Dubai Desert Safari: Red Dunes, Camel Ride & 5-Star BBQ

Watch the sun dip behind red dunes while savoring BBQ and live fire dances.

A shared or private desert safari from Dubai that combines 4WD dune bashing, camel riding and sandboarding with an evening at Al Royal Camp, where you get a BBQ dinner, live entertainment (fire show, belly dance, Tanoura), henna painting and Arabic costume makeovers. Hotel pick-up and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, and six to seven hours total are included. Quad biking is available on some options.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert Safari and Evening Entertainment

• Pick up from hotel by 4WD
• 4x4 dune bashing adventure
• Camel riding experience
• Sandboarding on dunes
• Relax at Al Royal Camp
• Enjoy 5-star BBQ dinner
• Watch traditional dance shows
• Henna painting and shisha smoking

The experience

The day starts with a 4WD pickup from your hotel, then heads straight into the red dunes for 30 to 45 minutes of dune bashing: the vehicle climbs and drops across the sand while you watch the landscape shift beneath you. After that comes a camel ride across the desert floor, then sandboarding down the dunes if you want the rush of sliding rather than walking. A stop for sunset photos breaks up the pace before you arrive at Al Royal Camp, where the evening unfolds over the next few hours.

At the camp, the food arrives first: a buffet with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, plus a BBQ spread, served under the open sky. Soft drinks and mineral water flow throughout. If your option includes it, two hours of alcoholic beverages are on the house. While you eat, three live shows rotate through: a fire performance, a belly dance, and a Tanoura (a spinning skirt dance), so there is always something happening on the stage. Between courses, you can get henna painted on your hands or arms, try on a traditional Arabic outfit for photos, and smoke shisha if that appeals to you. Coffee, dates and Arabic sweets round out the experience.

The tour operates as either a shared group or a private vehicle, depending on which option you book. Shared tours run with other travelers. Private ones are just your party. Quad biking for 30 minutes is available on request for some options. The guide speaks English and can also lead in Arabic or Russian. Children from age three are welcome, and the camp has infant seats available if you are traveling with very small children.

What’s included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off by air-conditioned 4WD.
• 30 to 45 minutes of red dune bashing.
• camel ride.
• sandboarding.
• sunset photo stop.
• entry to Al Royal Camp.
• 5-star buffet BBQ dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
• unlimited soft drinks and mineral water.
• three live shows (fire, belly dance, Tanoura).
• henna painting.
• Arabic costume makeover.
• shisha smoking.
• coffee, dates and Arabic sweets.
• English-speaking licensed guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour in a shared group, with the quad bike left outGuide in English, Arabic or Russian · 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30Shared safari tour with dune bashing, BBQ, camel ride and camp activities with show, excluding quad bike. Pickup is included.

Shared tour with a 35-minute quad bike rideGuide in English, Arabic or Russian · 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30Shared safari tour with dune bashing, BBQ, camel ride and camp activities with show, including quad bike. Pickup is included.

Private safari with shared campGuide in English, Arabic or Russian · 14:00 and 14:30Private 4x4 vehicle with dune bashing, BBQ dinner in a Royal camp, camel rides, sandboarding and sunset views. Includes pickup.

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 dayDepartures at 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Russian

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Hormuz 1 Tourism

Is this one for you?Book the shared option if you enjoy meeting other travelers and want the standard experience at the best price. Choose the private safari if your group wants the dunes and the camp to themselves, or add quad biking if you want a second adrenaline moment beyond the dune bashing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

How long does the dune bashing part actually last?

The 4WD dune bashing runs for 30 to 45 minutes, covering the red dunes with climbs and descents that make up the most active part of the afternoon before you move to the camp.

What is included in the dinner at Al Royal Camp?

Al Royal Camp serves a buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options plus BBQ, along with unlimited soft drinks and mineral water. Coffee, dates and Arabic sweets are also part of the meal. Alcoholic beverages are included for two hours if your option covers them.

Can I do the quad biking, or is it only available on certain bookings?

Quad biking for 30 minutes is available on request and depends on which option you choose at checkout. Ask when you book to confirm it is available for your departure.

What are the live shows like at the camp?

Three performances run during the evening: a fire show, a belly dance performance, and a Tanoura show, which is a traditional spinning skirt dance. They happen while you eat, so you watch from your table.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point, or does the tour pick me up?

The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off from your selected hotel or residence location in Dubai, so you do not need to arrange transport to the start.

Is henna painting included, and is it only for women?

Henna painting is included in the package and is available for anyone who wants it. It is traditionally done on the hands and arms.