Evening Red Dunes Safari with Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner & Live Show Dubai

Lahbab Red Dunes: the classic Dubai desert safari

The Red Dunes rise around Lahbab, roughly 50 km south-east of central Dubai off the Dubai to Hatta road, and they are where most evening desert safari trips from the city head. Iron oxide in the sand gives the dunes their deep orange-red colour, which glows strongest in the last hour of daylight. Our driver lowers the tyre pressure at the desert edge, then joins a convoy of 4x4s for about an hour of dune bashing: steep climbs, sideways slides and sudden drops over the crests.

Dubai Tourism rules require vehicles to travel in convoy in the open desert, so the drive is supervised and the routes are well known to the drivers. If you wonder whether a Dubai desert safari is worth it, this stretch is the answer: within an hour of the towers you are surrounded by nothing but sand. Short photo stops let you walk up a crest and watch the dunes roll to the horizon.

Sandboarding on the dune slopes

After the drive the convoy stops on a tall, smooth slope for about 15 minutes of sandboarding. Boards are handed out at the top; most people ride sitting or lying on their stomach, while confident riders try standing with their feet across the board, as on snow. The sand is soft, so falls are part of the fun rather than a danger.

The walk back up is the real workout: the sand slides under every step, so take it slowly and drink water. Sandboarding in Dubai is most comfortable in the cooler months and in the late afternoon, when the surface is no longer hot. Keep sunglasses on against blowing sand, and empty your shoes before you climb back into the vehicle.

Camel ride in the Lahbab Desert

Camels carried people and goods across this desert for thousands of years, and a short ride is part of every classic safari. A handler leads the camel; you climb on while it kneels, then hold tight as it rises back legs first, which is the moment everyone laughs about later.

The ride itself is a gentle loop of a few minutes, long enough for photos with the dunes behind you. Camels here are calm and used to visitors, and an adult can ride together with a younger child. Wear trousers or a long, loose skirt so you can sit astride comfortably; the handlers help you on and off and will take a picture with your phone if you ask.

Bedouin-style desert camp: dinner, henna and Tanoura

As the sun sets the convoy rolls into a desert camp laid out in Bedouin style, with low majlis seating on carpets and cushions around an open stage. Tea, Arabic coffee and soft drinks are served throughout, and henna artists paint simple floral designs on hands, a temporary decoration that fades within about two weeks. The BBQ buffet brings grilled chicken and meat with rice, salads, bread and vegetarian dishes; the meat is halal, as everywhere in the UAE.

The live programme starts after dark. The Tanoura dancer spins for long minutes in a wide coloured skirt that lights up as he turns, a tradition rooted in Sufi whirling, and the fire performer closes the evening with flaming batons against the black desert sky. Shows can pause during Ramadan and religious holidays, and we tell you in advance.

Getting there: pickup from Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman

Wondering how to get to the Red Dunes? You do not need a car: our shared air-conditioned 4x4 collects you from your hotel or residence in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman between about 2:00 and 3:30 PM, and the drive to Lahbab takes around 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and the pickup order. The same vehicle brings you back after the shows, usually between 9:00 and 10:30 PM.

Shared pickup does not cover Jebel Ali, the Dubai Parks area, the Al Maktoum airport area, desert resorts or the Hatta area; guests staying there should choose a private option or message us before booking. Other options on this page include a shorter morning or afternoon safari without dinner and two private 4x4 versions, one with a quad bike ride and one with a waiter-served dinner.