Your own car and driver · Pickup time you choose · Up to 7 guests
Private Desert Safari Dubai Your Car, Your Pace
A private desert safari in Dubai with us means one car and one driver for your group alone: collected from your hotel at a time you pick, a longer dune drive, the sunset on the sand, then the BBQ dinner and three shows at our Al Awir camp. USD 190 (AED 699) for the whole car, up to 7 guests. The private Land Cruiser, our best experience, is USD 272 (AED 999) per car and can go to the Lahbab red dunes. No deposit: you pay on the day.
AED 175 · each, 4 guests in a USD 190 (AED 699) private car
One price per car · dune drive, sunset, dinner and 3 shows included
Check my date and carOne total for the whole car, in writing
In 30 seconds
What Is a Private Desert Safari in Dubai?
It is the evening desert safari as a private 4×4 tour: your own car and driver instead of shared seats. Only your group rides in the car, the pickup time is yours, and the dune drive and photo stops run at your pace. The camp, dinner and shows are the same evening other guests enjoy.
Per car. AED 699 for the whole private car, whatever the head count.
One group. Up to 7 guests per car; 6 ride most comfortably.
Pickup. Agreed with you on WhatsApp, set by the sunset on your date.
Grace. Your driver waits up to an hour if someone runs late.
Land Cruiser. AED 999 per car, our best experience, Al Awir or Lahbab.
The camp. Dinner and the three shows are shared; the car never is.
Private prices
Private Desert Safari Dubai Packages and Prices
Three private evenings, each priced for the whole car, with the vehicle confirmed for your group in writing before you pay. Every one includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the dune drive, the sunset stop, the camel ride, sandboarding, the BBQ dinner and three live shows.
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Lowest private pricePrivate Car Evening
A 4×4 or 7-seater (Nissan Patrol, Toyota Previa or similar) with its own driver for your group: collected at the hour you pick, a longer dune drive, then the Al Awir camp.
- Up to 7 guests, 6 most comfortable
- Pickup at a time you choose
- Dune drive 20 to 30 min
- Dinner and 3 shows included
Best experience: Land Cruiser USD 272 (AED 999) per car
Best experiencePrivate Land Cruiser, Al Awir
Our premium Toyota Land Cruiser for your group alone, the car most of our private guests choose for the dunes and the sunset.
- Up to 7 guests, Toyota Land Cruiser
- Pickup at a time you choose
- Dune drive 20 to 30 min
- Dinner and 3 shows included
Red dunesPrivate Land Cruiser, Lahbab
The same Land Cruiser on the longer road to the red sand of Lahbab, with a camel farm stop on the way out.
- Up to 7 guests, Toyota Land Cruiser
- About 1 hour 10 minutes out, camel farm stop
- Dune drive 20 to 30 min
- Dinner and 3 shows included
Want a private majlis? VIP seating puts your group on sofas right in front of the stage, with dinner served there, for USD 14 (AED 50) per person. Quads begin at USD 27 (AED 100); half an hour in a Can-Am buggy is USD 218 (AED 800). Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.
Add to your evening
Upgrade Your Private Safari: VIP, Quad or Buggy
Your private car already covers the dunes, the sunset, dinner and the shows. These three add-ons are what private guests book most, and each can be added on WhatsApp before the day.
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Private majlisVIP Seating by the Stage
Your group on its own sofas right in front of the stage, with the BBQ dinner served to you there instead of the buffet queue.
- Private majlis for your group
- Dinner served at your seats
- Front row for the three shows
- Best for families, elders and couples
Most addedQuad Bike at the Camp
Ride a quad on the controlled track at Al Awir before sunset, or book the open dunes for a longer ride.
- Controlled track, 30 min, from USD 27
- Open dunes from USD 54 (AED 200)
- Helmet and safety briefing
- No licence needed
Biggest thrillCan-Am Dune Buggy
Drive a Can-Am buggy yourself over the dunes, with our guide riding alongside, then rejoin your private evening.
- 30 minutes behind the wheel
- 1 or 2 seats per buggy
- Guide rides alongside
- Helmet and briefing included
Add-ons are paid on the day with the car. Shisha USD 27 (AED 100) and a photographer USD 14 to 41 (AED 50 to 150) can also be added.
