Abu Dhabi · DCT licensed · Our own camp at Al Khatim
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Tours and Packages
Every Abu Dhabi desert safari tour we run uses our own camp at Al Khatim, 45 to 55 minutes from the city. Choose the evening safari with dinner and three live shows, a private car or Land Cruiser for your group, VIP seats beside the stage, a quiet private morning, or a night in your own tent. Prices start at USD 10 (AED 35) per person, and you pay on the day.
AED 35 · per person, self-drive
Evening safari with dinner and three shows · you drive to our camp at Al Khatim
Check dates and bookPay on the day · replies in minutes
Packages and prices
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Packages and Prices Compared
Six ways to spend a day or a night in the Abu Dhabi desert, side by side. The evening packages share the same camp, the same buffet and the same shows; what changes is how you get there, who is in your car and where you sit. Every price already includes our up to 30% off.
| Package | Evening, sharedMost booked | Evening, private car | Evening, Land CruiserBest experience | VIP seats | Morning, private | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | USD 10AED 35 per person, self-drive | USD 190AED 699 per car | USD 245AED 899 per car | +USD 16AED 60 per person | USD 218AED 799 per car | USD 109AED 400 per person, min. 5 guests |
| Getting there | Your own car, shared bus USD 16 (AED 60) or shared 4×4 hotel pickup USD 41 (AED 150) | Sedan or 4×4 from your door | Toyota Land Cruiser from your door | Any evening transfer | Sedan or 4×4 from your door, Land Cruiser USD 272 (AED 999) | Any evening transfer |
| Timing | About 3 PM to 10:30 PM | About 3 PM to 10:30 PM | About 3 PM to 10:30 PM | Evening | Pickup 5 to 8 AM | Evening to the next morning |
| In the dunes | Dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, sunset | The same, your group only | The same, smoothest ride | As your evening package | Dune bashing and sandboarding | The full evening programme |
| Dinner and shows | BBQ buffet, three live shows | BBQ buffet, three live shows | BBQ buffet, three live shows | Sofa by the stage, food served at your table | No meal, no shows | Dinner, shows, then your own tent |
| Best for | Couples and solo travellers on a budget | Families and groups of 4 or more | Comfort, older parents, photos | Elders, kids, a special night | Quiet dunes, a short trip, quad or buggy | Stargazing and a night away |
| Book |
Children under 3 go free on every package, and from 3 years the adult price applies. Shared hotel pickup needs at least 2 guests. The full rate card, with every add-on and the cost per person in a private car, is on our Abu Dhabi desert safari prices page. Prices checked 24 October 2026.
Cheap and deals
Cheap Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Deals, Without the Catch
Most people searching for a cheap desert safari in Abu Dhabi want the lowest price that still includes the good parts. Here is the cheapest way in, and what each low price includes with us. Every price below already has our up to 30% off; there is no code to enter.
Drive yourself to our camp and get the full evening: dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ buffet and three live shows.
The shared bus takes you to the camp and back, with the same evening included.
A private car for your group from your door. Four guests pay about USD 48 (AED 175) each, close to the price of a shared seat with hotel pickup.
Is dinner included? Are the shows included? Is pickup included? How far is the camp? With us the answers are yes, yes, by choice, and 45 to 55 minutes.
Wondering what a very low price really covers? Read the AED 60 desert safari: what you actually get, or see every rate on our Abu Dhabi desert safari prices page.
Our tours
Every Desert Safari Tour in Abu Dhabi We Run
Each tour has its own page with the full plan. The Book button opens the same booking panel, already set to that tour.
Swipe for more
Most bookedEvening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
Dune bashing, sunset, a camel ride, the BBQ buffet and three live shows at our own Al Khatim camp.
- 3 PM to 10:30 PM
- Dinner and shows
Shared hotel pickup USD 41 (AED 150) per person
Your group onlyPrivate Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
The full evening safari in a car for your group alone, collected from your door and driven on your timing.
- Door to door
- No other guests
Land Cruiser, best experience: USD 245 (AED 899) per car
Front rowVIP Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
Sofa seating right beside the stage, a table of your own and dinner brought to you instead of the buffet queue.
- Sofa by the stage
- Table service
PrivateMorning Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
A quiet private morning of dune bashing and sandboarding before the heat, with a quad or buggy if you want one.
