Shared evening safari, per person.
Desert safari FAQ
Desert safari Dubai questions, answered properly
Timings, what to wear, and the one thing that catches everyone out: some safaris are priced per person and some per vehicle. Packages start at AED 99.
From AED 99Free Dubai pickupEvening, morning, overnightNo deposit
From 41 Google reviews.
Taken to the desert since 2020.
Anywhere inside Dubai.
Message any hour and we answer.
01 / Start here
Time of day and price basis decide everything
Two questions settle almost every safari booking, and neither of them is which company you use.
Time of day sets the trip. The evening safari is what most people mean: afternoon pickup, dune bashing while the light is good, then a Bedouin camp for dinner and the shows. It runs 7 to 8 hours. The morning safari is 4 to 5 hours, quieter, colder in winter and the only comfortable option from June to September. The overnight safari adds a night in the camp and runs 16 hours.
Price basis sets the cost. Shared safaris are priced per person because you share a Land Cruiser with other guests. Private safaris are priced per vehicle. That means the shared number always looks cheaper on screen and often is not: for two people it wins, by four the totals cross, and above that a private vehicle is usually cheaper outright as well as better.
Everything else is smaller than people think. The destination is the same across almost every operator in Dubai, the Lahbab red dunes about an hour south east of the city. What genuinely varies is who is in your vehicle, how long the photo stops last and what order you are dropped home in.
Pick the time
Evening for the full camp programme, morning for quiet and summer, overnight to stay.
Count your group
Shared is per person, private is per vehicle. Four is roughly where it flips.
Say who is coming
Ages, allergies and anyone who would rather skip the dune bashing.
Book with nothing down
No deposit is taken to hold a standard slot. Multi-vehicle and corporate bookings are confirmed separately. Cancel more than 24 hours before your slot and you get a full refund. Inside 24 hours we will always try to move you to another date rather than charge you.
02 / Before you book
Four things worth confirming first.
Get these right and the package picks itself.
Per person or per vehicle
Every card on our safari pages says which. If a quote elsewhere does not, ask before you compare it with anything.
Which month you are here
June to September the afternoon desert is genuinely hard work. The morning safari is the version that stays enjoyable.
How many of you
Six shared seats cost six times. One private Land Cruiser costs once and seats six to seven.
Anyone who should skip the dunes
Pregnancy, back trouble or motion sickness. Tell us and the driver takes a calmer route to the camp.
03 / Pick your question
Jump straight to what you need.
The topics people message us about most.
How much is a desert safari in Dubai?
From AED 99 per person on the shared evening safari. Private safaris are priced per vehicle instead and start higher, but for four or more they usually work out cheaper in total.
What time does it start and finish?
Evening safaris collect around 3pm and drop back between 9pm and 10pm. Morning safaris collect before dawn and finish late morning. Both windows move through the year because they are set by the sun.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes and closed shoes. Bring a layer in winter, when the desert gets genuinely cold after sunset, and something to keep sand out of your camera.
Where does it go?
The Lahbab red dunes, 45 to 60 minutes south east of the city on the E66. The camps sit among the dunes rather than at the roadside.
Is the dinner halal?
Yes, and vegetarian dishes are always on the buffet. Tell us about allergies when you book so the camp knows in advance.
Is it suitable for kids?
Yes, and children usually enjoy the dune drive most. Tell us their ages so the camp seats you together and the drive is pitched right.
04 / What is included
What comes with a safari, and what to sort yourself
The shared evening safari, which is the package most people book.
Included in the price
- Hotel pickup and drop-off, free anywhere inside Dubai
- Dune bashing in a 4x4 with a desert-trained driver
- Sunset photo stop on the Lahbab red dunes
- Camel ride and sandboarding at the camp
- Halal BBQ dinner with vegetarian options
- Belly dance, tanoura and fire show after dinner
- Arabic coffee, dates, shisha and henna at the camp
Bring or arrange yourself
- A warm layer for winter evenings, which get colder than people expect
- Closed shoes. The camp floor is sand and it gets into everything
- A camera and something to keep it in during the dune drive
- A check that your own travel insurance includes desert sports and off road activities, because many standard policies exclude them
- Transfers from outside Dubai, which we quote before you book
What guests say
Rated 4.9 by guests who came with us.
Real Google reviews, alongside our TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award.
- Glauco Google review
★★★★★The service offered by Ali is exceptional, very fun and safe. I recommend it to everyone visiting Dubai. The desert tour is fantastic! Don't miss it!
- Rupang Shah Google review ★★★★★
Great experience with them at the Dubai Sand Dunes - Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience in Dubai!
- Camso Diallo Google review ★★★★★
Very good ride. We enjoyed it. Thanks
- jamal hakim Google review ★★★★★
nice experience with such a bumpy and challenging route with beautiful sunset!!
- Yusuf Slaimankhel Google review ★★★★★
Was a really good and amazing experience, staff was also nice and helpful
- Nalin Chandika De Silva Google review ★★★★★
The best ride we ever had. Best service. Highly recommended. Love from Sri Lanka
- Baby Alhamdou Ibrahim Google review ★★★★★
Today I went to desert I did bike riding with my family it was good experience i will recommend for all tourists
- Vaibhav Sharma Google review ★★★★★
Today I booked for quad bike and it was a very good experience. Very good service and great bike. Thrilling and great experience.
- amar powar Google review ★★★★★
Had amazing experience on desert safari! Everything perfectly. Highly recommended. Mr Watto was best for pickup to drop off
- Folashade Agbeke Google review ★★★★★
Today I went to desert I did bike riding it was good experience I recommend you to book with them. Very friendly and worth every penny. I'll definitely come back again with my friends.
