Swap the city skyline for rolling red dunes and you’ll see why a desert safari is the trip most visitors remember. But there’s more than one kind. You can go in the evening for the sunset and dinner at a camp, head out early while it’s cool, drive a buggy yourself or float over the sand in a hot air balloon.
This guide compares the types of desert safari in Dubai, explains what happens on the day and covers what to wear and who should skip dune bashing, so you can pick the right one.
Quick answer: The main types of desert safari in Dubai are the evening safari (dune bashing, sunset and a BBQ dinner with live shows), the shorter morning safari, self-drive dune buggy and quad bike tours, camel rides and sunrise hot air balloon flights. For a first visit, a shared evening safari is the best value, from AED 79 with Wonder Star. Choose a private safari for families and couples, and the balloon for a special occasion.
Types of Desert Safari in Dubai at a Glance
| Safari | When | Time needed | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard evening safari (shared) | Afternoon to night | 6 to 7 hours | AED 79 | First visits, budgets |
| Premium evening safari | Afternoon to night | About 7 hours | AED 139 | Smaller groups, more comfort |
| Private evening safari | Afternoon to night | 6 to 7 hours | AED 649 | Families, couples, celebrations |
| Morning desert safari (private) | About 8:30 AM to midday | About 3 hours | AED 649 | Busy evenings, cooler hours |
| Dune buggy tour | Daytime | Up to 4 hours | AED 800 | Driving yourself |
| Quad bike ride | Daytime | About 2 hours | AED 150 | First-time drivers |
| Camel ride | Daytime | About 30 minutes riding | AED 55 | Families, a gentle taste |
| Hot air balloon | Sunrise | 4 to 6 hours | AED 1,350 | Couples, special occasions |
Starting prices with Wonder Star Tourism in October 2026. Check each tour page for today’s price.
Evening Desert Safari
The evening safari is the classic choice, and the one we recommend for a first visit. You’re picked up from your hotel in the afternoon, driven to the red dunes about 45 to 60 minutes from Downtown, and spend the evening in the desert before heading back at around 9 to 10 PM. There are three ways to do it.
Standard Desert Safari
Our Standard Desert Safari is the best value, from AED 79 per person. You share a 4×4 with other guests for dune bashing and a sunset photo stop, then spend the evening at a desert camp. A camel ride, henna for ladies, Arabic coffee, a BBQ buffet dinner with soft drinks, and live Tanoura, belly dance and Dabka shows are all included.
Premium Desert Safari
The Premium Desert Safari, from AED 139, keeps the same evening but adds comfort: fewer guests in each vehicle, a premium BBQ dinner and the full live show. It’s a good upgrade if you’d rather not share a full car.
Private Desert Safari
On a Private Desert Safari, the 4×4 and driver are yours alone, from AED 649. You set the pace, stop for photos when you like and travel only with your own group. It suits families with young children, couples and anyone celebrating.
Morning Desert Safari
The Morning Desert Safari is a short, private trip for travellers who already have plans for the evening. You’re collected at around 8:30 AM, spend the morning dune bashing in the cool air with stops for photos, and are back at your hotel by about midday. There’s no camp or dinner, so it takes about three hours in total.
Because it’s private, it costs more than a shared evening safari, from AED 649. In return, you get the car to yourselves and the dunes at their quietest.
Drive Yourself: Dune Buggy and Quad Bike
If you’d rather be behind the wheel, try a self-drive tour. On a dune buggy tour, from AED 800, you drive a powerful off-road buggy in a guided convoy across the dunes after a safety briefing and a practice run. The ride itself lasts 60 to 90 minutes, and the whole trip takes up to 4 hours with transfers.
A quad bike ride, from AED 150, is the easier, cheaper way to try driving on sand, and it’s fine for beginners. You can also add a quad ride at the camp on an evening safari.
Slower Ways to See the Desert: Camel Ride and Hot Air Balloon
Not every desert trip needs speed. A camel ride, from AED 55, is a gentle 30-minute walk across the sand with a handler. It suits families and anyone who’d rather skip dune bashing.
For something unforgettable, take a sunrise hot air balloon flight, from AED 1,350. You’ll float over the dunes for 45 to 60 minutes as the sun comes up, often over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where Arabian oryx and gazelles roam.
Morning vs Evening Desert Safari: Which Is Better?
For most visitors, the evening safari is the better choice: you get dune bashing, the sunset and a full evening at the camp for a lower price. Choose the morning safari if your evenings are already booked, you’d rather avoid a late night, or you want the car to yourselves.
| Morning safari | Evening safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up | About 8:30 AM | Mid-afternoon |
| Back at your hotel | About midday | About 9 to 10 PM |
| Includes | Dune bashing, photo stops | Dune bashing, sunset, camel ride, BBQ dinner, live shows |
| Vehicle | Private | Shared or private |
| Price from | AED 649 | AED 79 |
| Best for | Busy evenings, quiet dunes | First visits, the full experience |
Planning a full day? Go up the Burj Khalifa in the morning and head to the desert in the afternoon. Our Burj Khalifa ticket guide explains which time slot to book.
