The best desert safari in Dubai for couples depends on how you want to spend the time together. Drive a 2 seater dune buggy side by side, share an evening safari with a camel ride and BBQ dinner, book a private Land Cruiser so the car is yours alone, or float over the desert at sunrise in a hot air balloon.
Key takeaways
- A 2 seater self-drive buggy is priced per buggy, from AED 600 for 30 minutes in the Polaris RZR 1000 CC. One buggy carries both of you.
- The Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Double Seater is priced per quad bike, from AED 350 for 30 minutes.
- The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is AED 240 per adult, with pickup, dune bashing, a short camel ride and belly dance, tanoura and fire shows.
- The Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 is AED 1,400 per car for up to 6 guests, and the private morning safari is AED 799 per car.
- Shared balloon flights start at AED 1,049 per adult. The Private Hot Air Balloon is AED 12,500 per booking for 2 to 5 persons.
- No buggy or quad price includes pickup. Add a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, a private car at AED 450 per car, or meet at the emailed location.
- Cancel 96 hours or more before your tour and there is no cancellation fee. Refunds are less a 5% processing fee.
What are the best desert plans for two in Dubai?
Safari Desert Dubai runs every outing in the desert outside the city, and almost all of them work for a couple. The question is less "which is best" and more "what kind of time do you want together". Four plans fit two people especially well.
Driving together. A self-drive 2 seater buggy or the double seater quad bike puts you both on one machine, with a guide leading the way. It is active, loud and fun, and it fits into an hour or two.
An evening in the desert. The evening safari combines dune bashing in a 4x4, a short camel ride and a BBQ dinner with shows. It fills most of an afternoon and evening, and you can book it shared or as a private car.
Dinner only. Standard Camp and Premium Camp give you the BBQ dinner and live entertainment shows without the safari drive. This suits couples who want the camp evening but not the dune bashing.
Sunrise in a balloon. A shared or private balloon flight starts before dawn and lasts 45 to 60 minutes in the air, depending on the weather. It is the calmest of the four and the earliest start.
Many couples pick one. Some pair a morning activity with an evening one on a different day. The sections below give the prices with their units, the timings and what each plan includes, so you can choose without guessing.
Driving together: 2 seater buggies and the double seater quad
If the two of you like to be in control, a self-drive outing is the most hands-on choice. Every buggy and quad tour includes a self-drive tour with an experienced tour guide, a helmet, goggles and gloves, and refreshments or mineral water. The buggies have roll cages and seatbelts.
How is a 2 seater buggy priced for a couple?
Buggies are priced per buggy, not per person. A 2 seater carries two people, so one buggy is enough for a couple. One of you drives and the other rides alongside. If you both want a turn at the wheel, ask the team about swapping when you book, and confirm the age rules for drivers and passengers at the same time.
Safari Desert Dubai has four 2 seater models. Here are their prices, each one per buggy:
| 2 Seater buggy (self-drive) | 30 min | 1 hour | 2 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC | AED 600 per buggy | AED 900 per buggy | AED 1,750 per buggy |
| Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC Turbo | AED 900 per buggy | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,200 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 | AED 999 per buggy | AED 1,499 per buggy | AED 2,800 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,300 per buggy | AED 4,200 per buggy |
For a first ride together, the Polaris RZR 1000 CC for 30 minutes or an hour is a sensible start. Couples who have driven buggies before often look at the Can-Am models. The full model comparison is in the guide on choosing between a dune buggy and a quad bike in Dubai.
What about the double seater quad bike?
The Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Double Seater seats two people, one behind the other. It is priced per quad bike:
- 30 minutes: AED 350 per quad bike
- 1 hour: AED 425 per quad bike
- 2 hours: AED 820 per quad bike
A quad feels more open than a buggy. There is no roll cage, and the passenger holds on behind the rider. Some couples love that closeness. Others prefer the buggy, where both sit side by side and can talk more easily. Ask about age rules for the rider and the passenger when you book.
