Your group only · Evening or morning · Priced per car
Private Desert Safari Abu Dhabi in Your Own 4×4
A private desert safari in Abu Dhabi with us means a car and driver for your group alone, collected from your door at the time you choose. The evening safari costs USD 190 (AED 699) per car in a sedan or 4×4 and USD 245 (AED 899) in a Land Cruiser, for up to 7 guests, with dinner and three shows at our Al Khatim camp. The private morning is USD 218 (AED 799) per car.
AED 699 · per car, sedan or 4×4
Evening: dunes and sunset, then dinner and three shows at our Al Khatim camp, and your driver takes you home
Check dates and bookNo deposit · pay on the day
What private means
What You Get on a Private Desert Safari, and What You Share
Private means the car and the driver belong to your group for the whole trip. The camp is ours, and you share it with our other evening guests.
Yours alone
- The vehicle and the driver, from pickup to drop-off
- Your pickup time and your pickup point
- The pace of the dune drive: thrilling, gentle, or skipped
- Extra photo stops on the way, when the driver can make them
- Room for a child seat, prams and bags
Shared at our camp
- The BBQ buffet and the tanoura, fire and belly dance shows
- Camel rides, sandboarding and henna
- Seating, toilets and the kids play corner
- Want a table of your own? VIP sofas beside the stage cost USD 16 (AED 60) per person
Prices
Private Desert Safari Abu Dhabi Price, Per Car
One price covers the whole car for up to 7 guests, whether you are two or seven. Prices checked 25 October 2026, already after our up to 30% off.
| Package | Evening, sedan or 4×4 | Evening, Land CruiserBest experience | Morning, sedan or 4×4 | Morning, Land Cruiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per car | USD 190AED 699 | USD 245AED 899 | USD 218AED 799 | USD 272AED 999 |
| Vehicle | Nissan Patrol, Previa or similar | Toyota Land Cruiser | Nissan Patrol, Previa or similar | Toyota Land Cruiser |
| Pickup | About 3 PM, about 4 PM in summer | About 3 PM, about 4 PM in summer | 5 to 8 AM | 5 to 8 AM |
| In the price | Dunes, camel ride, sandboarding, dinner, three shows | The same, in our premium 4×4 | Dunes and sandboarding, no meal | The same, in our premium 4×4 |
| Book |
Evening safari: what each guest pays
| Guests in the car | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan or 4×4 | USD 95 | USD 63 | USD 48 | USD 38 | USD 32 | USD 27 |
| Land Cruiser | USD 123 | USD 82 | USD 61 | USD 49 | USD 41 | USD 35 |
Seven guests in a Land Cruiser pay USD 35 each, less than a seat in our shared hotel pickup at USD 41 (AED 150). More than 7 guests? We send a second car. The full side-by-side is on private vs shared desert safari in Abu Dhabi.
Your vehicle
Sedan or 4×4, or a Toyota Land Cruiser?
A Nissan Patrol, Previa or similar. The best value when four to seven of you split the fare, and it joins exactly the same evening at camp.
Our premium 4×4 and the one most guests ask for. Fresh, well kept and the best experience we offer, for USD 55 (AED 200) more per car.
Every safari vehicle is insured, with a roll cage and a seatbelt in every seat. If a car ever gets stuck, the driver arranges recovery and moves you to another vehicle if needed.
Two schedules
Private Evening or Private Morning: How Each Day Runs
The times below are where we start. On a private car, you can ask for earlier or later and we confirm it on WhatsApp.
Private evening desert safari
- About 3 PMYour driver at your door
About 4 PM between May and September.
- On the road45 to 55 minutes to Al Khatim
Ask for a stop on the way and the driver plans it.
- Late afternoonDunes at your pace
About 15 to 20 minutes, as gentle or lively as your group wants.
- SunsetCamel, sandboard, photos
Then into camp for the buffet and the three shows.
- 9:30 to 10:30 PMBack home
Your driver brings you back to your door.
