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Safari 4x4s lined up on a dune ridge in the desert outside Dubai

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Experience

Private Desert Safari in Dubai and the Finest Desert Sports

A private desert safari in Dubai is only the beginning: across the Middle East you can fly a falcon at dawn, drift over the dunes in a hot-air balloon, or watch camels race in the Omani sands. These are the most refined ways to experience the desert, with the operators and camps we trust.

Updated

At a glance

Desert Sports at a glance

Best months
October to April
Best hours
Sunrise and late afternoon into evening
Private safari
From approximately US$400 per vehicle; luxury evenings far more
Wear
Light layers, closed shoes, a scarf for sand; warm layer after dark in winter

Why the desert

Why the desert, and how to do it well

The desert is the soul of Arabia. Its silence, shifting colors and starry skies are what many visitors remember most, and for Gulf families it is still a place to gather in winter. The difference between a crowded group tour and a memorable evening is privacy: your own guide and vehicle, a camp set just for you, and time to watch the light change.

Choose a reputable licensed operator, ask about the vehicle and guide, and plan for the cooler months. For overnight stays, see our guide to desert camps and lodges, and for heritage, Bedouin heritage.

Saddled camels resting on rippled golden dunes in the desert outside Dubai
Photo: Clémence Jacqueri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

And experiences

Desert sports and experiences

Platinum Heritage

Dubai, UAE

A respected Dubai operator known for vintage Land Rover safaris inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with falconry, wildlife and private dinners.

Official site ↗

Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort

★★★★★ Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, UAE

A resort within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve offering guided nature drives, archery, falconry and camel treks to its guests.

Official site ↗

Balloon Adventures Dubai

Dubai, UAE

Sunrise balloon flights over the dunes, with falcon displays and breakfast in the desert after landing; private baskets available.

Official site ↗

Dune driving at Liwa

Liwa, Abu Dhabi

The towering dunes of the Empty Quarter near Qasr Al Sarab are the best in the UAE for experienced dune driving with a professional guide.

Official site ↗

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

★★★★★ Liwa, Abu Dhabi

A fort-like resort deep in the Liwa dunes, with sunset camel rides, archery and guided desert walks. Sand surfing on the slopes is a family favorite.

Official site ↗

Falconry

Abu Dhabi and across the Gulf

Falconry is UNESCO-listed living heritage across the Gulf. Private sessions let you handle and fly a falcon with a master falconer; the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital offers fascinating tours. See living heritage.

Official site ↗
Seasonal

Al Marmoom camel racing

Dubai, UAE

The winter racing season at Al Marmoom brings beautifully trained camels, robot jockeys and a festive crowd. Your guide can time a visit with race mornings.

Seasonal

Al Shahaniya camel racing

Al Shahaniya, Qatar

Qatar's camel racetrack, best visited on winter mornings, with the nearby Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum.

Sharqiya Sands

Al Sharqiya, Oman

Oman's golden dunes, a few hours from Muscat, for dune drives, camel treks and Bedouin hospitality.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Jordan's red desert of sandstone cliffs, best explored by 4x4, on camelback or from a hot-air balloon at dawn. See our Wadi Rum guide.

Seasonal

AlUla Hot Air Balloon

AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Balloon flights over AlUla's sandstone canyons and ancient tombs, a highlight of the Kingdom's winter season.

Official site ↗

Merzouga and Erg Chebbi

Merzouga, Morocco

Morocco's great dunes at the edge of the Sahara, with camel treks to luxury tented camps. See Merzouga.

Sandboarding

Across the region

Gliding down soft dunes on a board is easy to learn; Liwa, Sharqiya and Merzouga have the best slopes. Ask your guide for lessons.

Desert stargazing

Across the region

Far from city lights, the deserts of AlUla, Wadi Rum and Liwa reveal the Milky Way. Many camps add telescopes and an astronomer.

Cappadocia ballooning

Cappadocia, Türkiye

Not a desert, but the world's most famous balloon flights drift over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys at dawn. See Cappadocia.

Respecting the desert

Stay on marked tracks inside conservation reserves, carry plenty of water, and never drive the dunes without an experienced guide. Ask permission before photographing local people. Alcohol is generally not served on desert excursions outside licensed resorts.

Some of the region's most exclusive homes now face the desert rather than the sea, from Dubai's desert estates to villas near AlUla. Our Dubai Luxury Real Estate guide covers the communities to know.

Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here

From a stay to a home of your own

Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.

Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate

Luxury Real Estate in the Middle EastEvery guide, country by country.The 66 TerritoriesEach with its Founding Partner Agency and Developer.Branded ResidencesHomes run to the standard of the world's finest hotels.Can Foreigners Buy Property?The rules in all fourteen countries.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.