Top 15 Desert Safaris in Abu Dhabi

1.Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4,762 reviews · 6 hours · from $89Our pick

Join a small group of up to six for a six-hour Abu Dhabi desert safari with hotel or cruise-port pickup. Your English-speaking driver handles dune bashing, sandboarding, a short camel ride, sunset photos, camp customs, BBQ dinner, and traditional shows. Guides such as Thahzeer, Shine, Sherif, and Aamir are praised for safe driving and photography.

“It was a great day at the desert. Our guide Thahzeer was not only a good driver in the dunes but also a great photographer! I had some problems in advance with the agency when sending my pick up location, but a soon as the guide himself contacted me, everything worked easily.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride & Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,998 reviews · from $74Top rated

Spend about six hours with an OceanAir Travels guide exploring Abu Dhabi’s desert by 4WD. Expect dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel farm, a short camel ride, henna, shisha, Arabic dress photos, BBQ dinner, Tanoura, and belly dancing. Guides such as Ram, Kevin, Azi, and Biju are praised for helpful service and photos.

“We have been looking forward to this activity but it exceeded our expectation. It was absolutelly amazing and great experience. Our guide was friendly and super helpful. Kids loved it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari BBQ, Camel Ride, Entertainments

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,790 reviews · from $72

Leave Abu Dhabi around 3 pm for a shared 4x4 ride across the dunes, a camel farm visit, sandboarding, and sunset photos. At camp, try henna, Arabian dress, falcon photos, and shisha before a BBQ buffet, Tanoura, fire show, stargazing, and belly dancing, except during Ramadan.

“I couldn't recommend this enough even if I tried. Everything was perfect. From start to finish. The food was amazing, the people was beyond amazing, the shows were breathtaking. If you have the chance, this is a must.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Half-Day Desert Safari from Abu Dhabi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,207 reviews · from $64

From a 3 pm Abu Dhabi pickup, you’ll ride a 4x4 into the desert for dune bashing, a camel farm visit, sand boarding, and sunset at camp. Dinner includes a BBQ buffet, tea, coffee, and shows. Guides such as Riaz, Saad, Shihab, and Naavaz have been praised for friendly, careful service.

“Company needs to put families with babies/small children in separate vehicles so that we others can enjoy our tour. After having to wait a half hour extra for this husband and wife and their 2 children (an infant and a toddler), my friend and I are put in the very back of the vehicle with this family in front. The toddler girl did not stop talking for even 2 minutes the entire way to the dunes. The baby cried a lot and the mother mostly ignored it. We dealt with that for an hour and a half ride out to the dunes. Then we arrive, and our dune bashing was…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Morning Desert Safari with Camels and Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,256 reviews · from $49Best value

Start with hotel pickup, then ride a 4WD Land Cruiser into Abu Dhabi’s desert for dune bashing, sandboarding, photo stops, and a short camel ride. Guides such as Shameer, Ram, Sudhi, and Aziz are praised for safe driving and helpful photos. The $49.50 tour suits visitors wanting a compact, active morning.

“Fantastic experience , Ram was such a great guy, as where all the lads... plus what a super photographer he is ! Really enjoyable experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,177 reviews · from $60

Spend about six hours beyond Abu Dhabi with 4x4 dune bashing, camel riding, sand boarding, sunset photos, henna, BBQ dinner, belly dancing, and a fire show. Guides such as Arham, Rehan, and Ateeq have earned praise for friendly help and excellent photos, though service and food quality can vary.

“I had an incredible time . As a person doing a 2 day layover, the desert safari was a perfect combination of activities, relaxing, thrill, and leisure . Our guide Arkham was incredible in guiding us through the process; ranging from taking great Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Dune Bashing Desert Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 998 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $62

Ride a 4WD Land Cruiser across Abu Dhabi’s dunes, stop at a camel farm, try sandboarding and a short camel ride, then visit a desert camp. Evening departures add sunset, BBQ, Arabic sweets, Bedouin coffee, falcon photos, belly dance, Tanoura, and a fire show.

