One factor that may shortly change into obvious if you’re planning a day tour and even an in a single day expertise out into the UAE desert just isn’t all Dubai desert excursions are alike!

While the scene of 4×4 crashing their manner by way of the dunes in Dubai is likely to be a well-recognized one, understandably, for a lot of, this isn’t their thought of enjoyable, nor essentially the most environmentally-friendly strategy to seeing and experiencing the Dubai desert.

Understanding that this wealthy desert econ system must be protected, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve was established in 2003. Protecting an space of 225 sq. kilometres (practically 5% of the Dubai Emirate), the realm was designated because the nation’s first Nationwide Park.

Guiding you thru the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve:

This web page accommodates some affiliate hyperlinks to our most popular suppliers. If you happen to make a qualifying reserving utilizing these hyperlinks we might earn a fee

Authorised Tour Operators in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is the premier vacation spot for genuine nature-based experiences within the Dubai Emirate.

With the intention to management the delicate desert ecosystem whereas nonetheless permitting guests to attach with nature, solely a really restricted variety of tour operators and hospitality corporations are permitted throughout the reserve’s boundaries, and so they should function in line with strict tips.

You can’t enter the reserve except you might be a part of an organised tour group. The at the moment authorised operators are:

Operator Companies
Al Maha Resort & Spa Lodging, camel treks, nature walks, horse using
Arabian Adventures Safari
Balloon Adventures Emirates Sizzling Air Ballooning
Nara Desert Escape Camel treks, glamping, dinning
Platinum Heritage Safari, Bedouin Camp, Falconry, eating
Sand Sherpa Tenting and Safari
57 Heritage Tourism Glamping, Safari, Eating
Travco Dune dinners and Safari

If you’re concerned about free tenting spots in Dubai, outdoors of the DDCR, take a look at this tenting article.

It could actually be complicated establishing which firm to make use of while you see an countless checklist of Dubai desert excursions marketed, so we now have helped you right here by choosing out the excursions on in style reserving platforms Get Your Information and Viator which can be, in truth, based mostly within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve reasonably than different elements of the Dubai desert.

We’ve not personally examined each one in all these operators, so we’d be blissful to listen to any suggestions within the feedback – good or unhealthy – you’ve got about every of those talked about; we will replace our itemizing accordingly to be of most assist to future guests to Dubai.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Customer Centre

A comparatively new addition to DDCR is the Customer Centre. Accessible by commonplace 2WD automobiles on the entrance to the park, you’ll find it right here:

The DDCR Customer Centre welcomes you to study extra in regards to the indigenous fauna and flora of the Reserve and the way they’re working to guard the delicate ecosystem of the UAE’s first Nationwide Park.

You’re guided by way of interactive shows and audio shows. Youngsters will benefit from the interactive Arabian Hare guiding their journey, and there’s plentiful info on the native species, from mammals and reptiles to bugs and birds that frequent the reserve.

End your journey with views of the reserve from the rooftop deck and refreshments from the on-site Costa espresso store.

refreshments area at DDCR dubai desert education and learning centre
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve rooftop vieiwng platform view of the reserve
interactive displays from the visitor centre

Entry price

The walk-in entry feee for the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Customer Centre is:

  • AED 35 adults
  • AED 25 children (5 to 18 years)
  • Reductions can be found for Emirates Cross holders and Emirates Platinum Cardholders
  • Open day by day 10:00 am to six:00 pm

Sizzling Air Ballooning in DDCR

Observe that sizzling air balloon experiences might point out that you simply go to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. They could fly over the air house of the DDCR, however with a view to shield the delicate ecosystem, they can’t truly take off and land within the protected reserve.

You can find they’re probably utilizing neighbouring farms because the launch level. Listed here are some bookable on-line experiences with views over DDCR:

  • Balloon flight with breakfast and falconry – (approx 4 hours) Metropolis pickups begin from 4:30 AM within the hope of getting you up within the air for dawn and a one-hour journey, together with a falconry present from the balloon. After your balloon journey, get pleasure from a cold-cuts gourmand breakfast earlier than metropolis return transfers. (Suggest over 5’s)
  • Balloon flight solely with decide ups – (approx 3-4-hours) beginning round 4:30 am in your resort decide up, its a 45-minute drive out to the launch websites and also you’ll get 40-70 minutes within the air, climate dependent.

  • You’re looking at a value of roughly AED 1100 for youths and AED 1350 for adults, on a shared foundation. If you would like full privateness and seclusion, their packages go all the way in which to AED 12,950.

Once you search for ballooning experiences in Dubai on-line, most are subsidiary tour corporations making the reserving and transfers on behalf of the particular balloon firm – eg Good Dubai Excursions or Greatest Dubai Journey (By way of Viator)

Sizzling Air Ballooning within the Dubai desert takes place from mid-September by way of till the tip of Could annually. You will be unable to go sizzling air ballooning in Dubai over the height of summer season.

Do take a look at a few of the different tour suppliers under that may mix your sizzling air balloon expertise with different in a single day and breakfast experiences.

Safari in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

The licensed operators for daytime and nighttime safaris within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve embody Arabian Adventures, Platinum Heritage, Travco and 57 Safari.

