The ultimate guide to desert safari in Dubai

From luxurious Range Rover dune rides to thrilling sandboarding and desert skiing, at dusk or dawn, there are various types of desert safaris in Dubai to choose from. A desert safari is a great way to experience of the beauty and rich culture of Dubai’s deserts.

For those making plans for a desert safari for the first time, here is a brief guide listing all the important things to know before going, to help take the experience to a whole new level.

Types of desert safari In Dubai

Morning tours

Most morning Dubai desert safari tours typically begin as early as 4.30am. It’s worth going for the predawn tours as these are the ones that reach the desert before the crowds start trickling in. There’s also the opportunity to catch the sunrise, as well as bask in the calm and cool morning. 

The best part is that morning desert safaris often include activities like air balloon rides over the desert and dune rides, and the earlier part of the day is one of the best times for this kind of pursuit as the harsh sun isn’t beating down. 

To make a morning desert safari a more wholesome experience, it can be complemented with several other things, for example, authentic Arabic coffee, dates and traditional sweets in a Bedouin-style camp. 

Evening tours

For those who just aren’t early birds, there’s no need to worry – an evening desert safari is also a brilliant option as it promises a similarly quintessential experience. Most evening tours typically begin in the late afternoon between 3pm and 4pm. 

For adventure or thrill enthusiasts, evening desert safaris are the best choice because there are plenty of heart-pounding activities included exclusively in the tours happening later in the day. These include falconry, sandboarding, dune bashing, quad biking, camel rides and more.

In most cases professional guides are provided for desert rides in Dubai, so no experience is necessary. These guides are well-known for arranging all the safety requirements and equipping clients with all the safety gear throughout.

Evening camel rides are considered an ideal safari experience in Dubai – what better than a languid camel ride while heading back to camp? There will be the most mesmerising views of the desert as it descends into magical hues of yellow, orange and blue.

Overnight tours

Even if visitors have already enjoyed a morning or evening desert safari, it’s always a good idea to think about an overnight experience. After all those adventurous and thrilling activities during the day, there’s a chance to go camping, eat scrumptious barbecue dinners, take in traditional dance performances, enjoy some shisha, and more. The best thing about an overnight desert safari is stargazing under the twinkling desert sky in a Bedouin-style tent.

The offer to visit the best places in Dubai at night is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will provide memories to cherish for a lifetime.

How much does a desert safari in Dubai cost?

As discussed above, there are different types of desert safari tours to choose from in Dubai, so there isn’t really a specific cost as it varies depending upon a number of factors – mainly the operator, the duration, the activities included, the type of transport provided and food options.

Still, for an approximation of the costs, they should divided into two categories: on one hand, there are pocket-friendly and affordable desert safaris and on the other, there are luxury desert safaris.

Some of the cheapest desert safaris in Dubai will cost approximately AED36 to AED73, whereas the cost of luxurious desert safaris will range anywhere from AED367 to AED1836. 

When is the best time to go?

Although one can visit Dubai and explore the city in any month of the year, when it comes to desert safaris, some months are preferable and recommended by safari professionals. These tend to be between November and April as these are the months when temperatures are typically lower. The climate in the deserts of Dubai is very different from that of the main city.

What to wear

It’s widely recommended to opt for breathable clothes in loose fabrics like linen and cotton. This will help avoid sand and dust chafing the body. To stay protected from the scorching heat of the sun, light colours or ones that absorb less heat are best. Additional items such as sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen and sensible footwear options like sandals should also be included.

Conclusion

A little research into the range of options is a good idea in order to book the best suited desert safari tour, keeping in view budget, travel style, preferences and interests. It’s time to embark on that desert safari in Dubai!

The editorial unit