“Super good. Faisal, the driver/guide was very nice and helpful. All the activities were very unique and well organized. Truly enjoyed the event and will highly recommend Desert Rose for desert safari to others.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Desert Safari with BBQ, Belly & Tannura Dance

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 809 reviews · 6 hours · from $80

Spend six hours beyond Abu Dhabi with a driver-guide such as Faisel, Unni, or Hakeem, racing over Al Khatim dunes, riding a camel, sandboarding, and relaxing at a Bedouin-style camp with BBQ, henna, tanoura dancing, belly dance, and fire shows.

“Everything was amazing , the food was soooo good and the entertainment was amazing !”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 795 reviews · from $60

You’ll leave Abu Dhabi by hotel pickup for Al Khatim, where a driver leads a dune-bashing ride, sunset camel experience, sandboarding, henna, sheesha, BBQ buffet, belly dancing, fire, and tanoura shows. The camp is lively, but confirm which activities are included before you go.

“Everything was amazing! Dune bashing was trilling, food was delicious, unforgettable day in desert :) Highly recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Evening Desert Safari with Camel Ride, BBQ & Live Show

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 638 reviews · from $72

Spend about six hours crossing the Al Khatim Desert by air-conditioned 4x4, with dune bashing, camel feeding, sandboarding, sunset photos, a short camel ride, henna, BBQ dinner, belly dance, Tanoura, and stargazing. Guides such as Ahmed, Hamza, Sanal, and Haneef are praised for safe driving and photography.

“Absolutely amazing! The tour was great! We had such a nice time at the desert, the food is amazing, the show is very good. I can recommend this tour 100%. Our tour guide Sanal was really nice and funny with amazing driving and photography skills.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Abu Dhabi Morning Desert Safari: 4×4 Dune Bashing, Camel Ride and Sandboarding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 487 reviews · from $52

Start with a 7:30 am pickup in Abu Dhabi, then ride 45 minutes to Al Khatim Desert for a fast 4x4 dune bash, camel farm visit, short camel ride, sandboarding, and Arabic tea, coffee, dates, soft drinks, and water at a Bedouin-style camp. Guides such as Gino and Nasim are praised for friendly service.

“What a fun tour!! We had Nasim and he was a fabulous guide! Highly recommend!! The dune bashing was incredible as was the short camel ride! And sledding down the dune was so much fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.The Sunrise Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 268 reviews · from $79

Leave Abu Dhabi at 4:30 am for a small-group 4x4 ride into the desert. Watch sunrise from the dunes, enjoy a dune-bashing session, take camel photos, and sip Arabic tea or coffee at a traditional camp. Pickup and drop-off are included.

“This was such a great excursion!! I loved that it was very private and they had so much to offer as far as what to do. The pictures our guide took were amazing as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Morning Desert Safari From Abu Dhabi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 264 reviews · from $55

Start at 8 a.m. with 4x4 pickup in Abu Dhabi, then head into the desert for dune bashing, photo stops, a camel farm, camel riding, sand boarding, and falcon photos. Guides such as Zahoor, Riaz, and Zahara are praised for safe driving and friendly service. You return around noon.

“It was an excellent safari. Our guide was very professional and knowledgeable. We reallly enjoyed as a family.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Sunrise Desert Safari – Abu Dhabi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 168 reviews · 3 hours · from $72

Leave your Abu Dhabi hotel before dawn for a three-hour Al Khatim Desert safari. Your English-speaking guide, often praised guides such as Faizy, Abdul Rasheed, or Afsal, takes you across the dunes to a sunrise viewpoint, followed by coffee, dates, a short camel ride, and possible sandboarding.

“Absolutely loved the incredible sunrise - totally worth the early start”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Sunrise Desert Safari Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 141 reviews · from $58

Leave Abu Dhabi before dawn in an air-conditioned 4x4 with a private guide such as Faizy or Farook. Watch sunrise from the dunes, enjoy Arabic coffee and dates at a Bedouin-style camp, take a short camel ride, then finish with dune bashing and hotel drop-off.

“Each aspect of this experience was exciting. From the exhilarating dune bashing ride, to the peaceful stroll with the camel. this is a must do activity.”

Check availability →Read our full review