Private morning desert safari
- 5 to 8 AMEarly pickup
We suggest the best start for your month.
- MorningQuiet dunes
Dune bashing and sandboarding in soft light, a peaceful start to the day.
- OptionalQuad or buggy
Add a quad bike or a Can-Am buggy before you head back.
- Before the heatHome
No breakfast or meal is served on this trip.
Prefer to share and pay per seat? See the evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi. More on early starts: morning desert safari Abu Dhabi.
Who books private
Who a Private Desert Safari Suits Best
Birthdays, anniversaries and proposals can be arranged on request; tell us on WhatsApp what you have in mind. See proposal desert safari.
A child seat on request, a gentle drive for babies, and you leave when the children are tired.
The driver slows down whenever you ask, or skips the dunes and drives straight to camp.
A private car is a must. Message us first so we plan the vehicle and the evening.
Two or more cars travel together to the same camp. Tell us your headcount for a quote.
We advise no dune bashing. You go to camp by road and enjoy everything else.
Pickup
Door-to-Door Pickup Anywhere in Abu Dhabi City
Hotel, apartment, villa or office: your driver comes to you. Cruise passengers are collected from the Abu Dhabi cruise terminal at the same price, and arrivals at Abu Dhabi airport are met by private car only, at the prices above.
Our camp is on Google Maps; a self-drive seat is USD 10 (AED 35) per person.
From Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain or Fujairah, ask us on WhatsApp for a price.
Our private desert safari in Dubai starts from Dubai instead.
Add-ons
Add to Your Private Safari
Add them in the booking panel and pay on the day. The night at camp is our overnight desert safari.
Booking terms
Driver, Licence, Payment and Cancellation
Permit-holding desert drivers with more than ten years of experience, who run safety and first aid checks.
Royal Arabian Safari, licensed by DCT Abu Dhabi and taking guests into the dunes since 2015, with our own camp at Al Khatim.
No deposit and nothing up front. Pay on the day in cash; a card adds a bank fee of 8 to 10 percent.
Cancel or change the date at no cost up to 12 hours before pickup. Bad weather means a new date or a full release.
Guest reviews
Private Desert Safari Reviews
From 10,000+ guest reviews across our tours on Google, Tripadvisor and WhatsApp
★★★★★Thank you so much from my partner and I for the desert safari. It was really good. Would recommend it to friends and family.
Clarissa · Private safari · via WhatsApp
★★★★★Thanks for everything, you were an excellent guide and a great driver. Enjoyed the experience and will definitely recommend to my friends.
Neol · India · via WhatsApp
★★★★★Thank you once again for the beautiful experience at the desert. We enjoyed it and everything was good. We will recommend this to all the people also. Driver was also very good!
Farisha · via WhatsApp
★★★★★I truly believe that God puts people in our lives with a purpose, and you were one of them. Only God knew how much I needed this attention, this care, these moments of joy and friendship. The desert will stay in my heart forever.
Guest · via Instagram · translated from Portuguese
Booking
How to Book a Private Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi
- Pick evening or morning and your carTap Check dates, choose sedan or 4×4 or the Land Cruiser, then your date, guests and pickup address.
- Tell us your timingWrite your preferred pickup time, any stops, child seats or a celebration in the message.
- We confirm on WhatsAppOur team is available 24/7. On the day your driver messages you with his details, and you pay when you meet.
+971 58 228 2683 · Licensed by DCT Abu Dhabi · Pay on the day
Questions
Private Desert Safari Abu Dhabi FAQ
How much does a private desert safari in Abu Dhabi cost?
With us, the private evening safari is USD 190 (AED 699) per car in a sedan or 4×4 and USD 245 (AED 899) in a Toyota Land Cruiser. The private morning is USD 218 (AED 799) or USD 272 (AED 999) per car. Other operators in Abu Dhabi advertise private cars from about AED 900 to AED 1,500.
Is the price per car or per person?
Per car, for up to 7 guests. Two guests pay the same car price as seven, so the cost per head drops as your group grows.
