Ways to Explore the Red Sand Dunes Dubai

There are several red sand dunes located less than an hour outside the city limits.

From hidden places of natural beauty in the vast Al Qudra Desert, to the dunes of Lahbab Desert where you can explore stunning red sands and towering dunes that stretch upwards of three hundred metres high. The Red Sand Dunes in Dubai offer an ideal escape from the city and a great addition to any itinerary.

This article highlights the many ways you can experience the Red Sand Dunes from thrilling dune bashing to camel rides and cultural evenings under the stars.

Enjoy an exhilarating 4x4 ride over the dunes. This off-road, guided adventure will get your heart pumping. Professional drivers will take you through the dunes safely while you enjoy the adrenalin rush, navigating the steep slopes and sandy trails. You can opt for a shared or private 4WD tour, with flexible morning or afternoon sessions.

Ensure you get the most out of your dune bashing desert adventure with these safety tips:

• Always wear your seat belt
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Choose a trusted tour operator who cares about your safety. There are several options including Dream Journey Tourism
• Listen to the safety briefing before you start
• Stay hydrated in the desert. Bring along extra water

Enjoy stunning sunrise views of Dubai’s Red Dunes with a sunrise safari. Start your adventure into the still, dark desert before dawn. You’ll sit on the dunes and wait for sunrise, enjoying the peaceful silence as night transitions to day. Slowly, the first rays of light glide over the horizon, painting the dunes with a warm, golden glow. The dunes change to a fiery orange, then to a lighter amber colour as the sun climbs higher. 

The best spots to witness the sunrise are the red dunes within the Lahbab Desert and the Al Awir Desert located about forty minutes’ drive from Dubai. Both offer high, red dunes which provide excellent vantage points for watching the sunrise. You can experience this adventure with tour operators like Adventure Experience Tourism.

• The crests of the largest dunes offer best panoramic views and backdrops
• Scout the area and consider the sun's position and shadows in the sand
• Use a tripod, and experiment with different lenses and angles
• Try and capture the sunrise when the sun is low in the sky, as the sun rays tend to pass through more atmosphere which scatters blue light. 
• This allows the red and orange colours to shine and you will get a glowing effect on the dunes
• Dress warmly as temperatures drop significantly over night
• Wear hiking shoes so you can easily access different vantage points along the dunes

Desert safaris offer a thrilling mix of adventure and cultural immersion, with activities ranging from dune bashing to quad biking. Most experiences include a chance to discover more about the deserts Bedouin’s and to see life through their lens. Traditional entertainment includes belly dancing and tanoura shows and delicious barbecue dinners under the stars. For those looking for an even deeper desert connection, overnight safaris and stargazing sessions offer night sky immersions. 

There are various types of desert safaris available to suit different preferences. Morning safaris tend to offer shorter adventures like quad biking and camel riding paired with a Bedouin Camp breakfast. Evening safaris are longer and include activities like camel riding, Bedouin banquets and entertainment, falcon shows, and stargazing. While overnight camping safaris provide a complete desert experience.

In Bedouin culture, camels are an integral part of daily life in the desert. Camels are able to thrive in harsh desert conditions and are a source of transportation and sustenance providing milk, meat and wool for Bedouin communities. They are also seen as symbols of status and wealth. 

Camel riding in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve is a fun, family-friendly experience that offers a blend of adventure and cultural immersion. It’s a fifty-minute drive from Dubai and the excursion includes a visit to a Bedouin camp and a chance to  explore the Saruq Al Hadid archaeological site. 

You will move through the desert in a caravan, undulating across the desert plains slowly.  You may even be able to spot Arabian Oryx and other wildlife during your journey. At the Bedouin Camp you are welcomed with Gahwa, coffee and dates and you can also enjoy a traditional shisha and henna painting experience. Viator offers both a private or shared half-day camel riding and Bedouin Camp experience with round trip transfers from Dubai.

You can also opt for an evening camel caravan and Bedouin dinner experience which includes dressing up in traditional costumes, camel rides, an Arabic coffee-making session, a six-course traditional dinner and a falcon show. You will learn about Bedouin handicrafts and cuisine and experience a traditional majlis (community gathering space), enjoy a stargazing session and Bedouin storytelling.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
• Use sun protection and wear a hat
• Stay hydrated and bring along extra water
• Listen to your guides instructions

Dubai’s wide open desert night sky is renowned for its striking beauty and clear views, mainly due to very little light pollution and its proximity to the equator. You can see different stars and constellations, making Dubai’s desert ideal for stargazing.

There are several Dubai tour operators that offer stargazing sessions which can also include astronomy sessions with professional astronomers using high powered telescopes. 

Dubai Astronomy group hosts regular stargazing events to decode the night sky featuring telescope observations, guided astronomy tours into the Arabian desert, talks and astrophotography experiences. You may also choose an overnight traditional desert camping experience with campfires, live entertainment and stargazing.

1. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a one of the best spots for stargazing in Dubai. Platinum Heritage offers a night safari stargazing experience that includes a dune ride in a vintage Land Rover, a three-course Bedouin meal, and an expert astronomy session using a Celestron telescope. Your guide also shares stories of how the Bedouins used the stars to navigate the vast desert.
2. The Al Qudra Desert, set in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve is another ideal stargazing spot. It’s the ideal vantage point from which to see the total eclipse of the moon. You will be able to witness the moon turning red over a ninety minute period. The Dubai Astronomy group offers evening tours to Al Qudra including moonrise views, stargazing and storytelling

Go surfing on the sand in Dubai’s desert. Slide down the massive red sand dunes and enjoy the wide open space. Sandboarding is similar to snowboarding - your shoes are strapped to a sandboard that has been specially adapted for the terrain.

Several Dubai desert operators hire out sandboarding gear and offer different packages ranging from two hours to half day packages that include other activities.

Try Oscar Knight Tours for sandboarding in the Lahbab desert. You will enjoy an early morning pick up and experience the thrill of dune bashing followed by sandboarding. Their experienced instructors will share tips on how to be safe, along with a few tricks for staying on your board.

• We recommend wearing all the necessary safety gear which includes helmets, elbow pads and knee pads 
• Protect your eyes from the sun and the sand. Wear sunglasses or goggles
• Stay hydrated and carry extra water
• We recommend sandboarding in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the mid-day temperatures

The Lahbab Desert’s scenic red dunes offer incredible opportunities for landscape photography. The shifting sands and sunlight create stunning views and patterns. In the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve you will be able to include wildlife in your photographic compositions ranging from Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, and mountain gazelles to falcons.

• Desert photography comes with unique challenges like wind which constantly shifts the sand. Try and incorporate the shifting patterns into your photos
• Find a focal point to enhance your photo composition
• Try and avoid shooting during the day as the heat can be uncomfortable and the harsh sunlight could impact photo quality
• Early morning and dusk are ideal hours to photograph the desert. Evening light emphasises the redness of the dunes.  Early morning light creates a soft amber effect on the dunes
• Pair long shadows with camels or people for stunning compositions
• Use a telephoto lens to emphasise the dunes. Stand far enough away from your subject to capture the immensity of the dunes