Is a Dubai desert safari worth it in summer?
Yes, if you book the morning safari. Between May and September the middle of the day in open desert is genuinely hard work, but the morning tour collects between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and has you back between 11:00 AM and midday, finishing before the heat peaks.
The short version. Summer safaris run every day. Take the morning tour at AED 100. Avoid the afternoon dune session if you can. Nights stay warm, so an overnight stay is more comfortable in summer than in winter.
Why the morning tour is the summer answer
It is not only about air temperature. Desert surface temperature is the real issue. By late morning the sand at Al Awir is uncomfortable to walk on barefoot, and the air above it distorts with heat haze, which flattens photographs and makes sandboarding unpleasant.
Starting at first light means the dune session, the camel ride and the sandboarding all happen before that point. You are back in an air conditioned vehicle heading home while the temperature is still climbing.
The trade is that the morning tour does not include the camp dinner or the evening entertainment, because it finishes before they start. If those are what you want, you are choosing the afternoon heat deliberately.
If you want the evening safari anyway
Plenty of guests do, and it is perfectly workable. The evening safari collects at around 2:00 PM, which in July is the hottest part of the day for the drive out, but by the time you reach the camp the sun is dropping and the evening is pleasant.
Three things make it easier:
- Hydrate before pickup, not just at the camp. Unlimited water is available once you arrive, but the transfer is the stretch where people struggle.
- Light, loose, long-sleeved clothing. Covering up beats stripping down in desert heat, because it keeps the sun off your skin.
- Consider the private safari at AED 500 per car, so there is no collection round picking up other guests before you reach the desert.
The one thing summer does better
Nights. Between December and February the desert cools sharply after dark and guests who packed for a warm afternoon regularly spend the camp evening cold.
In summer that reverses. Evenings at the camp stay warm, and the overnight safari is considerably more comfortable to sleep through than it is in January. If sleeping in the desert is the reason you are coming, summer is not the obstacle people assume.
Summer is also the quiet season
Fewer visitors means smaller groups, an emptier dune area and shorter waits at the camp buffet. If you want photographs without other vehicles in the frame, a summer morning safari is the best chance you will get.
Midweek is quieter still. Dubai’s weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, so those remain the busiest days year round.
Ramadan in summer
Ramadan moves through the calendar and can fall in summer. Safaris operate during Ramadan, but entertainment schedules and food service can differ and timings shift.
If your trip overlaps, message us before booking and we will tell you exactly what is running rather than you finding out on the day.
Practical summer advice
- Drink water through the day before your tour, not just during it.
- Sunscreen before pickup. Applying it at the dunes means sand sticks to it.
- Sunglasses. Glare off pale sand is harsher than most people expect.
- Flat closed shoes. Sand is hot underfoot by mid morning.
- Avoid a heavy meal before the dune session, which matters more when it is hot.
- Tell the driver if you feel unwell. They will stop.
Who should think twice in summer
Guests who struggle in heat, very young children and elderly relatives are all better served by the morning tour, or by a private vehicle where the pace and timing are yours.
If anyone in your group is pregnant or has back, neck or heart concerns, the dune session is not recommended in any season. See our pregnancy guide.
Common questions
Do safaris stop running in summer? No, they run every day.
How hot does it actually get? Dubai summers regularly pass 40 degrees, and open desert feels hotter because of the surface. Morning tours avoid the worst of it.
Are summer prices lower? Rates are subject to availability and can vary. We confirm your total before you pay.
Is the camp air conditioned? The camp is open air. The vehicles are air conditioned.
Which is the best summer month? May and September sit at the edges of the season and are noticeably easier than July and August.
Book a summer safari
Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly which tour suits that time of year.
Ask on WhatsApp or call +971 55 719 9652. See every option on the Dubai desert safari page, or read our month by month guide.
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