What do you actually do at a Dubai desert camp?
Once the dune driving stops, you are at the camp for several hours rather than passing through. That time is filled with a BBQ buffet dinner, live entertainment, and a set of stations you can use as much or as little as you like: henna, Arabic dress photography, shisha and unlimited drinks.
The short version. Camel ride and sandboarding at the dunes. Then at camp: BBQ buffet, Tanoura, fire show, belly dance, henna painting, Arabic dress photos, shisha lounge, unlimited water, soft drinks, tea and coffee. All included on the evening safari at AED 80.
Before the camp: the dune stop
Two activities happen at the dunes rather than at the camp, and it is worth knowing so you do not wait for them later.
Camel riding, a short guided ride with a handler leading. Included on every safari.
Sandboarding, boards provided, most guests sit rather than stand. Subject to sand conditions on the day.
There is also a sunset photography stop in open desert, which on the evening tour is timed deliberately for the light turning.
Dinner at the camp
A BBQ buffet with vegetarian and non vegetarian options, served at the camp. Grilled dishes, salads, Arabic dishes and desserts.
Tell us about dietary requirements when you book rather than at the buffet, so we can pass them to the camp in advance.
Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee are unlimited. Alcohol is not part of the standard packages.
The morning safari does not include dinner or the entertainment, because it finishes between 11:00 AM and midday before either starts. That is the main difference between the two formats.
The entertainment programme
Tanoura. A spinning dance in a weighted, lit skirt, performed continuously for several minutes. It is the most photographed act of the evening and it holds children’s attention completely.
Fire show. Fire poi and staff work, performed after dark when it looks its best.
Belly dance. Traditional performance at the main stage area.
Performances run on a rotating schedule through the evening rather than all at once, so you are not choosing between dinner and the show.
The stations you can use freely
- Henna painting. Traditional designs on hands or arms. Popular with children and it fades naturally over a week or two.
- Arabic dress photography. Traditional dress provided over your own clothes for photographs.
- Shisha lounge. A seated area at the camp.
- Falcon photography, when available. Ask on the night.
None of these are scheduled. Use them between courses or during a performance you are less interested in.
Paid extras
Two things are commonly available at the camp and charged separately, so budget for them if you want them.
Quad biking is the main one. Closed shoes and full-length trousers are required, so shorts and sandals will not do.
Everything listed further up this page is included. If somebody at the camp offers you something not on that list, it is an extra.
What the camp is actually like
Open air, seating on cushions at low tables, sand floor with rugs. It is not a restaurant and it is not a hotel, and that is the point.
Facilities include toilets. Flat stable shoes matter more than they sound, particularly for elderly guests, because the surface is uneven.
Between December and February it gets genuinely cold once the sun goes down. Bring a jacket.
Different at each tour level
Standard evening safari, AED 80. Everything above, in general camp seating.
VIP safari, AED 120. The identical programme with reserved seating in a dedicated section and shorter waits for food and shows.
Overnight safari, AED 500. The same evening, then the day guests leave and the camp empties. You stay until sunrise.
Common questions
How long are you at the camp? Several hours on the evening tour, which returns around 9:30 PM.
Is there a vegetarian option? Yes, at the buffet.
Can children join everything? Yes at the camp. Dune bashing is recommended from age 7 upward.
Is henna included? Yes.
Do I have to take part? No. Plenty of guests sit and watch, and that is a perfectly good evening.
Book the camp evening
Send your date, group size and where you are staying and we will confirm your pickup time and total.
Book on WhatsApp or call +971 55 719 9652. Compare every option on the Dubai desert safari page.
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