Safety on a self-drive ride
Before every buggy and quad ride the guide gives a safety briefing on how to drive the vehicle, the safety gear and what to do in an emergency. Both of you wear a helmet for the whole ride. Riders keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path.
Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a passport or a national ID. If either of you is pregnant or has a back, neck or heart condition, check with a doctor and tell the team before booking. The guide on what to wear on a desert safari in Dubai covers clothing and sand protection in more detail.
Getting to the buggy or quad
No buggy, quad or dirt bike price includes pickup. You have three choices:
- A sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, for two or more people from one pickup point. A couple travelling together meets that condition.
- A private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6 guests.
- Meeting on site: the location is emailed after booking.
The transfer picks up 1 hour before the start time.
A safari evening for two: shared or private?
The evening desert safari is the classic Dubai desert outing, and it works well for couples who want a full experience without driving. The Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner 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.
The shared evening safari
On the shared safari you join other guests in the vehicle and at the camp. It is priced per person: AED 240 per adult (12 and over). The atmosphere is sociable, and the shows at dinner give the evening a sense of occasion.
The shared safari suits couples who are happy to be part of a group and want the most straightforward way to see the desert, ride a camel and eat dinner under the sky.
The private evening safari
The Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 is AED 1,400 per car, for up to 6 guests, with pickup included. For a couple, this means the Land Cruiser carries only the two of you. The driver collects you, the dune bashing happens with no other passengers, and you arrive at the BBQ dinner together.
This is the option to look at for a special date. It costs more than the shared seat because you are booking the whole car, and the price stays per car whether two or six people ride. Couples who travel with friends sometimes book one private car for the group.
The guide to booking a desert safari with BBQ dinner in Dubai goes deeper into the evening packages.
What about a morning safari for two?
If evenings are already busy, the Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 runs in a Land Cruiser and lasts about four hours, with water and soft drinks. The shared morning safari is AED 225 per adult. The Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 is AED 799 per car for up to 6 guests, pickup included.
A private morning safari is a quieter way to have the desert to yourselves. It leaves the rest of the day free.
Adding a camel ride or sandboarding
The evening safari already includes a short camel ride. On the activities form you can also add a Camel Ride in Desert of 20 to 25 minutes at AED 150 per person, or SandBoarding at AED 50 per person. These are extras, so they are booked on top. A buggy or quad price never includes sandboarding.
Dinner only: Standard Camp and Premium Camp
Some couples want the desert dinner and shows but not the dune bashing. Standard Camp and Premium Camp give you exactly that: BBQ Dinner plus Live Entertainment Shows, with no safari drive.
| Camp option | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Camp | AED 125 | per person |
| Premium Camp | AED 250 | per person |
| Private transfer (required) | AED 450 | per car for 5 to 6 |
A private transfer must be booked with the camp-only dinners. It is a separate price, booked on top.
Camp pickup times by season
The camp-only BBQ dinners follow set times that change with the season:
- October to March: pickup 2:45 to 3:30 PM, drop-off 9:00 to 9:30 PM.
- April to September: pickup 3:45 to 4:30 PM, drop-off 9:30 to 9:45 PM.
A dinner-only evening is gentle and relaxed. It fits well after a busy day in the city, or for anyone who would rather skip the dune bashing.
Sunrise in a balloon: shared or private?
A hot air balloon flight is the quietest way to see the desert. You drift above the dunes as the sun comes up, and the flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the weather.
Shared balloon flights
Safari Desert Dubai has three shared flights, each priced per person. For adults (12 to 80):
| Shared flight | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Standard Flight | AED 1,049 per person |
| Deluxe Flight | AED 1,149 per person |
| Premium Flight | AED 1,349 per person |
On a shared flight you share the basket with other guests. Sharing pickup is free. Pickup is 3:45 to 4:30 AM, with the exact time sent the day before. A private car for 4 to 5 costs AED 700 if you prefer to travel on your own.
The Private Hot Air Balloon
The Private Hot Air Balloon is AED 12,500 per booking for 2 to 5 persons. It includes private pickup, a buffet breakfast, a falcon photo, a camel or horse ride and an edited flight video. For a couple, the basket and the morning belong to the two of you.
