Family desert safari Dubai

Family Desert Safari Dubai at your family’s pace.

Our family desert safari is a 6 to 7 hour evening tour from Dubai to the Lahbab Red Dunes in a private Land Cruiser, with a gentle dune drive, child seats on request, a camel ride, sandboarding, a BBQ dinner and live shows. AED 899 per vehicle for up to 6 guests. Free pickup from Dubai and Sharjah.

  • 4.9 on Tripadvisor
  • Free pickup Dubai & Sharjah
  • Pay at pickup
  • Free cancellation
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Family on a private desert safari in DubaiFamily safariAED 899 per vehicle Guests on a camel ride across the red dunes Sunset on a dune ridge with the desert camp behind

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At a glance

What is a family desert safari in Dubai?

It is our evening desert safari, set up for families. The Land Cruiser is yours alone, the driver takes the dunes gently, and there is time for toilet stops, snacks and photos. Kids get the camel ride, sandboarding and fire show, and parents get a stress-free evening.

It is priced per vehicle, so one price covers up to 6 of you, children included. For a private table and served dinner, upgrade to the VIP Private safari.

Duration
6 to 7 hours
Pickup
2:00 PM winter, 3:00 PM summer
Price
AED 899 per vehicle
Guests
Up to 6 per vehicle
Children
Dune drive from age 3
Payment
Pay at pickup

Prices

Family desert safari prices.

One price for the whole vehicle, up to 6 guests. Both include private pickup from Dubai and Sharjah, the camp, dinner and three live shows.

Private for your family

Family Desert Safari

A private, family-paced evening in your own Land Cruiser. Gentle dune driving, child seats on request and a driver who never rushes the kids.

AED 899per vehicle

  • Private pickup and drop off from Dubai and Sharjah
  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser and driver for your family
  • Child seats on request
  • Relaxed, family-paced dune drive
  • Camel ride and sandboarding
  • Sunset photo stop
  • Arabic coffee and dates
  • Henna painting and Arabic dress photos
  • BBQ buffet dinner with unlimited soft drinks
  • Belly dance, Tanoura and fire show

Up to 6 guests per vehicle, children included. One price for the whole family.

Book now

VIP Private Evening Desert Safari

The private evening with a private VIP table at camp, a dedicated waiter and dinner served to you. No buffet queue with tired kids.

AED 1,199per vehicle

  • Private Land Cruiser and driver
  • Gentle dune drive on request
  • Private VIP table and majlis seating
  • Dedicated waiter for your family
  • Dinner served to your table
  • Falcon photo, henna and Arabic dress photos
  • Choose your own pickup time

Best for birthdays and families who want the whole evening private.

Book now

Free pickup

Pickup and drop off included

Dubai and Sharjah

We collect you from your hotel, apartment or home anywhere in Dubai and Sharjah at no extra cost, including Port Rashid Cruise Terminal, and drop you back at the end of the night.

Other emirates

Staying in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah or elsewhere? We share a convenient meeting point, pick you up there and return you to the same spot after the safari.

Itinerary

Your evening, hour by hour.

Approximate winter timings. Your driver adjusts them to sunset, traffic and your group.

  1. 2:00 to 3:30 PM

    Private family pickup

    Your driver collects you in a private air conditioned Land Cruiser, with child seats if you asked for them: 2:00 to 2:30 PM in winter, 3:00 to 3:30 PM in summer.

  2. 3:00 to 3:45 PM

    Drive to the Lahbab Red Dunes

    A 45 to 55 minute drive on the E66. Need a toilet or snack stop? Just ask.

  3. 3:45 to 4:30 PM

    Gentle dune drive

    A slower, smoother drive over the red dunes so everyone enjoys it. Older kids can ask for a little more thrill.

  4. 4:30 to 5:15 PM

    Sandboarding and sunset photos

    Kids love sliding down the dunes. Then a family photo on a high crest as the sun goes down.

  5. 5:15 to 6:15 PM

    Camp welcome and activities

    Arabic coffee, dates and karak tea on arrival. Camel ride, henna and Arabic dress photos at the camp.

  6. 6:15 to 7:15 PM

    BBQ dinner

    Starters, BBQ grills, mains and desserts from the buffet, with unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and coffee.

