Things to know before going on your first desert safari in Dubai

Look past its towering skyscrapers, futuristic architecture, and spectacular skyline and you’ll find a city that is rich in culture, tradition and history, kept alive in the deserts beyond by Dubai’s desert-dwelling Bedouins.

Uncover the intriguing Emirati culture on a desert safari into the unknown and experience the unique and everchanging landscapes that surround this desert city, from the calm lakes of Al Qudra to the “Big Red” dunes of Al Badayer.

Here are all the things you need to know before planning your first desert safari in Dubai.

Whether it’s on a luxurious range rover or a thrilling 4x4 drive, at dusk or at dawn, there are many different types of desert safaris available for you to experience the beauty and rich culture of Dubai’s deserts. Depending on your interests and travel preferences, here are some of the most popular types for you to choose from.

Starting as early as 4:30 a.m., most morning desert safari tours will pick you up from your hotel accommodation and drive you straight into the heart of the desert. The predawn tours allow you to catch the sunrise and bask in the quiet and cool morning before the crowds start trickling in — perfect for enjoying adventure activities on the dunes without the harsh afternoon sun beating down on you.

As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. Some morning desert safaris include exclusive morning-only activities like hot air balloon rides over the desert. Cap off your morning with a delicious breakfast, complete with Arabic coffee, dates and traditional sweets in a Bedouin-style camp. This Morning Red Dunes desert safari tour by Oscar Knight Tours will get you back to your hotel by early afternoon, giving you the rest of the day to explore the beautiful city of Dubai.

If you’re not one for early mornings, an evening desert safari promises you that quintessential Dubai desert experience. Your evening desert safari tour typically begins in the late afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., starting with adventure activities under the sultry heat like falconry, sandboarding, dune bashing and quad biking. Before the sun sets, make your way back to camp on a languid camel ride and marvel at the scenery as the vast desert descends into magical hues of yellow, orange and blue.

But it’s when night falls that the desert comes to life. Tours like the Dubai Evening Desert Safari Tour by Dream Night Tours offer cultural activities like henna-painting, captivating belly dances and fire show displays, as you feast on a delicious barbecue dinner of kebabs and grilled meats, and smoke a pipe of shisha. Let your hair down and enjoy an Arabian night in the desert. Your host will bring you safely back to your hotel at the end of the night.

If you can’t decide between a day or night desert safari, you can enjoy the best of both worlds on an overnight desert safari tour. Over 14 to 18 hours, your full desert experience starts in the late afternoon with adventure activities to get your heart pumping. At night, enjoy live performances and delicious food, with the addition of a unique camping experience under the twinkling desert sky in a Bedouin-style tent. Wake up to fresh Arabic coffee before heading back to Dubai for a full day of exploring the city.

Spending the night in Dubai’s deserts is not recommended without a guide, so book a tour with Dubai Overnight Safari with OceanAir Travels to have your itinerary and needs covered for your overnight desert expedition.

With plenty of different types of tours available, the cost of a desert safari will differ based on the operator, the length of the tour (whether it’s in the day, night, or overnight), the activities included, the type of transport provided, food options and many more.

If you’re looking for a no-frills desert experience — exploring the dunes on foot or on a self-guided drive — some of the cheapest desert safaris in Dubai start from as low as AED36 to AED73 (USD10 to USD20) with hotel pick-up included. But for an additional AED110 to AED 183, you can upgrade your desert safari tour for more comfort and add a couple of must-do desert activities to your itinerary, while remaining relatively affordable.

From only AED146, the Dubai Red Dune Desert Safari by Dream Journey is a great value-for-money tour option that includes camel riding, sandboarding, dune bashing, sunset photo ops and an upgrade option to include a desert camp visit with fun camp activities and food. If you’re traveling as a group, you’d get good value from the Dubai Desert Safari Private Car tour, which translates to just AED183 per person for a group of five.

Explore the Dubai desert like Emirati royalty and splurge on a luxury desert safari with prices that range anywhere from AED367 to AED1836 per person. These high-end tours often include hotel pick-ups in a luxe private vehicle, fancy drinks and multi-course meals, private campsites and accommodation, and other premium add-ons.

For just AED367 to AED734, you can upgrade to luxury desert safari options like the Premium Luxury VIP Desert Safari and Dubai Heritage Land Rover Desert Safari that include unique touches like a wildlife safari on a vintage Land Rover, bread and coffee-making demonstrations, multi-course dinners and an overnight stay in a retreat that is fit for royalty.

If you’re looking to splash out on a romantic anniversary, birthday or celebration, the Platinum Luxury Desert Safari that starts from AED1818 includes a private Range Rover desert tour, a wildlife safari in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and a decadent six-course dinner in the middle of the desert.

The best months to go on a desert safari in Dubai are between November and March during winter when the weather isn’t unbearably hot in the afternoons. But the pleasant weather also means that it’s peak tourist season, so crowds at popular attractions are to be expected.

However, the climate in the desert is vastly different from that in the main Dubai city. Temperatures in the evenings and nights in the desert are typically lower than in the city, so an afternoon or evening desert safari in the summer months are great experiences as well, with many desert safari operators providing cooling units at camps and offering the option of closed air-conditioned vehicles. Note: Because of the heat, most tour operators do not run morning desert safari tours during summer.

If you’re not keen on finding bits of sand and dust chafing every part of your body, here’s our guide on what clothes to wear and pack for your desert safari:

You’re almost ready to embark on your first desert safari in Dubai. But before that, we leave you with some final tips to make the most out of your epic adventure into the deserts of Dubai.

Do your research and read reviews to find the best desert safari tour in Dubai that is suitable for your budget, travel style and interests. But most importantly — let go, let loose and let the beauty of the Arabian desert take you.