Do the maths
Private Desert Safari Cost per Guest
A per-car price only looks high until you split it. Here is what each guest pays at every group size, next to the shared 4×4 hotel pickup at USD 41 (AED 150) per person.
| Group | Private car | Land Cruiser | Shared pickup, group total | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest | USD 190AED 699 each | USD 272AED 999 each | USD 41AED 150 in total | Shared costs less |
| 2 guests | USD 95AED 350 each | USD 136AED 500 each | USD 82AED 300 in total | Shared costs less |
| 3 guests | USD 63AED 233 each | USD 91AED 333 each | USD 123AED 450 in total | Shared costs less |
| 4 guests | USD 48AED 175 each | USD 68AED 250 each | USD 164AED 600 in total | Shared costs less |
| 5 guests | USD 38AED 140 each | USD 54AED 200 each | USD 205AED 750 in total | Private car costs less |
| 6 guests | USD 32AED 117 each | USD 45AED 167 each | USD 246AED 900 in total | Private car costs less |
| 7 guests | USD 27AED 100 each | USD 39AED 143 each | USD 287AED 1050 in total | Private car costs less |
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Children under 3 ride free on a lap. Per-guest figures are rounded to the nearest dollar or dirham; you pay one total for the car. Every other price is on our Dubai desert safari price page.
Private vs shared
What Changes When the Car Is Yours
Private is about the vehicle and the clock. This is exactly what you gain, and what stays the same.
| Private car | Shared 4×4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is in the car | Your group only | Guests from other hotels |
| Pickup | A time you choose | A window of 2:30 to 3:30 PM |
| If you run late | Driver waits up to 1 hour | The car has to move on |
| Dune drive | 20 to 30 minutes, or skipped | About 15 minutes |
| Photo stops | Where and when you ask | One sunset stop for the car |
| Lahbab red dunes | Yes, in the Land Cruiser | No, Al Awir only |
| Camp, dinner and shows | Shared with other guests | Shared with other guests |
| Price | USD 190 (AED 699) per car | USD 41 (AED 150) per person |
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Pickup planner
Best Private Pickup Time, Month by Month
With a private car you pick the hour, so pick it by the sunset. These are the pickup times our drivers suggest to reach the dunes with time for the drive before the sun goes down.
| Month | Sunset, mid-month | Al Awir, from Downtown or Deira | Al Awir, from Marina or Palm | Lahbab, Land Cruiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:50 PM | 3:45 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:15 PM |
| February | 6:13 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:00 PM | 3:45 PM |
| March | 6:28 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:00 PM |
| April | 6:41 PM | 4:45 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:15 PM |
| May | 6:56 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:45 PM | 4:30 PM |
| June | 7:10 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:45 PM |
| July | 7:12 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:45 PM |
| August | 6:54 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:45 PM | 4:30 PM |
| September | 6:24 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:00 PM |
| October | 5:52 PM | 3:45 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:15 PM |
| November | 5:31 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:15 PM | 3:00 PM |
| December | 5:31 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:15 PM | 3:00 PM |
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Sunset worked out for Dubai on the 15th of each month with the standard solar formula and checked against timeanddate.com. Your driver confirms the exact time for your date on WhatsApp.
Itinerary
Your Private Evening, Step by Step
Seven steps from your lobby and back. Steps marked Your group only happen with nobody else on board.
The day you bookYour group only
Plan on WhatsApp
Send the date, group size and hotel. You get the car, the pickup time and one total in writing.
Your chosen timeYour group only
Your driver arrives
He comes to the lobby or your door, and waits up to an hour if someone is still getting ready.
50 to 55 minutesYour group only
Out to the desert
East on Al Awir Road to our camp, or about 1 hour 10 minutes to Lahbab in the Land Cruiser.
Before sunsetYour group only
Dunes and sunset
A 20 to 30 minute drive over the sand, stops for photos wherever you ask, then the sun going down from a high dune.
After sunsetAt the shared camp
At the camp
Camel ride, sandboarding, henna and Arabic costume photos, shared with the other guests that night.
After darkAt the shared camp
Dinner and shows
The halal BBQ buffet, then tanoura, fire and belly dance on the stage. Add VIP seating for table service.
9:30 to 10:30 PMYour group only
Home
Your car leaves when your group is ready and drops you back at the door.
