Red Dunes Desert Safari with Dune Buggy Option & Camel Ride Dubai

Red Dunes of Lahbab: dune bashing with a desert driver

The Red Dunes stretch around Lahbab, about an hour's drive from Dubai along the road to Hatta, where the sand turns a rich rust-orange from its iron content. It is the busiest safari area near the city because the dunes are high, the access is easy and the colours are spectacular at the end of the day. A dune buggy in Dubai almost always means this desert.

Before your own drive, a licensed driver-guide takes you on an hour of dune bashing in a desert-equipped 4x4. Tyres are deflated for grip, then the convoy climbs, slides and drops along the ridges; Dubai Tourism rules require a minimum convoy in the open desert for safety. Watching how an expert reads the slopes is the best briefing for what comes next behind the buggy wheel.

Self-drive dune buggy: 30 minutes on the red sand

The highlight of this option is a 30-minute self-drive dune buggy ride. A buggy is a light, open-frame off-road vehicle with a roll cage and wide tyres, built to float over sand. Each buggy takes one driver and up to three passengers, and you get helmets, goggles and a safety briefing before the start. You follow the marshal in a line, on a route chosen for the group's level.

The terrain mixes gentle rolling sections with steeper climbs, and the thrill comes from feeling the buggy climb, crest and drift on soft sand. Children aged 10 and under ride as passengers only. Driving is at your own risk: insurance is not included and the driver and passengers are responsible for any damage or injury, so we recommend travel insurance that includes adventure activities.

Sandboarding, photo stop and camel ride

Between the drives there is a break on a high dune for photos, the moment to see the desert stretching in every direction with no buildings in sight. Then come 15 minutes of sandboarding on a smooth slope: sit, lie or try standing as on snow, and climb back up for another run if your legs allow.

Near the camp a handler leads a short camel ride of about five minutes. You mount while the camel kneels, hold on as it rises, and enjoy its slow rolling walk across the sand. Together these stops give you the classic Dubai desert safari photos, from boards to camels, all in the warm late-afternoon light.

Desert camp evening: BBQ dinner and live shows

At sunset the convoy reaches a desert camp with low Arabic seating, carpets and a central stage. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are served, henna artists paint traditional patterns, and you can try on Arabic dress for photos. Dinner is a BBQ buffet with grilled chicken and meat, rice, salads, bread and vegetarian dishes; the meat is halal, as is standard throughout the UAE.

After dinner the live programme begins: a belly dance performance, the Tanoura dancer whirling in a glowing layered skirt, and a fire show that lights up the desert night. The camp evening lasts around two to three hours before the drive back. During Ramadan and religious holidays the shows can be changed, and we inform you in advance.

Getting there and choosing your option

Many visitors ask how to get to the Red Dunes from the city. With this safari you do not need to drive: our shared air-conditioned vehicle collects you from your hotel or residence in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman within 45 minutes of the start time you choose, and the transfer takes around 45 minutes each way.

The page offers four options. The default is the full dune buggy safari with BBQ dinner and shows. You can also choose a shorter morning or afternoon safari with dune bashing, sandboarding and a camel ride only, the same with the 30-minute buggy but no camp, or the evening camp without the buggy. Morning departures suit anyone who prefers cooler temperatures for driving.