Dubai may be reputed for being a vacation playground for the rich and famous, but it has so much more to offer than just luxury goods, fast cars, and ritzy hotels.

Read also: Popular Souks in Dubai

Top Things to Do in Dubai Desert Safari

Dubai is a state-of-the-art city located directly within the Arabian desert. My impulsive trip to Dubai unfortunately fell on its summer, so I had to endure the 44°C temperature every single day that I was there. Overnight lows are around 30°C, which is the average temperature in Malaysia.

Top Things to Do in Dubai Desert Safari

There is absolutely no way of escaping the heat, but you could make the most out of it by indulging in some fun. After days of shopping and struggling to fit more stuffs into my already loaded backpack, I've finally resorted to giving its renowned desert a visit.

While I am pretty sure I recalled my guide mentioning the name of the desert (saying "Dubai desert" is just too awfully vague"), but I could not find any information on it on the web. However, all the Desert Safari tours that you may find will lead you to this very part of the dust bowl.

The Dubai Desert Safari is a must-try experience for everyone

4x4 Dune Bashing

The tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel after lunch hours and the journey from Dubai Marina takes a little more than half an hour. Once you are at the desert, the driver will take you on a wild and crazy spin on his 4WD, and the ride will not stop until someone in the car threatens to puke. This form of "activity" is called dune bashing.

Desert Safari 4x4 in Dubai

Timid ones should go for one of these quad bikes instead

BBQ Dinner Buffet & Shisha

After the ride, we proceeded to an area where permanent tents have been set up. Here, a delicious BBQ dinner spread is prepared under the bright starry sky as you are invited to dine and lounge on the thoughtfully placed cushions on the ground. Elevate the experience by ordering shisha or hookah as you enjoy the live performances.

Dinner buffet served in Dubai Desert Safari

Camel-riding & Horse-riding

A 10-minute camel ride is complimentary, but you can choose to pay for longer ones if the experience appeals to you. Horse-riding is also available for an extra charge.

Camel-riding in Dubai Desert Safari

You can pay to experience horse-riding at the desert

Tanoura Dance Performance

The Tanoura dance is said to have originated from Egypt and Turkey. It features beautiful colourful skirts and the dance is performed by Sufi men. The dance has become increasingly popular in Dubai and is a sight not to be missed for visitors to the Desert Safari!

Tanoura dance performance at the Dubai Desert Safari

The unique Tanoura dance performance is performed by Sufi men in Dubai

There will be performances lined up while you dine and soak in the warm evening breeze, including the ever amazing Tanoura dance, along with belly dancing.

Other Dubai Desert Safari Activities

• Henna painting (free)
• Hubble Bubble a.k.a shisha (free, but served only during dinner and you'd need to sit at an allocated place where the stage is out of sight. Oh you know, just another marketing trick to make you pay. Otherwise its 6 AED)
• Alcoholic drinks
• Photography in traditional costumes
• Unlimited drinks - mineral water and local sodas (free)
• Sand-skiing

Dubai Desert Safari Price

There are many companies offering this unique tour. The average cost per visitor to experience the desert safari in Dubai starts at 90 AED and can go up to 300 AED depending on the package your choose. You can enjoy cheaper rates on weekdays, when the number of visitors is relatively low.

For premium packages, you will be offered pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in a Land Cruiser, a scrumptious dinner, and a full range of exciting activities including camel-riding and ATV quad bike.

The desert safari tour is a perfect one-day activity if your stay in Dubai is short. If you are up for more adventures, why not sign up for the three-day camel trekking package?

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