Abu Dhabi Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, BBQ & Live Shows

4.66

(136 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You’ll never forget your first time in the dunes,” our driver Khalid grinned as he let some air out of the tires. He was right. The 4x4 felt like it was floating and dropping at the same time—my stomach did a little dance every time we crested a sand wave. I kept thinking I’d seen enough orange for a lifetime, but then the light would shift again and everything glowed. Sand got everywhere, even behind my ears somehow.

Khalid stopped at what he called “the highest spot” for photos—he pointed out how the wind shapes the ridges differently every day. There was this quiet up there, except for someone laughing nearby trying to balance on a sandboard (not me this time). Camels waited below, chewing slowly like they had all the time in the world. When we finally reached the Bedouin camp, I could smell grilled meat and cardamom drifting through the air. A woman painted henna on my hand—she hummed quietly while she worked, didn’t speak much English but smiled when I thanked her.

The evening just kind of unfolded from there. We tried shisha (I coughed so hard Li nearly fell off his chair laughing), watched belly dancers swirl past lanterns, then a fire show that made everyone gasp at least once. Dinner was a proper spread—grilled chicken, rice, salads—and I ate more than I meant to because it just felt right sitting on those low cushions under the stars. It wasn’t perfect—my shoes are still full of sand—but honestly? That’s part of why it sticks with me.