Dubai Desert Safari: Quad Biking, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

4.97

(265 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I was honestly a bit nervous as we left the city behind — you know that feeling when the skyline just disappears and suddenly it’s all open space? Our driver, Ahmed, had this calm way of chatting about his childhood in Sharjah while steering through traffic. The air-conditioned van was a relief (Dubai mornings can already feel like noon), but I kept glancing out at the changing colors. When we finally reached Lahbab Desert, it was quieter than I expected — just wind and that soft crunch under my shoes stepping onto the red sand.

The quad biking part was wild. I’d never driven one before, so my hands were kind of shaky at first. Ahmed grinned and said, “Don’t worry, everyone looks nervous their first time.” The engine’s rumble felt weirdly soothing after a minute or two. We zipped around for maybe 25 minutes, dust flying everywhere — I could taste it in my teeth later (not complaining). After that, he handed me over to another guy with a camel named Majnoon. Sitting up there swaying above the sand felt both awkward and peaceful — I tried to look cool for a photo but probably failed.

There was this moment where they brought out a falcon for photos. The bird’s feathers were softer than I expected; its eyes sharper. A little kid from another group tried to say “marhaba” to it — not sure if falcons speak Arabic but it made everyone laugh. Then came dune bashing in a 4x4 — honestly, I lost track of which way was up for most of it. Sandboarding after that felt almost easy by comparison; sliding down those soft slopes is something I still think about when I see sand anywhere now.

By the time we headed back toward Dubai (covered in fine red dust), I realized how quiet the desert had been compared to the city’s noise. Not sure why that stuck with me more than anything else — maybe because there aren’t many places left where you can actually hear your own thoughts for a minute.