Desert Safari Dubai Alone: Solo Rides, Safaris and Flights

Yes, you can do a desert safari in Dubai alone. The simplest solo choice is a shared safari priced per person with pickup included: the Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner costs AED 240 per adult and the Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 costs AED 225 per adult. Quads, the KTM and balloon flights also work for one.

Key takeaways

• Shared safaris are priced per person and include pickup, so one traveller books one seat: AED 240 per adult for the evening safari, AED 225 per adult for the morning safari.
• Single seater quad bikes are priced per quad bike, starting with the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater at AED 250 for 30 minutes.
• The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is made for one rider aged 18 or older, at AED 850 per dirt bike for 1 hour.
• Dune buggies are priced per buggy, not per person. A solo driver pays the full 2 Seater price, for example AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes in the Polaris RZR 1000 CC.
• The sharing transfer (AED 175 per person) needs two or more people from one pickup point, so a solo rider books the private car at AED 450 per car or meets the team at the emailed meeting point.
• Shared balloon flights are priced per person with free shared pickup, from AED 1,049 per adult for the Standard Flight.
• Bookings of up to 3 guests have no cancellation fee 96 hours or more before the tour, and refunds are less a 5% processing fee.

Can you go on a desert safari alone in Dubai?

You can. Safari Desert Dubai sells most desert products by the seat or by the machine, and one traveller fits both. What changes is how each product is priced and how you reach the desert.

Three pricing models apply:

• Per person. Shared safaris, the camel ride, sandboarding, the camp-only dinners and shared balloon flights. One traveller pays one price.
• Per machine. Buggies are priced per buggy, quads per quad bike and the KTM per dirt bike. The price is the same whether one or two people sit in or on it.
• Per car or per booking. Private safaris are priced per car for up to 6 guests, and the private balloon is priced per booking.

The rides and safaris all take place in the desert outside Dubai. The company office is at Concord Tower, Office no. 401, Al Sufouh 2, Dubai.

Solo prices at a glance

Products that suit one traveller, each with its own unit:

Each price stands alone. Where pickup is not included, the transfer is a separate line, explained further down.

The shared desert safari: the simplest solo choice

If you want one booking that covers transport, the desert drive and something to eat, the shared safari is the answer. You book one seat, a driver collects you, and you join other guests in a Land Cruiser or 4x4. Full package details sit on the desert safari tours page.

Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner

The evening safari costs AED 240 per adult (12 and over). It includes pickup, dune bashing in a 4x4, a short camel ride and a BBQ dinner with belly dance, tanoura and fire shows. The site gives about 5 to 6 hours for the evening safari from pickup to drop-off.

For someone travelling alone, the evening safari is also social: you share the vehicle and the dinner with other guests.

Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4

The morning safari costs AED 225 per adult. It runs in a Land Cruiser 4x4 and lasts about four hours, with water and soft drinks. It is a shorter outing that leaves the rest of the day free, which helps if you have other plans in the city.

Safari with 30 minutes on a quad

Both shared safaris can be booked with a 30 minute ATV quad bike session. The Evening Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike costs AED 375 per adult, and the Morning Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike costs AED 290 per adult. Pickup is included. For a solo traveller this is a neat way to try riding a quad without arranging a separate ride and a separate transfer.

Can a solo traveller book a private safari?

Yes, though it is priced for a group. The Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 is AED 799 per car, and the Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 is AED 1,400 per car. Each car takes up to 6 guests and includes pickup, so a solo guest pays the same per car price as a group of six.

Can one person rent a dune buggy in Dubai?

Safari Desert Dubai does not sell a single seater dune buggy. The smallest buggies are the 2 Seater versions of each model, and every buggy is priced per buggy, not per person. A 2 seater carries two people and a 4 seater carries four, but the price does not change with how many seats you fill.

That means a solo driver pays the full 2 Seater price. These are the 2 Seater prices per buggy:

All prices are per buggy. The buggies have roll cages and seatbelts, and each buggy tour includes a self-drive tour with an experienced tour guide, a helmet, goggles and gloves, and refreshments or mineral water.

If you would rather pay for one seat, the shared safari with a 30 minute quad puts you at the controls at a per person price. Confirm ages and licence questions for buggy drivers with the team when you book.

Quad bikes for one person

Quad bikes are the clearest solo machine. Several are single seaters, and each is priced per quad bike, so one rider pays for one quad. The quad bike tours page lists every model.

For an adult riding alone, these are the relevant quads and their prices per quad bike:

• Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater: 30 min AED 250, 1 hour AED 350, 2 hours AED 600.
• Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Turbo Charge Single Seater: 30 min AED 350, 1 hour AED 425, 2 hours AED 800.
• Yamaha Grizzly Quad Bike: 30 min AED 450, 1 hour AED 550, 2 hours AED 950.
• Sport Quad Bike 625 CC: 1 hour AED 700, 2 hours AED 1,250 (1 or 2 hours only).
• Yamaha Raptor 700 CC: 1 hour AED 795, 2 hours AED 1,550 (1 or 2 hours only).

The Yamaha Quad Bike 90 CC is only for children aged 9 to 12, and the Yamaha Quad Bike 220 CC is recommended for ages 14 to 17. Both ride only in a fenced area, so they are not the right pick for an adult on a solo trip. Confirm the age rules for any other quad when you book.

Before every quad ride, the guide gives a safety briefing on how to drive the vehicle, the safety gear and what to do in an emergency. Riders keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path. Every rider wears a helmet.

The KTM dirt bike: a ride built for one

The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is booked for one rider aged 18 or older. It is priced per dirt bike: 1 hour AED 850, 2 hours AED 1,250, 3 hours AED 1,450. A helmet and riding gear are part of the session.

It suits a solo traveller who already rides and wants a longer session. The KTM dirt bike page covers the gear and the safety points in full.