- Pickup 5 to 8 AM
- No meal served
Land Cruiser USD 272 (AED 999) per car
A night in the dunesOvernight Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
The whole evening safari, then the night in your own tent at our camp once the day guests have gone.
- Your own tent
- Evening safari included
Under 3s freeFamily Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
A gentle dune drive for little ones, swings and a free kids play corner, high chairs and kids food at the buffet.
- Under 3s free
- Child seats on request
Private car for the family USD 190 (AED 699)
Add to any safari, or book on its own
Timings
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Timings and Itinerary
These are our standard winter timings. Sunset moves through the year, so your driver confirms the exact pickup time on WhatsApp before the day. In summer the evening pickup moves to about 4 PM, with the drop by about 10 PM.
Evening desert safari, hour by hour
- 3:00 PMPickup in Abu Dhabi
From your hotel or home, a little earlier in the shortest days of winter. If you are running late, the driver waits up to an hour and stays in touch.
- 3:45 PMOut to Al Khatim
The drive to our camp takes 45 to 55 minutes, a fraction of the 2.5 hours some camps further out need.
- 4:30 PMDune bashing
About 15 to 20 minutes over the dunes with a permit-holding driver. Skip it if you prefer, and we drive you straight to camp.
- 5:00 PMCamel, sandboard and sunset
A short camel ride, free sandboarding, the sunset photo stop, plus henna and Arabic costume photos at no charge.
- 6:30 PMBBQ buffet
Halal Arabic and Indian dishes with vegetarian choices, soft drinks and water, at shaded tables.
- 7:30 PMThree live shows
Tanoura, fire show and belly dance on the stage. During Ramadan the belly dance is left out.
- 10:30 PMBack at your door
Most guests are home between 9:30 and 10:30 PM.
Morning and overnight safaris
- 5 to 8 AMPrivate morning pickup
We suggest the best start for your month: earlier in the hot season, later in winter.
- MorningDune bashing and sandboarding
Quiet dunes and soft light, with a quad bike or Can-Am buggy if you add one. No breakfast is served.
- Late morningHome before the heat
Your driver takes you back to your hotel or home.
- OvernightEvening safari, then camp
The full evening programme, then a night in your own tent while camp services stay on. We confirm the return time on WhatsApp.
Location
Where Our Abu Dhabi Desert Tour Takes Place: Al Khatim
Every tour on this page runs from our own camp in the Al Khatim desert, inland from Abu Dhabi city. Because the camp is ours, the buffet, the stage, the toilets and the timing are ours too.
Al Khatim is close enough for an evening out without losing half the day on the road. Camps out at Al Fakka take about 2.5 hours to reach.
Soft, rolling dunes for the drive and the sunset, and a quiet night sky once the shows end.
Shaded seating, clean toilets with hand washing, a small shop for extras and a kids play corner with swings.
Our Dubai guests go to our camps at Al Awir and Lahbab instead. See the Dubai desert safari.
See exactly where our camp is on Google Maps before you book. Planning a desert trip further out, or curious about the area? Read our Al Khatim desert guide.
Pickup
Pickup Areas: Your Abu Dhabi Desert Safari From the City
Choose how you travel, and the rest of the evening is the same. We collect from hotels and homes across Abu Dhabi, including Yas Island, Saadiyat, the Corniche, Al Wahda, Mazyad and Safeer malls, Shabiya and along Airport Road.
Shared ways to the camp
- Self-drive to our camp: USD 10 (AED 35) per person
- Shared bus: USD 16 (AED 60) per person
- Shared 4×4 from your hotel or home: USD 41 (AED 150) per person, minimum 2 guests
Private, your group only
- Sedan or 4×4: USD 190 (AED 699) per car
- Toyota Land Cruiser, the best experience: USD 245 (AED 899) per car
- Wheelchair users: a private car is a must, message us first
Your driver confirms the pickup point and time on WhatsApp. For a group bigger than one car, see the group desert safari.
Included or extra
What Is Included in an Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Tour
In every evening package
- Dune bashing, about 15 to 20 minutes, optional
- Camel ride of about 5 minutes
- Sandboarding, henna and Arabic costume photos
- Sunset stop on the dunes
- Halal BBQ buffet with vegetarian dishes, water and soft drinks
- Tanoura, fire show and belly dance
- Kids play corner, high chairs and kids food
Only if you want them
Extras are added to your booking and paid on the day.
