The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner costs AED 240 per adult and AED 225 per child, pickup included. It covers dune bashing in a 4x4, a short camel ride and a BBQ dinner with belly dance, tanoura and fire shows. The alternatives are a private car, a camp-only dinner or an ATV version.
Key takeaways
- The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is AED 240 per adult (12+) and AED 225 per child (5 to 11), pickup included.
- The Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 is AED 1,400 per car for up to 6 guests, pickup included.
- The Standard Camp (AED 125 per person) and Premium Camp (AED 250 per person) are BBQ dinner and live shows only, with no safari drive.
- Both camp-only dinners need a private transfer, booked separately at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests.
- The Evening + 30 Min ATV safari is AED 375 per adult and AED 340 per child, pickup included.
- Camel rides beyond the short one in the safari (AED 150 per person) and sandboarding (AED 50 per person) are extras on the activities form.
What is a desert safari with BBQ dinner in Dubai?
A desert safari with BBQ dinner is an evening trip from Dubai into the desert outside the city. You are picked up, driven into the sand in a 4x4, and the evening ends at a desert camp with a BBQ dinner and live shows. It is the most common way visitors spend an evening in the desert.
Safari Desert Dubai sells this experience in four forms. There is a shared evening safari, a private evening safari in a Land Cruiser 4x4, two camp-only dinners without the safari drive, and a shared evening safari that adds a 30 minute ATV quad bike ride. They share the same basic idea, a dinner and shows at a desert camp, but they differ in who is in your car, what happens before dinner and how you get there.
The rest of this guide goes through each one, then puts them side by side so you can pick.
One point holds for all of them: the experience happens in the desert outside Dubai, not in the city, so the evening is built around getting there and back. That is why pickup and transfers matter as much as the dinner itself when you compare the options.
What is included in the Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner?
The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is the standard choice. It is priced per person, and pickup is included in the price.
The inclusions are:
- Pickup, so you do not need to arrange your own transport to the desert.
- Dune bashing in a 4x4, the driven part of the evening across the sand.
- A short camel ride.
- A BBQ dinner at the desert camp.
- Live entertainment: belly dance, tanoura and fire shows.
The site gives about 5 to 6 hours for the evening safari from pickup to drop-off. Plan the rest of your day around that block rather than trying to fit a dinner reservation in the city afterwards.
How much does the shared evening safari cost?
The price is AED 240 per adult and AED 225 per child. Adults are 12 and over, and children are 5 to 11. Each price is per person and includes pickup.
Who is the shared evening safari best for?
The shared safari suits solo travellers, couples and small groups who are happy to share a 4x4 with other guests. You pay only for the seats you need, and you get the full evening: the drive, the camel ride, dinner and the shows.
If you are travelling as a larger family or group, or you would rather not share the car, the private version below is worth comparing.
The shared format also has a social side. You meet other visitors on the drive and at the camp, and the evening runs to a set programme, so there is little to organise once you are booked. Give your pickup address and the number of adults and children when you book, and the rest is handled for you.
How does the private evening safari with BBQ dinner compare?
The Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 gives your group its own Land Cruiser 4x4 for the evening, with the BBQ dinner. Pickup is included.
The key difference is the unit. The private safari is priced per car, not per person: AED 1,400 per car for up to 6 guests. The car is for your group only, so you are not sharing the vehicle with strangers.
When does a private car make sense?
A private car is worth a look when:
- You are a family of 5 or 6 and want everyone together in one vehicle.
- You are marking a birthday or anniversary and want the evening to feel like your own.
- Someone in your group is nervous about dune bashing and you want the drive to be among people you know.
- You simply prefer not to share a car with other guests.
For a couple, the shared evening safari is the more natural fit, since the shared price is per person and the private price covers a whole car whether you fill it or not. The private car is designed for groups, and the per car price stays the same whether 2 or 6 guests ride.
Does the private safari still include dinner and shows?
Yes, the private evening safari is sold with the BBQ dinner, as its name says. Check the tour page for the full list of inclusions before booking, and ask the team if you want to confirm a detail such as the camel ride.
What are the Standard Camp and Premium Camp dinners?
The Standard Camp and Premium Camp are camp-only options. They give you the BBQ dinner and live entertainment shows at a desert camp, but there is no safari drive. You do not go dune bashing.
They are priced per person:
- Standard Camp: AED 125 per person.
- Premium Camp: AED 250 per person.
Do the camp-only dinners include transport?
No. A private transfer must be booked with either camp. The private transfer costs AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests. This is a separate booking, and it is not included in the camp price. Keep the two prices apart when you plan: the camp price is per person and the transfer price is per car.
What are the pickup and drop-off times for the camp dinners?
The camp-only dinners are the one evening option where the site publishes pickup and drop-off windows, and they change with the season:
| Season | Pickup window | Drop-off window |
|---|---|---|
| October to March | 2:45 to 3:30 PM | 9:00 to 9:30 PM |
| April to September | 3:45 to 4:30 PM | 9:30 to 9:45 PM |
The exact time inside each window depends on your pickup point. Make sure your hotel or home address is correct on the booking.
Who should book a desert camp dinner without the safari?
A camp-only dinner suits guests who want the desert setting, the dinner and the shows, but not the dune bashing. That might be because someone in the group does not enjoy the motion of a 4x4 on the dunes, or because you are travelling with older relatives who prefer a calmer evening.
It also suits a group of 5 or 6 who would fill the private transfer car. The transfer is priced per car, and each guest pays the camp price per person.
Choosing between the two camps comes down to how you want to spend the evening and how much you want to pay per person. Both include the BBQ dinner and live entertainment shows, and both need the same private transfer. Ask the team what separates the Premium Camp from the Standard Camp on your date if that helps you decide.
