If the idea of Arabian Nights fascinates you, a desert safari in Abu Dhabi ought to satiate your fantasy. Blessed with miles of golden sandy desert, Abu Dhabi is most famous for its iconic desert safaris and desert camping.
The beautiful capital of the United Arab Emirates is much more than just its soaring skyscrapers. What was once a quiet little travel destination has quickly earned fame as one of the hottest, most promising travel getaways in the world. Whether it is the glorious patch of sand dunes stretching from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, or the sprawling desert beyond Al Dhafra’s Liwa Oasis, Abu Dhabi has great adventures to offer to those who stray into its boundaries. With high sand dunes and valleys, there’s no end to the adrenaline rush that dune bashing brings!
For that quintessential Arabian Nights vibe, the Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari may be your best bet. Generally, all desert safaris include dune bashing, camelback rides, quad biking, sand skiing, a visit to camel farms, and a hearty dinner under the starlit night skies. Ready yourself for a night filled with entertainment with a couple of traditional performances. Drink in the fiery hues of the desert skies as the sun dips and the stars come out to play. Indulge in some classic shisha smoking after dinner, while sipping on the traditional Arabic coffee.
The Bedouin camps are pure luxury amidst the wilderness of the sandy desert. Furnished with comfortable pillows, carpets, and more amenities like clean bathrooms for men and women, feel all your fatigue being washed away by the refreshing service and hospitality provided here.
Choose from a great range of desert safari packages, according to what best suits your needs. There’s the classic evening desert safari, desert safari with overnight camping, desert safari with barbecue, and the morning desert safari for the early-risers out there.
The experience of an overnight desert safari or desert camping amidst the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi is enhanced greatly by the impeccable Arabic hospitality. If you’re setting out to create some truly great memories, a trip to Abu Dhabi is your key! Wander into the sandy corners seeking adventure, and leave with much, much more.
- 5D/4N
- Dubai
- 1H
- Abu Dhabi
- 2H
- Abu Dhabi
- 1D
- Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Top Attractions
Places To Visit In Abu Dhabi
Lovers of red, fast and shiny Ferrari get ready to rock on for some more entertainment with the Ferrari World. Yes, you heard it right. Ferrari World of Abu Dhabi gives you complete liberty to bring in your family for some thrilling fun and entertainment. Ferrari World of Abu Dhabi is one of the biggest amusement parks in the world. Locals love to take rejoicing off from all their hectic schedules at this Abu Dhabi’s popular getaway location. Ferrari World offers you a chance to smash on your own land speed records.Right from rides to attractions to events, Ferrari World has got everything to engage you throughout your visit. Speed of Magic, Tyre Twist, Made in Maranello, The Racing Legends, and Paddock are some worthy attractions of Ferrari World. These are engineered in such a way that it raises the overall level of your craziness for Ferrari. Ferrari World authorities are sure to leave you spellbound with their live performances and shows.Throughout 365 days of the year, Ferrari World organizes different shows and performances featuring optical illusions, acrobats, gravity-defying stunts and lots more. If you think that’s all that your Ferrari World has got to offer, wait for the time when you feel hungry. The food outlets here serve the best quality local and international cuisines.While you are about to leave this wonderland, do not forget to pack your bags with some excellent souvenirs. Right from Italian fashion accessories to Ferrari memorabilia, you have a plethora of things to carry back!Also Read: 5 Best Water Parks And Theme Parks in Abu Dhabi
Crowned as the largest mosque in all of the United Arab Emirates, Grand Mosque or widely known as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is found in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. Built between 1996 and 2007, the mosque is named after the first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who died in 2004 and was buried in the mosques premise itself.The building is an enigmatic piece of architectural design with some of it's most exotic features like being decorated with the world's largest carpet (60,570 square feet) and chandelier and the ability to hold more than 40,000 devotees for prayers, makes the place an ideal destination for worshipers. The place is one of the most visited structures in the world and is occupied with visitors all year round. Masterminded by architect Yousef Abdelky, the construction of the mosque