Boards, wax and a guide, all included

Sandboarding Abu Dhabi

Ride a board down the Al Khatim dunes, seated or standing, no experience needed. Sandboarding is free with every evening and morning safari, which start from USD 10 (AED 35). Our camp is 45 to 55 minutes from Abu Dhabi.

Check my date on WhatsAppSee the options
✓No experience needed✓Boards and wax provided✓Seated or standing✓Kids under 3 free
Couple holding sandboards on the Abu Dhabi dunes

Free withevery safarifrom USD 10 (AED 35)
Group photo on the sand at our Al Khatim camp
Guests relaxing on the dunes after sandboarding
Tripadvisor Travellers Choice 2026 award, Royal Arabian Safari

Tripadvisor Travellers ChoiceAward-winning desert safari operator
World Travel Awards winner badge, Royal Arabian Safari

World Travel Awards WinnerOur award badge
4.9 from 10,000 guest reviewsLicensed by DCT Abu DhabiOur own Al Khatim campFree cancellation up to 12 hours beforeNo deposit, pay on the daySeatbelts in every vehicle
The short answer

How Does Sandboarding in Abu Dhabi Work?

You ride a waxed board down a dune face at our Al Khatim camp, seated like a sled or standing like a snowboard. A run takes 20 to 45 seconds, then you walk back up and go again. Boards and wax are ours, and a guide shows you the position before your first run.

It is free in every standard evening and morning safari, so there is nothing to book separately and no fee at the dunes. If you want more dune time, tell your guide at the start.

20 to 45 secOne run down the dune
FreeWith evening and morning safari
USD 10 (AED 35)From, evening safari self-drive
Seated or standingBeginners start seated
Boards and waxProvided, no kit to bring
Under 3 freeFrom 3 years, adult price
Riding style

Pick How You Ride

No experience needed. Choose a style at the dunes and change it between runs. Your guide stays with you.

Seated

Easiest

The board works like a sled. You sit, grip the handles and lean to steer. The slope does the work.

  • Best for first timers, families and older guests
  • Stable and hard to fall off
  • Ask for it when you book or on the dune

Standing

Harder

The snowboard feel. The soft surface hides small corrections, so it takes a few runs to find your balance.

  • Best if you snowboard, skate or surf
  • Wear lace-up trainers
  • Expect a few falls, sand is soft

Seated, then standing

Most popular

Start seated to learn the slope, then try standing on your second or third run.

  • Our guide suggests this to most guests
  • You decide when you are ready
  • Switch back to seated any time
Step by step

How Your Sandboarding Goes

Book

Send your date

Send your date, group size and hotel on WhatsApp. We confirm the total in USD and AED. No deposit.

Drive

To the dunes

A licensed driver takes you to our Al Khatim camp. Dune bashing is optional and we can keep it gentle.

Wax

Board and demo

Your guide waxes the board and shows you the seated position and grip before the first run.

Ride

Down the dune

Ride down, 20 to 45 seconds. The long flat run-out at the base slows you down, and the guide checks it is clear.

Climb

Walk back up

There is no lift. Walk up on the firm sand, rest when you like, and ride again or sit one out.

Camp

Dinner and shows

Evening guests continue to the BBQ buffet dinner and live shows, then ride back to the hotel.

Know before you go

What Sandboarding Is Really Like

Three things first timers ask us, answered straight.

The climb

You walk back up

This is the real effort. Sand is soft, so each climb takes a few minutes. Go slowly, drink water and skip a run whenever you like.

The heat

Cooler at sunset and sunrise

Sandboarding sits in the evening safari around sunset and in the morning safari, when the sand is cooler than at midday. Wear closed shoes.

The ride

Fun, not a ski slope

This is a quick, soft ride, closer to a sled than a mountain run. Standing takes practice, so start seated and build up.

Sandboarding included

Choose How You Go

Sandboarding is part of every package below. Prices are in USD with AED in brackets. The morning safari includes it too, see the morning desert safari.

Couple watching the sunset from the Abu Dhabi dunes

Evening safari

Shared Evening Safari

USD 10 / person
USD 10 (AED 35) self-drive, USD 16 (AED 60) shared bus, USD 41 (AED 150) with hotel pickup.
  • Sandboarding free
  • Dune bashing included, optional
  • Camel ride, BBQ dinner, live shows
  • Children under 3 free
Book on WhatsApp
Private car on the Abu Dhabi dunes

Private

Private Car

USD 190 / car
USD 190 (AED 699) per car, up to 6 guests, with your own driver.
  • Sandboarding free, tell us you want more runs
  • Your own driver and pace
  • Hotel pickup in Abu Dhabi
  • Free cancellation up to 12 hours before
Book on WhatsApp
Land Cruiser at sunset on the Abu Dhabi dunes

Private

Private Land Cruiser

USD 245 / car
USD 245 (AED 899) per car, private Land Cruiser with hotel pickup.
  • Sandboarding free
  • More room for the whole group
  • Your own driver and pace
  • Free cancellation up to 12 hours before
Book on WhatsApp

Check Your Date

Fill this in and we confirm on WhatsApp in minutes. No payment now.

No deposit. Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.

Questions answered

Sandboarding Abu Dhabi Questions, Answered

The questions first timers ask before they ride.