- Adnan Khan Google review ★★★★★
Today i booked the buggy tour and it was amazing. Cannot recommend this enough. Our driver Ali was kind and courteous and we were well looked after
- Mike Google review ★★★★★
Well arranged. Good support, good buggies. We really enjoyed ourselves.
- jubin vaidya Google review ★★★★★
It was a great experience with buggyrents.com. The driver was very pleasing and entertaining. They have new buggies and I recommend everybody to book and enjoy
- abiola awobokun Google review ★★★★★
Went with my kids and we had a lovely experience. Professional staff, safe and exciting. We had fun and will definitely come back.
- Pervaiz Muhammad Google review ★★★★★
It was very good experience with them. They are too much cooperative. I recommend all guys to book from them, you will remember this tour.
- FAUSTIN KAMBERE Google review ★★★★★
It was good experience buggy was they given me good service I recommend plz book tour with this company
- INFORMATION CENTER Google review ★★★★★
Very professional team and a well organised desert experience from pickup through to drop off.
05 / Still stuck
Ask the team directly
Send the date and how many of you there are and we will put the shared and private totals side by side. No pressure to book.
Q1How much is a desert safari in Dubai?
From AED 99 per person for the shared evening safari, which includes pickup, dune bashing, the camel ride, sandboarding, a halal BBQ dinner and the show programme. Private safaris are priced per vehicle rather than per head, starting higher but usually working out cheaper for a family or a group of four or more.
Q2Is the price per person or per vehicle?
It depends on the package, and every card on our safari pages states which. Shared safaris are per person because you share a Land Cruiser with other guests. Private safaris are per vehicle. Comparing the two headline numbers directly is the single most common mistake people make when booking a safari in Dubai.
Q3What time does a desert safari start and finish?
The evening safari collects around 3pm and drops back between 9pm and 10pm, running 7 to 8 hours door to door. The morning safari collects before dawn and finishes late morning at 4 to 5 hours. Both windows shift through the year because they are timed to sunset and sunrise rather than to the clock.
Q4How long is a desert safari in Dubai?
Seven to eight hours for the evening safari, four to five for the morning one and sixteen for the overnight, all door to door including the drive each way. About two hours of any safari is travelling, because the dunes are 45 to 60 minutes outside the city.
Q5What should I wear to a desert safari?
Comfortable clothes and closed shoes. Sand gets everywhere and the camp floor is sand, so sandals are a poor choice. In winter bring a jacket, because the desert drops sharply once the sun goes and guests underestimate this every year. In summer, light clothing and the morning safari.
Q6Where does the desert safari go?
The Lahbab dunes, often called the red dunes, roughly 45 to 60 minutes south east of Dubai on the E66 Hatta road. The sand there carries iron oxide, which is what gives it the deep colour, and the Bedouin camps sit among the dunes rather than at the roadside.
Q7Can I do a desert safari without dune bashing?
Yes. Tell us when you book and the driver takes a calmer route to the camp, and everything at the camp is unchanged. Guests who are pregnant, have back trouble or simply do not enjoy it take this option regularly, and it costs no more or less.
Q8Is the BBQ dinner halal?
Yes. Vegetarian dishes are always available on the buffet. Tell us about allergies or dietary needs when you book so the camp knows in advance rather than being asked on the night.
Q9Do you pick up from the hotel?
Hotel pickup and drop-off within Dubai is free on every booking. Transfers from Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah are quoted with the booking. We confirm the pickup point and the window the day before, because the timing moves with the season.
Q10Is a desert safari safe for children?
Yes, and children usually enjoy the dune drive most of anyone in the vehicle. Tell us their ages when you book so the camp seats you together and the driver pitches the drive right. If a child finds it too much, saying so stops it immediately.
Q11What is the difference between a VIP and a private safari?
VIP normally means better camp seating and a longer buffet while you still share the 4x4 with other guests. Private means the vehicle itself is yours. They are different purchases and they are frequently confused. If sharing a table is the problem, buy VIP. If sharing a car is the problem, buy private.
Q12Which safari is best in summer?
The morning one. Between June and September the afternoon desert is uncomfortable in a way that spoils the trip, while the same dunes before 9am are pleasant. The dune drive, the camel ride and the sandboarding are all included on the morning safari.
Q13Can I add a buggy or a quad to a safari?
Yes, and it is the most popular combination we run. There are packages with a self-drive dune buggy session and packages with a quad ride at the camp, and you can also book a buggy or quad tour separately and add a safari to it, which gives you far more time on the machine.
Q14Do I pay a deposit?
No deposit is taken to hold a standard slot. Multi-vehicle and corporate bookings are confirmed separately. Cash, card and bank transfer are all accepted, and you can pay on the spot at the base. Cancel more than 24 hours before your slot and you get a full refund. Inside 24 hours we will always try to move you to another date rather than charge you.
Q15What happens if the weather is bad?
If wind, heat or visibility make the route unsafe we contact you before you travel and reschedule at no cost. If no alternative date works, you get a full refund.
07 / Keep reading
Where to go next
All packagesDesert Safari Dubai
Every shared and private safari, with the price basis on each card.
View page → PricesSafari price listThe full comparison in one table.
View page → EveningEvening Desert SafariDune bashing, dinner and the shows after dark.
View page → MorningMorning Desert SafariDawn pickup, sunrise on the dunes, back before lunch.
View page → LocationRed Dunes, LahbabWhere a Dubai safari actually goes, and how far it is.
View page → TimingsDesert safari timingsThe full guide to when each safari runs through the year.
View page →
Question not answered?
Message us and we will answer it
Send the date and how many of you there are. That is enough for us to come back with shared and private totals and a pickup plan.