Desert & Adventure

The Desert Safari is the most booked experience in the UAE — and rightly so. A half-day tour into the desert combines adrenaline, nature, and Arabian culture into an unforgettable package.

Typical Afternoon Safari Schedule (15:00–21:00)

1. Pick-up: An off-road vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser) picks you up directly at the hotel. Drive into the desert (45–60 minutes).
2. Dune Bashing (30–45 min): The driver lets air out of the tires and then it begins — racing over the sand dunes in an off-road vehicle, drifting sideways, sliding down steep slopes. It's like a roller coaster, only in the desert. Not for sensitive stomachs!
3. Photo stop in the dunes: The golden dunes at sunset — one of the most beautiful photo moments of the entire trip.
4. Camel ride (15–20 min): Leisurely ride on a dromedary through the dunes. Higher than expected!
5. Desert camp: A traditional Bedouin camp with carpets, cushions, and lanterns. Here you can enjoy:
   • Sandboarding on the dunes
   • Henna painting
   • Smoking shisha
   • Arabic coffee and dates
   • BBQ buffet dinner (grilled chicken, kebabs, salads, Arabian desserts)
   • Belly dance show and Tanoura dance (whirling dervishes)
   • Stargazing (the desert has minimal light pollution)
6. Return: Back to the hotel around 21:00.

Providers & Prices

• Standard Safari: 150–250 AED (37–62 EUR) per person, group format (6 people per car)
• Premium/VIP Safari: 400–800 AED (100–200 EUR) per person, private car, better dinner, less crowd
• Overnight Safari: 500–1,000 AED (125–250 EUR), overnight stay in the desert under the stars

Reputable providers: Arabian Adventures (official Emirates subsidiary), Platinum Heritage (authentic, vintage Land Rover), Al Maha Desert Resort (luxury safari).

For those who want to enjoy the dune experience independently of an organized safari, there are several options:

Dune Bashing on Your Own

Technically possible with a rented 4WD, but only for experienced off-road drivers! The sand dunes around Al Awir, Lahbab (the "Red Desert" with the reddest dunes), and Al Faya are popular spots. You need: a 4WD with all-wheel drive, air deflation valves, a tow rope, enough water, and a companion vehicle. The risk of getting stuck in the sand is real.

Sandboarding

Like snowboarding, only on sand — and much slower. The best dunes for sandboarding can be found at Big Red (Al Hamar), a 100-meter-high, brightly red dune on the Dubai-Hatta Road. Boards can be rented on-site from mobile vendors (about 30 AED/7.50 EUR) or during organized tours. The dune is most atmospheric in the late afternoon when the light makes the red color glow.

Quad Biking

For the extra adrenaline rush: Quad bikes (ATV) through the desert. Self-drive tours from 200 AED (50 EUR) for 30 minutes, guided tours through the dune landscape from 350 AED (87 EUR) for 1 hour. Providers: Big Red Adventure Tours, MX Dubai. Minimum age: 16 years.

The camel (more precisely: the dromedary, the one-humped variant) is the national animal of the UAE and deeply rooted in Bedouin culture. Today, camel racing is a multimillion-dollar business, and breeding dromedaries cost more than luxury sports cars.

Camel Riding

Most desert safaris include a short camel ride (15–20 minutes). For a more extensive experience:

• Al Marmoom Heritage Village: Authentic camel rides through the dunes, often combined with falconry demonstrations. From 150 AED (37 EUR) for 45 minutes.
• Platinum Heritage Camel Treks: Sunrise camel ride through the desert with a subsequent Bedouin breakfast. From 500 AED (125 EUR). Unforgettable.

Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve

The Al Marmoom is the largest unfenced nature reserve in the UAE (40 km southeast of Dubai) and a gem for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Here live oryx antelopes, gazelles, desert foxes, and hundreds of bird species — including flamingos at Al Qudra Lake, an artificial lake in the desert that has developed into an important bird sanctuary.

Activities in Al Marmoom:

• Al Qudra Cycling Track: 86 km of paved bike path through the desert. Bike rental on-site (Trek Bikes, from 80 AED/20 EUR for 2 hours). Best at sunrise or sunset.
• Al Qudra Lakes: Artificial lakes with flamingos, swans, and the famous "Love Lake" (heart-shaped, visible from the air). Free, accessible 24/7. Bring a picnic!
• Camel Racing: At the Al Marmoom Camel Race Track, camel races take place regularly from October to April — with remote-controlled jockeys (yes, robot jockeys!). Free for spectators. A surreal experience.

Hatta is Dubai's mountain village — an exclave of the Emirate of Dubai, 130 km east of the city, nestled in the rugged Hajar Mountains on the border with Oman. Here, there is no trace of the desert: instead, you will find rugged rock walls, deep wadis, and the brightly turquoise Hatta Dam — one of the most photogenic places in the entire UAE.

Hatta Dam (Reservoir)

The dam, built in 1996 amidst the mountains, offers a surreal backdrop: turquoise water surrounded by barren, orange rocks. Water sports: Kayaking (80 AED/20 EUR per hour), Pedal Boat (60 AED/15 EUR), Stand-Up Paddling (80 AED/20 EUR). Swimming is not allowed.

Hiking

Hatta has a marked hiking trail network — a rarity in the UAE:

• Hatta Heritage Trail (easy, 2 km): Leisurely circular route from the Heritage Village to the hill with a viewpoint. Ideal for families.
• Hatta Mountain Trail (medium, 6 km): Through wadis and over ridges with panoramic views. 2–3 hours.
• Jebel Umm Al Nesoor (difficult, 12 km): The highest point in Dubai (1,300 m). Full-day hike, only for experienced hikers. Spectacular views.

Hatta Heritage Village

Reconstructed mountain village from the 16th century with stone houses, a watchtower, traditional falaj irrigation system, and a small museum. Free. Provides a good insight into pre-industrial life in the Hajar Mountains.

Hatta Wadi Hub

Outdoor adventure center with mountain biking (rental from 50 AED/12.50 EUR), archery, axe throwing, ziplines, and a high ropes course. The perfect half-day stop. Glamping is also possible here (Airstream trailers or lodges from 600 AED/150 EUR per night — book early!).

The Liwa Oasis is the edge of the world — or more precisely: the edge of the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter), the largest continuous sand desert on earth. This vast sea of sand stretches over 650,000 km² (almost twice the size of Germany) across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.

Liwa is located 300 km southwest of Abu Dhabi and is the ancestral home of the Al Nahyan dynasty (ruling family of Abu Dhabi) and many other Emirati tribes. The oasis consists of a 100 km long chain of small settlements on the northern edge of the Empty Quarter. Here stand the highest sand dunes in the UAE — Moreeb Dune (Tal Moreeb) is one of the highest free-standing dunes in the world at over 300 meters.

What is there to experience?

• Dune drive to Moreeb Hill: The massive dune is a pilgrimage site for 4WD enthusiasts. In January, the Liwa International Festival takes place here — with camel beauty contests, dune races, and traditional culture.
• Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort: One of the most spectacular desert hotels in the world, nestled in the dunes of the Empty Quarter. The architecture resembles a fortress from 1001 Nights. Rooms from 1,500 AED (375 EUR) per night, but day visitors can also use the restaurant and book guided desert tours.
• Stargazing: The Rub al-Khali has the least light pollution in the entire UAE — the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Some lodges offer telescope nights.
• Date farm visits: Liwa is famous for its dates. Between July and September (harvest season), you can taste fresh dates from local farmers — hundreds of varieties, most of which you have never seen before.