Private Desert Safari Dubai: Price by Group Size

How much is a private desert safari for my group size?

A private desert safari in Dubai costs AED 500 for the whole vehicle, or AED 650 for the private VIP car. The price does not change with the number of people, so the cost per person falls with every guest you add.

The short version. Two people pay AED 250 each. Four pay AED 125 each. Six pay about AED 83 each, which is roughly the same as a shared seat. Past five guests, private is usually the cheaper booking as well as the better one.

Private desert safari price by group size

Based on the standard private car at AED 500, up to six guests.

• 1 guest — AED 500 total, AED 500 each
• 2 guests — AED 500 total, AED 250 each
• 3 guests — AED 500 total, about AED 167 each
• 4 guests — AED 500 total, AED 125 each
• 5 guests — AED 500 total, AED 100 each
• 6 guests — AED 500 total, about AED 83 each

For the VIP private car at AED 650, holding six to seven guests, six people pay about AED 108 each and seven pay about AED 93 each.

The point where private becomes cheaper than seats

This is the calculation most people never do, and it changes the answer.

Against the morning safari at AED 100 per person. Five guests in seats cost AED 500, which is exactly the private car rate. At five or more, you get a vehicle to yourselves for nothing extra. At six you are already paying less per head.

Against the VIP evening safari at AED 120 per person. Six guests in seats cost AED 720. The private VIP car is AED 650. Any group of six or more is straightforwardly better off in the car.

Against the evening safari at AED 80 per person. Six guests in seats cost AED 480 against AED 500 for the car. That twenty dirham difference is the only case where private costs more, and it buys your own driver and adjustable dune driving.

What you actually get for the car rate

The destination and the inclusions are identical to the shared tours. Same Al Awir camp, same dune area, same camel ride, sandboarding, sunset photography stop, BBQ buffet and live entertainment. You are not paying for a different desert.

What changes is control.

• Dune intensity is adjustable. On a shared vehicle the driver sets one level for a car full of strangers, calibrated for the average passenger. Privately, it is set for your group and can be changed mid session.
• No collection queue. Shared tours run a fixed pickup order, which means waiting in lobbies while other guests are collected. A private vehicle collects you and departs.
• Your own pace at each stop. Stay longer at the sunset stop for photographs, leave the camp when you choose.
• Nobody has to sit out. If one person cannot do the dune driving, the whole group does not have to work around a shared schedule.

Groups larger than six

Above six or seven guests we run multiple vehicles rather than a larger one, which keeps everyone on the same schedule and lets us set a different dune intensity per car. That is useful when a group contains both nervous passengers and people who came specifically for the driving.

For anything from eight upward, tell us the group size and any mobility, age or dietary requirements and we will build a plan around it. Details are on our group and corporate booking page.

Who should book privately regardless of price

Some groups should book the car even when seats work out cheaper.

Families with young children. Dune bashing is recommended from age 7 upward. Privately, younger children can stay in the vehicle at a gentle pace rather than being left at the dune stop.

Elderly guests. Shorter waits, a softer route, and no pressure to keep up with a shared schedule.

Anyone pregnant or with back, neck or heart concerns. The dune session can be removed entirely while the rest of the experience stays intact.

Photographers. The sunset stop is short on a shared tour because the vehicle moves when it is full. Privately it lasts as long as you want it to.

Common questions

Is the price really the same for one person and six? Yes. It is a vehicle rate, not a per person rate.

Does the private car include hotel pickup? Yes, from Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, included.

Can we choose our pickup time? Within reason. Standard collection is around 2:00 PM with a return near 9:00 PM. Because the vehicle is yours there is some flexibility, which is not something we can offer on shared tours.

Is the camp private too? No. You have your own vehicle and driver, and the camp is shared. For reserved camp seating, look at the VIP safari.

Get a price for your group

Send us the number of guests, your date and where you are staying, and we will confirm the vehicle count and the total.

Ask on WhatsApp or call +971 55 719 9652. Compare every option on the desert safari page, or see the full price breakdown.