Dune Bashing in Dubai: The Ultimate Arabian Adventure

As anyone who follows us knows, Kevin and I have a pretty adventurous streak — whether its diving with crocodiles in Cabo or swimming at the top of Victoria Falls in Zambia. We just got back from an incredible 7 days in United Arab Emirates, traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. I have to admit, the very first thing that comes to mind when I think of Dubai is 10-lane highways and towering skyscrapers, like the Burj Kalifa — the tallest building in the world. But Dubai is smack dab in the middle of the desert. When you fly into Dubai, be sure to look out the airplane window. It looks like hundreds if not thousands of miles of sand dunes.

One of the best things we did on our trip was dune bashing in Dubai. This is a must-do for any itinerary whether you have 9 days or just 2. But picking the right tour company to arrange this activity is critical. After doing my usual thorough homework, I knew that Arabian Adventures would be the perfect choice for a Dubai desert safari. Check out our full review below.

What is Dune Bashing in Dubai? Is it Safe?

When I told Kevin about this activity, in his usual positive way, he said “Sounds great, let’s do it… What is it?” Of course, this was the first question of MANY he had. As the name implies, dune bashing is driving over, around and across massive sand dunes. And it’s something that should be done by professionals. Our safari guide, Masood, had over eight years of experience. It takes a special skill to recognize the shape of each dune, how to approach it and whether the car will slip. Tours are typically done from 4×4 sports utility vehicles (SUV). The first stop before tackling any of these dunes is letting out the air from the SUV’s tires to allow more traction while driving through the sand. Otherwise, it’s more like driving through quicksand.

What Happens During Sand Bashing? What Do you See?

We signed up for Arabian Adventure’s evening safari. It’s an activity that pretty much anyone can do — no matter your age. The only caveat is that it’s not recommend if you have heart ailments or neck or back problems. This is a full evening activity. Our pick up from the hotel in Dubai was at 3 PM and we arrived back by 9:30 PM.

The desert safari dune bashing takes place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where only a few operators have access and a portion of the tour cost supports local conservation projects. Threatened indigenous wildlife species, including the endangered Arabian Oryx, were first reintroduced. And today, the reserve is home to 33 types of mammal and reptile species indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula including sand foxes, gazelles and hedgehogs. You aren’t guaranteed to see any animals, but within minutes we came across several Gazelles and Arabian Oryx’s.

The drive through the dunes is exciting — and pretty bumpy. We did this activity on New Year’s Day, which is perfect timing since many businesses in Dubai are closed for the holiday. But be sure to keep this in mind if you get queasy. You don’t want to be hung over on this ride. In total, the drive takes about 20 minutes. We felt like it was the perfect amount of time to get thrown around.

What Else Happens During the Evening Safari?

Sand bashing gets all the attention given the adrenaline factor. But there is so much more to the evening safari. The next stop is perfectly timed to watch the sunset over the dunes. Make sure to bring along a light jacket. It gets chilly at sunset.

From here, it’s a quick 5 minute ride to the Bedouin style camp where you’ll spend the rest of the evening. Our guide recommended that we scope out our seats first and claim the spot. This was fantastic advice, since the tables fill up quickly. We snagged the best seats in the house to watch the stage show that would happen later in the night.

There are several activities you can do before dinner. We did just about everything except for getting a henna tattoo, which is typically worn by women. Our trusty guide Masood gave us the solid advice on how to time the activities to have the shortest wait. Actually, we didn’t wait for one thing. We started first with the camel ride… Insider tip: lean back when camel riding. Not that we almost fell off!

Next up, get in your exercise for the night by tackling sand boarding, which is essentially sledding down one of the gigantic dunes. We did it once since climbing up that dune was a killer.

From here, you can hold a live falcon. Falcons are a crucial part of the culture of the United Arab Emirates. While most Emirate don’t own dogs or cats as pets, many keep falcons. Some falcons cost as much as $60,000 USD each and Emirates Airlines, along with several other Middle Eastern airlines, actually allow falcons inside the main cabin on select flights. Though, to be honest, I can think of some worse seatmates!

From here, we perused the shops and enjoyed some Arabic coffee, traditionally served with dates. Don’t expect a high dosage of caffeine or heavy coffee flavor. It’s more like a tea. In fact, Kevin enjoyed it and he doesn’t even like coffee.

We had about 45 minutes to do the activities, which was plenty of time to do it all. We didn’t eat much during the day, so we were definitely hungry. However, we weren’t prepared for the full-on feast. It included beef kebabs, lamb chops, grilled chicken, eggplant moussaka, vegetable curry, rice and wide range of traditional Middle Eastern dishes like cheese and mint fatayer (stuffed pastries), salads like beetroot hummus and an incredible dessert called Umm Ali. It’s an Egyptian dessert equivalent to a bread pudding.

Wrapping Up the Evening With Live Entertainment 

After we ate just about everything in sight, we were ready for the big show. The night we attended, Arabian Adventures had three acts. All were entertaining but we especially enjoyed the fire twirler. Just when we thought he couldn’t twirl any more flames, he’d bring out another one. Next up was the twirling dancer and then the belly dancer as the finale. All I could think during the belly dance was, “I would NOT be doing that dance after all the food I just ate!”

And that’s a wrap. We couldn’t believe how many incredible activities we packed in for the night. Masood refilled the tires with air, and we arrived back in Dubai within a hour. What a journey! And clearly, after doing this trip I learned one big thing. There is so much more to Dubai than just skyscrapers and highways.

Why Do We Recommend Arabian Adventures for Dune Bashing in Dubai?

We always do our homework. As part of the Emirates Group, Arabian Adventures has high standards for both service and safety. We also wanted to support a company that works to protect the environment. Arabian Adventures is the only operator in the Middle East consistently accredited with the CEMARS (Carbon and Energy Measurement and Reduction Scheme) award. Their Dubai-based safaris are operated in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) and a portion of the fee is donated to local conservation projects.

The Low Down:

• Tours depart daily from Dubai with a variety of options such as daytime tours, evening and even overnight tours.
• We liked the evening safari since we got to see the sunset and enjoy the evening activities and barbecue dinner.
• Prices vary depending on the tour. Evening safari tours start at $66 USD per person. There are also packages that include alcohol for an additional cost.
• What to wear? Dress for comfort and remember to bring layers, especially for the evening with the desert gets chilly.
• Duration? Our evening safari tour ran from 3:00 – 9:30 PM.
• To book a tour, go directly to the Arabian Adventures website here.