Dubai desert activities come in four kinds: driving yourself on a buggy, quad bike or KTM dirt bike, priced per machine and started on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM; being driven on a Land Cruiser safari with pickup; slower extras such as a camel ride, sandboarding or a camp BBQ dinner; and a sunrise balloon flight.
Key takeaways
- Self-drive buggies are priced per buggy, starting at AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes on the 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC. A 2 seater carries two people and a 4 seater carries four.
- Quad bikes are priced per quad bike, such as the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater at AED 250 per quad bike for 30 minutes. The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC costs AED 850 per dirt bike for 1 hour, for one rider aged 18 or older.
- Buggies, quads and the KTM start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, daily, and their prices do not include pickup. Add a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person or a private car at AED 450 per car, or use the meeting point that is emailed to you.
- The shared Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner costs AED 240 per adult and AED 225 per child, with pickup, dune bashing in a 4x4, a short camel ride and a BBQ dinner with belly dance, tanoura and fire shows.
- A private Land Cruiser takes up to 6 guests: AED 799 per car for the morning safari and AED 1,400 per car for the evening safari with the BBQ dinner.
- The camel ride (AED 150 per person) and sandboarding (AED 50 per person) are extras on the activities form. The Standard Camp and Premium Camp dinners need a private transfer.
- Payment is by Visa or Mastercard in AED, in full online. 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.
What are the main desert activities in Dubai?
Safari Desert Dubai, a desert adventure operator with an office in Al Sufouh, runs all of its rides and safaris in the desert outside Dubai. What it sells falls into four kinds of desert time:
- Drive yourself on a self-drive dune buggy, a quad bike or the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC, following a guide. Priced per machine.
- Be driven over the dunes in a Land Cruiser 4x4 on a shared or private safari. Priced per person or per car, with pickup.
- Slow down with a camel ride, sandboarding or a camp BBQ dinner with live entertainment shows. Priced per person.
- Fly on a shared sunrise balloon flight. Priced per person.
The sections below take each kind in turn, then match common wishes to the right option.
How are desert activities in Dubai priced?
Some activities are priced per machine, some per person and some per car, and only some include pickup. The table gives one example price for each, with its unit, the lengths you can book and the start or pickup time.
| Activity | Example price and unit | Lengths | Start or pickup time | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-drive dune buggies (eight models) | AED 600 per buggy, 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC, 30 minutes | 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours | On the hour, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM | Not included |
| Quad bikes (eight models) | AED 250 per quad bike, Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater, 30 minutes | 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours (two models 1 or 2 hours only) | On the hour, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM | Not included |
| KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC | AED 850 per dirt bike, 1 hour | 1, 2 or 3 hours | On the hour, 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM | Not included |
| Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner (shared) | AED 240 per adult, AED 225 per child | About 5 to 6 hours | Pickup arranged with the booking | Included |
| Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 (shared) | AED 225 per adult, AED 210 per child | About four hours | Pickup arranged with the booking | Included |
| Private Land Cruiser safari, morning or evening | AED 799 per car (morning), AED 1,400 per car (evening with BBQ dinner) | Morning or evening | Up to 6 guests in one car | Included |
| Camel Ride in Desert | AED 150 per person | 20 to 25 minutes | Added on the activities form | Not included |
| SandBoarding | AED 50 per person | Not listed | Added on the activities form | Not included |
| Standard Camp or Premium Camp | AED 125 per person (Standard), AED 250 per person (Premium) | Afternoon to evening | Pickup 2:45 to 3:30 PM (October to March) or 3:45 to 4:30 PM (April to September) | Private transfer required |
| Standard, Deluxe and Premium Flight (shared balloon) | AED 1,049 per adult, Standard Flight | 45 to 60 minute flight | Pickup 3:45 to 4:30 AM | Shared pickup free |
Transfers and extras are priced separately, each with its own unit.
Drive yourself: buggies, quad bikes and the KTM
If the point of the trip is to be at the controls, this is your group of activities. All three ride with a guide, start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day, and are priced per machine rather than per person.
Self-drive dune buggies, priced per buggy
Safari Desert Dubai runs eight self-drive buggies: the Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC, the Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC Turbo, the Can-Am Maverick X3 and the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR, each as a 2 seater and a 4 seater. Every buggy has a roll cage and seatbelts.
