Dubai Desert Safari: Quad Biking, Sandboarding & BBQ Dinner

4.78

(1121 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the way the city just fell away behind us—one minute we were weaving through Dubai traffic, and then suddenly it was all red sand stretching out in every direction. Our guide, Saeed, had this easy laugh and kept telling us stories about growing up nearby. He handed out little cups of gahwa (that spiced coffee) and dates at the rest stop before we hit the Lahbab desert proper. I tried to pronounce “Lahbab” right—he grinned but didn’t correct me. The air smelled dusty-sweet and warm even though it was late afternoon.

Dune bashing was wilder than I expected. It’s not like a rollercoaster; it’s bumpier, less predictable—sand flying up against the windows, everyone laughing or half-shouting as Saeed took those sharp drops. There was this moment when we stopped on top of a dune for photos—the sun low and orange, wind tugging at my scarf—and honestly, I just stood there for a bit longer than I meant to. The quiet out there is different from city quiet; it feels thick somehow.

Back at the camp, quad bikes were lined up like toy soldiers. My steering was terrible at first (I nearly took out a flag), but nobody seemed to mind. Kids were getting henna painted on their hands while others tried sandboarding—someone wiped out spectacularly and everyone cheered. Camel riding felt slower than I imagined; you get this loping rhythm that makes you want to laugh for no reason. Later, there were dancers swirling under colored lights, kebabs sizzling on the grill, smoke curling up from shisha pipes. I still think about that taste of grilled meat mixed with sweet mint tea—it stuck with me more than any souvenir would.