Red Dunes Safari with Premium Camp, BBQ Dinner & 5 Live Shows Dubai

Lahbab Red Dunes: dune bashing near Dubai

The Lahbab area lies off the Dubai to Hatta road, where the flat gravel plain suddenly gives way to tall ridges of iron-red sand. These are among the highest dunes within easy reach of the city, which is why the red dunes desert safari from Dubai centres here. Scattered ghaf trees, the hardy native tree of the Emirates, grow in the hollows, and in the soft evening light the dunes shift from orange to deep copper.

Our driver lets air out of the tyres at the desert gate, then drives 30 to 35 minutes of dune bashing in convoy: long climbs, sharp turns along the crests and steep descents that make the whole car cheer. The convoy stops on a high point for photos, the moment to see how far the dunes run in every direction before heading on to the camel and falcon stop.

Camel ride and falcon photo

Falconry has been part of desert life in the Emirates for centuries; Bedouin hunters trained falcons to catch game in winter, and the tradition is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. At the stop a falconer places a hooded falcon on your gloved arm for a photo, explaining how the birds are trained and why the leather hood keeps them calm.

The camel ride follows: a handler helps you climb on while the camel kneels, then leads it on a short loop over the sand. Hold the saddle handle as it rises back legs first. Children can ride with a parent, and the handlers are used to first-time riders. Together the two stops take about 20 minutes and give you the most iconic photos of a Dubai desert evening.

Sandboarding on the Lahbab slopes

Before sunset the group tries sandboarding on a long, smooth slope near the camp. Boards are handed out at the top of the dune, and the guide shows the easiest way down: sitting with feet forward or lying on your stomach. Confident riders can try standing up, surf style, though most falls end in laughter and soft sand.

Climbing back up in loose sand is tiring, so take two or three runs and rest. The sand is cooler in the late afternoon, which makes this the best time for sandboarding in Dubai, especially between October and April. Wear closed shoes or go barefoot on the cooler surface, and keep your phone zipped in a pocket while you ride.

The premium camp: Arabic coffee, henna and dinner

The premium camp is laid out with carpets, cushions and low tables around a central stage, with more space between seats than a standard camp. You are welcomed with gahwa, the light Arabic coffee spiced with cardamom and poured from a dallah into small cups, together with dates, Arabic sweets and fresh fruit. Henna artists decorate hands with floral patterns, and you can borrow traditional dress for photos against the dunes.

Dinner is an international buffet with a live BBQ station grilling chicken, meat and vegetables, alongside rice, salads, mezze, bread and desserts; the meat is halal, as everywhere in the UAE, and vegetarian dishes are always on the table. Unlimited water, soft drinks, tea and coffee are served throughout the evening.

Five live shows under the desert sky

The live programme is the reason many guests choose a premium camp. It opens with folk dancing and Dabke, the stamping line dance of the Levant, followed by a belly dance performance. Then the Tanoura dancer takes the stage, spinning in layered skirts that open like wheels of colour, a whirling tradition with Sufi roots that is best known from Egypt.

After dark the fire dancer swings and spins flaming batons and fans, and the evening ends with a light and sound display over the camp. The shows run for about an hour in total, spaced around dinner. During Ramadan, religious holidays and official mourning days the entertainment can be shortened or cancelled, and we tell you in advance.