  7. 7:15 to 8:00 PM

    Live shows

    Belly dance with live drums, Tanoura and a fire show under the stars.

  8. 8:00 to 9:00 PM

    Drop off

    Relax on the drive back. We drop you at the same hotel, home or meeting point where we picked you up.

Family posing on a four seater dune buggy in the Dubai desert

Sunset times by season

November to February

Peak season

5:30 to 6:05 PM

Sunset in the desert

March, April and October

Warm days

5:50 to 6:35 PM

Sunset in the desert

May to September

Hot afternoons

6:45 to 7:10 PM

Sunset in the desert

We time pickup around sunset, so it moves later in summer. November to March has the mildest evenings for children.

Inclusions

What’s included in the price.

Everything below comes with the Family Desert Safari. The VIP Private upgrade adds a private table and served dinner.

Private transport and dunes

  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser for your family
  • Your own DTCM-licensed desert driver
  • Child seats on request
  • Relaxed, family-paced dune drive
  • Sandboarding and camel ride
  • Sunset photo stop

Dinner and drinks

  • Welcome Arabic coffee, dates and karak tea
  • Starters: hummus, mutabal, fattoush and tabbouleh
  • BBQ: lamb kofta, chicken tikka, kebabs and grilled vegetables
  • Mains: lamb ouzi, chicken biryani and vegetable rice
  • Desserts and fruit
  • Unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and coffee

Shows and culture

  • Belly dance with live drums
  • Tanoura dance
  • Fire show
  • Henna painting
  • Arabic dress photos

Made for families

  • No sharing the car with strangers
  • Toilet and snack stops on request
  • Vegetarian and kid friendly food at the buffet
  • Infants welcome at camp
  • Private table with the VIP upgrade

Add-ons

  • Quad bikeRiders 16+ can drive an ATV at camp: 1-seater AED 150, 2-seater AED 250.
  • Dune buggyA 4-seater buggy fits the family, from AED 799.
  • VIP tableUpgrade to the VIP Private safari for a private table and served dinner.
  • Birthday setupA birthday setup at camp, arranged in advance.

Add any of these when you book. Ask for add-on prices on WhatsApp.

Gallery

Moments from our family safaris.

Guests on a camel ride across the dunes in Dubai
Camel ride
Guests tasting fresh luqaimat at the desert camp
Fresh luqaimat
Family posing on a four seater dune buggy
4-seater buggy
Guests in Arabic dress on the red dunes
Arabic dress photos
Fire show at the desert camp near Dubai
Fire show

Compare

Shared vs family vs VIP private safari.

What you get when the car is just for your family.

Swipe to compare all packages

Shared vs family vs VIP private desert safari in Dubai
Package
Shared Evening SafariAED 180per personView
Best for familiesFamily Desert SafariAED 899per vehicleBook
VIP Private SafariAED 1,199per vehicleView
Free pickup from Dubai and Sharjah
4x4 Land CruiserShared with other guestsPrivate for your familyPrivate for your family
Dune driveGroup paceGentle, family paceYour pace
Child seatsOn requestOn request
Sandboarding, camel ride and sunset stop
Seating at campShared seatingShared seatingPrivate VIP table
DinnerBBQ buffetBBQ buffetServed by your own waiter
Belly dance, Tanoura and fire show
Best forAdults and older kids on a budgetFamilies with young childrenBirthdays and full privacy

Family vs private vs morning desert safari

Afternoon to night

Family desert safari

From AED 899

Pickup
2:00 to 3:30 PM
Duration
6 to 7 hours
Vehicle
Private, child seats
Dinner and shows
BBQ buffet and 3 shows
Price basis
Per vehicle

Best for Families with young children

You are viewing this tour

Who it’s for

Which option suits your family?

Families with young kids

Gentle driving, child seats and a driver who waits for you. Children from 3 can join the dune drive.

Best pick: Family Desert Safari

Families with teens

Ask for a bit more thrill on the dunes and add a quad bike for riders 16 and over.

Best pick: Family plus a quad bike

Grandparents along

Skip the dune drive and go straight to camp by road at no extra cost. Everyone still enjoys dinner and the shows.

Best pick: Family Desert Safari

Birthdays and celebrations

A private table, served dinner and a birthday setup at camp.