Before you go
What to Wear and When to Go
Relaxed. Shorts, jeans and t-shirts are fine for men and women. Skip beachwear, and wear closed shoes: sandals fill with sand on the dunes.
From November to February the desert cools fast after sunset. Bring a light fleece or a shawl.
The safari runs all year. From May to September we pick up later, and the weather is comfortable from about 5 PM.
Sunglasses, a phone for photos and cash for extras. Water and soft drinks are on us.
Outfit ideas for men, women and children are in our guide to what to wear on a desert safari in Abu Dhabi.
Safety and trust
Is an Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Safe? Six Straight Answers
Ask any operator these questions before you book. These are our answers.
Drivers with a dune driving permit and 10+ years of experience, who complete safety and first aid checks.
Our own 4x4s and Land Cruisers with roll cages and a seatbelt in every seat. The vehicles are insured.
Always. Babies get a gentle drive, and anyone pregnant or with back or heart problems goes to camp by road at no cost.
Yes. Royal Arabian Safari runs its own camp at Al Khatim, so we are not reselling a seat at somebody else’s.
Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC is licensed by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT) and has run safaris since 2015.
Nothing. No deposit, pay on the day, and free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.
Guest reviews
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Reviews From Our Guests
From 10,000+ guest reviews across our tours on Google, Tripadvisor and WhatsApp
★★★★★A lot of experiences for a very good price and in one place. Enjoyed everything including camel ride, dune bashing, dinner and the shows organized there. Overall it was an amazing experience.
Guest · Evening safari · via WhatsApp
★★★★★We had an unforgettable desert safari experience from start to finish. The dune bashing was absolutely thrilling and gave us a real adrenaline rush as we moved across the golden sand dunes. The Tanoura dance was colorful, energetic and truly captivating. One of the highlights was renting a quad bike and riding it ourselves through the desert.
Hannu H · Safari with a quad bike · Google review
★★★★★We booked a private car for our family and Mohammed was a superb guide for us. He picked us up in time at our hotel, came with a perfectly clean and prepared car, and took us out into the desert including different stops along the route.
Markus W · Private car · Google review
★★★★★Really enjoyed our desert safari with Ali. Our private tour was very comfortable and felt exclusive. Ali indulged me by letting me spend a lot of time with the camels, and catered to my husband’s enjoyment of dune bashing.
Deirdre V · Private safari · Google review
Booking
How to Book Your Abu Dhabi Desert Safari
- Pick the tour and the dateTap Check dates, choose the package and how you travel, then the date, your guests and your pickup area. The total adds up as you go.
- Send it on WhatsAppThe panel writes the message for you, and our team confirms your booking within minutes, day or night.
- Pay on the dayNo deposit. Cash in any major currency is easiest; card payments carry a bank fee of 8 to 10 percent.
+971 58 228 2683 · Licensed by DCT Abu Dhabi · Free cancellation 12h
Questions
Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Questions, Answered
How much is a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
Our Abu Dhabi desert safari starts at USD 10 (AED 35) per person if you drive to our camp, USD 16 (AED 60) on the shared bus and USD 41 (AED 150) with shared hotel pickup. A private car for your group is USD 190 (AED 699), a private Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899), the private morning safari USD 218 (AED 799) per car and the overnight safari USD 109 (AED 400) per person (minimum 5 guests). Every price already includes our up to 30% off.
Which Abu Dhabi desert safari tour is best for a first visit?
The evening safari. It packs dune bashing, sunset, a camel ride, sandboarding, dinner and three live shows into one afternoon and evening. Families and groups of four or more usually pay less per head in a private car, and the Land Cruiser gives the smoothest ride.
Is a morning or an evening desert safari better in Abu Dhabi?
Choose the evening for the full experience with dinner and shows. Choose the morning if you want quieter dunes and cooler air before the heat, a short private trip, or a quad or buggy ride; the morning tour has no meal and no shows.
Can babies and young children come on the safari?
Yes. Children under 3 travel free and get a gentle dune drive, child seats are available on request, and the camp has a free kids play corner, high chairs, a changing station and milk warming. From 3 years the adult price applies.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the weather stops a safari, we move you to another day or release the booking, and you owe nothing.