On the map
Where Your Private Car Takes You
Our camp is at Al Awir (العوير), on the eastern side of Dubai off Al Awir Road (E44). The Land Cruiser can carry on to the red sand of Lahbab (لهباب).
| Pickup area | Distance to the camp | When to be collected |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Airport, Terminal 3 | About 20 km | Your sunset pickup time |
| Deira and Bur Dubai | About 27 km | Your sunset pickup time |
| Downtown Dubai and Business Bay | About 29 to 30 km | Your sunset pickup time |
| Al Barsha, Mall of the Emirates | About 38 km | 15 minutes earlier |
| Dubai Marina and JBR | About 45 km | 15 minutes earlier |
| Palm Jumeirah | About 46 km | 15 minutes earlier |
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Distances in a straight line to our camp pin. From the western areas, add about 15 minutes to the times in the pickup planner above.
Read before you pay
Private Safari Complaints, and Our Straight Answers
These are the things guests say went wrong on private safaris in Dubai, in Reddit threads and Tripadvisor reviews. Here is how ours works on each point.
| The complaint | With us |
|---|---|
| “Private, but the camp was packed” | We say it up front: the car is private, the camp is shared. Book the private majlis and your group gets its own sofas in front of the stage. |
| “The quote turned out to be per person” | Our private price is per car, written in the confirmation before you pay. |
| “A different car turned up” | If we ever need to change the vehicle, we ask you first. |
| “The driver rushed the sunset” | Your car has no other guests to collect, so the photo stops are yours. |
| “We waited for the others to leave” | Your car leaves the camp when your group is ready. |
| “Deposit lost when plans changed” | No deposit, pay on the day, free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup. |
Complaints summarised from public Reddit r/dubai threads and Tripadvisor reviews of Dubai private safaris, October 2026.
Who it suits
Who Should Book Private, and Who Should Share
Private is not right for everyone. Here is our honest view, group by group.
No detours to other hotels, a child seat on request, and the dunes as gentle as you ask. See our family desert safari.
Just the two of you on the drive and at the sunset stop. The romantic desert safari covers the evening for two.
The best value on this page: the private car costs less than five shared seats.
A private car is the right choice. Tell us before booking so we plan the vehicle.
Choose the Land Cruiser to Lahbab and ask for stops on the red sand in the last light.
Shared hotel pickup at USD 41 (AED 150) each goes to the same camp, for less than half the private car.
Photos
Private Desert Safari Dubai Photos
Taken by our team and guests on the dunes and at the camp.
Guest reviews
Private Desert Safari Reviews From Our Guests
Four recent Google reviews, quoted word for word, from guests who went out with our drivers.
4.9
From 10,000+ guest reviews on Google, Tripadvisor and WhatsApp
Mekyl N Verified guest · Google review ★★★★★Usama Khan, best best Safari tour guide. Wonderful experience. Pick up and drop off safe and secure would recommend private for better experience. Camp activities worth while. Really enjoyed the time
Josephine B Verified guest · Google review ★★★★★The guide Usman Ali was incredibly kind and accommodating especially as I was traveling with many seniors who needed more time to reach their destinations. The landscapes were beautiful and the events planned left a lot of room to ensure we got to do everything to the fullest.
Chathu W Verified guest · Google review ★★★★★We had a truly exceptional desert safari experience with Mr.Usama .He was highly professional, punctual, and extremely courteous throughout the entire journey. His expertise and excellent control during the 4*4 vehicle desert ride made the experience both exciting and completely safe.
Rishabh A Verified guest · Google review ★★★★★Amazing desert safari experience with an action-packed package including dune bashing, ATV ride, camel ride, delicious food, and an entertaining show. Big shout-out to Usman Ali for being so friendly, supportive, and making the entire experience smooth and memorable
Avoid these
Six Mistakes When Booking a Private Safari
Split the car price by your group before you compare it with shared seats.
Ask any operator whether the camp is private. Ours is shared; the private majlis by the stage is how you get your own space.
It changes the seats and the route. Tell us when you book, not in the lobby.
Use the pickup planner above, or let us set the time for your date.
Quads, buggies, long camel rides and shisha are paid on the night. Prices are on our Dubai desert safari page.
Your confirmation names the car: private car or Land Cruiser.
Other private options
Private in the Morning, Overnight or From the Airport
A private Land Cruiser at USD 272 (AED 999) per car, around 6 AM for about 4 hours. Morning desert safari.
The same sunset, dinner and shows from USD 10 (AED 35) per person if you share. Evening desert safari.
Sleep at the camp after the shows, from USD 109 (AED 400) per person. Overnight desert safari.