If you are unsure whether dune bashing is right for anyone in your group for health reasons, check with a doctor and tell the team before booking. The camp-only dinners have no safari drive, but the same advice applies.
What does the Evening + 30 Min ATV option add?
The Evening Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike is the shared evening safari with a 30 minute ride on an ATV quad bike added. It is priced per person and includes pickup:
- Adult (12+): AED 375 per person.
- Child (5 to 11): AED 340 per person.
You still get the evening programme: the 4x4 dune bashing, the short camel ride, the BBQ dinner and the belly dance, tanoura and fire shows. The extra is the time on the quad bike.
Is the ATV combo worth it?
It depends on whether anyone in your group wants to ride. If you are keen to try a quad bike but do not want to book a separate ride and a separate transfer on another day, the combo keeps it all in one evening with pickup included.
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. Riders keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path. Ages for quad riders are not set out for this combo, so confirm the ages of any young riders with the team when you book.
If the quad bike is the main reason for your trip and you want a longer ride, the separate quad bike tours run for 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours. Those are priced per quad bike and do not include pickup, which is a different set up from the safari combo.
Desert safari with BBQ dinner options side by side
Here are the evening choices with their exact prices and units:
| Option | Price | Unit | Safari drive | Pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner (shared) | AED 240 adult, AED 225 child | Per person | Yes, 4x4 dune bashing | Included |
| Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 | AED 1,400 | Per car, up to 6 guests | Yes, private Land Cruiser 4x4 | Included |
| Standard Camp (BBQ Dinner + Live Entertainment Shows) | AED 125 | Per person | No | Private transfer required, AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 |
| Premium Camp (BBQ Dinner + Live Entertainment Shows) | AED 250 | Per person | No | Private transfer required, AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 |
| Evening + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike (shared) | AED 375 adult, AED 340 child | Per person | Yes, plus 30 min quad bike | Included |
Read each row on its own. The prices are not meant to be added up across rows, and the transfer price for the camp dinners is per car, while the camp price is per person.
How to pick the right desert safari with dinner
Start with two questions: does your group want the dune bashing, and do you want a vehicle to yourselves?
If you want the full evening and do not mind sharing
Book the shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner. It is per person, pickup is included, and it has the drive, the camel ride, dinner and the three shows. This is the simplest choice for most couples and solo travellers.
If you are a group of up to 6 and want privacy
Look at the Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 at AED 1,400 per car. The whole Land Cruiser is yours, and it carries up to 6 guests.
If you want dinner and shows but no dune bashing
Choose the Standard Camp or Premium Camp, and remember to book the private transfer at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests. The seasonal pickup and drop-off windows above tell you when you will leave and when you will be back.
If someone wants to ride a quad bike too
Pick the Evening + 30 Min ATV option. It keeps the full shared evening and adds a 30 minute quad bike ride, with pickup included.
If you are travelling with children
Children aged 5 to 11 have their own price on the shared safari and the ATV combo. Give each child's age when you book, and confirm the ages of any young quad riders with the team.
Practical planning tips for the evening desert safari
When is the best time of year to go?
The site names October to March as the best season. The camp-only pickup windows also shift by season, with earlier pickups from October to March and later ones from April to September. For the shared and private safaris, your exact pickup time is set when you book.
What should you bring?
Bring a passport or a national ID. Closed-toe shoes are a sensible choice for walking on sand at the camp, and anyone riding a quad bike should wear them. For more ideas, see the guide on what to wear on a desert safari. Dress for an evening outdoors in the desert, and keep a light layer in your bag for the drive back.
Are extras available?
Two extras are listed on the activities form: a camel ride in the desert of 20 to 25 minutes at AED 150 per person, and sandboarding at AED 50 per person. Sandboarding is not part of the safari price, so add it on the form if you want it. The short camel ride already included in the evening safari is separate from this longer camel ride extra.
How do you pay?
Payment is by Visa or Mastercard in AED, in full online when you book, with no card fee. Your booking confirmation arrives by email within 48 hours of payment.
What if your plans change?
For bookings of up to 3 guests, there is no cancellation fee 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. The full terms are on the refund policy page.
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.
A note on health and dune bashing
Dune bashing involves a lot of movement in the 4x4. If anyone in your group is pregnant or has a back, neck or heart condition, check with a doctor and tell the team before booking. The camp-only dinners have no dune bashing, but the same advice applies: ask the doctor first and let the team know about any condition.
Common mistakes when booking a BBQ dinner desert safari
A few small mix ups cause most problems with evening desert bookings:
- Forgetting the transfer for a camp dinner. The Standard Camp and Premium Camp do not include transport. Book the private transfer with it.
- Reading a per car price as per person. The private safari is AED 1,400 per car, and the camp transfer is AED 450 per car. Neither is a per person figure.
- Assuming sandboarding is included. It is an extra at AED 50 per person.
- Booking a dinner in the city the same night. The site gives about 5 to 6 hours for the evening safari, so keep the evening free.
- Leaving out the ages of children. Children are 5 to 11 on the safari prices, and adults 12 and over. Give correct ages when you book.
Book your evening desert safari
For most visitors, the shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner at AED 240 per adult is the straightforward choice. Groups of up to 6 who want their own car can take the private Land Cruiser 4x4 at AED 1,400 per car, guests who want dinner without dune bashing can book a camp-only dinner with its private transfer, and anyone keen to ride can add the 30 minute ATV.
When you have chosen, book your desert safari with BBQ dinner online, or call +971 52 447 2719 if you have a question first.
