Zayed International (AUH) · Private pickup · Hotel drop
Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Airport Pickup
Driver at arrivals, dunes and camp, back in time for your flight. From USD 35 per person.
Desert safari Abu Dhabi airport pickup, straight from your flight. Land at Terminal A and head straight for the Al Khatim dunes: dune bashing, a camel ride, sunset, dinner and shows, then your hotel at about 10.30 PM. One private car with your luggage in the boot, from USD 190 (AED 699) per car.
AED 699 · per car, airport pickup, hotel drop, up to 7 guests
Dunes, camel, dinner and shows, then your hotel · luggage in the boot
Send your flight numberThe right safari for your landing time
Arriving in Abu Dhabi
Desert Safari With Abu Dhabi Airport Pickup, in Six Answers
For arriving guests who want the dunes on day one, then their hotel.
Terminal A to the dunes, then your hotel. One private car, luggage in the boot.
USD 190 (AED 699) per car in a 4×4, USD 245 (AED 899) in a Land Cruiser.
By about 1 PM for the 3 PM evening pickup.
Your Abu Dhabi hotel by about 10.30 PM.
Take the morning dunes and reach the hotel by lunch.
Halal Arabic and Indian buffet, with vegetarian dishes.
Your landing time
Which Safari Fits Your Landing Time
Times are when your flight lands at Zayed International.
| You land | Best choice | You reach your hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Before 7 AM | Morning dunes, straight from the airport | Late morning |
| 7 AM to 1 PM | Hotel first, or wait for the 3 PM evening pickup | About 10.30 PM |
| 1 PM to 3 PM | Evening safari straight from arrivals | About 10.30 PM |
| After 3 PM | Hotel tonight, evening safari tomorrow | Same evening |
| Late night | Hotel transfer now, desert another day | Within the hour |
Swipe for more
The evening from arrivals
Land, Dunes, Dinner, Hotel
A typical arrival at 12:30 PM.
- About 1.30 PMMeet at arrivalsYour driver holds your name, loads the bags and heads for the desert.
About 3 PMDune bashingA 4×4 run over the red dunes, gentle on request.
SunsetCamel and sandboardingA short camel ride and sandboarding as the sun goes down.
EveningDinner and showsHalal buffet, tanoura, belly dance and fire show at our camp.
About 10.30 PMYour hotelDropped at the door with all your luggage.
Why day one
Why Guests Go Straight From the Airport
A day saved, and one drive instead of three.
Airport, desert and hotel in a single private car, no taxi in between.
Suitcases stay in the boot until your hotel.
A late landing moves the pickup, not your plans.
The dunes are in the evening air, after the heat of the day.
Before you fly
Packing for a Safari on Arrival Day
Keep a small bag on top of your suitcase.
Sunglasses, a scarf, closed shoes and a light layer for the evening.
Skip a heavy meal on the plane. Ask for the gentle drive if you feel unsure.
Child seats are fitted on request; children under 3 go free.
From the airport
Desert Trips With Airport Pickup
Private car from Terminal A, per car for up to 7 guests, up to 30% off for a limited time.
Swipe for more
Land by 1 PMEvening Desert Safari
Dunes, camel ride, sandboarding, dinner and shows, then your hotel.
- Airport pickup
- Hotel drop 10.30 PM
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
Dawn landingsMorning Dunes
A private morning run on the dunes, then your hotel by lunch.
- No crowds
- Cool hours
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 272 (AED 999) per car
Too tired today?Airport to Your Hotel
Straight to your hotel tonight, desert tomorrow.
- Name board
- Child seats free
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 245 (AED 899) per car
Booking
Book the Desert From Arrivals
- Send your flightFlight number, landing time, hotel and number of guests.
- Get the planEvening, morning or hotel first, whichever suits your landing.
- Meet your driverInside arrivals with a name board. Pay on the day.
+971 58 228 2683 · No deposit · Free cancellation until 12 hours before
All options
Everything We Run From Abu Dhabi Airport
Priced per car for up to 7 guests unless marked shared. Tap Details for timings, Book to send it on WhatsApp.
Swipe for more
- 4.9from 10,000+ reviews
- 95,000+guests since 2015
- LicensedDCT Abu Dhabi, DTCM Dubai
- No depositpay on the day
Local operator, Abu Dhabi
Straight From Arrivals to Our Camp, With Locals at the Wheel
Many safari sellers only collect from hotels. We meet you at Terminal A in a private car, drive you to our own camp and finish at your hotel door.