was spread across 12 years and used more than 3,000 workers and 38 other construction companies costing a whopping 2 billion dollars in overall construction cost. Its impeccable design is inspired by various regions and mosques including Alexandrian, Persian and Mughal mosques, Abu Al-Abbas Al-Muris Mosque in Egypt and Badshashi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. The Grand Mosque is embedded with Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers moulded in 24-carat gold,96 interior columns studded with jewels, 1,096 external columns, and 82 domes carved out of white marble. Running along the arcades is a water pool.The exciting thing about the pool is the arrangement of lights around it. The company Speirs and Major Associates modelled the lights to mirror various phases of the moon making the mosque a dazzling establishment at night. This Mosque has also made its way into the Guinness book of world records with the second largest chandelier and the largest carpet in a mosque. Suggested Read: 50 Amazing Places to Visit in Abu Dhabi
Built by Zayed Bin Khalifa to safeguard the city’s interest and palm groves, this fort has stood erect and in full form for over two centuries now. Facing a plethora of battles, attack and war from the British invasion in the 19th century, this fort has played a pivotal role in shaping Abu Dhabi’s government and human rights.Al Jahili fort’s history dates back to the 19th century when the division of land gave away fertile land with an abundance of water channels and a promising livelihood for people of Abu Dhabi. It was built in Buraimi Oasis, and now covers the area of Buraimi and Al Ain too. The fort’s structure includes a humongous residential area standing in the middle, with four cylindrical towers surrounding it. An extravagant garden on the entrance of this fort is where a plethora of entertaining shows and dance performances are held in the evening attracting a huge crowd. Take time out to admire the fort’s interior which are extremely beautiful and intricate and feature a myriad of amusing paints, artworks and antiques. The hanging pictures of Wilfred Thesiger renders his exquisite time spent with Bedu people in the exploration of the fort. After its reconstruction the fort was opened to the public in the year 2007 and since then has seen a surge of tourists visiting it every year. Visiting this extravagant edifice is a must do activity when in Abu Dhabi.
Popular Desert Safari Destinations
Abu Dhabi Travel Guides
People Also Ask About Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi
-
What are the best desert safari tours in Abu Dhabi?
1. Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
A trip to Abu Dhabi is essentially incomplete without the classic evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi. Just an hour’s drive away from Abu Dhabi, the vast sand dunes of the Al Khatim desert invite you for a memorable evening of dune bashing and safari. There is little else that compares to exploring the beautiful desert as the setting sun paints a lovely goodbye on the sky.
It’s customary to indulge in a photo session against the sunset before setting off for the camel farm, where a traditional Bedouin camp awaits you. Lined with carpets, the camps are equipped with pillows and comfortable modern lighting to create the ideal setting of an oasis.
Get ready for a thrilling camel ride, followed by activities like sand boarding, dune bashing, quad biking, and more. End the day with a delightful feast comprised of Arabic dishes along with a barbecue. Follow it up with the traditional shisha smoking under a star-studded sky before you call it a day and head back to your hotel, your heart brimming with happy memories.
Duration: 4 hours
Price: INR 2,900 per adult
2. Morning Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
Brace yourself for a wonderful morning as you head out to the bountiful sand dunes of the of Al Khatim desert, just an hour away from Abu Dhabi. The desert unfurls before you under the glistening morning sky as you dive into adventures like dune bashing, camel riding, sand boarding and quad biking.
You can also dress up in the traditional Arabic garb to get a photo taken, after which a hand interaction with the Falcon awaits you! The campsite serves you with refreshments like the traditional Arabic coffee, tea, dates, and some soft drinks. Bid adieu to the sand dunes and head back to your hotel with memories tucked away in your heart as well as your camera.
Duration: 4 hours
Price: INR 3,500 per adult
3. Overnight Desert Safari
A traditional Bedouin camp set in the heart of Al Kahtim awaits you after an evening of endless adventures like quad biking, camel rides, sand bashing, and more. Go all out with your photography skills trying to capture the colours of sunset splattered across the desert skies, and then make for the camel farm.