What Happens on an Evening Desert Safari
Here’s how a typical evening runs. Times shift through the year because sunset moves from about 5:30 PM in December to about 7:10 PM in June, so we confirm your exact pick-up time when you book.
- Hotel pick-up: an air-conditioned 4×4 collects you in the afternoon.
- Edge of the desert: your driver lets some air out of the tyres so the car grips the sand.
- Dune bashing: about 20 to 45 minutes of rollercoaster-style driving up and over the dunes.
- Sunset stop: time for photos from the top of a high dune as the sand turns red and gold.
- Camp welcome: Arabic coffee and dates, then a camel ride, henna and sandboarding where conditions allow.
- Dinner and shows: a BBQ buffet under the stars, followed by live Tanoura, belly dance and Dabka performances.
- Drive back: you’re back at your hotel at around 9 to 10 PM.
Best Time of Year for a Desert Safari
Desert safaris run all year, but the season changes the experience. Here’s what to expect.
November to March
This is the best time to go. Days are warm and desert evenings are cool, sometimes dropping to the mid-teens °C, so bring a light jacket. It’s also peak season, so book a few days ahead.
April to October
From June to September, daytime temperatures often pass 40°C. Evening safaris still run, as the worst heat has passed by sunset, but the first hour can be very hot. Drink plenty of water and wear sun protection.
During Ramadan
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February. Safaris still run, but the camp evening changes a little. Belly dancing is usually paused, music is kept low, alcohol generally isn’t served and dinner is served after sunset as an iftar meal. Dune bashing, camel rides and sandboarding carry on as normal, and it’s polite to be discreet about eating or drinking in public during the day.
What to Wear and Bring
Dress for sun and sand rather than style. Here’s what we tell our guests:
- Light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Cotton or linen keeps you cool and protects you from the sun.
- A warm layer for evenings between November and March.
- Closed shoes or trainers. Sandals fill up with sand quickly.
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
- A scarf or buff to keep sand off your face, especially on a buggy or quad.
- A zip bag or case for your phone or camera.
- Cash or a card for extras such as quad rides.
Is a Desert Safari Safe?
Yes. With a licensed operator and experienced drivers, a desert safari is safe for most people. Our drivers are trained in desert driving, every vehicle has seatbelts, and you can ask your driver to take it more gently at any time.
Dune bashing isn’t for everyone, though. Skip it, and skip dune buggies and quad bikes too, if you:
- are pregnant
- have back, neck or heart problems
- have had recent surgery
- get badly travel sick
If you get mildly carsick, eat a light lunch and ask for the front seat. If any of the points above apply to you, tell us when you book and we’ll suggest a gentler way to enjoy the desert. If you’re pregnant, check with your doctor before a camel ride too.
Children are welcome on evening safaris. Tell us their ages when you book, so we can plan the right trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions guests ask us most before booking a desert safari.
Which is better, a morning or evening desert safari?
For most people, the evening safari. It includes dune bashing, the sunset, a camel ride, a BBQ dinner and live shows, from AED 79. The morning safari is shorter and private, and suits travellers whose evenings are already booked.
How long does a desert safari take?
An evening safari takes about 6 to 7 hours from pick-up to drop-off. Our private morning safari takes about 3 hours, and a dune buggy tour up to 4 hours including transfers.
What should I wear on a desert safari?
Light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, closed shoes, sunglasses and a scarf for the sand. Bring a warm layer for evenings between November and March.
Can I go on a desert safari if I’m pregnant?
You shouldn’t do dune bashing, ride a dune buggy or drive a quad bike while pregnant. Tell us when you book and we’ll suggest a gentler option, and check with your doctor first.
Can children go on a desert safari?
Yes. Evening safaris are popular with families. Tell us your children’s ages when you book, so we can plan the right trip. A private safari lets you go at your own pace.
What changes on a desert safari during Ramadan?
Safaris still run. Belly dancing is usually paused, music is kept low, alcohol generally isn’t served and dinner is served after sunset. Dune bashing, camel rides and sandboarding carry on as normal.
How much does a desert safari cost in Dubai?
With Wonder Star, a shared evening safari starts from AED 79 per person, the Premium safari from AED 139 and a private safari from AED 649. Self-drive dune buggy tours start from AED 800.
Book Your Desert Safari With Wonder Star Tourism
Choosing between the types of desert safari in Dubai comes down to three questions:
- Evening or morning: evening for the full experience, morning if your evenings are busy.
- Shared or private: shared for value, private for families, couples and celebrations.
- Ride or drive: let our drivers do the dune bashing, or take the wheel of a buggy or quad.
Our local team can help you pick the right safari, confirm your pick-up time and add extras such as a quad ride. Browse all our desert safari tours or message us on WhatsApp. For more ideas, see our guide to the best things to do in Dubai.
