The Desert Safari Dubai — Local services in Dubai

Deeply disappointing experience - families, avoid this tour

I truly don’t understand the 5-star reviews. This tour felt like a complete scam, and I deeply regret wasting almost an entire day on it. Let me break it down. What we booked: A premium shared desert tour without dune bashing (this was clearly an option). We paid 40% extra for a premium dinner experience, advertised as including access to a special camp, enhanced facilities, and a different menu. We chose a shared tour because we enjoy meeting other travelers - and now regret not booking a private one. We never imagined they would just group us with people who had signed up for completely different activities. In reality, they likely didn’t have enough participants per option, so despite advertising multiple tour types, they lumped everyone together and ignored our booking selections. We paid extra for a 30-minute camel ride, knowing that otherwise you only get a 1-2 minute photo-op. I made it explicitly clear to the tour operator that we had two young children and were only interested in the camel ride and dinner with show.

What we got: Picked up in an older model Toyota Land Cruiser around 3:30 pm, along with another couple. First stop: an ATV area 1.5 hours from Dubai - not part of our selected tour, but included because the other guests chose it. I’m also fairly certain they get commissions and wanted to bring us there regardless. The driver/guide pushed us hard to join, making me feel like I was ruining the fun just because I didn’t want an activity I had deliberately avoided due to safety concerns for young kids. Eventually, my husband gave in, paid €250 (!) for a 4-person buggy, and we did a 20–30-minute ride in 45°C heat. Overpriced and unnecessary. Next came dune bashing, something we had specifically opted out of. Again, the guide pressured me with guilt, insisting I should go along. I refused and was left at a gas station with the kids for 40 minutes. The men inside were alright but kept aggressively pushing overpriced souvenirs on my children until I felt I had to buy something. It didn’t feel unsafe exactly, but you’re left uncertain - and that in itself is uncomfortable. By the time the others returned, it was nearly dark. The camp: We drove back toward Dubai, as the camp was in a different area, and finally reached it - after more rough dune driving in near darkness. We were told we could either ride the camels immediately and miss dinner and the show, or wait until the end - as if it were our fault we were late. We waited, and the camel ride we came for ended up happening in pitch black. One of my children was scared, so it lasted barely 10 minutes. The "premium" dinner: There was no premium experience. Same area, same food, same cheap setup as everyone else. Plastic cutlery, foil-covered plastic water bottles, and very low-quality food. The henna experience was ridiculous: a rushed scribble from a visibly annoyed woman who spent less than a minute on both kids - unless you paid extra for something better. The show was basic and uninspired. We left early just to fit in the camel ride. The driver: Aggressive and arrogant. Tailgated constantly, drove unsafely, and ignored my repeated requests to slow down. Spent much of the drive on the phone or scrolling through messages. If you're reading this: I didn’t need you to prove me wrong - I’m a customer who paid for a service and deserved respect. I was so anxious I tried to get the hotel to send a car to pick us up, but we were too far out for anything to be arranged on such short notice. We returned to the hotel at 10:30 pm, exhausted, stressed, and very disappointed. Bottom line: This tour was: misrepresented, poorly managed, unsafe, not family-friendly, a clear commission-driven trap. Esp if you're traveling with children, avoid this tour. Spend your day doing something authentic and safe. I hope this review helps other families make a...

This was one of the best experiences in Dubai. The vehicle for the experience used was a Land Rover, Driver was one of the experienced person and was very respectful and polite. Though no one in camp was behaving as if we met them first time they all were very kind and soft spoken making sure that we are enjoying it.

It starts from Dune Bashing : With one of the certified captain its safe and thrilling as well. He takes you to a photo point too and clicks your pictures from your phone/camera and makes it a memorable one.

Welcome at the Camp: Outside camps are small vendors with camel, falcon and scarves waiting for your arrival. Take a picture with Falcon (costs around 10 DHS), ride camel for free (if you want a longer ride its paid), Make sure to bargain, he can provide discount as low as 10 DHS per ride where he starts from 40 DHS.

In camp we were offered option of VIP guest by just adding 50 DHS and we took it, many people would find this costly but come on if you are visiting Dubai and going desert safari and you want to enjoy performances you have to do something to skip queues. What if you are waiting in queue for food and performance is missed. There can be 200-300 people at once. So go for it and add that VIP option and get served on your sofas at a height without running for soft drinks and coffee or food.

Tanoura Dance was a thing I experienced first time ever. That dancer was so elegant and energetic at the same time. It makes safari a must do thing in Dubai.

Fire show had its own thrill, the person was doing it effortlessly and was exciting.

Food was moderate as they have to make it as per taste buds of many people. I am a vegan so didn't taste chicken and lamb but it was authentic as per my colleague. Snacks were little stale maybe because of weather conditions in desert. We can expect it in desert away from city but veg dal, sabzi was great. Arabic sweet served was authentic and finger licking.

At the end of the desert safari, we were dropped off back by same Captain safely. It started from 3:30 pm and we were at home by 10:00 pm.

Will not think twice before trying it again if I vist...

Awesome Desert Safari Tour. Prices were 120 AED per person with free pickup from your hotel. We picked up another couple and headed out to the desert from dubai. It took about an hour to get out there. Once you're out there we swapped into another landcruiser and head into the desert for some dune bashing. We stopped to take photos and then headed to the camp site which is so traditional that we absolutely loved it. The food wasn't 7 star but it was great and the experience was so worth it I wouldn't have asked for anything else. We did the camel riding which was 15 AED per person. A printed photo on the camels cost another another 40 AED. At about 7pm they serve a starter which was a chicken wrap. 7:30pm is the buffet which included salads, rices, and traditional Arabic dishes. The entertainment then begins after sunset which consists of Belly Dancers and Fire Breathing Man. After this we head home at around 8:30pm which takes another hour. It wasn't that hot to be honest and we are here in the peak summer. Because you're out in the desert and there's no concrete it's much cooler at night. The city gives off absorbed heat at night where as the desert is beautiful. Thongs/Sandles definitely recommended. Others wore shoes and were continuously emptying the sand out of them. Don't bother with the VIP tables which they charge you 100 AED extra for as this is a waste of money and you don't get to sit up close to the stage. You also don't get your food that much quicker as there isn't a massive line when they're serving the bbq or buffet. FYI is you pay by card which we did they will charge you about 10-20 AED for every transaction you make. They do take card and there is a machine there but take cash. I wish we knew before hand and someone had told us so we could save all those...