Choosing between a Polaris and a Can-Am buggy in Dubai comes down to three things: how many people ride, how long you want to drive and what you want to spend. Safari Desert Dubai prices every self-drive buggy per buggy, from AED 600 for a 30 minute Polaris RZR 1000 CC 2 seater to AED 5,200 for a 2 hour Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 4 seater.
Key takeaways
- There are four models, each in a 2 seater and a 4 seater version: Polaris RZR 1000 CC, Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo, Can-Am Maverick X3 and Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR.
- Every price is per buggy, not per person. A 2 seater carries two people and a 4 seater carries four.
- Each model can be booked for 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours.
- The Polaris RZR 1000 CC is the lowest price in every row of the price list, and the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR is the highest in every row.
- All four buggies have roll cages and seatbelts, and every ride includes an experienced tour guide, a helmet, goggles, gloves, and refreshments or mineral water.
- No buggy price includes hotel pickup. Add a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, a private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6 guests, or meet at the location emailed after booking.
What are the four buggy models?
Safari Desert Dubai runs eight self-drive dune buggies in the desert outside Dubai. They come from two makers, Polaris and Can-Am, and each maker has two models in the line-up. Every model comes as a 2 seater and a 4 seater, which is how four model names turn into eight buggies.
Polaris RZR 1000 CC
The Polaris RZR 1000 CC is the entry point of the range. It has the lowest price in every duration and in both seat sizes, so it is the natural first look for anyone who wants a self-drive dune buggy in Dubai without paying for a top model. It still comes with the same roll cage, seatbelts, guide and safety gear as the rest of the fleet.
Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo
The Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo is the second Polaris option. Its name tells you it is the Turbo version of the RZR, and its prices sit above the standard RZR in every row. For 4 seater bookings of 1 hour and 2 hours it is priced above the Can-Am Maverick X3, which makes it the second most expensive 4 seater at those lengths.
Can-Am Maverick X3
The Can-Am Maverick X3 is the standard Can-Am model. As a 2 seater it is priced above both Polaris models at every duration. As a 4 seater for 30 minutes it costs the same as the RZR 1000 CC Turbo 4 seater, and for 1 hour and 2 hours it is priced below the Turbo.
Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR
The Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR is the top of the price ladder. It is the highest price in every row, in both seat sizes and at every duration. Together with the RZR 1000 CC Turbo, it is one of the two Turbo models in the fleet, and it is the one people usually pick when they want the flagship of the line-up.
How much does each buggy cost?
The table below shows every self-drive buggy price on the site. Each figure is a single price per buggy for the whole ride, whatever the number of people on board.
| Buggy model | Seats | 30 min | 1 hour | 2 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris RZR 1000 CC | 2 seater | AED 600 per buggy | AED 900 per buggy | AED 1,750 per buggy |
| Polaris RZR 1000 CC | 4 seater | AED 800 per buggy | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,200 per buggy |
| Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo | 2 seater | AED 900 per buggy | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,200 per buggy |
| Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo | 4 seater | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,150 per buggy | AED 3,975 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 | 2 seater | AED 999 per buggy | AED 1,499 per buggy | AED 2,800 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 | 4 seater | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 1,950 per buggy | AED 3,800 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR | 2 seater | AED 1,200 per buggy | AED 2,300 per buggy | AED 4,200 per buggy |
| Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR | 4 seater | AED 1,400 per buggy | AED 2,700 per buggy | AED 5,200 per buggy |
A few patterns stand out when you read the table row by row:
- In the 2 seater rows, the order from lowest to highest price is the same at every duration: RZR 1000 CC, RZR 1000 CC Turbo, Maverick X3, Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR.
- In the 4 seater rows, the RZR 1000 CC Turbo and the Maverick X3 share the same 30 minute price of AED 1,200 per buggy, and the Turbo is priced higher for 1 hour and 2 hours.
For more on each tour and the booking options, see the dune buggy tours page.
Polaris vs Can-Am: what actually differs?
On this site, the clear and supportable differences between the four buggies are the maker, the model name, the seat count and the price. The inclusions do not change from one model to the next. That matters, because it means you are not giving up the guide or the safety gear when you choose a lower price.
