Abu Dhabi Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride, Sandboarding & BBQ Dinner
- Duration6 hours
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Overview
Our Abu Dhabi desert safari takes you from the city to the Al Khatim dunes for an evening of adventure and Emirati hospitality. A 4x4 picks you up at your hotel, then you ride the dunes, try sandboarding, meet camels and watch the sunset before dinner at a Bedouin-style camp with live shows. It is a shared small-group safari, suited to couples, friends and families with children over three. Depending on the option you choose, you can add a self-drive quad bike ride.
Highlights
- Hotel pickup in Abu Dhabi by air-conditioned 4x4
- Roller-coaster dune bashing over the red sands of Al Khatim
- Sandboarding down soft dunes and a short camel ride
- Sunset photo stop on a high dune
- Arabic coffee, dates, henna painting and traditional costumes at camp
- Tanoura and traditional dance shows with an open BBQ buffet dinner
- Optional self-drive quad biking, depending on the option you choose
Full Description
The Al Khatim Desert and Dune Bashing
Most evening safaris from the capital head to Al Khatim, a band of tall red and golden dunes off the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road, roughly 45 minutes from the city. Once off the tarmac your driver lets some air out of the tyres and the dune bashing begins: the 4x4 climbs steep crests, slides sideways down soft faces and weaves between sand bowls while the city disappears behind you.
Dune bashing lasts around 20 to 30 minutes with photo stops in between, and the drivers are trained desert specialists. If you are wondering whether a desert safari in Abu Dhabi is worth it, this is the part that answers the question. Sit in the back if you prefer a gentler ride, and avoid a heavy meal two to three hours before pickup.
Sandboarding and Meeting the Camels
On a high ridge the vehicles stop for sandboarding. You slide down the dune on a board, standing or sitting, and walk back up for as many runs as you like. The sand is soft and forgiving, so it suits first-timers and older children. Along the way the tour visits a camel farm, where you can see Arabian camels up close and hear how these animals once made life in the desert possible.
Back at camp there is a short camel ride, a classic part of any Abu Dhabi desert safari with camel ride included. Children under 12 ride with an adult. Camels rise back legs first, so hold the saddle handle and lean back as they stand. Keep your camera ready: low evening light makes the silhouettes on the dunes striking.
Sunset and the Bedouin-Style Camp
Before dark the group gathers on a dune to watch the sun sink slowly behind the rolling dunes, the best time of day to photograph the desert. Then you drive to a camp laid out like a traditional Bedouin encampment, with low seating, carpets and lanterns. You are welcomed with Arabic coffee and dates, the customary greeting of hospitality in the Gulf.
Camp activities are included in every option: henna painting for hands, traditional Emirati costumes for photos and time to relax on floor cushions. If your skin reacts to henna, simply skip it. The atmosphere is calm and family-friendly, which is why many travellers searching for the best desert safari in Abu Dhabi choose an evening departure rather than a morning ride.
Dinner, Live Shows and Stargazing
As night falls the stage comes alive with a Tanoura performer, whose colourful skirts spin in a whirling dance rooted in Sufi tradition, followed by other traditional dance shows. Dinner is an open BBQ buffet with grilled meats, salads, rice and Arabic dishes, with vegetarian choices, and water and soft drinks are unlimited. Shows are not held during Ramadan or on certain religious days.
After dinner the camp lights are dimmed so you can look up at the stars, far from the glow of the city. It is the quietest moment of the evening and a perfect close to a desert safari with BBQ dinner in Abu Dhabi. The 4x4 then drives you back, arriving at your hotel about six hours after pickup.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupOur 4x4 collects you from your hotel in Abu Dhabi for the drive of about 45 minutes to the desert.
- Camel farmA short stop to see Arabian camels up close on the way into the dunes.
- Dune bashingAbout 20 to 30 minutes of 4x4 driving over the dunes of Al Khatim, with photo stops.
- Sandboarding and sunsetBoard down the dunes, then watch the sun set from a high ridge.
- Quad biking (option)A self-drive quad ride in a marked desert area, only if your option includes it.
- Bedouin-style campArabic coffee and dates, henna, costumes and a short camel ride.
- Dinner and showsOpen BBQ buffet with Tanoura and traditional dance performances, followed by stargazing.
- Return to Abu DhabiDrive back to your hotel, about 45 minutes.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Abu Dhabi
- Air-conditioned 4x4 with licensed English-speaking driver
- Dune bashing and sandboarding
- Short camel ride and sunset photo stop
- Henna painting and traditional dance show at the camp
- Welcome refreshments, unlimited water and soft drinks
- Open-buffet BBQ dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes
Not included
- Quad bike ride
- Personal expenses
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 3–11
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Nature and wildlife lovers
- Food lovers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- Walking is difficult for you — expect active parts
- You travel with young children
Not suitable for
- Children under 3 years
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People with heart problems
- Wheelchair users
Meeting point
We pick you up from your hotel in Abu Dhabi in an air-conditioned 4x4, usually in the early afternoon so that you reach the dunes before sunset; the exact time changes with the season and is confirmed after booking. Please wait in the lobby a few minutes early with your phone switched on. At the end of the evening the same vehicle drops you back at your hotel.
Important information
- Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes, and bring sunglasses, a hat and sun cream.
- Avoid a heavy meal two to three hours before dune bashing to prevent motion sickness.
- Quad biking is self-driven and at your own risk; it is available only if your option includes it.
- Children under 12 must ride the camel with an adult.
- Skip the henna if your skin is sensitive.
- Dance shows are not held during Ramadan or on some religious days.
- Luggage and large bags are not allowed in the vehicle.
- Evenings in winter can be cool in the desert, so a light jacket helps from December to February.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Abu Dhabi desert safari cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, with or without quad biking. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, for adults and for children.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off from hotels in Abu Dhabi are included in every option, in an air-conditioned 4x4.
How long is the desert safari?
About six hours from pickup to drop-off, including roughly 45 minutes of driving each way.
Is the desert safari suitable for children?
Yes, for children aged three and over. Children aged 3 to 11 book at the child rate. Dune bashing is bumpy, so it is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women or people with back or heart problems.
What should I wear or bring?
Light, comfortable clothes, closed shoes for the sand, sunglasses and sun cream. In winter bring a light jacket for the evening at camp.
Can I book the safari for today or tomorrow?
Available dates appear in the booking calendar. Same-day and next-day seats are often open, but weekends and holidays fill up early.
What is the difference between the options?
Both shared options include hotel pickup, dune bashing, sandboarding, the camel ride, camp activities, the shows and the BBQ dinner. The second option adds a self-drive quad bike ride in the desert.
Is dinner included, and is there vegetarian food?
Yes. The BBQ buffet dinner is included in every option, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and water and soft drinks are unlimited.
Where does the Abu Dhabi desert safari take place?
In the Al Khatim desert area off the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road, about 45 minutes from the city.
Are the shows held every night?
Shows run most evenings, but by UAE law they pause during Ramadan and on certain religious days. The rest of the safari runs as normal.
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