Please word that these are NOT your typical dune-bashing desert safari experiences ending in bedouin camp dinner. These are way more sedate affairs with an eco-tourism focus.

Platinum Heritage Safari

The chief in Dubai luxurious desert experiences, there’s a excessive probability if the tour is marketed as Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, it’s run by Platinum Heritage.

They provide an enormous vary of desert experiences from morning to night, in addition to camel treks and in a single day tenting choices. Some favourites for day camps that we might spotlight embody:


Arabian Adventures

Owned by Emirates, Arabian Adventures is among the premier desert expertise suppliers in Dubai. A few of their marketed desert adventures DO contain conventional dune bashing, whereas different VIP experiences and camel using experiences are centered on the DDCR.

Please contact Arabian Adventures immediately to search out out which of their applications are based mostly in DDCR and would fit your wants finest.

A number of in a single day camp suppliers embody a sedate, wildlife centered safari as a part of their package deal – extra on these under!

In a single day Lodging in DDCR

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a totally immersive in a single day expertise within the desert, these are the primary suppliers licenced to function inside DDCR.

Al Maha A Luxurious Assortment Desert Resort & Spa

Probably the most unbelievable Dubai desert views may be loved from the tranquillity of your personal non-public tent and infinity pool. This isn’t simply any abnormal glamping; that is 5* and extra.

Friends can benefit from the privateness of their very own room; with solely 42 luxurious suites on the location, they’re properly unfold out, and your privateness is assured.

Friends also can take part with communal eating on the resort restaurant, indulge within the spa or check out the in depth recreation program, which incorporates nature walks, camel treks, desert safari, horse using, wildlife drives, archery and falconry shows.

Al Maha Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Breakfast in your personal non-public tented villa at Al Maha

Observe that this property is restricted to company aged ten and over – much more of an excuse for an unique romantic retreat within the desert!

Sonara Camp

Sonara Camp, run by Nara, affords night desert safaris, dinner, and luxurious in a single day camps. The assembly level for that self-driving is on the DDCR Customer Centre, or most guests will use their door-to-door pickup service from the town.

The dinner expertise runs from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm and features a sedate desert drive, an interactive hawk present, camel rides, delicate archery, dwell leisure and a hearth present. Youngsters also can get pleasure from a film beneath the celebs.

These staying in a single day will return to The Nest, which has distinctive luxurious glamping tents nestled into the dunes. Every can match as much as a most of 4 company and is fitted with eco-friendly ensuites. In a single day experiences begin from AED 2650 per Nest.

In addition they have adaptions of their program for sundown solely and dinner solely – enquiries needs to be made immediately with Nara (they’re to not be discovered in your regular on-line reserving platforms so might have escaped your consideration!)

Sand Sherpa – Sherpa Camp

Camps at Sherpa run from September by way of Could and contain a personal location arrange with all of your tenting gear offered for every household or small group (don’t fear, you received’t be sharing with strangers!)

They’re splendid for many who sometimes camp in Dubai or are solely passing by way of the town as you don’t have to buy will the costly tenting gear yourselves – just about the whole lot is offered for you, so all you must do is get pleasure from your night time beneath the celebs.

Your absolutely outfitted tenting trailer consists of your firewood, cooler, together with comfy bathe and loo services you need to use.

After darkish, bush meals are ready whereas bedding is made prepared, and a ranger takes you on an evening tour to identify animal tracks. Get pleasure from your cosy night time’s sleep earlier than having fun with breakfast and an opportunity to satisfy the birds of prey.

In addition they provide desert safaris, centered on the indigenous wildlife and a chance to satisfy across the campfire, earlier than you’re comfy return to the town in a single day.

57 Safari

A relative newcomer, your in a single day expertise with 57 Safari consists of metropolis pick-ups, adopted by a classic Land Rover nature path expertise. At your camp, get pleasure from a falcon present, camel rides, sisha lounge, 4 course dinner and night leisure.

Your in a single day keep is in a luxurious tent, adopted by non-compulsory morning balloon rides, or go straight for the continental breakfast.

Platinum Heritage

We’ll point out Platinum Heritage right here as properly, however do word that their over in a single day camp expertise takes place from a neighbouring property, you’re not truly sleeping within the DDCR protected space.

You may anticipate a night desert wildlife tour adopted by dinner and leisure. When the evening-only company go away, you’ll head to your lodging in traditional-style Bedouin-style stone huts (all bedding offered and wash services, no showers), adopted by breakfast within the morning and return to Dubai.


If you happen to nonetheless can’t resist the pull to strive some dune bashing and desert sports activities resembling dune buggies, quad bikes and sand boarding, there are plentiful areas of the huge Dubai desert which have been put aside for this objective.

You may learn our full information to Dubai Desert Safari pricing and comparative information over right here that will help you select the kind of desert expertise that may finest suit your pursuits.

We even have a helpful information right here on tips on how to gown on a desert safari in Dubai so you’ll be able to pack all of the necessities you’ll have to get pleasure from your journey.


Earlier than you go… Extra necessary issues you need to know when planning a visit to Dubai


Take me again to the Dubai points of interest house web page

Please word we aren’t a journey company. This website is a journey weblog to assist newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their journey, we can not guide your flights, lodges, visas or connections for you. We might make a small fee when you click on on any of our advice hyperlinks.

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