This is the biggest single booking in this guide, and it is meant for an occasion you want to remember. If the price fits, it is the most private way to share the desert at dawn.
The guide on shared or private balloon flights in Dubai compares the flights in more detail.
Planning the day together
Timing matters more for couples than for most groups, because you will want the day to feel unhurried. A few practical points help.
Start times and pickups
- Buggies and quads start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, daily.
- A buggy or quad transfer picks up 1 hour before the start.
- Balloon pickup is 3:45 to 4:30 AM, with the exact time sent the day before.
- Safaris include pickup, and the team confirms the time when you book.
- Camp-only dinner pickups follow the seasonal times above.
Which season to choose
The site names October to March as the best season. If you can choose your travel dates, those months are the ones to aim for. If you are visiting in other months, an early buggy start or a sunrise balloon flight helps you enjoy the desert at a calmer time of day. For more on picking a start time, read the guide on the best time for a dune buggy ride in Dubai.
Combining two plans
A couple with two free days might choose one active plan and one calm one:
- A sunrise balloon flight on one day and an evening safari on another.
- A morning buggy session on one day and a camp-only dinner on another.
- A private morning safari, then a free afternoon in the city.
Balloon pickups are very early, so most couples avoid booking a late evening the night before. Each booking keeps its own price and unit, so check each one separately.
What to bring
- Closed-toe shoes for buggies and quads.
- A passport or a national ID.
- Light layers for early starts.
- Sunglasses and something to cover your hair from sand.
Helmets, goggles and gloves are part of every buggy and quad tour, so you do not need to bring your own.
Which option fits which couple?
Every couple is different. Here is a plain way to match a plan to the kind of day you want.
First time in the desert
The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner gives you the most variety in one booking: dune bashing, a short camel ride, dinner and shows. At AED 240 per adult, it is a simple way to see what the desert has before planning anything bigger.
Couples who want a thrill
A 2 seater buggy is the most active choice. Start with the Polaris RZR 1000 CC and move to a Can-Am if you want more. The double seater quad is another option if you prefer to ride one behind the other.
A quiet evening
Standard Camp or Premium Camp, with the required private transfer, gives you dinner and shows without the dune bashing. The private evening safari is another quiet choice, because the car is yours alone.
A special date
For an occasion like an anniversary or a birthday, couples tend to look at two plans: the private evening safari at AED 1,400 per car, or the Private Hot Air Balloon at AED 12,500 per booking. Both keep the experience to just the two of you. Whatever you choose, tell the team about the occasion when you book, and ask what they can arrange within the package.
Couples on different pages
If one of you wants speed and the other wants calm, split the plans. The thrill-seeker gets a buggy session, and both of you enjoy a camp-only dinner or a balloon flight another day.
Booking, payment and the refund policy
Booking is done online. 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.
Cancelling or changing a booking
The refund policy is clear: cancel 96 hours or more before your tour and there is no cancellation fee. Refunds are less a 5% processing fee. Cancellations and changes are made by email only, and rescheduling is free, subject to availability.
If Safari Desert Dubai cancels a tour, for example for weather, you choose a refund less the 5% fee or a free new date. Once a tour has started, it is not refunded. The full terms are on the refund policy page.
Before you book
- Decide whether you want an active plan, a calm plan or both.
- Choose shared or private for safaris and balloon flights.
- For buggies and quads, decide on a transfer or the emailed meeting point.
- Confirm age rules for drivers and passengers when booking.
- Tell the team about any health conditions before booking.
In short
The right desert safari in Dubai for couples comes down to the kind of time you want together. Drive side by side in a 2 seater buggy priced per buggy, share a camel ride and BBQ dinner on the evening safari, keep a Land Cruiser to yourselves with a private car, enjoy a dinner-only camp night, or watch the sunrise from a balloon. Each plan has its own price and unit, and each one runs in the desert outside Dubai.
When you know which plan suits you, book your desert adventure online or call Safari Desert Dubai on +971 52 447 2719, or email [email protected] with your date and pickup point.
