinner buffet with live belly dance, fire dance and Tanoura performances. The experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off, soft drinks, Arabic coffee and desserts, with a live English-speaking guide throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with cultural activities and dinner

• Drive through sand dunes in 4x4 vehicle
• Enjoy camel riding and henna art
• Experience shisha smoking and photo ops
• Watch fire dance and belly dance performances
• Eat BBQ dinner under the stars

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your hotel and a drive into the Arabian desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Once in the dunes, the driver takes you through deep ditches and high summits of the ever-changing sand landscape. The kind of terrain that needs an expert behind the wheel and a sturdy vehicle to handle it. You'll stop to ride a camel across the desert floor, then move through a traditional camp where you can get henna art applied to your hands, smoke flavored shisha (table service costs extra), and pose for photos in traditional Emirati clothing with the golden desert light behind you.

As the sun drops, the group gathers around a campfire for the BBQ dinner spread. The buffet offers both vegetarian and meat options, along with Arabic coffee and luquaimat (traditional sweet pastries), soft drinks and unlimited water. While you eat, performers take the space in front of the fire: belly dancers, fire dancers and Tanoura dancers (the spinning skirt performers) move through their routines. The whole setup is designed so you watch from your seat, eat, and let the evening unfold without having to move between venues or manage timing yourself.

If you want to add a quad bike ride to your afternoon, that's available for an extra charge of 50 USD per hour. The camp has separate bathroom facilities for men and women, and the shared pickup means you'll be collected with other travelers on the same route.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
• dune bashing in a 4x4 vehicle with an expert driver.
• camel ride.
• henna art application.
• traditional Emirati clothing photo ops.
• belly dance, fire dance and Tanoura dance performances.
• BBQ dinner buffet with vegetarian and meat options.
• Arabic coffee and luquaimat.
• soft drinks and unlimited water.
• welcome drink.
• access to separate bathroom facilities for men and women.
• live English-speaking guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to6h before

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

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by ROYAL FALCON LLC

Is this one for you?Shared pickup means you don't need a car or a way to reach the desert on your own. The group collects from hotels across Dubai and you travel together, which settles the logistics for anyone staying in the city without transport.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

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

Dune bashing is the off-road drive through the Arabian desert in a 4x4 vehicle, where the driver navigates deep ditches and high sand dune summits. It's the core of the adventure portion and takes place in the early part of the evening before the cultural activities and dinner.

Can I choose vegetarian food at the BBQ dinner?

Yes, the BBQ buffet includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines, so you can select what suits you when you sit down to eat.

Is the camel ride included in the evening desert safari, or do I pay extra?

The camel ride is included in the safari package at no additional cost. It happens during the camp visit portion of the evening, after the initial dune bashing.

What cultural activities can I do at the desert camp?

At the traditional camp, you can get henna art applied, smoke flavored shisha (table service has an additional charge), wear traditional Emirati clothing for photos, and watch the fire dance, belly dance and Tanoura performances while you dine.

Does the price include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, shared hotel pickup and drop-off to your location are included in the safari package. You'll be collected from your hotel and returned there at the end of the evening.

How long does the entire evening desert safari last?

The full experience runs for six hours from pickup to drop-off, covering the dune bashing, camp activities, dinner and performances.