Best pick: VIP Private with a birthday setup

Skip dune bashing if you are

  • Pregnant: we drive you straight to camp by road so you still enjoy dinner and the shows.
  • Traveling with a baby under 3: infants skip the dune drive but are welcome at camp.
  • Living with back, neck or heart problems: skip the dunes or ask for a gentle drive.
  • Prone to motion sickness: take medication 30 minutes before pickup and sit in the front seat.

Good to know

Before you go.

Best time to go

November to March has mild evenings that suit children best. Weekday evenings, Sunday to Wednesday, are the quietest at camp.

What to wear

Light cotton or linen, closed shoes or sturdy sandals, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a jacket or shawl, as the desert cools quickly after sunset.

Kids and safety

Dune driving is for ages 3 and above. Infants, pregnant guests and anyone with back, neck or heart problems should skip it, and we drive them straight to camp by road.

How to book

Send your children’s ages, date, number of guests and pickup location on WhatsApp (+971 54 144 7273). No advance payment. You pay at pickup.

Reviews

What guests say about our safaris.

Real reviews from travelers who booked their Dubai desert safari with Emirates Desert Tours.

4.9140+ reviews on Tripadvisor
“Our driver was very professional, friendly, punctual, and helpful throughout the trip.”
TUFAIL LFriends · Sep 2026
“We had a great time with Ajmal, he is a very friendly tour guide who made sure we were very comfortable.”
Mollier07Dubai, UAE · Family · Oct 2026
“The organization was smooth from hotel pickup to the end of the tour.”
Марина ТFriends · Feb 2026
Read all reviews on Tripadvisor

FAQs

Family desert safari FAQs.

Quick answers to the questions parents ask most before booking a desert safari in Dubai.

What is a family desert safari in Dubai?

A family desert safari is our evening desert safari in a private Land Cruiser reserved for your family, with a gentler dune drive, child seats on request and a driver who goes at your pace. It runs in the Lahbab Red Dunes, about 45 km from Dubai, and ends with a BBQ dinner and live shows at our camp.

How much is a family desert safari in Dubai?

The Family Desert Safari costs AED 899 per vehicle for up to 6 guests, children included. With a private table and served dinner, the VIP Private Evening Desert Safari costs AED 1,199 per vehicle.

Is desert safari safe for kids?

Yes, with sensible limits. Children aged 3 and above can join the dune drive, and on the family safari we drive gently. Infants under 3 skip the dunes but are welcome at camp. Child seats are available on request.

What is the minimum age for dune bashing?

3 years. Self-drive quad bike riders must be 16 or older.

What time is pickup and how long does it take?

Pickup is 2:00 to 2:30 PM in winter and 3:00 to 3:30 PM in summer, and you are back around 9:00 PM. Plan for 6 to 7 hours in total.

What is included?

Private pickup and drop off from Dubai and Sharjah, a private Land Cruiser and driver, a family-paced dune drive, sandboarding, a camel ride, a sunset photo stop, Arabic coffee and dates, henna, Arabic dress photos, a BBQ buffet dinner with unlimited soft drinks, and belly dance, Tanoura and fire shows.

Is there food for children and vegetarians?

Yes. The buffet always has vegetarian dishes, rice, bread, salads, fruit and desserts that kids enjoy. All meat is halal. Vegan or gluten-free meals are available on request with 24 hours notice.

Can grandparents or a pregnant guest come along?

Yes. Anyone who should skip the dune drive goes straight to camp by road at no extra cost and still enjoys dinner and the shows.

Do you pick up outside Dubai?

Pickup and drop off are free from any hotel or home in Dubai and Sharjah. For Abu Dhabi, Ajman or another emirate we share a convenient meeting point and bring you back to the same spot.

Do I pay in advance, and can I cancel?

No advance payment. You pay the driver at pickup. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.

How do I book the family desert safari?

Use the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 54 144 7273 with your date, number of guests and pickup location. We usually reply within 10 minutes.

Still have a question?

Message our team on WhatsApp. We usually reply within 10 minutes.

Contact usAsk on WhatsApp

Make it a family memory

Book your family desert safari today.

Your own Land Cruiser, a gentle dune drive and an evening the kids will talk about. No advance payment. Just send your date on WhatsApp.

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