A long layover in Dubai? Desert safari from Dubai airport.
Book
Book Your Private Car
- Send date, group and hotelYou get back the vehicle, a pickup hour and a single price for the car.
- Confirmed in writingNothing to pay now, and you can cancel at no cost until 12 hours before your pickup.
- Pay your driverOn the day, in cash or by card, in any major currency.
+971 58 228 2683 on WhatsApp, 24/7 · If weather stops the evening, you move the date or owe nothing
- 4.9from 10,000+ reviews
- 95,000+guests since 2015
- LicensedDCT Abu Dhabi, DTCM Dubai
- No depositpay on the day
Local operator, Dubai
Your Private Car From a DTCM-Licensed Dubai Operator
The car that collects you is ours, and so is the driver, the camp at Al Awir and the team answering WhatsApp at any hour, all under Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC. No reseller sits in the middle.
- Pick a pickup that beats the sunset. A private car leaves when you choose, so choose by the sunset: in December the sun sets around 5:31 PM, in June after 7 PM.
- Al Awir Road, then sand. From central Dubai your driver takes Al Awir Road (E44), the road towards Hatta, out to our camp.
- Seven seats, six comfortable. Both private cars take 7 guests. For a longer drive to Lahbab, six is kinder on the back row.
- Two cars, two prices. Eight or more guests book two cars, each at the per-car price, and both drive together.
- Cash saves the card fee. Pay the driver in dirhams, dollars or another major currency; cards carry an 8 to 10 percent fee.
- Your driver, not a guide on a script. The same driver brings you back after the shows, so ask him anything on the way.
Reviewed by Bilal Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC, operating in the UAE since 2015. Written by our Dubai operations team. Per-car prices, seat limits and pickup advice confirmed by our Dubai team, October 2026.
Questions
Private Desert Safari Dubai FAQs
What does a private desert safari in Dubai cost?
Our private car is USD 190 (AED 699) for the whole car and the private Toyota Land Cruiser is USD 272 (AED 999) per car. Each takes up to 7 guests, with 6 the most comfortable. Both include the BBQ dinner, all three shows, a camel ride and sandboarding.
Is the private price per person or per car?
Per car. Two guests or seven guests pay the same USD 190 (AED 699) for the private car. Divide it by your group: four guests come to about USD 48 (AED 175) each, seven to about USD 27 (AED 100) each.
When is a private car cheaper than the shared safari?
From five guests. With five of you, sharing comes to USD 205 (AED 750) while the whole private car is USD 190 (AED 699), and the saving grows with six or seven. Four guests still save a little by sharing: USD 164 (AED 600).
Which is the best but reasonably priced private desert safari in Dubai?
Look for a licensed operator that quotes one price per car in writing, names the vehicle and camp, and takes no deposit. Our private car at USD 190 (AED 699) is among the lowest per-car prices in Dubai, and the Land Cruiser at USD 272 (AED 999) is the step up most guests take.
Is there a private desert camp in Dubai?
The camp itself is shared, but you can book a private majlis: VIP sofa seating right in front of the stage, with dinner served to you there, for USD 14 (AED 50) per person. The car, the driver and your timing stay private all evening.
Is dinner included on a private desert safari?
Yes. The halal BBQ buffet with Arabic and Indian dishes, vegetarian food, water and soft drinks is in the private price, along with the tanoura, fire and belly dance shows. Quad bikes, buggies and shisha are extra.
Can we choose our own pickup time?
Yes. Tell us your hotel and the time you would like, and we confirm one that gets you onto the dunes before sunset. The pickup time table on this page shows what most guests choose in each month.
How long is the dune drive in a private car?
Between 15 and 30 minutes, and your driver stops for photos wherever you ask. You can also skip the dunes completely and go to the camp by road.
How many people fit in one private car?
Up to 7 guests in the private car (a 4×4 or 7-seater such as a Nissan Patrol or Toyota Previa) or the Land Cruiser, and 6 sit most comfortably. Children under 3 travel free on a lap. Eight or more guests book two cars, each at its own price.
Is a private desert safari good for couples?
Yes. Two of you in your own car means a quiet drive out, as many sunset photos as you want and no strangers in the back seat. Share the occasion with us on WhatsApp and we tell you honestly what the camp can add that evening.
Can we plan a proposal or birthday on a private safari?
