Desert Safari in Dubai (Summer)!
We made a three-day stopover in Dubai in the summer of 2023. Although the city itself is already impressive, we actually thought the desert safari was the best activity. And yes, even during the hot summer months we found this activity very enjoyable and doable! Also planning a stopover in Dubai? As far as we can advice, a desert safari in Dubai (even in the hot summer) is definitely recommended!
Our Desert Safari Dubai in the Summer
After the long night flight from Johannesburg we arrived at the hotel at the end of the morning. We actually planned to rest for the remaining part of the day, but on a whim we decided to do the desert safari anyway (I guess the salesman did his job quite well).
We got into the 4×4 without any expectations, so we hadn’t really prepared ourselves for this activity. The guide was a real sheik (at least that’s exactly how we imagined these men in white robes). We drove for over an hour on the highway to the first stop. We could cross the dunes here with a quad bike, but since that was not included in the price, we decided to skip that part. Just to save some money. After some snacks and the necessary hydration, the adventure really began! Our guide lowered the tire pressure like an expert and in a second we were flying through the car, going over the sand dunes. Lots of fun (and a little fear)!
Tip: Download our Google Maps travel guide Dubai for more interesting stops.
Barbecuing in the Desert
Unfortunately, the adventure only lasts a short time, because after about an hour we made a stop at a camp in the middle of the desert. We also had the opportunity to sit on a camel or go sandboarding. As we walked into the camp, we were served a very tasty Arabic barbecue! It was already evening and the temperature was slowly dropping towards an acceptable value of 35 degrees. We had plenty of time to eat while enjoying a fire show. And suddenly it was time to go back again. A few more turns of ‘night safari’ (the guide himself noticeably enjoyed doing it as well) and around ten we arrived back at the hotel, exhausted. It was a really nice experience. In the end, we even thought it was the best activity we did in Dubai!
Tips for Your Desert Safari in Dubai
As mentioned, we think the desert safari is worth it, even in the summer. We only arranged the desert safari on the spot for the day itself and did so at the hotel (we stayed at Mercure Hotel Barsha Heights). However, we were lucky that there were still two places available, so it might be useful to make a reservation in advance. Especially in the high season or if you only stay in Dubai for a short time. In terms of temperature, we also found it doable in the summer, especially because the safaris only take place in the evening. In general, we think visiting Dubai in August is fine. We paid 200 dirhams for this desert safari in Dubai (August 2023) and think that is quite an okay price (the barbecue was included as well).
