1
Dubai is thought for its glittering skyline and opulent eating places, however among the most memorable eating experiences await past the town’s borders, nestled within the serenity of the desert.
Whether or not you’re seeking to sip espresso at a pop-up café within the dunes or bask in a multi-course connoisseur meal underneath the celebrities, Dubai’s desert eating scene affords an array of distinctive culinary adventures. These experiences mix the joys of the desert with world-class gastronomy, excellent for vacationers searching for one thing extraordinary.
On this information, we’ll take you on a journey via among the most original eating spots in Dubai’s enchanting desert panorama, with locations to swimsuit all budgets.
This put up is by no means sponsored by any of the venues we point out. Nonetheless, we’re associates for among the excursions we advocate, that means we could earn a fee if a qualifying reserving is made.
It ought to go with out saying that desert eating in Dubai is a seasonal affair! You can see most choices we point out right here can be found via the winter months solely, from late October via till early Could, however do enquire instantly with every supplier their actual program for the 2024-25 season.
Positive Eating within the Dubai Desert Eating This Winter
Let’s first take a look at probably the most premium 5-star eating experiences within the Dubai Desert. Gone are the times when a easy blended grill after a dune-bashing journey was the head of desert eating in Dubai.
At present, the culinary scene has advanced, providing refined tremendous eating experiences that are actually must-try actions for even probably the most discerning vacationers. From connoisseur dishes crafted by world-class cooks to breathtaking settings within the coronary heart of the desert, Dubai’s tremendous eating scene has redefined what it means to indulge within the Arabian sands.
Nara Desert Escape
Working from the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), a privilege prolonged to just a few operators, this beautiful eating and in a single day glamping possibility has been round for a number of years. It has firmly cemented itself as considered one of Dubai’s finest luxurious desert camps.
They’ll care for every thing for you, together with metropolis pick-ups, or you may meet on the DDCR customer middle and be transferred by 4×4 to their secluded desert location.
On arrival, you may seize a drink and head straight to a comfortable bean bag to look at the sundown as your expertise is ready. Alternatively, for the extra energetic, there are many entertaining choices, from archery and sandboarding to volleyball and a falconry present, or take a standard camel trip via the dunes.
With a completely outfitted kitchen on web site, you may select from their ready-made menus, together with Japanese Fusion Delicacies, Gastronomic Dinner, Signature Barbecue, Oriental Dinner, Vegan Menu, or Kids’s menu. Alternatively, you may create a bespoke menu with their resident chef.
Your particular night within the desert is complemented by an in depth leisure program, together with stomach dancing, acrobatics, and fireplace tanoura. End your evening with a star-gazing alternative carried out by an astrologist.
Kids usually are not forgotten right here both, with a devoted eating space potential for pajama events within the dunes, adopted by films underneath the celebrities, a roving magician, and a treasure hunt, to call only a few actions on supply.
Your journey will be continued in a single day for a completely immersive expertise of their luxurious Lotus Tents or Nests by Sonora.
That is an beautiful bespoke desert expertise, so that you’ll enquire instantly with Nara Escapes for approximate pricing to your group.
Veuve Clicquot Desert Expertise by Arabian Adventures
A newcomer for winter 2024-25, this personal eating expertise is a partnership between Arabian Adventures (a division of Emirates Group) and French Champagne home Veuve Cliquot. A bespoke eating setting has been created in a distant and unique location with the DDCR, one of many UAE’s largest protected nature reserves.
Get pleasure from sundown views from their panoramic sundown lounge, adopted by dinner in a non-public enclave. Your personal chef will put together dinner for at least 2 via to a most of 8 company. Friends will take pleasure in premium drinks rigorously paired with the menu by your sommelier.
You’ll be transferred to and from the unique desert location in a luxurious car, akin to a Mercedes-Benz G Class, with a safari information readily available to assist with night wildlife recognizing. There’s elective camel rides on supply too, and your night concludes with star gazing alternatives, a bonfire, and elective cognac and sweets served.