What stays the same on every buggy
Every self-drive buggy ride includes:
- An experienced tour guide who leads the ride
- A helmet, goggles and gloves for each rider
- Refreshments or mineral water
- A buggy with a roll cage and seatbelts
- A safety briefing before the ride on how to drive the vehicle, the safety gear and what to do in an emergency
During the ride, drivers keep a safe gap and follow the guide's path. That is the same whether you book a Polaris RZR 1000 CC for 30 minutes or a Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR for 2 hours.
What changes between models
What changes is the badge on the buggy and the price per buggy. Polaris and Can-Am are two different makers, and some drivers simply prefer one brand over the other. The Turbo and RS TURBO RR names mark the top models of each maker's pair, and they sit at the upper end of the price ladder.
This guide does not quote engine outputs or performance figures, and you should be wary of any comparison that turns this choice into a numbers contest.
Should you choose a 2 seater or a 4 seater?
Seat count is often the first decision, because it follows directly from your group. A 2 seater carries two people. A 4 seater carries four. Since the price is per buggy, the seat count changes how many people share one vehicle, not what each person pays on paper.
When a 2 seater makes sense
A 2 seater fits couples, two friends, or a parent and an older child, once ages are confirmed with the team. Some groups book two or more 2 seaters so that more people in the group can drive.
The 2 seater is also the lower price in each model at each duration. If you are two people, there is no reason to book a 4 seater just for the extra space.
When a 4 seater makes sense
A 4 seater fits a family of four, or four friends who want to ride together and share the experience in one vehicle. In a 4 seater, one person drives and the others ride as passengers. For some groups that is the whole point: one buggy, one shared ride.
If your group is three, a 4 seater still works, since the price is per buggy rather than per seat. If your group is five or six, you will need more than one buggy. In that case you can mix sizes, for example one 4 seater and one 2 seater, and the booking form will show the price of each buggy.
Ages and who drives
The site does not publish a single minimum age for buggy drivers or passengers. Confirm the ages of everyone in your group when you book, especially if you are bringing children or teenagers. The team can then tell you which seat each person can take.
How long should you book: 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours?
Every buggy can be booked for 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours. The right length depends on experience and how much time you want to spend in the sand.
30 minutes
A 30 minute ride is a good choice for first-timers who want to try a self-drive buggy without committing to a longer session. It also suits travellers who are fitting the ride around other plans in Dubai. The prices for 30 minutes run from AED 600 per buggy for the Polaris RZR 1000 CC 2 seater to AED 1,400 per buggy for the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 4 seater.
1 hour
One hour is the balanced choice for most visitors. It leaves time after the safety briefing to settle into the buggy, follow the guide across the dunes and enjoy the ride without watching the clock. If you have driven a buggy before, 1 hour is usually a sensible starting point.
2 hours
Two hours is the longest buggy session on the site. It suits drivers who already know they enjoy dune driving, or groups who want the desert to be the main event of the day. At 2 hours the prices range from AED 1,750 per buggy for the Polaris RZR 1000 CC 2 seater to AED 5,200 per buggy for the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 4 seater.
Which buggy fits your group, experience and budget?
Here is a practical way to match the four models to real situations. None of it changes the guide, the briefing or the gear, which come with every booking.
First-time drivers
If no one in your group has driven a dune buggy before, the Polaris RZR 1000 CC is a sensible place to start. It is the lowest price at every length, so a first ride does not have to be a large spend. Pair it with 30 minutes or 1 hour, and listen closely to the safety briefing.
Couples
A couple will almost always book a 2 seater. The question is the model. The Polaris RZR 1000 CC 2 seater is the lowest price, from AED 600 per buggy for 30 minutes. If you want the top of the range, the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 2 seater starts at AED 1,200 per buggy for 30 minutes.