Can just the two of us book a private safari?
Yes. Two guests pay the car price, which works out at about USD 95 (AED 350) each for the evening.
What is included in a private desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
On the evening: door-to-door pickup in your own car, a dune drive of about 15 to 20 minutes, a short camel ride, sandboarding, henna, Arabic costume photos, the halal BBQ buffet with soft drinks, and the tanoura, fire and belly dance shows. On the morning: dune bashing and sandboarding, without a meal.
Does the private safari include meals and drinks?
The evening includes the halal Arabic and Indian BBQ buffet with vegetarian dishes, water and unlimited soft drinks. The morning trip has no meal.
Can I book a private sunset safari with dinner and shows?
Yes, that is our private evening safari: you reach the dunes before sunset, then dinner and three live shows at our Al Khatim camp.
What is the best time of day for a private desert safari?
Evening for sunset, dinner and shows; morning for quiet dunes, cooler air in the hot months and a short trip. From November to March both are comfortable.
Can I customise my private safari?
Yes. You choose the pickup time, ask for a gentle or lively dune drive or none, request stops, child seats or a celebration, and add a quad, buggy or VIP seats. Tell us on WhatsApp and we confirm what is possible.
Is a private desert safari suitable for families with young children?
Yes. Under 3s travel free with a gentle dune drive, child seats come on request, and the camp has a free kids play corner, high chairs and kids food. See also our family desert safari.
Is a private safari good for older guests?
Yes. The driver adjusts the dune drive or skips it, the camp seating is shaded and the toilets are clean. Guests with back or heart problems go to camp by road.
Can we skip the dune bashing?
Yes. Tell your driver and he takes you straight to camp by road, with the rest of the evening unchanged.
What vehicles are used for private dune bashing?
A sedan or 4×4 such as a Nissan Patrol or Previa, or a Toyota Land Cruiser. All safari vehicles are insured, with roll cages and seatbelts in every seat.
Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?
Yes, from anywhere in Abu Dhabi city and from the Abu Dhabi cruise terminal. From Abu Dhabi airport we collect by private car only.
What safety measures do you follow on a private safari?
Permit-holding drivers with 10+ years of experience, safety and first aid checks, insured vehicles with roll cages and seatbelts, and no dune bashing for pregnant guests or anyone with back or heart problems.
Is there a private desert safari with overnight camping?
You can stay on after the evening with our overnight desert safari, USD 109 (AED 400) per person (minimum 5 guests), with your own tent at our camp.
Can I add a camel ride to a private morning safari?
A short camel ride is part of the evening safari. For mornings, our stand-alone camel ride runs about an hour at USD 109 (AED 400) per adult; ask us on WhatsApp to plan it around your trip.
Can you quote for a group of more than 7?
Yes. Send your headcount and dates on WhatsApp and we quote the number of cars; every car joins the same camp evening.
How far is the desert from Abu Dhabi city?
Our camp at Al Khatim is 45 to 55 minutes by road. Some camps at Al Fakka need about 2.5 hours.
How do I choose a reputable private safari company in Abu Dhabi?
Check that the price is per car and states the vehicle, that the operator holds a DCT licence and runs its own camp, and that cancellation terms are written down. We are DCT licensed, run our own Al Khatim camp and publish every price here.
Where can I read reviews of private desert safaris?
On Google and Tripadvisor, and in the guest messages on this page. We hold a 4.9 rating from more than 10,000 guest reviews across our tours.
Is a private desert safari worth the extra cost?
For three or more guests it often costs little more than shared seats, and you get your own timing, driver and pace. For seven guests in a Land Cruiser, it costs less per head than shared hotel pickup.
How do I pay, and can I cancel?
No deposit; you pay on the day in cash, or by card with an 8 to 10 percent bank fee. Cancel or move your date free up to 12 hours before pickup.
Where can I book a private desert safari in Abu Dhabi online?
On this page: tap Check dates, choose your car and send the booking on WhatsApp. We confirm in minutes, day or night.
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