Dubai Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner

4.99

(587 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Dubai desert safari. The city’s so shiny and busy, but suddenly you’re out in the Red Dune Desert near Al Madam and it’s just endless sand and that weird hush you only get in wide open places. Our driver, Ahmed, had this sly grin when he asked if we were ready for dune bashing. I thought I was — turns out I wasn’t. The 4x4 slid over the dunes like a rollercoaster, my stomach somewhere behind me. Sand got everywhere (I’m still finding it in my shoes), but there was this moment at the top of a dune where everything stopped — just gold light and wind and us laughing like idiots.

If you pick the quad bike option (my friend did), you get thirty minutes to zip around on your own before the real ride starts. Honestly, I just watched her eat sand twice and cheered her on from the shade. There was a quick stop for sandboarding too — which is way harder than it looks, especially when you’re trying not to fall in front of strangers. Ahmed took photos for us and kept making jokes about “desert surfing champions.” He also pointed out some tiny tracks in the sand — beetles? lizards? I never did figure it out.

By sunset we rolled into this Bedouin-style camp where camels were waiting (they look so unimpressed by humans). My camel’s name was Noor; she snorted every time I tried to pet her. There was henna painting for anyone who wanted it (the artist laughed at my wobbly attempt to sit still), and then shisha smoke drifting around as people lined up for tea or coffee. The air smelled like grilling meat and spices — that part felt comforting after all the wildness earlier.

The evening sort of blurred into performances: swirling Tanoura dancers in neon skirts, belly dancing, then this fire show that made everyone gasp at least once. We ate BBQ under string lights — veggie stuff too, not just meat — and swapped stories with people from all over. The ride back was quiet; everyone kind of full and sandy and happy-tired. Sometimes travel feels too polished but this night felt messy in a good way. I still think about that view from the top of the dune sometimes — it’s stuck with me.