Costs begin from AED 3,350 per individual – study extra and guide your unique expertise right here
If you’re travelling with under-21s or non-drinkers, Arabian Adventures additionally affords different luxurious eating choices—they cowl every thing from excessive dune bashing to ultra-luxurious and unique camp set-ups.
For personal eating experiences, {couples} begin from AED 2,895, and teams from AED 3,665 – see additional personal eating choices on supply right here.
Al Hadheerah at Bab Al Shams
This desert expertise has been round longer than most, with a longtime desert resort setting on the town’s outskirts for a few years. Conjuring up Arabian evening desires, the Al Hadheerah restaurant is about up with lanterns and carpets in an al fresco setting overlooking the desert dunes of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
After your arrival, you’re ushered via an Arabian Souk (market), passing by alleyways with stay cooking stations and genuine Center Jap entertainers. You’ll then take your seat underneath the celebrities for a gastronomic feast of flavours.
The buffet dinner right here features a spit roast and leisure akin to falconry reveals and camel rides. Additionally they have common tanoura dancers and a stay band for the right desert atmosphere.
Open to each resort company and walk-ins, this is a superb alternative for these searching for the desert ambiance with restricted sand caught between the toes for weeks to come back!
Their nightly buffet dinner begins at 7:00 pm and prices AED 450 pp or youngsters AED 225, underneath 5s free – study extra right here
Desert Safaris With Conventional Dinners
If the above 5-star eating choices are past your finances, don’t fear—many Dubai desert safari firms supply dinner amongst their experiences to swimsuit a variety of budgets.
Night leisure packages invariably contain dune bashing and sand sports activities, however many operators go above and past to make the ambiance of the desert extra of a spotlight, with eating and in a single day choices included. We’ll spotlight a number of of the very best bespoke choices and among the hottest commercially offered desert safari packages.
We study ‘Dubai Desert Safaris’ with value comparisons in much more element on this information.
Sand Sherpa
If you’re seeking to do one thing self-catered or have a particular occasion you’d like to host within the atmosphere of the desert, then our go-to suggestion could be Sand Sherpa.
Their common program entails serving to new campers get arrange within the desert with all of the gear they want (they clearly state you’re desert tenting, not glamping with their trailer and rooftop tent setups – nevertheless it’s the highest finish of tenting set-ups!!).
You might be supplied with all of the instruments you’ll want to put together your personal particular desert dinner expertise, and you may add on extras like evening walks and falconery.
Nonetheless, they’ll additionally supply personal occasion setup of their secluded nook of DDCR. It will be a wonderful possibility for company occasions, weddings, or any particular celebrations you’d prefer to have dinner in an genuine Dubai desert setting.
You will need to enquire instantly with Sand Sherpa for pricing on their bespoke desert eating setup.
57 Safari
One other DDCR providing that may cater to your bespoke wants is 57 Safari. Be it eating within the desert, in a single day tenting, or occasions administration, 57 Safari supply classic Landrovers into their secluded desert setting and distinctive Bedouin experiences for these eager to get extra in contact with the native tradition.
Costs for in a single day excursions begin from AED 595 per grownup – make inquiries right here to your group
Different Dubai Excursions With Desert Eating You Can Ebook On-line
We’ll spotlight a number of of the preferred Dubai Desert excursions that commonly obtain good opinions:
- This Dubai Desert Tour, which will be booked on Viator, features a Bedouin-style BBQ Dinner in considered one of two camp areas in Lahbab or Margham. It consists of a component of dune bashing, with leisure choices together with stomach dancing, Tanoura dancing, and a fireplace present. Your transfers to/from Dubai are included, with costs ranging from AED 250pp.
- Platinum Heritage Safaris are one other best choice for discerning travellers who place extra worth on wildlife and desert appreciation than excessive sand sports activities. Their night program features a nature drive, falconry show, and a charming Yola dance with Emirati drumming whereas sitting to your 4-course conventional dinner within the dunes.
- Travelling on a finances, one of many least expensive however extremely rated desert eating experiences is obtainable by Funtours Dubai. Dune bashing right here is an elective add-on, so if this doesn’t curiosity you, head straight to the Bedouin Camp for BBQ dinner (metropolis choose up included).