Families of four
A family of four can share one 4 seater. The Polaris RZR 1000 CC 4 seater is AED 800 per buggy for 30 minutes, AED 1,200 per buggy for 1 hour and AED 2,200 per buggy for 2 hours. Before booking, confirm the children's ages with the team so you know who can ride where. If you are planning around younger children, the guide on choosing between Dubai desert activities compares buggies with the other options.
Friends and larger groups
Groups of friends often split between buggies so that more people can drive. Several 2 seaters, or a mix of 2 seaters and 4 seaters, let you match the buggies to the number of people. Each buggy is priced on its own, and you can choose different models for different buggies if some of the group want a top model and others prefer the RZR 1000 CC.
Experienced drivers
If you have driven buggies before and want the flagship of the line-up, look at the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR or the Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo. Both carry the Turbo name and sit at the upper end of the price list. A 1 hour or 2 hour booking gives you the most time in the buggy.
Same price, different choice: comparing like for like
A useful way to decide is to look at buggies that cost exactly the same and ask which trade-off you prefer. The price list has several matches.
Options at AED 1,200 per buggy
AED 1,200 per buggy buys any of these:
- Polaris RZR 1000 CC 4 seater for 1 hour
- Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo 2 seater for 1 hour
- Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo 4 seater for 30 minutes
- Can-Am Maverick X3 4 seater for 30 minutes
- Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 2 seater for 30 minutes
So at one price you are choosing between more time, more seats or the top model. A group of four that values time would look at the RZR 1000 CC 4 seater for 1 hour. A couple that wants the flagship would look at the Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR 2 seater for 30 minutes.
Options at AED 2,200 per buggy
AED 2,200 per buggy buys either the Polaris RZR 1000 CC 4 seater for 2 hours or the Polaris RZR 1000 CC Turbo 2 seater for 2 hours. One gives four seats, the other gives the Turbo model for two people. Both give you the full 2 hours.
What is not included in the buggy price?
No buggy price includes hotel pickup or sandboarding. You have three ways to reach the start:
- A sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, for two or more guests from one pickup point
- A private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6 guests
- Meeting on site at the location emailed to you after booking
A transfer picks you up 1 hour before the ride starts. For a full walk-through of how transfers work, read dune buggy Dubai with hotel pickup.
Planning your buggy ride
A few practical points apply whichever model you choose.
Times and season
Buggies start on the hour from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, every day. The site names October to March as the best season for desert rides. If you want softer light over the dunes, look at the early morning or late afternoon start times.
What to bring and wear
Bring a passport or a national ID. Wear closed-toe shoes. The helmet, goggles and gloves are provided, and every rider wears a helmet for the whole ride. For clothing ideas, see what to wear on a desert safari in Dubai.
Health questions
If anyone in your group is pregnant or has a back, neck or heart condition, check with a doctor before booking and tell the team. This guide does not give medical advice.
Payment and confirmation
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.
Cancellation and changes
For bookings of up to 3 guests there is no cancellation fee 96 hours or more before the tour, and refunds are less a 5% processing fee. Groups of 4 or more guests have different terms, so read the refund policy before you book a 4 seater or several buggies. Cancellations and changes are made by email only. If Safari Desert Dubai cancels a tour, for example for weather, you can choose a refund less the 5% fee or a new date at no charge.
A simple way to decide
If you are still unsure, work through these steps in order:
- Count your riders. Two people point to a 2 seater, four people to a 4 seater, and larger groups to a mix of buggies.
- Pick a length. Choose 30 minutes for a first taste, 1 hour for a balanced ride, or 2 hours if the desert is the main plan.
- Set your budget per buggy. Read across the table to see which models fit.
- Choose the maker and model. Start with the Polaris RZR 1000 CC for the lowest price, or move up to the Turbo models for the top of the range.
- Add your transfer, or plan to meet at the emailed location.
Conclusion: choosing your Polaris or Can-Am buggy
All four buggies come with the same guide, roll cage, seatbelts and safety gear, so the choice rests on seats, ride length and price per buggy. The Polaris RZR 1000 CC is the lowest price in every row, and the Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR is the highest. When you know your group and your budget, book your buggy on the booking page, or call +971 52 447 2719 or email [email protected] with your date, hotel and the ages of your riders.