Tell us the date and the occasion before you book. We reply with what can be arranged at the camp on that evening, in writing, before you pay anything. Because the camp is shared, ask first rather than expecting a private set-up.
Is a private safari suitable for families with small children?
It is the easiest way to do the desert with young children: no waiting at other hotels, a child seat on request and the dunes as gentle as you ask. Under 3s go free; from age 3 the child counts as one of the 7 seats.
Can wheelchair users join a private desert safari?
Yes, and a private car is how we do it. Message us before booking so we send the right vehicle and plan the evening at the camp.
What if someone in the group is pregnant?
She should not do the dune drive. In a private car we simply skip the dunes for the whole group, or arrange for her to go to the camp by road, and the rest of the evening is the same.
Private car or private Land Cruiser: which should we book?
The private car at USD 190 (AED 699) is the value choice for the Al Awir evening. The Land Cruiser at USD 272 (AED 999) is our best experience: a premium 4×4, more comfort on the dunes, and the only car we send to the Lahbab red dunes.
Can the private car take us to the Lahbab red dunes?
Only the private Land Cruiser goes to Lahbab, about 1 hour 10 minutes from the city, with a camel farm stop on the way. The private car runs to our Al Awir camp, 50 to 55 minutes away.
How long does a private desert safari take?
About 6 to 7 hours from pickup to drop-off for Al Awir, and up to about 8 hours for Lahbab. Most guests are back at the hotel between 9:30 and 10:30 PM.
Does the private car wait if we are late?
Yes. Your driver waits up to one hour and stays in touch on WhatsApp. On a shared pickup the car cannot wait, because other guests are already on board.
Where do private cars collect from?
Any hotel or home in Dubai is covered by the private car price. From Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi or further out, send your address on WhatsApp and we confirm the price for the car before you book.
Can we add a quad bike or buggy to a private safari?
Yes. The quad in the marked area at Al Awir begins at USD 27 (AED 100), and thirty minutes driving a Can-Am buggy yourself costs USD 218 (AED 800). Tell us when you book so the time fits your evening.
Is there a private morning desert safari?
Yes. Mornings run only as a private Land Cruiser, around 6 AM and roughly 4 hours long, for USD 272 (AED 999) a car; there is no dinner or show. Details are on the morning desert safari Dubai page.
Is there a VIP or luxury private desert safari?
Book the private Land Cruiser and add VIP seating by the stage at USD 14 (AED 50) per person, with dinner served at your table. See the VIP desert safari Dubai page for the full evening.
Is the food halal and is there vegetarian food?
Everything is halal, with vegetarian dishes on every buffet. Tell us about allergies or a special diet when you book.
How do I book and pay for a private safari?
Send your date, group size and hotel on WhatsApp. We confirm the car, pickup time and total in writing. Nothing is taken up front. Settle with your driver on the day; cash avoids the 8 to 10 percent card fee.
What is your cancellation policy for private safaris?
Cancel free up to 12 hours before pickup. Should wind or rain cancel the evening, pick a new date or walk away owing nothing.
Is your company licensed?
Yes. Royal Arabian Safari Tourism LLC is a DTCM-licensed Dubai operator, in the UAE since 2015, with our own cars, drivers and camp. Drivers hold desert permits, and every seat has a seatbelt.
Is a private desert safari safe?
The dune drive is done by experienced desert drivers in insured cars with seatbelts on every seat, and in a private car the driver sets the pace to your group. Anyone with back or heart problems, or who is pregnant, should skip the dunes.
Can a solo traveller book a private safari?
Yes, at the same USD 190 (AED 699) per car. On a tighter budget, the shared bus is USD 14 (AED 50) per person and goes to the same camp.
Where can I see reviews?
We are rated 4.9 from more than 10,000 guest reviews. Read them on our desert safari reviews page or on Tripadvisor.
What should we wear on a private desert safari?
Loose, light clothes, closed shoes or sandals you can empty of sand, and sunglasses. From December to February bring a jacket for the evening at the camp.
Is a photographer included on a private safari?
Not as standard. Your driver stops for photos wherever you ask, and a professional photographer can be added on the day for about USD 14 to 41 (AED 50 to 150), depending on how many shots you want.
Can a big group or a company outing book private cars?
Yes. Each car takes up to 7 guests, so 20 guests need three cars and 50 guests need eight, each at the per-car price. Send the head count on WhatsApp and we plan the cars and the pickup points together.
Keep planning