Quad Bike or Dune Buggy Ride with Sandboarding at the Red Dunes Dubai

Red Dunes of Lahbab: the desert meeting point

The ride starts at a desert site in the Red Dunes, the Lahbab area off the Dubai to Hatta road, about 45 to 60 minutes' drive from Downtown Dubai. Here the gravel plain gives way to tall ridges of orange-red sand, coloured by iron oxide and shaped by the wind into long crests and deep bowls. It is the main area for quad biking near the city because the dunes are varied and easy to reach.

How to get to the Red Dunes? You can drive yourself or come by taxi to the map location we send after booking; transfers from your hotel can be arranged on request. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot to sign in, fit your helmet and meet your guide.

One hour of quad biking over the dunes

After a short training session on a flat area, where the guide explains the throttle, brakes and how to lean on slopes, you set off in a line behind him on a 250cc to 400cc quad bike. The route moves from rolling sand to bigger dunes as the group gains confidence, with stops to regroup and enjoy the silence of the desert.

An hour is long enough to feel properly at ease on the sand and to reach parts of the dunes that shorter rides do not. Quad biking in Dubai is self-driving at your own risk and is not covered by the activity insurance, so we recommend travel insurance that includes adventure activities. Basic driving knowledge is required, and children 11 and under ride as passengers.

Sandboarding and the desert photo stop

After the ride the guide takes you to a long slope for 15 to 20 minutes of sandboarding. Most people slide down sitting or lying on the board; those who snowboard can try standing. The sand is soft, so even falls are fun, but the climb back up is a real workout, so pace yourself.

The photo stop takes place in the heart of the desert, on a crest with nothing but dunes around you, the best frame for pictures with your quad. Morning and late-afternoon slots give the softest light and cooler sand, making them the best time to visit the Red Dunes for photos. Photos by the team and desert scarves are available to buy on site.

Camel ride in the open desert

A short camel ride completes the experience. A handler helps you up while the camel kneels, then leads it on a slow loop over the sand. Hold on as the camel rises back legs first, then enjoy the gentle rocking walk that Bedouin travellers relied on for crossing this desert.

Camel riding is calm and suitable for most ages, so it is a good moment for younger passengers who sat behind a parent on the quad. Wear trousers or a loose long skirt so you can sit astride comfortably, and keep sunglasses on against the glare of the sand. The handlers know their animals well and will happily take a picture of you with your own phone.

Dune buggy options: 1000cc and premium sport buggies

If you prefer four wheels and a steering wheel, the other options on this page swap the quad for a dune buggy. You can choose a 30-minute or 1-hour drive in a 1000cc dune buggy, or a 30-minute or 60-minute drive in a premium high-performance 1000cc sport buggy for deeper dune routes. A 30-minute quad bike ride is also available for a shorter outing.

All buggy options include the same training, helmet, sandboarding, camel ride and photo stop. In buggies, children 15 and under ride as passengers only. The buggies usually seat a driver and a passenger side by side, so they suit couples and parents with older children who want to share the drive.