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Before you book

UAE desert adventures

Per Machine Or Per Person, And The AED 175 That Is Not In The Headline

Two price bases on one Dubai desert list, and a pickup charge that sits on top of either. The figure you were quoted is probably not the figure you pay.

Safari Desert Dubai

Quick answer

Two things decide what you actually pay here, and neither is the number on the
tour card.

  1. Buggies and quads are priced per machine. Safaris are priced per person.
  2. Hotel pickup is an add-on at AED 175 per person, listed separately on the
    buggy, quad and KTM pages.

So a AED 225 safari for two with pickup is not AED 450. It is AED 800 - and that
arithmetic surprises people at the wrong moment.

Key takeaways

  • Dune buggy AED 600 to AED 900, per buggy.
  • Quad bike AED 200 to AED 450, per bike.
  • Desert safari AED 225 to AED 340, per person.
  • Pickup and drop-off AED 175 per person, on top.

The add-on that changes every sum

The pickup line appears in the same place on the buggy page, the quad page and
the KTM dirt bike page: pick-up and drop-off services (AED 175 per person).

It is not hidden. It is just not in the headline, and it is charged per person
even when the activity beside it is charged per machine. Two people taking a
AED 600 buggy with pickup are paying AED 350 in transport on a AED 600 ride.

If you are staying near the meeting point, or driving yourself, that line is
optional and worth declining. If you are not, add it to every quote you compare -
otherwise you are comparing one operator's tour price against another's total.

Per machine: the buggies and quads

Dune buggies are Polaris RZR 1000 CC:

  • 2 seater - AED 600
  • 4 seater - AED 800
  • 2 seater Turbo - AED 900

Both the seat count and the engine move the price, and they move it
independently: the Turbo costs more than the bigger 4 seater while carrying half
as many people. Decide which of the two you are actually buying.

Quad bikes are Yamahas, priced per bike:

  • Yamaha 220 CC - AED 200
  • Yamaha 400 CC - AED 250
  • Yamaha 400 CC double seater - AED 350
  • Grizzly - AED 450

The double seater is the interesting one. At AED 350 it carries two riders,
against AED 400 for two 220 CC singles. One price, two people, and it is the only
quad on the list where the per-head figure drops.

Per person: the safaris

  • Morning desert safari, Land Cruiser 4x4 - AED 225
  • Evening desert safari with BBQ dinner - AED 240
  • Evening safari plus a 30 minute quad - AED 340

That third line is worth reading twice. Adding a quad to the evening safari costs
AED 100 on top, while the cheapest standalone quad is AED 200. If you want
both, taking them together is the cheaper route by a clear margin.

Self-drive or guided, which matters more than the price

The buggy and quad tours are self-drive with an expert alongside. The KTM
dirt bike tour is guided.

For a lot of first-timers that single distinction decides the booking, and it is
easy to miss while comparing numbers. A self-drive machine means you are the one
reading the sand.

The balloons

Hot air balloon flights come in three tiers: AED 1,049 standard, AED 1,149
deluxe
and AED 1,349 premium. Per person, like the safaris.

How to book

WhatsApp on +971 52 440 9525, or call +971 52 447 2719. Ask for three things in
one message: the basis, the duration, and whether pickup is included.

Conclusion

Work out your total before you compare anything. Take the tour price, decide
whether it is per machine or per person, multiply if it is per person, then add
AED 175 a head if you need collecting. The number you get is the one worth
putting next to another operator's.

FAQ

Quick answers before you book

Is pickup included in the tour price?
No. Pick-up and drop-off is an add-on at AED 175 per person, listed separately on the buggy, quad and KTM dirt bike pages. It is charged per person even when the activity beside it is charged per machine.
Are buggies priced per person?
No, per machine. A 2 seater Polaris RZR is AED 600, a 4 seater is AED 800 and a 2 seater Turbo is AED 900. Safaris are the ones priced per person.
Why does the Turbo cost more than the 4 seater?
Because seats and engine move the price independently. The Turbo is a faster 2 seater; the AED 800 machine carries twice as many people more slowly. Decide which you are buying.
Which quad is best value for two people?
The 400 CC double seater at AED 350 carries two riders, against AED 400 for two 220 CC singles. It is the only quad on the list where the per-head figure drops.
Is it cheaper to add a quad to the safari?
Yes. The evening safari is AED 240 and AED 340 with a 30 minute quad added, so the quad costs AED 100 that way against AED 200 for the cheapest standalone ride.
Are the tours self-drive or guided?
The buggy and quad tours are self-drive with an expert alongside. The KTM dirt bike tour is guided. For most first-timers that difference matters more than the price.
What do the balloon flights cost?
AED 1,049 for the standard flight, AED 1,149 deluxe and AED 1,349 premium, priced per person.
Is there a minimum age?
The site does not publish one, and neither does it publish a height or weight rule. Ask in the booking message and get the answer in writing rather than assuming one from another operator.
Where exactly do I meet the team?
The operator publishes no street address, so confirm the meeting point in the booking thread - especially if you are declining the pickup add-on.
How do I book?
WhatsApp on +971 52 440 9525 or call +971 52 447 2719. Ask for the basis, the duration and whether pickup is included, all in one message.

Safari Desert Dubai

The team behind Safari Desert Dubai - desert safaris, self-drive dune buggy and quad tours, guided KTM dirt bike rides and hot air balloon flights in the Dubai desert.

Ready to ride?

Five ways into the same desert, priced five ways.

Desert safaris, self-drive buggies and quads, guided KTM dirt bike tours and balloon flights over the Dubai desert.

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