The camp, furnished with carpets, pillows, modern lighting, and clean restrooms promises to pamper you after an exciting evening. Experience the warm Arabic hospitality as you’re served with the aromatic Arabic coffee, tea, dates, falafel, and soft drinks.
The camelback rides, music, belly dance performances, the traditional Tanoura dance, and a delectable dinner come together to promise you a night you’ll never forget. Smoking shisha is almost obligatory after a hearty dinner, followed by stargazing as the night sky is taken over by a million stars. Wake up to the tantalising aroma of breakfast and coffee, and head back to your hotel.
Duration: 20 hours
Price: INR 6,999 per adult
4. Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner
An evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi is one of the most refreshing activities to indulge in, where thrill and luxury merge to promise you a memorable evening. Sand bashing in your 4x4 under the fiery sunset-skies is an unmatched experience, and also leaves you with some truly breathtaking views captured in your camera!
Take a camelback ride in the sand dunes to admire the vast stretches of the desert. Follow up your adventurous evening with a belly dance performance, the traditional Tanura show, fireworks, shisha smoking, and a finger-licking barbecue dinner. The Arabian hospitality leaves its mark on your heart as you end your day with countless memories.
Duration: 6 hours
Price: Starting from INR 730 per adult
5. Desert Safari with Camping
A camping experience like none other, the golden sand dunes of the Al Khatim desert beckons you for a night of pure Arabic joy. Let the desert adventures like camel rides, quad biking, and sand bashing entice you before you seek comfort in the arms of your overnight camp.
Try on the traditional Arabic dresses before visiting the iconic camel farm. Capture countless vibrant memories in your camera and head to your camp. After being welcomed with refreshments like the classic Arabic coffee, tea, dates, and more, an entertaining duo of the traditional Tanoura dance and belly dance liven up your evening.
Feast your taste buds on the palatable Arabic dinner, followed up shisha smoking out under the starry skies. As you wake up, you’re greeted by the fresh aroma of coffee and breakfast which you can devour before heading back to your hotel!
Duration: 20 hours -
What should one wear on a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
-It is highly recommended to wear comfortable clothing as the desert temperature is high all through the year.
-Mens can wear three fourths or shorts with t-shirts and womens can wear tops with jeans or track pants.
-It is suggested to avoid wearing tight clothes.
-You can wear a pair of convenient sandals with buckles.
-Wearing caps and hats is always a good choice. -
What is dune bashing?
Dune bashing, also known as 4x4 dune bashing, is a desert activity where you drive over sand dunes at varying speeds. It poses a thrill as well as a challenge as the surface of the sand keeps moving, and only a skilled driver can drive over such terrain. The vehicle is generally an SUV (sports utility vehicle). It is the most common activity in Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safaris
-
Can senior citizens go on a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
Activities like sand boarding and dune bashing are not recommended for senior citizens, as they involve driving at high speeds which may cause discomfort to them. Camel rides may be a safer option for those with no chronic problems.
Must Read: Historical Museums of Abu Dhabi -
Is desert safari safe for kids?
It isn’t recommended to go on a desert safari with a kid under the age of 1 year. For kids from 1 to 5 years of age, you can ask for a private car, in which case the drive will also be relatively less intense.
Also, ensure that your little ones are seated well in their car seat. Camel riding is a safe option for kids, too. Activities like sand boring and dune bashing are out of bounds for kids below the age of 5. -
Can a pregnant woman go on desert safari?
Pregnant women should absolutely not embark on desert safaris. There’s no ways about that.
-
What is the best season for desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
The most suitable time for a desert safari in Abu Dhabi is from November to March, where the weather the cold yet pleasant, without the extremities of the summer heat. Winter is also when you can truly make the most of your safari, especially during the evenings, when you can admire the beautiful desert sunset. Avoid summer months as the heat is scorching.
Recommended Read: New Year in Abu Dhabi -
Is Abu Dhabi famous for Desert Safari?
Abu Dhabi is not only famous for desert safaris but is also known as one of the topmost desert safari destinations in the world! It is blessed with vast golden stretches deserts all over, tempting thousands of travellers from all over the world. The iconic Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari is widely preferred, followed by overnight camping under the stars.