Is sandboarding included in the Abu Dhabi desert safari?
Yes. Sandboarding is free in every standard evening and morning safari. Boards, wax and a guide are ours, so there is nothing to book separately and no fee at the dunes.
How much does sandboarding cost in Abu Dhabi?
It is free with the safari. The evening safari starts at USD 10 (AED 35) self-drive, USD 16 (AED 60) by shared bus and USD 41 (AED 150) with hotel pickup, per person. A private car is USD 190 (AED 699) per car and a private Land Cruiser is USD 245 (AED 899) per car.
Do I need experience to sandboard?
No. Most guests ride seated, like a sled, and your guide shows you the position and grip before the first run. If you snowboard, skate or surf, you can try standing from your second run.
Is it real sandboarding or just sledding?
Both are possible. Seated riding feels like a fast sled and suits everyone. Standing feels like snowboarding, but the soft sand hides small corrections, so it takes a few runs. Start seated and move to standing when you feel ready.
How long is one run, and how many runs do I get?
A run takes 20 to 45 seconds, depending on the dune and the sand. Most guests do several runs. The walk back up takes longer than the ride, so the number of runs depends on your energy and the time at the dunes.
Do I have to climb back up the dune?
Yes, on foot. There is no lift, and the sand is soft, so take your time and rest whenever you like. It is fine to sit a run out. If you want more runs with less waiting, a private car lets you set the pace.
Is sandboarding safe?
It is a low-risk activity when done correctly. Your guide shows the seated position first, checks the run-out at the bottom is clear before each descent, and pauses sandboarding if the wind picks up. Seat belts are fitted in every vehicle on the drive to the dunes.
Can children sandboard?
Yes. Children from about 5 can join, and younger children can ride with a guide seated behind them. Children under 3 are free. Parents decide how many runs a child does.
Is there an age, height or weight limit?
We do not set a height or weight limit for seated sandboarding. Tell your guide about any concern before the first run and we adapt. Please skip it if you are pregnant or have a recent back, neck, knee or hip injury, or ask your doctor first.
What should I wear for sandboarding?
Closed shoes or trainers, not sandals or flip-flops. Long trousers protect your legs, a tucked-in top keeps sand out, and sunglasses help at sunset. See our guide on what to wear on a desert safari.
Is the sand hot?
Sandboarding is part of the evening safari around sunset and the morning safari, when the sand is cooler than at midday. Closed shoes protect your feet. Water is available at the camp.
Can I get more sandboarding time?
Tell your guide at the start of the safari and we can allocate extra dune time. For a private car, tell us when you book that sandboarding is the focus and we plan the dune time around it.
Where does sandboarding take place?
At our own camp in Al Khatim, about 45 to 55 minutes from Abu Dhabi. Hotel pickup is available from anywhere in Abu Dhabi city, or you can self-drive with a GPS pin.
How do I book, and can I cancel?
Message us on WhatsApp with your date, group size and hotel. We reply with the exact total in USD and AED. There is no deposit, and you can cancel or change the date free up to 12 hours before pickup.
Where can I go sandboarding near Abu Dhabi?
Our sandboarding runs take place on the Al Khatim dunes in the Abu Dhabi desert, a short drive from the city. We collect you from your hotel, so you do not need to find the dunes or arrange transport yourself.
Are there beginner-friendly sandboarding lessons in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. No experience is needed. Your guide shows you how to sit or stand on the board, how to steer and how to stop before your first run, and stays on the dune with you while you practise.
Do I need to rent sandboarding equipment?
No. Boards, wax and a guide are all included, so there is nothing to rent or carry. Just bring comfortable clothes, sunglasses and a change of mind about how steep a dune looks from the top.
Ready when you are

Book Your Sandboarding

Tell us your date, your group size and your hotel. We reply with your pickup time and total in USD and AED. No deposit.

No deposit · Free cancellation 12h before · Card payment available

Plan the Rest of Your Abu Dhabi Trip

Fire show at the Abu Dhabi desert campEvening Desert SafariHappy couple with a camel in the Abu Dhabi desertPrivate Desert SafariDesert sunrise photoshoot in Abu DhabiMorning Desert SafariQuad bike on the Abu Dhabi dunesQuad Biking Abu DhabiDune buggy driving on the Abu Dhabi dunesCan-Am BuggyCamp sitting area at the Abu Dhabi desert campSafari PricesPrivate camping view at the Abu Dhabi desert campSafari Without Dune BashingDune bashing on the Abu Dhabi dunesDune Bashing

Shared Evening Safari

PriceUSD 10 (AED 35) self-drive, USD 16 (AED 60) shared bus, USD 41 (AED 150) with hotel pickup, per person
Who it suitsCouples, friends and families who want sandboarding as part of a full evening
SandboardingFree. Boards, wax and a guide at the dunes. Seated or standing.
Also includedOptional dune bashing, camel ride, sunset photo stop, BBQ buffet dinner, live shows
ChildrenUnder 3 free. Children from about 5 can ride, younger ones with a guide behind them
CancellationFree up to 12 hours before pickup, no deposit

Book on WhatsApp

Private Car

PriceUSD 190 (AED 699) per car, up to 6 guests
Who it suitsGroups who want more time on the dunes, more runs and their own pace
SandboardingFree. Tell us when you book that sandboarding is the focus and we plan the dune time around it
PickupFrom your hotel in Abu Dhabi, with your own driver
CancellationFree up to 12 hours before pickup, no deposit

Book on WhatsApp

Private Land Cruiser

PriceUSD 245 (AED 899) per car
Who it suitsLarger groups and families who want a Land Cruiser to themselves
SandboardingFree. Boards, wax and a guide at the dunes
PickupFrom your hotel in Abu Dhabi, with your own driver
CancellationFree up to 12 hours before pickup, no deposit

Book on WhatsApp

Free with every safarifrom USD 10 (AED 35), boards and wax included

Options