Most booked
Evening Desert Safari with BBQ, Camel Ride and Sandboarding
- Run by our licensed desert safari partner in Abu Dhabi
- Written price confirmed before you pay
- Instant reply on WhatsApp, no prepay to enquire
About this experience
If you only book one desert experience in the capital, this is the one most first time visitors reach for, and for good reason. The evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi packs the whole desert story into a single afternoon and evening: the thrill of dune bashing across the Al Khatim ridges, a gentle camel ride at a working farm, sandboarding down a soft slope, a sky that turns copper and violet at sunset, then a BBQ buffet dinner and live shows once the camp lights come on.
What separates a good evening safari from a forgettable one is the detail most operators skip past. We tell you plainly that the camel ride is a short round rather than a long trek (book our dedicated camel ride tour if that is what you actually want), that the dune area is chosen on the day for the best light and terrain rather than a fixed tourist car park, and that a private 4x4 is available if you would rather set your own pace than move with a shared group. Families, couples and first time visitors all find their footing here, and it remains, deservedly, the desert safari most people in Abu Dhabi book first.
How it unfolds
Hotel pickup
Collected from your Abu Dhabi hotel, residence or mall in a shared or private 4x4.
Into the dunes
Drive out toward the Al Khatim desert as the city gives way to open sand.
Dune bashing
The 4x4 rides the ridges, gentle or thrilling depending on shared pace or your private request.
Camel farm & sandboarding
Meet the camels for a short ride, then sandboard down a dune slope.
Sunset over the dunes
The desert turns gold, then copper, as the sun drops.
BBQ dinner & shows
A buffet dinner at camp with tanoura, belly dance and fire performances.
Return to hotel
Driven back into Abu Dhabi as the evening winds down.
Shared or private, your choice
One seat on a shared vehicle, joins the group for the full evening itinerary.
Your own vehicle and guide, evening paced entirely around your group.
The same private evening for a larger party, one vehicle.
What's included
- Return hotel pickup and drop-off
- Dune bashing in a 4x4
- Camel farm visit with a short ride
- Sandboarding
- Sunset viewing over the dunes
- BBQ buffet dinner (halal, vegetarian options)
- Live shows: tanoura, belly dance, fire show
- Arabic coffee, dates and tea
- Shisha in the designated area
Not included
- Quad bike and dune buggy (available as add-ons on our quad and buggy pages)
- Alcohol
- Private transfer, unless you choose the private 4x4 option
- A longer camel trek (see our dedicated camel ride tour)
How this compares to our other desert experiences
Nine ways to experience the Abu Dhabi desert, each built for a different traveller.
| Experience | Starts | Duration | Vehicle | Includes | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening Safari | 2:30pm | ~7 hrs | Shared or private | BBQ dinner + shows | AED 189 |
| Sunrise | 5:00am | ~4 hrs | Private 4x4 | Golden hour, refreshments | AED 390 |
| Morning | 8:00am | ~4 hrs | Private 4x4 | Refreshments only | AED 360 |
| Overnight | 2:30pm→AM | ~18 hrs | Private 4x4 | Dinner, breakfast, camp | AED 780 |
Is this the right one for you?
Perfect if you...
- Want dunes, sunset, dinner and shows in one booking
- Are visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time
- Want strong value on a shared 4x4
- Are a family or group planning a full evening out
Maybe not, if you...
- Want the quiet, cooler desert at dawn, see our morning safari
- Want a fully private camp for a special occasion, see private desert safari
- Want to camp overnight under the stars, see overnight safari
- Only want the camel ride, see our dedicated camel trek
Questions about evening desert safari
How much is the evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
From AED 189 per adult on a shared 4x4, with children priced lower. A private 4x4 for your own group starts from AED 790, so you set the pace and skip sharing the vehicle.
What is included in the Abu Dhabi evening desert safari with BBQ, camel ride and sandboarding?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, dune bashing, a short camel ride, sandboarding, sunset viewing, a BBQ buffet dinner, and live tanoura, belly dance and fire shows at the camp.
Is the camel ride a short ride or a long trek?
It is a short round at the camel farm, part of the wider evening. If a longer guided trek across the dunes is what you actually want, our dedicated camel ride tour is built for exactly that.
Can I book a private evening desert safari instead of sharing a vehicle?
Yes, a private 4x4 for your own group is available from AED 790, and it lets you choose a gentler or more thrilling dune bashing pace than a shared vehicle allows.
Is the evening desert safari good for families with children?
Yes. Sandboarding, the camel farm and the BBQ buffet all suit children well, and a private 4x4 lets you set a calmer dune bashing pace for younger riders.
