Dubai Desert Safari for Families with Kids: Full Guide

Is a Dubai desert safari suitable for families with kids?

Yes, with one condition worth understanding before you book: dune bashing is recommended from age 7 upward. Children younger than that are welcome on every desert safari we run, they simply do not take part in the dune driving session, and there is a straightforward way to handle that without anyone missing out.

The short version. Children of any age can come. Under 7s skip the dune bashing. Under 3s must be seated with a guardian during transfers. For families the private safari at AED 500 per car is usually the right booking, because the dune intensity becomes adjustable rather than fixed.

What the age rules actually mean

• Age 7 and above. Full participation, including dune bashing.
• Under 7. Welcome on the safari. They will usually sit out the dune driving session.
• Under 3. Can join, and must be seated with a guardian during transfers.
• All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout.

On a shared tour, a child who cannot do the dune bashing waits at the dune stop with a parent while the vehicle runs its session. That works, but it means one adult also misses it.

Why a private safari solves this for families

On a shared vehicle the driver sets one dune intensity for a car full of strangers, calibrated for the average passenger. Somebody in that vehicle is usually having a worse time than they expected, and it is often the youngest.

On a private safari the driver is driving for your family only. The dune session can be softened, shortened, paused or skipped, and it can be changed mid session if a child is uncomfortable. Nobody waits at the dune stop and nobody endures it.

The cost argument helps too. The private car is AED 500 flat, up to six guests, so a family of five pays AED 100 each, and a family of six pays about AED 83 each. Against the AED 100 morning safari, five people pay the same either way. Full working is in the group size price guide.

Morning or evening with children?

Younger children usually do better on the morning safari. It runs three to four hours in total, collecting between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and returning between 11:00 AM and midday. That is far easier on small children than a seven hour evening, and it avoids the hottest part of the day.

It does not include the camp dinner or the evening entertainment, because the tour finishes before they start. If the belly dance, Tanoura and fire shows are what your children are looking forward to, the morning safari is the wrong booking.

Older children generally prefer the evening safari. Collected around 2:00 PM, back around 9:30 PM, with the sunset stop, the camel ride, sandboarding, the BBQ buffet and the full camp programme. At AED 80 per person it is also the cheapest.

What children actually do at the camp

The camp is the part that holds their attention. Alongside dinner there is the camel ride, sandboarding on the dunes, henna painting, Arabic dress photography, and the live entertainment programme with Tanoura, fire and dance performances.

The BBQ buffet has both vegetarian and non vegetarian options. If your children are fussy eaters or have a specific dietary requirement, tell us when you book and we will pass it to the camp in advance rather than you finding out on the night.

Practical advice for taking children

• Flat shoes or trainers. Sand gets into open sandals within seconds and children notice it more than adults.
• A light jacket in winter. Between December and February the desert cools sharply after dark, which surprises most families.
• Avoid a heavy meal before the dune session if any of your children get travel sick.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses for morning and afternoon tours.
• Tell the driver if a child is nervous. It is a normal request and easily handled.

Common questions from parents

Is dune bashing safe? It is carried out by licensed drivers on controlled routes. It is still an active ride, which is why the recommendation starts at age 7 rather than being a hard technical limit.

Are child prices different? Children under 3 generally travel free. Tell us the ages in your group when you book and we will confirm the exact total.

Are there toilets at the camp? Yes, the camp has facilities.

Can we leave early if the children have had enough? On a private safari, yes. On a shared tour the vehicle leaves on a set schedule, which is another reason families tend to book privately.

Is a pram or stroller practical? Not on sand. Plan to carry a very young child at the camp.

Book a family safari

Tell us how many adults and children, their ages, and where you are staying, and we will recommend the right format and confirm the total before you pay.

Ask on WhatsApp or call +971 55 719 9652. Compare options on the desert safari page.