Dubai Desert Safari: Red Dunes, Quad Biking & VIP BBQ Night

4.98

(665 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the color — Lahbab’s sand isn’t just “desert brown,” it’s this wild, deep red that looks unreal in late afternoon light. Our driver, Ahmed, had that quiet confidence you want when you’re about to go bouncing over dunes in an SUV. He played old Egyptian pop on the radio and pointed out how the wind shapes the sand every day. I tried to take a photo through the window but it never quite captured it — maybe nothing does.

At the quad bike spot, there was this dry, mineral smell and the helmets were still warm from the sun. The engine buzzed under my hands; honestly, I stalled it once before getting the hang of riding up those soft hills. My friend Li laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone filming me — apparently my “serious face” is meme-worthy now. After that came dune bashing (way more intense than I’d expected), with Ahmed grinning like he’d done this a thousand times (he probably has). We stopped for photos and I just stood there, sand in my shoes, wind in my ears — felt small in a good way.

The evening part slowed everything down. At camp there were lanterns flickering and someone making sweet mint tea behind a low table. There was henna painting (I smudged mine almost immediately), short camel rides (the camels looked unimpressed by us), and people drifting between cushions. The food smelled smoky — grilled lamb, spiced rice, something garlicky — and I ate too much bread because it was warm from the fire. The Tanoura dancer spun so long I got dizzy just watching him. Later, under stars that looked fake-bright, there was this hush before the fire show started — you know that moment when everyone just stops talking for a second? Still think about that.