The price is per buggy, not per person. A 2 seater carries two people and a 4 seater carries four. Three examples show the spread:
- 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC: AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes, AED 900 per buggy for 1 hour and AED 1,750 per buggy for 2 hours.
- 4 Seater Can-Am Maverick X3: AED 1,200 per buggy for 30 minutes, AED 1,950 per buggy for 1 hour and AED 3,800 per buggy for 2 hours.
- 4 Seater Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR: AED 1,400 per buggy for 30 minutes, AED 2,700 per buggy for 1 hour and AED 5,200 per buggy for 2 hours.
A buggy suits you if you want to drive with a passenger beside you. The Buggy Tours page lists all eight buggies with their starting prices, along with tips for first-time drivers.
Quad bikes, priced per quad bike
The quad range has eight machines: the Yamaha Quad Bike 90 CC Single Seater, the Yamaha Quad Bike 220 CC Single Seater, the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater, the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Double Seater, the Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Turbo Charge Single Seater, the Yamaha Grizzly Quad Bike, the Sport Quad Bike 625 CC and the Yamaha Raptor 700 CC.
Each is priced per quad bike. A few examples:
- Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Single Seater: AED 250 per quad bike for 30 minutes, AED 350 per quad bike for 1 hour and AED 600 per quad bike for 2 hours.
- Yamaha Quad Bike 400 CC Double Seater: AED 350 per quad bike for 30 minutes and AED 425 per quad bike for 1 hour.
- Sport Quad Bike 625 CC: 1 or 2 hours only, at AED 700 per quad bike for 1 hour.
- Yamaha Raptor 700 CC: 1 or 2 hours only, at AED 795 per quad bike for 1 hour.
Two quads are set aside for younger riders. The Yamaha Quad Bike 90 CC Single Seater is only for children aged 9 to 12, at AED 150 per quad bike for 30 minutes. The Yamaha Quad Bike 220 CC Single Seater is recommended for ages 14 to 17, at AED 200 per quad bike for 30 minutes. Both ride only in a fenced area. For every other quad and every buggy, confirm the ages of drivers and passengers when you book.
A quad suits you if you want a machine of your own to ride. The Quad Bike Tours page covers the quads, first-time riders and safety tips in more depth.
The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC
The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is the one motorbike in the range. It costs AED 850 per dirt bike for 1 hour, AED 1,250 per dirt bike for 2 hours and AED 1,450 per dirt bike for 3 hours. Each dirt bike carries one rider, who must be 18 or older, and the ride comes with a helmet and riding gear.
It is also the only ride that can be booked for 3 hours. The KTM Dirt Bike page explains the bike and its safety gear.
What a ride includes, and what you book on top
Buggy and quad tours include a self-drive tour with an experienced tour guide, a helmet, goggles and gloves, and refreshments or mineral water.
Before every buggy and quad ride, the guide gives a safety briefing. It covers how to drive the vehicle, the safety gear and what to do in an emergency. Out on the sand, riders keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path.
No buggy, quad or dirt bike price includes pickup. You choose one of three ways to arrive:
- A sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, for two or more people from one pickup point.
- A private car at AED 450 per car, for 5 to 6 people.
- No transfer: you meet the team on site, and the location is emailed to you after booking.
A transfer picks you up 1 hour before your start time.
Be driven: Land Cruiser desert safaris
If you would rather sit back while a driver handles the dunes, a safari is the better fit. Every safari includes pickup, so there is no transfer to add.
The Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner
The shared evening safari costs AED 240 per adult (12 and over) and AED 225 per child (5 to 11). 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.
The Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4
The shared morning safari costs AED 225 per adult and AED 210 per child. It runs in a Land Cruiser 4x4, lasts about four hours, and comes with water and soft drinks.
Each shared safari also has a version with a short quad ride, the Evening or Morning Desert Safari + 30 Min ATV Quad Bike, at AED 375 per adult in the evening and AED 290 per adult in the morning.
Private Land Cruisers for up to 6 guests
A private safari gives your group its own car. The Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 costs AED 799 per car, and the Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner Land Cruiser 4x4 costs AED 1,400 per car. Each car takes up to 6 guests, and pickup is included.
