What should UK visitors know before booking a Dubai desert safari?
Three things matter most: go between October and April, expect the desert to be genuinely cold after dark in winter, and book directly rather than through a UK travel agent, because the same desert safari is routinely resold at several times the local price.
The short version. Our evening safari is AED 80 per person, roughly seventeen pounds at the time of writing. Free hotel pickup. Collected around 2:00 PM, back around 9:30 PM. Dubai runs on a Monday to Friday working week, so weekends here are Saturday and Sunday, same as home.
The best months for UK travellers
This works out conveniently. October to April is the comfortable season in the Dubai desert, and it maps almost exactly onto the British winter. The half term breaks in October and February, Christmas, and Easter all fall inside the good window.
July and August, when most UK families travel, are the hardest months here. Safaris still run, but the afternoon heat is serious. If you are coming in summer, take the morning safari at AED 100, which collects between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and returns before midday, finishing ahead of the worst of it.
Winter nights are colder than you expect
This catches out more British visitors than anything else. You land in twenty-something degrees, spend the day in shorts, and assume the evening will be mild.
Between December and February the desert cools sharply once the sun goes down, and the camp is open to the sky. Bring a jacket even if the afternoon was warm. If you are booking the overnight safari, bring proper layers, because you are sleeping outdoors.
What it costs, and what it costs through an agent
Our published rates, booking directly with the operator running the tour:
- Evening safari — AED 80 per person, AED 500 per private car (6 to 7 guests)
- Morning safari — AED 100 per person, AED 500 per private car (up to 6)
- VIP evening safari — AED 120 per person, AED 650 per private VIP car
- Overnight safari — AED 500 per person
Safaris sold as part of a UK package or through a hotel concierge desk carry a margin on top. Booking direct is not a discount, it is simply the price without the reseller layer. Our office is at Office 103, Al Murar, Deira, and we run our own vehicles to our own camp at Al Awir.
For families and groups the private car is worth checking. It is a flat vehicle rate, so a family of five pays AED 100 each and six pay about AED 83 each. The full working is in our group size price guide.
Things that are different from home
Dress. Loose, comfortable clothing, and modest dress is appreciated at the camp. Flat shoes or trainers rather than sandals, because sand gets into open shoes immediately.
Alcohol. Not included in the standard safari packages. Water, soft drinks, tea and coffee are unlimited at camp.
Tipping. Optional and never expected. There is no service charge added to the tour price.
The working week. Dubai’s weekend is Saturday and Sunday, so weekends are the busiest days for safaris. Midweek tours are quieter if you have the flexibility.
Payment. Prices are in dirhams. The rate is pegged to the US dollar, so it does not move much against sterling day to day, but check your card’s foreign transaction fee before you travel.
Fitting the safari around a typical UK itinerary
Most British visitors are here for four to seven nights and want the Burj Khalifa, the beach, the souks and the desert. The evening safari fits that best, because the afternoon pickup leaves your whole morning free.
If you are on a short city break with a night flight home, the morning safari is the safer choice. You are back at your hotel by midday rather than returning at 9:30 PM with bags to pack.
Common questions from UK visitors
Do we need a visa? British passport holders are generally granted entry on arrival for tourism. Check the current rules with the UK Foreign Office before you travel, since this changes and we are a tour operator, not an immigration adviser.
Is dune bashing safe? It is run by licensed drivers on controlled routes. It is an active ride, so anyone pregnant or with back, neck or heart problems should sit it out. See our guide on safaris during pregnancy.
Can our children come? Yes. Dune bashing is recommended from age 7 upward, and younger children can join without it. See the family guide.
Is hotel pickup really included? Yes, across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, with no surcharge.
How far in advance should we book? Peak weeks around Christmas, New Year and February half term fill up. Outside those, a few days is usually enough, and same day is often possible.
Book from the UK or once you land
Message us with your dates, group size and hotel and we will confirm your pickup time and the total in dirhams before you pay anything. You can book before you fly or after you arrive.
Message on WhatsApp or call +971 55 719 9652. Every option is on our desert safari page.
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