9 Tips to Visit the Dubai Desert

If this is your first time in the Dubai Desert, keep these basic tips in mind for your visit.

Camels in the desert of Dubai | © Fernando Jorge

The Rub al-Khali desert, located in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most impressive deserts in the world. A must see when you travel to Dubai. However, it is important that you follow a number of tips for your safety, so that you can enjoy your visit to the fullest and as pleasantly as possible.

Nevertheless, before planning your visit to the desert, I recommend you to read the post What to see and do in Dubai, where a wide range of plans and activities are described.

1.- What is the best way to visit the desert of Dubai?

The Dubai desert can be visited either as part of an individual or a group tour. The advantage of a solo tour is that you can enjoy the vastness and solitude of the desert and that it is an unforgettable activity. However, there is one drawback: the level of security will always be higher than in a group tour.

On the other hand, if you opt for a group excursion, you’ll have a wider range of activities to choose from. These include a desert buggy or quad tour, sandboarding over the dunes of the Dubai desert, a barbecue, sleeping in the Dubai desert or a desert dance show. The main disadvantage is that you will be accompanied by a larger group, and it can always be a bit annoying to walk around with more people.

• Tour solo
• From 100 euros
• Advantage: Enjoy the desert in solitude
• Cons: Safety and a more limited range of activities

• Group excursion
• From 36 euros
• Advantage: Wide range of activities
• Cons: Depends on a large group to attend

2. what safety recommendations should i follow when visiting the dubai desert?

Internationally, the UAE is one of the safest countries in the world. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind some recommendations when traveling in the desert, e.g. Drink water constantly to stay hydrated and avoid heat stroke.

It is also a good idea to take out insurance, especially if you are going to do an adventure sport such as dune driving or buggy tours. For trips that include these activities, insurance is usually included in case of accident, but do not hesitate to check the clause when you take it out, as health insurance in this country is very expensive.

I also recommend that you wear appropriate clothing on a desert tour, whether you are a man or a woman, to avoid skin damage. Ideally, you should wear light clothes and cover your body. Also, be sure to bring something to cover your head.

And just in case, I advise you to take a biodramine tablet, because a large percentage of desert visitors suffer from motion sickness because the ride over the dunes is a bit bumpy and uncomfortable. At this point, just forget about your camera and focus on the scenery.

3. how should i dress if i want to visit dubai desert?

If you are taking a trip to the Dubai desert, there are a number of recommendations for appropriate clothing for your visit to Dubai, both to avoid skin damage and for your own comfort.

As for clothing, it is best to choose linen and cotton clothing that is as light and loose fitting as possible. These fabrics are the most comfortable and protect you as much as possible from the high temperatures, which can reach 50ºC in the summer months. It is also important to cover your entire body to avoid sunburn.

In terms of footwear, it is best to opt for an overshoe as this makes walking more comfortable. Sandals or open-toed shoes tend to get clogged with sand and are more uncomfortable when hiking in the desert.

In addition, be sure to take a number of accessories with you, such as. B. Sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun in the middle hours of the day and a scarf, cap or hat to protect your head to avoid possible sunstroke.

The traveler’s advice

I recommend you choose your clothes for your visit to the Dubai desert. Cover your whole body and choose loose fitting clothes made of comfortable fabrics like linen or cotton, wear covered footwear and don’t forget a hat and sunglasses.

What are the most recommended activities to do in the Dubai desert?

The Dubai desert not only offers stunning landscapes and spectacular surroundings, but also a comprehensive range of activities to suit all tastes. Do you feel like visiting?

Adventurous people can ride a sandboard over the dunes, take a buggy ride or ride a camel through the desert. There is also the possibility of taking a quad tour.

There is also the option of getting a henna tattoo or dressing up in Arabic clothing and creating a photo album to remember it by. You can also enjoy a beautiful sunset or even smoke a Sisha.

Other popular experiences include camping in the desert or having a barbecue while watching an evening show, usually belly dancing or tanura dancing.

• Sandboarding over the dunes
• Take a buggy tour
• Riding a quad bike
• Camel trekking in the desert
• Camping in the desert
• Getting a henna tattoo
• Dress up in traditional clothing
• Smoking a Sisha
• Get to know the customs of the locals
• Enjoy a barbecue
• Enjoy a show

5 – When is the best season to visit Dubai desert?

The best time to travel to Dubai is between November/December and March, as temperatures are cooler and the heat is not as scorching during these months. This will allow you to enjoy the tour more comfortably and not have to worry so much about protecting them from sunstroke.

Note, however, that the high season in Dubai coincides with the months of December and January, so it can be a bit more uncomfortable to travel as the destinations and main attractions are busier with tourists and you can’t enjoy the tranquility of the desert like at other times of the year.

It is also very important to check the weather forecast before booking your tour, because although temperatures are lower in January and February, sandstorms are more likely to occur, and if you are in the desert, they can be very unpleasant and ruin your day.

6 – What recommendations should you consider when traveling to the Dubai desert with children?

And if you’re traveling to Dubai with your kids, be sure to book a day trip to the Dubai desert. This is an experience they will love. Everyone who travels with kids agrees with this opinion. Being able to see the vastness of the desert is a movie experience for them. Play in the sand or slide down the sand dunes.

However, if you dare, I recommend you to take an off-road vehicle excursion as buggy or quad excursions are not allowed for children under 16 years old accompanied by an adult or even up to 18 years old. You can also enjoy a barbecue in the desert, get a henna tattoo or pet camels – don’t hesitate! You will love this experience.

7. how can we protect our personal belongings in the Dubai desert?

During your trip to the Dubai desert, make sure to protect your electronic devices such as cameras and cell phones as much as possible, as they can suffer avoidable scratches.

To do this, in addition to the bag or backpack in which you can carry them, I recommend putting them in a plastic bag that fits tightly and is sealed airtight so that it is not damaged by the fine sand. In this way you will avoid a nasty surprise at the end of the tour.

It is also important not to keep them in the pocket of a pair of pants or clothes, as they often suffer more there than in a backpack. If you don’t have them with you, leave them with your companion.

8.- What products and medicines are essential for your visit to the desert of Dubai?

When traveling to the Dubai desert, be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen , preferably with SPF 50, because the sun is quite intense and it is not uncommon to get sunburned, even if you opt for clothes that cover the whole body. It is also advisable to have some kind of isotonic or hydrating drink in addition to water.

It is also advisable to have a tablet or chewing gum against dizziness in your pocket or backpack, because it is complicated to arm yourself against the journey over the desert dunes, and it is common to feel dizzy or even nauseous on the way. You may also want to take a pill for headaches caused by the intense heat and the strong sun.

However, the list of medications that travelers can bring to Dubai is very limited, so I recommend that you check the list or buy the medications directly upon arrival.

9. how to get to the desert of dubai?

To get to the desert of Dubai, it is best to book a trip by car. It is important to book this experience well in advance, especially in the months of December and January, which coincide with the high season, because it is one of the most popular excursions and ensures that you do not miss this important activity, as it is the only way to visit the desert.

The Dubai desert is about an hour’s drive from the city. About three quarters of an hour after getting into the car you will witness the dry landscape.

One last piece of advice: it is very important to follow the guide’s instructions and respect the desert inhabitants at all times. Their way of life is very different from ours, and it is important that we respect their way of life, beliefs and customs.