A desert safari in Dubai in winter means booking in the cooler October to March season, which Safari Desert Dubai names as the best time of year. Shared evening safaris with BBQ dinner start at AED 240 per adult and morning Land Cruiser safaris at AED 225 per adult, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
Key takeaways
- Safari Desert Dubai names October to March as the best season for the desert, so book once your travel dates are fixed.
- The shared evening safari with BBQ dinner costs AED 240 per adult (12+) and AED 225 per child (5 to 11), with pickup included.
- Buggies, quads and the KTM 450 CC dirt bike start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, and their prices do not include pickup.
- Camp-only Standard Camp and Premium Camp guests are picked up 2:45 to 3:30 PM and dropped off 9:00 to 9:30 PM from October to March.
- Pack layers: a light top for the day, a warmer layer for the evening camp and closed-toe shoes for any ride.
- Cancel 96 hours or more before the tour and there is no cancellation fee; refunds are less a 5% processing fee.
Why is winter the best season for a desert safari in Dubai?
Safari Desert Dubai names October to March as the best season for its desert trips. The air is cooler through these months, which makes the long parts of each trip easier to enjoy: standing on a dune crest for photos, sitting outside at the camp for the BBQ dinner, or spending an hour on a self-drive buggy in a helmet, goggles and gloves.
Winter also widens the choice of times. From October to March the whole day feels open, so a mid-morning quad session, an afternoon buggy drive or an evening safari all work well. If you are planning a trip for the other half of the year, the guide to desert safari Dubai in summer covers the different pickup times and planning points.
Is December good for a desert safari?
Yes. December sits inside the October to March season the site names as best, so every product runs in conditions most visitors find comfortable. The one thing to plan is timing. Start times, pickup windows and private cars are set per booking, so book as soon as your travel dates are fixed rather than waiting until you arrive.
Is January a good month for a desert safari in Dubai?
January is just as good as December for the desert, because it sits in the same October to March season. The same booking advice applies: choose your date, your product and your pickup well before you fly.
What is the best month for a desert safari in Dubai?
Any month from October to March is a strong choice, because that is the season the site names as best. Outside it, read the summer guide for the different timings.
Which winter desert safari should you book?
The right product depends on the time of day you prefer, how much driving you want to do yourself and whether you want dinner in the desert. The table below sets out the main winter options with prices exactly as Safari Desert Dubai lists them.
| Product | Price | Unit | Pickup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner (shared) | AED 240 adult (12+), AED 225 child (5 to 11) | per person | Included |
| Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 (shared) | AED 225 adult, AED 210 child | per person | Included |
| Evening Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike (shared) | AED 375 adult (12+), AED 340 child (5 to 11) | per person | Included |
| Morning Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike (shared) | AED 290 adult, AED 285 child | per person | Included |
| Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 | AED 799 | per car, up to 6 guests | Included |
| Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 | AED 1,400 | per car, up to 6 guests | Included |
| Standard Camp (BBQ Dinner + Live Entertainment Shows) | AED 125 | per person | Private transfer AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 |
| Premium Camp (BBQ Dinner + Live Entertainment Shows) | AED 250 | per person | Private transfer AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 |
| Camel Ride in Desert (20 to 25 min) | AED 150 | per person | Extra on the activities form |
| SandBoarding | AED 50 | per person | Extra on the activities form |
| Hot Air Balloon Standard Flight (shared) | AED 1,049 adult, AED 999 child (5 to 11) | per person | Shared pickup free |
| Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight (shared) | AED 1,149 adult, AED 1,049 child (5 to 11) | per person | Shared pickup free |
| Hot Air Balloon Premium Flight (shared) | AED 1,349 adult, AED 1,149 child (7 to 11) | per person | Shared pickup free |
Each price stands alone with its own unit. A per car price covers the car, and a per person price applies to each guest.
What does the evening desert safari include in winter?
The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is the classic way to spend a winter afternoon and evening in the desert. It includes pickup, dune bashing in a 4x4, a short camel ride and a BBQ dinner at the camp with belly dance, tanoura and fire shows. The site gives about 5 to 6 hours for the whole trip.