- Licensed in Abu DhabiA DCT-licensed operator. Our office is at Al Sila Tower, Al Maryah Island.
- Our own desert campBuilt and run by us at Al Khatim, 45 to 55 minutes from the city. See it on Google Maps
- Permit-holding driversDune-driving permits, 10+ years at the wheel, insured vehicles.
- Answered at any hourOur team replies on WhatsApp 24/7, from booking to boarding.
Six arrival day facts from our operations team
- Pickup from the airport is private only, in a 4×4 or a Land Cruiser, never a shared bus with strangers.
- Not at the meeting point yet? Your driver stays in contact and waits up to one hour.
- Summer runs later: pickup is around 4 PM and you are back by about 10 PM, when the heat has gone.
- Cancel or move for free up to 12 hours before pickup, and pay on the day with no deposit.
- Travelling with a baby? Under 3s ride free, and a child seat is fitted on request.
- Grandparents can skip the dunes. We drive them straight to the camp by road at no extra cost.
Reviewed by Bilal Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC, operating in Abu Dhabi since 2015. Written by our Abu Dhabi operations team. Facts confirmed by our operations team. See our camp on Google Maps.
Questions
Desert Safari With Airport Pickup Questions
Do you pick up from Abu Dhabi airport for a desert safari?
Yes. Our Abu Dhabi airport pickup service is private only, in a 4×4 for USD 190 (AED 699) per car or a Land Cruiser for USD 245 (AED 899), the same as our private hotel pickup price.
Can I go straight from the airport to the desert and then to my hotel?
Yes. Land, meet your driver at Terminal A arrivals, spend the evening at our Al Khatim camp, and get dropped at your Abu Dhabi hotel at about 10.30 PM, luggage and all.
What time should my flight land for the evening safari?
Ideally by about 1 PM, so you clear immigration and meet the 3 PM pickup. Later landings can still reach the dunes; message us the flight number.
What if I land in the morning?
Take the morning dunes instead: a sunrise or early-morning run with no dinner, then your hotel by lunchtime.
Is it a good idea to do a safari on the day I land?
If you slept on the flight, yes, and it saves a day. After a long overnight flight with little sleep, many guests prefer the hotel first and the dunes the next evening.
Where does my luggage go?
In the boot of your private car for the whole evening, then into your hotel with you.
How many people fit in the car?
Up to 7 guests per car, with luggage. Tell us your bag count so we confirm the right vehicle.
Is dinner included?
Yes, on the evening safari: a halal Arabic and Indian buffet with vegetarian dishes, water and unlimited soft drinks at dinner.
Can I pay on arrival?
Yes. There is no deposit; you pay the driver on the day. Cash is best; cards carry an 8 to 10 percent bank charge.
Can you drop me at a Dubai hotel after the safari?
Yes, quoted on WhatsApp for your hotel. Transfers from the airport straight to Dubai start at USD 545 (AED 1,999) per car.
Is the airport pickup safari shared with other guests?
No. It is one private car for your group, up to 7 guests, from USD 190 (AED 699) per car. Nobody else joins your vehicle, and the pickup time, the dune drive and the drop at your hotel are set around your flight alone.
Can I book this safari if I have a connecting flight?
This trip ends at your hotel, so it suits arrivals staying in the UAE. If you fly out again the same day, book the layover desert safari, which runs airport to airport and needs at least about 8 hours between flights.
Can I wear shorts on a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Shorts and a T shirt are fine at the dunes and the camp. Light, loose clothes keep sand off your skin, closed shoes help on the camel, and a light layer is useful for winter evenings in the desert.
Where is the desert safari location, and how far is it from Abu Dhabi airport?
The safari location is our own camp at Al Khatim, under an hour by road from Terminal A, out along the E22 towards Al Ain. The airport sits on the city’s desert side, so arriving guests reach the dunes faster than guests collected from Corniche hotels.
What if my flight lands too late for the evening safari?
Message us on WhatsApp as soon as the delay shows. If there is still time, the driver takes you to camp for the sunset and dinner; if not, he drops you at your hotel and we offer the safari on another evening or a morning run. With no deposit taken, nothing is lost.
More for AUH