Getting to the desert alone: transfers and the meeting point

Transport is the one place where travelling alone needs a little planning. No buggy, quad or KTM price includes pickup. You choose one of three ways to reach the start:

1. Sharing transfer, AED 175 per person. This needs two or more people from one pickup point. A traveller on their own does not meet that condition, so it is not the solo option.
2. Private car, AED 450 per car. The car takes 5 to 6 people, and the price is per car. A solo rider can book it.
3. Meet on site. The location is emailed after booking, and you make your own way there.

A transfer picks up 1 hour before the start of the ride. Rides start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, daily.

Shared safaris and shared balloon flights avoid this question, since pickup comes with the seat. The article on how transfers work for buggies and quads goes through each transfer step by step.

A sunrise balloon flight on your own

Shared hot air balloon flights are priced per person, so a solo traveller books one place in the basket. Adult prices (ages 12 to 80) are:

• Standard Flight: AED 1,049 per adult.
• Deluxe Flight: AED 1,149 per adult.
• Premium Flight: AED 1,349 per adult.

Shared pickup is free. Pickup is between 3:45 and 4:30 AM, and the exact time is sent the day before. The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes depending on the weather. A private car for 4 to 5 people costs AED 700 if you would rather not use the shared pickup.

The Private Hot Air Balloon is priced per booking, from AED 12,500 for 2 to 5 persons.

Camp-only dinners and small extras

Some solo travellers want the desert camp evening without the 4x4 drive. The camp-only BBQ dinners include the BBQ dinner and live entertainment shows, with no safari drive:

• Standard Camp: AED 125 per person.
• Premium Camp: AED 250 per person.

A private transfer must be booked with either camp, at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6. From October to March, pickup is 2:45 to 3:30 PM and drop-off is 9:00 to 9:30 PM. From April to September, pickup is 3:45 to 4:30 PM and drop-off is 9:30 to 9:45 PM.

Because the camp needs a private car, the shared evening safari at AED 240 per adult, which includes pickup and the dinner, is usually the more practical evening for a single guest. The comparison of safaris and camp dinners with BBQ explains the difference in more detail.

Two small extras sit on the activities form:

• Camel Ride in Desert (20 to 25 min): AED 150 per person.
• SandBoarding: AED 50 per person.

Sandboarding is never part of a buggy, quad or KTM price. Book it as its own extra if you want it.

Is a desert safari a good idea for solo female travellers?

The shared safari is the most structured option for anyone on their own. You are collected at your pickup point, you travel with other guests in a guided 4x4 or Land Cruiser, and you are dropped back at the end. You never need to find your own way to the desert.

On the self-drive rides, a guide leads the group, gives a safety briefing before every buggy and quad ride, and riders follow the guide's path. Booking confirmations arrive by email, so the pickup point and the plan are in writing before the day.

A few practical habits help any solo traveller:

• Share your booking confirmation and pickup time with someone you trust.
• Choose a pickup point you know, such as the place you are staying.
• Keep your phone charged and save the company's phone and WhatsApp numbers before you leave.
• Tell the team in advance about anything they should know, such as a preferred pickup spot.

These describe how the tours run and sensible habits, not a promise about any individual trip.

Booking, payment and cancellation for a solo booking

A solo booking falls under the rules for bookings of up to 3 guests:

• No cancellation fee 96 hours or more before the tour.
• A 50% fee from 24 to 96 hours before the tour.
• A 100% fee under 24 hours before the tour, or for a no-show.
• Refunds are less a 5% processing fee.

Rescheduling is free, subject to availability. You cancel or change a booking by email only.

If Safari Desert Dubai cancels a tour, for example for weather, you choose between a refund less the 5% fee or a free new date. Once a tour has started, it is not refunded.

Payment is by Visa or Mastercard in AED, in full online when booking, with no card fee. The booking confirmation arrives by email within 48 hours of payment.

Planning a solo desert day: practical tips

A few points make a solo trip smoother:

• Pick the season. The site names October to March as the best season for the desert.
• Bring identification. Carry a passport or a national ID for buggy and quad rides.
• Wear closed-toe shoes. They are required on buggy and quad rides. The helmet, goggles and gloves are provided.
• Plan the transfer first. For a ride, decide between the AED 450 private car and the emailed meeting point before you choose a start time. A transfer arrives 1 hour before the start.
• Check your health first. Dune bashing and self-drive rides are physical. If you are pregnant or have a back, neck or heart condition, check with a doctor and tell the team before booking.
• Confirm ages. If you are a younger traveller, confirm the age rules for buggies and quads when you book. KTM riders must be 18 or older.

Which option fits a solo traveller?

Match the product to what you want from the day:

• You want company and no logistics: the shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner at AED 240 per adult.
• You want a taste of riding without a separate transfer: the Morning Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike at AED 290 per adult, or the evening version at AED 375 per adult.
• You want to ride alone for longer: a single seater quad such as the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater, from AED 250 per quad bike for 30 minutes, with a private car or the emailed meeting point.
• You already ride motorbikes: the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC, from AED 850 per dirt bike for 1 hour, for riders aged 18 or older.
• You want to drive a buggy and accept paying for the whole machine: the 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC, from AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes.

In short

A desert safari in Dubai alone is straightforward. Shared safaris and shared balloon flights are priced per person and include pickup, which makes them the easiest solo bookings. Quads and the KTM are priced per machine and built for one rider, while buggies are priced per buggy, so a solo driver pays the 2 Seater price. For rides, plan the transfer: the AED 450 private car or the emailed meeting point.

To book a shared safari as one guest, use the desert safari booking form, or call +971 52 447 2719, message WhatsApp on +971 52 440 9525, or email [email protected] with your date and pickup point.