Winter suits this product well. The drive across the dunes happens in the afternoon light, and the evening at the camp is comfortable for sitting outside through the dinner and the shows. The one change winter brings is that the evening can feel cooler than the afternoon, so a layer in your bag is useful.
Adults are 12 and over and pay AED 240 per adult. Children aged 5 to 11 pay AED 225 per child. For a closer look at the dinner options, the comparison of desert safari with BBQ dinner in Dubai sets the shared, private and camp-only versions side by side.
Shared or private evening safari?
The shared evening safari is priced per person. 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. A private car suits families and friends who want their own vehicle, their own pace for photo stops and a pickup that only collects their group.
Is the morning Land Cruiser safari worth it in winter?
The Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 lasts about four hours, with water and soft drinks. It costs AED 225 per adult and AED 210 per child, with pickup included. The private version, Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4, is AED 799 per car for up to 6 guests.
Winter mornings in the desert are calm and fresh, and the morning safari leaves the rest of the day free for the city. It works well for visitors who plan an evening elsewhere, families with younger children who tire by night, and anyone who wants to see the dunes in clear morning light.
How do the safari and 30 minute ATV combos work?
If you want a taste of driving yourself without booking a separate ride, the combos add 30 minutes on an ATV quad bike to a shared safari, with pickup included.
- Evening Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike: AED 375 per adult (12+) and AED 340 per child (5 to 11).
- Morning Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike: AED 290 per adult and AED 285 per child.
Every quad rider wears a helmet, and the guide gives a safety briefing before the ride on how to drive the vehicle, the safety gear and what to do in an emergency. Ages for riding the quad vary by bike, so confirm the age of each rider when you book.
Dune buggy and quad bikes in Dubai in winter
Self-drive dune buggies, quad bikes and the KTM 450 CC dirt bike start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, every day. A transfer picks up 1 hour before the start. In winter, every one of those start times is practical, which is one of the strongest reasons to visit in this season.
The buggy range covers the Polaris RZR 1000 CC, RZR 1000 CC Turbo, Can-Am Maverick X3 and Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR, each in 2 and 4 seat versions. Buggies are priced per buggy, not per person: a 2 seater carries two people, a 4 seater four. For example, the 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC is AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes, AED 900 per buggy for 1 hour and AED 1,750 per buggy for 2 hours. The full range of times and prices is on the dune buggy tours page.
Quad bikes are priced per quad bike, from the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater at AED 250 per quad bike for 30 minutes up to the Yamaha Raptor 700 CC at AED 795 per quad bike for 1 hour. The Yamaha 90 CC quad is only for children aged 9 to 12 and the Yamaha 220 CC is recommended for ages 14 to 17; both ride only in a fenced area. See every model on the quad bike tours page.
The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is for one rider aged 18 or older and costs AED 850 per dirt bike for 1 hour, AED 1,250 for 2 hours and AED 1,450 for 3 hours, with a helmet and riding gear.
What is the best time for a dune buggy ride in winter?
Because winter makes the whole 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM window comfortable, pick the slot that fits the rest of your day. Early starts suit those who want quiet dunes and the morning light. Afternoon starts suit those who want to sleep in or pair the ride with a meal in the city. The later slots give softer evening light for photos.
What is included with a buggy or quad ride?
Buggy and quad tours include 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. Riders keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path.
No buggy, quad or KTM price includes pickup. Add a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, for two or more from one pickup point, or a private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6 guests. You can also meet on site; the location is emailed after booking. Sandboarding is not included in any buggy or quad price.
Camel ride and sandboarding in winter
The Camel Ride in Desert lasts 20 to 25 minutes and costs AED 150 per person. SandBoarding costs AED 50 per person. Both are extras on the activities form. A short camel ride is already part of the shared evening safari, so add the longer camel ride if you want more time on the camel.
Winter is a good season for both. Climbing a dune for a sandboarding run takes effort, and the cooler months make that much easier.
