Dubai Desert Safari Guide 2027: Gold Camp, Bedouin Dinner and a Sunrise Balloon
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A desert safari is the easiest way to swap Dubai's skyline for its dunes. On MBD Travel it is sold as a standalone experience: a 4x4 desert safari, dinner and a show at the Gold camp set up at the Bab Al Shams hotel. Pickup is at 15:00 from your hotel and the return is in the evening. The Gold option comes with a private vehicle only, carrying up to six guests. For a sunrise view from above, there is also a hot air balloon flight, which currently runs on a request form. According to the averages on our site, November to March is the mildest window. The current price is on the experience page.
The Gold camp: safari and dinner at Bab Al Shams
The Dubai desert 4x4 dune safari and bedouin camp dinner takes place, according to its product page, at the Gold camp set up at the Bab Al Shams hotel, with a desert safari, dinner and a show. Pickup is at 15:00 from your hotel, and the return is in the evening.
One rule is stated clearly on the page: the Gold option is sold with a private vehicle only. One vehicle carries up to six guests; a seventh guest adds a second vehicle. What is included depends on the ticket you choose. Check the confirmed ticket and total before you pay; the published starting price is not a confirmed quote for your date or group.
If you are travelling on a tour
The desert safari also appears on ready-made Dubai tours. On the Dubai and the Capital of Luxury Tour (3 nights, Air Arabia from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen), for example, the desert safari with dinner is one of the optional extras on a free day; it leaves at 15:00 and is not included in the price. The tour page's inclusions section shows what the package covers, so check it before adding the safari separately.
About the Dubai desert
Visit Dubai, the city's official tourism guide, notes that part of the emirate's desert is protected. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) covers 225 square kilometres, about five per cent of Dubai's land, and is fenced off to protect its native plants and wildlife. Since conservation began in 2004, the reserve has become home to more than 50 plant species, 120 bird species and 43 species of mammals and reptiles, and it is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Seeing the desert from above: a sunrise balloon flight
For a bird's-eye view there is a separate experience, the Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight over Dubai Desert. Its product page says the balloon climbs to 4,000 feet, and the flight is run by professionally trained pilots with a safety briefing. It starts early in the morning, and the whole experience, with transfer and breakfast options, runs 3 to 4 hours.
- Age policy: children under 5 and adults over 85 cannot fly; children aged 5 and over may join with parental supervision.
- What to bring: a passport or valid ID is mandatory.
- What to wear: comfortable clothes and flat shoes are recommended.
- Meeting point: one of several desert departure points, set with the reservation.
This experience is not open for instant booking right now. You leave your phone number, group size and preferred date on the page, and the sales team calls you when a date opens. It is a request, not a booking, and no payment is taken.
When to go
The 2021-2025 monthly averages on our experience page put Dubai's average high at 39 to 40 degrees in June, July and August. From November to March, average highs run from 24 to 31 degrees, with night-time lows of 17 to 23 degrees. That is a milder window for both an evening safari and a sunrise balloon flight.
You can keep exploring Dubai through our adventure holidays category and the city guide.
How long does the Dubai desert safari last?
Pickup is at 15:00 from your hotel, with the return in the evening; the total time can vary with your pickup location.
Can the Gold camp be booked with a shared vehicle?
No. According to the product page, the Gold option is sold with a private vehicle only, carrying up to six guests; a seventh guest adds a second vehicle.
Is the desert safari included in tours?
It depends on the tour. On the Dubai and the Capital of Luxury Tour, for example, the safari with dinner is an optional paid extra; the tour page's inclusions section shows what is covered.
Who can join the sunrise balloon flight?
The product page says children under 5 and adults over 85 cannot fly, and children aged 5 and over may join with parental supervision. A passport or valid ID is mandatory. The experience currently runs on a request form.
What is the best month for a desert safari?
Our site's 2021-2025 averages put Dubai's average high at 24 to 31 degrees between November and March, far milder than the summer months.
