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Dubai is the best and most popular destination for travelers, as it offers different Activities to attract visitors from all over the world. Despite all attractions, the Dubai desert safari is the most popular activity among tourists, and it is included in every visitor’s bucket list. But first-time visitors can face some difficulty when they search online for a desert safari; they can find different types of desert safari packages and can get confused about which one is best for them. In this guide, we will cover everything about the types of desert safari in Dubai, what is included, and how anyone can easily choose the best desert safari according to their travel style, budget, and preferences.
Why Are There Different Types of Desert Safaris in Dubai?
Not every traveler visits Dubai for the same reason. Some people are looking for an action-packed adventure, while some looking for a relaxing desert experience. So, due to this reason, the desert safari operators offer different desert safari types that can meet each interest, schedule, and budget.
Some people are looking for budget-friendly desert safaris, so they can find the self-drive desert safari option, while some are looking for luxury and private desert safaris is they can easily find the desert safari package accordingly. If someone doesn’t want to stay an entire day in the desert, they can choose the short adventurous morning desert safari experience. If someone wants to enjoy a full desert experience, they can choose the evening desert safari, as it includes all the desert and camp activities.
Morning Desert Safari
Morning desert safari is the best option for travelers who want to enjoy the desert safari activities within a short amount of time. These tours start early in the morning when the temperature is comparatively low, and visitors can enjoy the activities in cooler weather. Usually, morning safaris are adventure-focused, which includes dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel riding, while some packages also offer the ATV quad bike ride and dune buggy rides. Most of the desert safari operators offer shared and private morning safaris. The price of morning desert safaris starts from AED 150 per person and can go up to AED 500 according to the inclusions and pickup/drop off facilities.
Evening Desert Safari
The evening desert safari is the most popular desert safari among all visitors. And it is considered the full desert experience, which includes adventure, entertainment, cultural activities, and dining at the desert camp in just one tour. In the evening, you can find different desert safari packages from budget-friendly options to the luxury ones. Here you can find the self-drive desert safari, which costs AED 35 per person, where you have to come to the desert location. And you can also find the VIP desert safari in which you can get the luxury vehicle for pickup and drop off, along with VIP sofa seating at the desert camp. The evening desert safari includes dune bashing, sandboarding, camel ride, sunset photography, BBQ dinner, and live entertainment shows, while some packages also offer the ATV quad bike ride.
Overnight Desert Safari
The overnight desert safari is a popular desert safari experience for those who want to stay overnight at the desert camp under the stars. The overnight desert safari can give you the taste of a full desert experience. It includes the activities of all 3 types of safaris, like morning, evening, and overnight stay. The overnight desert safari is a 16-hour-long desert safari tour, which starts from a 3 PM pickup in the afternoon, and after reaching the desert, you can enjoy the safari activities, and then the driver takes you to the desert camp, where you can enjoy the desert camp activities, which include the BBQ dinner and live shows. At the end of the show’s evening, desert safari visitors start to go back to their homes, while overnight package holders stay at the camp, and the company provides the tents and all essentials to stay. In the morning, they can experience the sunrise view, and after having a light breakfast, the driver will drop you back at their accommodation.
Private Desert Safari
Private desert safari basically offers the private pickup and drop off services with no sharing with other passengers. You can find the private desert safari in every experience, like in morning, evening, and overnight desert safari. All other activities and inclusions will be the same as in the experience you have chosen; the only difference is that you can enjoy privacy, while other packages offer shared pickup and drop-off services. Another advantage of this safari is that you can customize the timings according to your own pace, while if you choose the shared desert safari, you have to follow the standard pickup timings.
Luxury Desert Safari
Luxury desert safari is the best for premium safari lovers. In VIP desert safari, you can find the best, premium vehicle for pickup and drop-off services, and at the desert camp, you can get VIP sofa seating with a table, a served BBQ dinner, and better seating arrangements to enjoy the live shows without any hassle.
Types of Desert Safari Dubai – Price Comparison
| Safari Type | Duration | Price Range (AED) | Best For |
| Morning Desert Safari | 3–5 hours | 120 – 350 AED | Quick adventure, budget travelers |
| Evening Desert Safari | 6–8 hours | 150 – 500+ AED | Families, first-time visitors |
| Overnight Desert Safari | 12+ hours | 250 – 800+ AED | Nature lovers, camping experience |
| Private Desert Safari | Flexible | 400 – 1500+ AED (group) | Families, privacy seekers |
| Dune Buggy Safari | 1–3 hours | 350 – 900+ AED | Adventure lovers |
| Quad Bike Safari | 1–2 hours | 200 – 600+ AED | Thrill seekers, beginners |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of desert safari is best in Dubai?
The best desert safari depends on the package and your travel preferences. The evening desert safari is the most popular, while the morning desert safari is best for visitors who have a short amount of time. VIP and private desert safaris are best for luxury and privacy lovers.
What is the difference between morning and evening desert safari?
Morning desert safari is best for adventure lovers as it offers the dunebashing, sandboarding and camel ride while evening desert safari is full desert experience as it offers the safari activities along with BBQ dinner and entertainment shows.
Which desert safari is cheapest?
Self-drive desert safari is the cheapest desert safari as it offers all the desert safari and desert camp activities, but in this have to come to the desert meeting point by their own car. The price of this package is AED 35 per person.
Is dune buggy or quad bike included in all safaris?
No, dune buggy and quad bike are not included in all safaris while some package offers the quad bike ride or you can add these adventurous ride as a add one in your package.
Can I do an overnight desert safari in Dubai?
Yes, an overnight desert safari is available and includes camping in the desert, BBQ dinner, cultural shows, and sunrise breakfast before returning to the city.