A notice on the suitability of Dubai dune-bashing desert excursions
Earlier than you guide an ‘off-the-shelf’ Dubai safari expertise on-line, think about whether or not they’re together with ‘dune bashing’ as a necessary aspect of the tour. These kinds of journeys don’t swimsuit younger youngsters, pregnant women, the aged, and people with again or coronary heart issues, which guidelines out a good chunk of their potential viewers.
This, and the recognised ecological harm brought on by these dune-bashing adventures, has seen an enormous shift lately to extra sedate and enjoyable methods to benefit from the desert. Learn the bundle particulars rigorously earlier than signing as much as the primary tour you’re supplied; there actually is an awesome variety of selections now and also you need your expertise to be memorable for all the precise causes!
Desert Eating Past Dubai
Dubai is definitely not the one emirate within the UAE that takes culinary motion into the desert dunes. Past Dubai, you may additionally wish to have in your radar:
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
One other beautiful 5-star alternative, they provide a number of other ways to take pleasure in distinctive eating experiences within the wealthy desert dunes of Ras Al Khaimah.
They host an Arabic BBQ evening on Saturdays at Kan Zaman, an beautiful out of doors eating venue with stay grilling stations (AED 265 pp delicate or AED 365 with home drinks)
Alternately, they’ll arrange a non-public eating venue for the last word romantic deal with, both amongst the secluded dunes or on the Farmhouse podium, giving company a view over the waterhole at sundown.
A brand new seasonal providing for winter 2024-25 is a collaboration with Zuma, which is able to see Japanese delicacies served on this distinctive desert setting in Al Wadi, undoubtedly one to get in your radar this winter for distinctive experiences!
Al Falaj at Qasr Al Sarab
Heading west from Dubai, deep into the Liwa Desert, you’ll discover luxurious resort Qar Al Sarab. Undisputedly the most effective desert resort experiences within the UAE, their nightly providing at Al Falaj will see company seated in Bedouin-style seating with plush carpets and cushions, simply moments away by cart from their most important resort eating places.
You’ll be served up a menu of distinctly Center Jap delicacies with a mezzeh choice, most important course and dessert, whereas having fun with the atmosphere of the huge Empty Quarter in entrance of you.
Enquire on present pricing for Al Falaj with Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara.
The Dunes Tenting & Safari in RAK
One other extra pocket-friendly possibility to say, simply an hour away from Dubai, is The Dunes.
If you’re solely after dinner and don’t want all of the desert safari add-ons, they’re very happy to cater yo your wants with a buffet-only possibility of their stunning Bedouin camp set-up. Their dinner-only charges begin from AED 110 per grownup and AED 90 per baby.
A buffet dinner, camel trip, and sandboarding are included with their eating packages, and there are many extras you might add on, akin to a Dune Buggy, for the extra adventurous members of your group.
There’s additionally the choice to make this into an in a single day expertise with their tent tenting and dome glamping choices on web site. Breakfast sizzling air ballooning has additionally been added to their in depth desert expertise line-up.
UAE Desert Pop-Up Cafes
Along with these night eating experiences, the Dubai winter brings quite a few pop-up cafes throughout the nation, excellent for these in search of a singular place to cease on their highway journey past the town.
Listed below are only a few from Winter 2023-24 to take a look at (anticipate these locations to solely have a restricted season over the winter months).
We’re nonetheless ready to listen to whether or not a lot of final yr’s hottest pop-ups will probably be opening once more this season. We could have a newly refreshed UAE Desert pop-up cafes information prepared quickly!
Earlier than you go… Extra vital issues it’s best to know when planning a visit to Dubai
Take Me Again to The Greatest in Dubai Eating
Please notice we aren’t a journey company. This web site is a journey weblog to assist newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their journey, we can not guide your flights, resorts, visas or connections for you. We could make a small fee if you happen to click on on any of our suggestion hyperlinks.
Dubai Journey Planner
