Dubai Desert Safari: Red Dunes, Dune Bashing & BBQ Dinner

Dune bash across red sand, then watch fire dancers at sunset in the desert camp

A half-day desert safari from Dubai combines 4x4 dune bashing across the Lahbab Desert's red dunes with a camel ride, sandboarding, and a Bedouin-style camp experience. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour runs 6–7 hours with a BBQ dinner buffet, live entertainment (Tanoura dance, belly dancing, fire show), Arabic coffee and tea, henna painting, and unlimited soft drinks. Quad biking and dune buggy rides are optional upgrades available at extra cost. Children under 3 cannot join dune bashing but can participate in camp activities. Infants ride free if they don't occupy a separate seat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dubai Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner

• Hotel pickup in 4x4 vehicle
• Thrilling dune bashing ride
• Optional quad biking or dune buggy ride
• Sandboarding on desert slopes
• Short traditional camel ride
• Sunset photography stop
• Arrive at Bedouin-style desert camp
• Enjoy BBQ dinner buffet
• Watch live Tanoura dance show
• Watch belly dancing performance
• Watch spectacular fire show

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel in the afternoon (usually between 2 and 3:30 PM depending on where you're staying) in a shared 4x4 vehicle with an English-speaking guide. The drive takes you straight into the Lahbab Desert, where the real ride begins: dune bashing across towering red dunes in a roller-coaster style that feels like the vehicle is barely in control. The driver knows the terrain and the angles. You just feel the adrenaline.

After the dune run, you stop for a sunset photo break, then move into the optional activities: a short camel ride (the traditional Bedouin way across the sand), sandboarding down the slopes if you want to try it, and quad biking or dune buggy rides if you've paid the upgrade. These are your choice: some people skip them, others spend the whole time on one. By the time the light starts to go, you're heading to the camp.

The Bedouin-style camp is where the pace shifts. You arrive to Arabic coffee and dates, then settle in for a BBQ dinner buffet with meat and vegetarian options, unlimited soft drinks, and sheesha (hookah) if you want it. The live shows run while you eat: Tanoura dancers in spinning skirts, belly dancers, and a fire performer who works close enough that you feel the heat. Henna painting happens on the side if you're interested. The whole experience, from pickup to drop-off, takes 6 to 7 hours, so it fits into an afternoon and evening without eating your whole day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a shared 4x4 vehicle with an English-speaking guide.
• dune bashing across the red dunes of the Lahbab Desert.
• a short camel ride and sandboarding with sunset photo stop.
• welcome snacks, Arabic coffee and tea at the camp.
• BBQ dinner buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• unlimited soft drinks.
• traditional sheesha (hookah) and henna painting.
• live entertainment including Tanoura dance, belly dancing and a fire show.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in 8 languages08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Guide in 8 languages13:30 and 14:00

Guide in 8 languages14:00

Guide in 8 languages14:00

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 day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, Filipino, Hindi, Pashto, Persian, Telugu, Urdu and Xiang Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteAED 173

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Top 10 Dubai Tours

Is this one for you?Book the standard Desert Safari with Dinner if you want the full afternoon-to-evening experience with all the activities and camp entertainment in one go. Choose the 4-hour version if you have limited time and want to skip the dinner and shows. Add quad biking or a dune buggy ride at checkout if you want to drive your own vehicle across the dunes instead of just riding as a passenger.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Hindi, Xiang Chinese, Pashto, Filipino, Telugu, Persian and Urdu.

Can children come?

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

What's included in the BBQ dinner at the desert camp?

The buffet includes grilled meats and vegetarian options, unlimited soft drinks, Arabic coffee and tea, and traditional sheesha (hookah). Alcoholic drinks can be purchased separately, except during Ramadan and official Dry Days when they're not served.

What are quad biking and dune buggy rides, and do I have to do them?

Quad biking and dune buggy rides are optional upgrades you can add at extra cost. You drive your own vehicle across the open desert with safety gear and instruction provided. They're not included in the base tour, so you only pay if you want them. Minimum age is 16 with ID.

What time does the tour start and how long does it take?

Hotel pickup happens between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM depending on your location. The full experience, including dune bashing, camp activities and dinner, runs 6 to 7 hours, so you're back at your hotel by late evening.

What should I bring or wear for the desert?

Light, loose clothing is recommended to stay cool. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen. The camp provides henna and sheesha, and the BBQ and drinks are all included, so you mainly need sun protection and a camera for the sunset and the shows.