Camp-only dinners: Standard Camp and Premium Camp
If you want the BBQ dinner and the shows without the dune drive, the camp-only options cover that. Standard Camp is AED 125 per person and Premium Camp is AED 250 per person. Both include the BBQ dinner and live entertainment shows, with no safari drive.
A private transfer must be booked with either camp, at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests. From October to March, pickup is 2:45 to 3:30 PM and drop-off is 9:00 to 9:30 PM. These earlier winter times differ from the April to September times, so check the season when you plan.
The camp-only options suit guests who prefer not to do dune bashing, families with grandparents, or anyone who has already been on a buggy or quad that day. If anyone in your party has a health condition or is pregnant, check with a doctor before any desert activity and tell the team before booking.
Hot air balloon flights in winter
Winter mornings are a calm time to plan a shared sunrise balloon flight. The Standard Flight, Deluxe Flight and Premium Flight cost AED 1,049, AED 1,149 and AED 1,349 per adult (12 to 80). Children pay AED 999 for the Standard Flight and AED 1,049 for the Deluxe Flight (5 to 11), and AED 1,149 for the Premium Flight (7 to 11). Shared pickup is free.
Flights last 45 to 60 minutes depending on the weather. Pickup is 3:45 to 4:30 AM, and the exact time is sent the day before. A private car for 4 to 5 guests costs AED 700. The Private Hot Air Balloon is AED 12,500 per booking for 2 to 5 persons and AED 20,500 per booking for 15 to 20 persons, with private pickup, buffet breakfast, a falcon photo, a camel or horse ride and an edited flight video. Full details are on the hot air balloon page.
What to wear on a winter desert safari
Dress in layers. The afternoon in the desert can feel warm in the sun, while the evening at the camp and the early hours before a balloon flight feel noticeably cooler. A layer you can add or remove keeps you comfortable across the whole trip.
- A light, breathable top for the afternoon or a daytime ride.
- A sweater, fleece or light jacket for the evening camp and early morning starts.
- Long trousers, which help on buggies and quads and on the camel.
- Closed-toe shoes for every buggy, quad and dirt bike ride.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for time on the open sand.
- A scarf or buff to keep sand off your face on a ride.
Helmets, goggles and gloves are provided on buggy and quad tours. Bring a passport or a national ID. For a fuller packing list by activity, see what to wear on a desert safari in Dubai.
How should you plan transfers in winter?
Transfers differ by product, so check what is included before you book.
- Shared and private safaris, morning and evening, include pickup.
- Shared balloon flights include free shared pickup; a private car for 4 to 5 guests is AED 700.
- Standard Camp and Premium Camp need a private transfer at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests.
- Buggies, quads and the KTM do not include pickup. Choose a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, a private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6, or meet on site at the emailed location.
For rides, the transfer picks up 1 hour before the start time.
Booking ahead for December and January
December and January sit in the middle of the October to March season. A few habits make booking smoother:
- Book as soon as your travel dates are fixed, especially for evening safaris, private cars and balloon flights.
- Decide early between shared and private, and between an evening and a morning safari.
- For buggies and quads, have a first and second choice of start time.
- Confirm the ages of all riders and passengers when you book.
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.
What is the cancellation policy?
For bookings of up to 3 guests, there is no cancellation fee when you cancel 96 hours or more before the tour. A 50% fee applies from 24 to 96 hours before, and 100% under 24 hours or for a no-show. Refunds are less a 5% processing fee.
Rescheduling is free, subject to availability. Cancel or change by email only, at [email protected]. If Safari Desert Dubai cancels a tour, for example for weather, guests choose a refund less the 5% fee or a free new date. Once a tour has started, it is not refunded.
Plan your winter desert day
A desert safari in Dubai in winter gives you the widest choice of the year: evening safaris with BBQ dinner, morning Land Cruiser drives, safari and ATV combos, self-drive buggies and quads at any hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, camel rides, sandboarding, camp-only dinners and sunrise balloon flights. Pick your product, pack layers and book once your dates are fixed. To reserve your date, book your desert adventure online or message +971 52 447 2719 on WhatsApp or by phone.