It may be better known for its lavish hotels, beautiful beaches and expansive shopping malls, but Dubai also offers visitors a chance to head into the desert.
(Photo: Platinum Heritage Luxury Tours & Safaris / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Lying directly within the Arabian Desert, about an hour’s drive from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city centre, Dubai’s vast expanse of sandy desert landscape makes for an action-packed excursion while visiting the iconic Emirati state. To help inspire you ahead of your trip, we’ve done some research and picked out three of the best Dubai desert safari tours currently available.
Heritage Dinner Desert Safari
This full-day heritage tour invites visitors to travel back in time and explore the Dubai desert aboard a 1950s Land Rover before sitting down to a traditional dinner. During the trip, you’ll get to look for local flora and fauna, view a live falcon training session, dine in an authentic Bedouin camp inside the private retreat of a royal family member, and experience cultural activities like henna painting, shisha and music. As you drive through the desert in style, you’ll have the chance to spot local wildlife including the Arabian oryx and gazelles in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The tour price includes hotel pick-up in an air-conditioned vehicle, water, tea and coffee, and a souvenir headdress. From $165 per person.
Private Night Safari & Astronomy
(Photo: Platinum Heritage Luxury Tours & Safaris / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
The desert is never more atmospheric than at night, when the silence is made starker by the absence of light. This half-day tour lets you explore the Dubai desert after nightfall on a nature safari, searching for nocturnal animals using night vision binoculars and gazing up at the sky filled with stars during an astronomy session. Afterwards, relax at an open-air camp belonging to a local royal family and enjoy the cool desert air as a three-course dinner and drinks are served. There’ll also be the chance to try an aromatic shisha pipe for a truly authentic Arabic experience. The tour takes place aboard a vintage 1960s Land Rover and includes hotel pick-up. From $346 per person.
Arabian Dune Safari
(Photo: BEST VALUE TOURISM / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Experience the ride of your life on this captivating desert tour. Over the course of 5 hours, you’ll be transported to a desert oasis close to Dubai city where you’ll go driving over the dunes in an SUV, skidding and sliding across these majestic mounds of sand. Next, get a taste of Bedouin culture, with the chance to try traditional Arabic coffee and food at a Bedouin camp. Other optional activities during the trip include getting a henna tattoo, enjoying a camel ride, trying your hand at falconry, riding a quad bike, and watching local belly dancing and fire shows. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. From $48 per person.