What is the cheapest desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
With us, the cheapest is USD 10 (AED 35) per person if you drive to our camp, then USD 16 (AED 60) on the shared bus. Both include the full evening with dinner and the shows. For a group of four, a private car at USD 190 (AED 699) works out at about USD 48 (AED 175) each.
Do you have Abu Dhabi desert safari deals or discount codes?
No code is needed. Every price on this page already includes our up to 30% off for a limited time, and you pay on the day with no deposit.
Is a private or a shared desert safari better?
Shared is cheapest for one or two people. Private is better for families, groups of four or more, older guests or anyone who wants to choose their own pickup time, and the Land Cruiser gives the best experience.
Can I book a quad bike or dune buggy without the safari?
Yes. Quad biking and the Can-Am buggy can be booked on their own: come in your own car, or add a private pickup car from anywhere in Abu Dhabi city for USD 190 (AED 699), or USD 272 (AED 999) in a Land Cruiser.
What is included in the price, and what costs extra?
Every evening safari includes your transfer as booked, an optional 15 to 20 minute dune drive, a short camel ride, sandboarding, henna, Arabic costume photos, the halal BBQ buffet with water and unlimited soft drinks at dinner, and the belly dance, tanoura and fire shows. Paid extras are a quad bike from USD 27 (AED 100), a Can-Am buggy at USD 218 (AED 800) per 30 minutes, a falcon photo at AED 10 to 30, professional photos at AED 50 to 150 and shisha at USD 27 (AED 100). The prices shown are already after up to 30% off, with no deposit and payment on the day.
How long does the evening safari take from pickup to drop-off?
About seven and a half hours. Pickup in Abu Dhabi is around 3 PM in the cooler months and you are back by about 10:30 PM. In summer the pickup moves to about 4 PM, with the drop by about 10 PM. Your driver confirms the exact time on WhatsApp before the day.
Shared hotel pickup or a private car: which should I book?
Shared hotel pickup is USD 41 (AED 150) per person, with at least 2 guests. A private sedan or 4×4 is USD 190 (AED 699) for the whole car, so for four guests the shared seats come to AED 600 against AED 699 for a car of your own. A private car runs on your timing, the driver drives as gently as you ask, and it is a must for wheelchair users. For the best experience, book the private Land Cruiser at USD 245 (AED 899) per car.
Can you pick me up from Abu Dhabi airport or the cruise terminal?
Yes. We collect from the Abu Dhabi cruise terminal and from Abu Dhabi airport at our normal Abu Dhabi prices. From the airport the pickup is private only, in a 4×4 at USD 190 (AED 699) or a Land Cruiser at USD 245 (AED 899) per car for the evening safari. Send your flight or ship time on WhatsApp so your driver can plan around it.
I am staying in Dubai. Which safari should I book?
Book our Dubai desert safari, which runs from Dubai to our Al Awir and Lahbab camps. The tours on this page start from Abu Dhabi city.
Should I tip the driver?
Tipping is optional and entirely your choice. Our drivers never ask.
Is Abu Dhabi or Dubai better for a desert safari?
Book it in the emirate you are sleeping in. Our Abu Dhabi safari runs at Al Khatim, 45 to 55 minutes from the city, with quieter red gold dunes and fewer convoys at sunset. Dubai safaris run at Lahbab and Al Awir, closer to Dubai hotels and busier in season. The activities are the same in both: dune bashing, camel rides, sandboarding, quad bikes, a BBQ dinner and live shows. For visitors from the US splitting a trip between the two cities, that keeps the drive back short.
What is a desert safari, and which adventure activities can I do?
A desert safari is a half day trip into the dunes by 4×4: dune bashing on the way in, sunset photos, then a desert camp with camel rides, sandboarding, henna, a BBQ buffet and live shows. In Abu Dhabi you can add a quad bike or a Can-Am buggy at the camp. For the full run from pickup to drop-off, read what to expect on a desert safari in Abu Dhabi.
How do I book a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
Pick the tour and the date in the booking panel, send it on WhatsApp +971 58 228 2683, and our team confirms within minutes, day or night. There is no deposit; you pay on the day.
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