Famous Desert Safari Locations in UAE

The desert safari is one of the first things to pop on your results if you do a quick search on the internet for the best things to do in the UAE. The desert safari offers a variety of experiences. You can experience adventure, entertainment, and the stunning beauty of the vast desert at the desert safari in UAE. The best part is finding a desert safari that is perfect for you and your interests. There are desert safaris that offer only adventure, while there are those where you can relax with good food and some great entertainment. Then there are those that offer all of them. Apart from all this, there is the satisfaction of enjoying the raw yet surreal beauty of the desert, far from the hustle-bustle of the city. Here are the best desert safari spots in UAE.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The first national park in Dubai, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, covers 5% of the emirate. This natural reserve is governed by the Dubai government, mainly for protecting and preserving the flora and fauna of the place. The desert safari activities in the area have been planned to promote sustainable tourism. Camel trekking, horse riding, wildlife safaris, camping, sandboarding, quad biking, and falconry are a few of the desert activities to try here. You can also enjoy hot air balloon riding and an amazing dining experience here. The flora and fauna of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve make it worth visiting the place. The area is also home to luxury desert resorts like Al Maha Desert Resort, where you can enjoy all the modern comforts while enjoying the beauty of the desert.

Lahbab Desert

Lahbab desert is another desert safari location in the emirate of Dubai, just on the way to Sharjah. What makes this desert truly special is that some Bedouins still live here. This small Bedouin tribe has lived in this area for over 6000 years and has close ties with Dubai royalty. You can watch the authentic Bedouin life of this tribe, whose main occupation is camel rearing. If you are lucky, You will also see desert wildlife like gazelles, oryx, spiny-tailed lizards, etc., in this red-sand desert. You will also find several desert camps in Dubai that offer typical desert safari activities. You can enjoy dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel riding too here. Do not miss the dinner at the Lahbab desert, including a BBQ dinner and super cool performances.

Liwa Desert

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One of the best desert safari locations in the UAE is the Liwa desert. It is a part of the Rub’ Al Khali Desert, also known as the Empty Quarter. Liwa Desert is in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, near the border of Saudi Arabia. While the Liwa Desert is huge, it is dotted with villages where several tribes thrive even today. The fact that makes Liwa Desert truly special is that this is where the Al Nahyan tribe (the current rulers of Abu Dhabi) lived before moving to the city. An important thing to know about the Liwa Desert is that it has some of the tallest sand dunes in the country.

Along with the regular adventurous desert activities, there are plenty of other things to do here. You can visit inhabited villages, date farms, camel farms, and even a fort here. There are several small stores where you can buy local handicrafts and other goods. The Liwa Desert is also perfect for overnight camping. Apart from a thick blanket of stars, you will also get the chance to see several shooting stars while camping in the dark here.

Al Qudra Desert

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Al Qudra Desert in Dubai is home to Love Lake Dubai, heart-shaped interconnecting manmade lakes. This desert place is not for your typical desert safaris with adventure and entertainment. Rather, you can enjoy a quiet picnic with your loved ones at Al Qudra desert. You can drive to Love Lake Dubai in your vehicle and spend your day in the desert surrounding the lake. You will find different types of birds, including swans and ducks, swimming in the lake. You may also get to see the desert flora and fauna here. Different types of trees can also be found here. They have been planted in such a way that the trees spell love when viewed from above. The best time to spend at Love Lake Dubai is early morning. The evening is also a great time, as you see a glorious sunset here. Do pack a picnic basket to enjoy your time at this desert.

Al Faya Desert

Al Faya is another desert in the emirate of Dubai. You can reach this desert within 50 minutes from Dubai city center. This desert is also popularly called Big Fall, mainly because of the presence of big dunes here. The place attracts many people throughout the week as it has become well-known for extreme adventure sports activities. As the dunes are quite tall, dune bashing at the Faya Desert is nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. You will also enjoy sandboarding and buggy racing at this Dubai desert safari. If you enjoy quiet rather than adrenaline-filled activities, you must visit the Al Faya Desert for overnight camping. Spending a night under its starlit sky is worth it.

Bidayer

Bidayer desert is generally called Big Red, thanks to its beautiful terracotta-colored sand. This is also a desert in Dubai. The reason why people love visiting this desert is not limited to its color. The Bidayer desert has the smoothest sand dunes, making it perfect for all adventurous desert activities. Whichever desert adventure you want to try, you will find it in this desert. This can be dune bashing, sandboarding, and quad biking. Bidayer also has desert camps where you can enjoy camel riding and entertaining programs like belly dancing and Tanoura dancing. Most desert camps also treat their guests to a delicious 3-course BBQ dinner.

Some other popular desert safari locations in Dubai are Al Awir Desert, Jebel Maleihah, and Sweihan. Different desert safari companies offer desert safari tours at these places. You can choose one as per the location that interests you. Whichever place you choose, you are sure to have an amazing time.