The Desert Safari Tours page describes the six safari packages, the morning and evening safaris and the private safari.
If you are pregnant or have a back, neck or heart condition, check with a doctor and tell the team before you book any safari or ride.
Slower desert time: camel rides, sandboarding and camp dinners
Not every desert visit needs an engine. These options keep the pace gentle.
Camel ride and sandboarding
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 same activities form that books the buggies, quads and the KTM.
The evening safari already includes a short camel ride.
Standard Camp and Premium Camp dinners
The Standard Camp and Premium Camp are BBQ dinners with live entertainment shows, without a safari drive. The Standard Camp costs AED 125 per person and the Premium Camp AED 250 per person.
A private transfer must be booked with either camp, at AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 people. The times 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 camp dinner suits a group that wants the dinner and the shows but not the dune bashing.
From the air: sunrise balloon flights
Safari Desert Dubai also sells shared hot air balloon flights in three tiers: the Standard Flight, the Deluxe Flight and the Premium Flight, from AED 1,049 per adult for the Standard Flight. Pickup is between 3:45 and 4:30 AM, with the exact time sent the day before, and the shared pickup is free. The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the weather. The Hot Air Balloon page covers the flights, private balloons and celebrations.
Which Dubai desert activity should you book?
Most choices come down to one wish. Here is how common wishes match the options.
You want to drive
Pick a self-drive buggy to share the ride with a passenger, a quad bike to ride your own machine, or the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC if the rider is 18 or older and wants up to 3 hours. Add a transfer or plan to use the emailed meeting point.
It is your first evening in the desert, and you want dinner and shows
Book the Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner, at AED 240 per adult and AED 225 per child. It brings pickup, the dune drive, a short camel ride, the dinner and the shows together in one booking.
You have little time
A 30 minute buggy or quad ride is the shortest self-drive booking, starting on any hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Remember that a transfer collects you 1 hour before the start. If you prefer to be driven, the shared morning safari takes about four hours.
You are up to 6 people in one car
A private Land Cruiser safari keeps the group together, at AED 799 per car for the morning or AED 1,400 per car for the evening with the BBQ dinner. For self-drive time, a 4 seater buggy carries four people, and a private transfer car takes 5 to 6 at AED 450 per car.
You want a gentle pace
Choose the camel ride, sandboarding, the Standard Camp or Premium Camp dinner, or a sunrise balloon flight.
Practical planning tips
- Season. The site names October to March as the best season for desert time.
- Start time. Rides start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Count back 1 hour for transfer pickup.
- Shoes and documents. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a passport or a national ID.
- Ages. Confirm the ages of everyone in your group when you book.
- Health. Tell the team about any medical condition before you book, and check with a doctor first.
How do booking, payment and cancellation work?
Safari Desert Dubai uses three booking forms: Desert Excursion Activities for the rides, extras, camp dinners and transfers, Desert Safari for the shared and private safaris, and Hot Air Balloon for the flights.
Payment is by Visa or Mastercard in AED, in full online when you book, with no card fee. The booking confirmation arrives by email within 48 hours of payment.
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.
For bookings of 4 or more guests, a 50% fee applies 7 days or more before the tour, and 100% at 5 days or less. Rescheduling is free, subject to availability. Cancellations and changes are made by email only.
If Safari Desert Dubai cancels a tour, for example because of the weather, you choose between a refund less the 5% fee and a free new date. Once a tour has started, it is not refunded. The Refund and Cancellation Policy page on the main site sets out these rules in full.
Choosing your desert time
Start with one question: do you want to drive, be driven, slow down or fly? Riders pay per machine and add a transfer or use the emailed meeting point. Safari guests pay per person or per car, with pickup included. Camel rides, sandboarding and camp dinners slow the pace, and the balloon flights begin with a 3:45 to 4:30 AM pickup.
To book a buggy, quad bike, the KTM, a camel ride, sandboarding or a camp dinner, use the activities booking form. For a safari, a balloon flight or a question first, call +971 52 447 2719, send a WhatsApp message to +971 52 440 9525 or email [email protected].
