A desert safari in Abu Dhabi with Desert Safaris Booking costs AED 40 per person if you drive yourself to our Al Khatim meeting point, or AED 60 by shared bus from Al Wahda, Mazyad or Safeer Mall Shabiya.
Both include dune bashing in a Land Cruiser, a camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ dinner and three live shows. Pay on arrival, no deposit.
Why the low price is safe to book
AED 40 still buys the dinner and shows. Self-drive guests get the same Land Cruiser dune bashing, camel ride, BBQ buffet and three live shows as everyone else.
Every extra is named before you go. Quads, VIP seats and table sheesha carry a fixed price in your WhatsApp confirmation, so the camp holds no surprises.
Transport from AED 60 if you have no car. The shared bus leaves from Al Wahda Mall, Mazyad Mall or Safeer Mall Shabiya. No hotel pickup needed.
No booking fee, no deposit: pay on arrival, cash or card. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
“What’s the catch at AED 40?”
Only the transfer changes. You drive yourself to the meeting point and home again; the evening itself is identical.
“Do I need a 4×4 to self-drive?”
No. The meeting area is on tarmac, so any normal car is fine, and our Land Cruiser takes you onto the sand.
Quick facts
- Lowest price
- AED 40 pp, self-drive
- With transport
- AED 60 pp, shared bus
- Door to door
- Shared 4×4 AED 150 pp · private car AED 700 (up to 6)
- What changes
- Only the transfer
- Desert
- Al Khatim, ~45 min from Abu Dhabi city
- Bus pickup
- From 2:30 PM
- Under 3s
- Free
- From age 3
- Standard price
- Groups of 10+
- Ask for a group rate on WhatsApp
- Payment
- On arrival, cash or card
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 h
Same camp, activities, dinner and shows on every option. No deposit, no booking fee.
AED 40 vs AED 60: what each one includes and leaves out
- Getting there
- Your own car to our desert meeting point. We send a GPS pin on WhatsApp.
- Road
- The meeting area is on tarmac, so any normal car is fine.
- Getting home
- You drive back after the shows, on your own schedule.
- Not included
- Fuel, and the drive home after dark.
- Send us
- Your car plate number.
- Best for
- Residents, friends with a car, anyone hosting family.
- Getting there
- Shared bus from Al Wahda Mall, Mazyad Mall or Safeer Mall Shabiya.
- Pickup
- From 2:30 PM; we confirm your mall and time on WhatsApp.
- Getting home
- Back to the same mall after the shows.
- Not included
- Hotel pickup. You get yourself to the mall.
- Send us
- The mall nearest to you.
- Best for
- Solo travellers, backpackers, couples without a car.
On both: dune bashing in our Toyota Land Cruiser (you never drive on the sand), then the full camp programme, dinner and shows.
Time cost: Al Khatim is about 45 minutes each way from the city. Staying on Saadiyat or Yas without a car? Add your taxi to the mall before comparing the AED 60 bus with the AED 150 door-to-door 4×4.
How AED 40 compares with the official price range
Visit Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s official tourism site, says desert safaris “could range anywhere from AED 100 per person up to AED 1200”, depending on timing, amenities, activities and meals.
Our AED 40 and AED 60 options sit below that range for one reason. They take out, or share, the costliest part of the evening: the private 4×4 transfer from your door. The camp evening is the same one our AED 150 and AED 700 guests get.
You book direct on WhatsApp, so no booking platform sits in the middle. The prices shown already include the current 25% off. There is no “was” price.
What the base price covers, and what costs extra
Ages: dune bashing from 3, camel rides from 4, quad driving from 12.
Book my AED 40 self-drive
What your group actually pays
Worked from our own price list. “Kids” means ages 3 and up unless marked.
Seven ways to keep the bill down
- Drive if anyone in your group has a car. Everyone pays AED 40, and you leave when you want.
- Pick the mall nearest to you. Al Wahda Mall is on the island, Mazyad Mall is in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Safeer Mall is in Shabiya. A short taxi to the bus beats paying for door-to-door.
- Don’t buy what is already included. The short camel ride, sandboarding, henna, costumes and sheesha in the designated area are in the base price.
- Bring the under-3s. They join free.
- Choose add-ons when you book, not at the camp. Every extra has a fixed price in your WhatsApp confirmation, so you know the total before you leave home.
- Skip a restaurant dinner. The BBQ buffet with veg and non-veg dishes is part of every option.
- Travelling as 10 or more? Ask on WhatsApp for a group rate.
How to spot a “cheap deal” that costs more at the camp
Budget listings in Abu Dhabi often look alike. Before you book anyone, ours included, ask these eight questions. If the answers are not in writing, compare the final price, not the advertised one.
Self-drive, step by step
- Message us your date, number of guests and car plate number.
- We confirm on WhatsApp and send the GPS pin and your arrival time for that evening.
- Drive out on the E22 toward Al Ain. The meeting area is on tarmac, and parking is free.
- Leave your car and join our Land Cruiser for the dune drive, sunset stop and camp.
- After the shows, head back to your car and drive home on your own schedule.
Plan who drives home before you set off. It is a long evening, so pick someone happy to skip the sheesha and drive after dark.
Before you book: three honest trade-offs
- The bus waits for the group. You leave and return with other guests. If your evening has a fixed end time, take self-drive or the private car.
- Self-drive means one person drives home. Count that in if your group wants a relaxed evening.
- Pregnant guests and anyone with back, neck or heart conditions should skip dune bashing. They still get the camp, dinner and shows at the same price.
More ways to plan your desert evening
- Compare every Abu Dhabi safari
- The evening safari with a VIP seat and quad
- Planning a desert trip with kids
- Your own Land Cruiser for the group
- Where the Al Khatim desert is
- Pickup and safari timings
- Coming from Al Ain by car
- What to wear in the desert
- The team running these safaris
- What the Tanoura show is
Ready for the dunes?
Send your date, guest count and “self-drive” or “bus”. Pay on arrival.
No deposit. Cash or card. Free cancellation up to 24 h.
Real desert safari reviews from our guests
Unedited video reviews and Instagram stories from travellers who joined our Abu Dhabi desert safari — real people, real memories in the Al Khatim dunes.
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📷Cheap desert safari Abu Dhabi — FAQs
The cheapest desert safari in Abu Dhabi with Desert Safaris Booking is AED 40 per person on a self-drive basis — you drive your own car to the meeting point near the Al Khatim desert. A shared bus pickup from the city is AED 60 per person, a shared 4×4 pickup is AED 150 per person, and a private car for up to 6 people is AED 700. Every option includes the same camp, the same 13 activities and the same BBQ dinner.
Yes, it is completely safe. The AED 40 price is low because it is self-drive — it removes the cost of a private transfer, not any part of the experience. You also book directly with us, the operator, so there is no agency commission or online booking fee. We have operated since 2009 with over 3,500 guest reviews and a 4.9-star rating, and you pay cash only after you arrive at the desert, so there is no risk.
The AED 40 standard safari is self-drive and includes all 13 core activities and the BBQ buffet dinner. The AED 250 Evening Desert Safari adds a shared 4×4 hotel transfer, VIP majlis seating and a single-seater quad bike. Both safaris use the same Al Khatim desert camp, shows and dinner — the higher price reflects the transfer and the VIP extras, not a better camp.
Every standard package includes dune bashing in a Toyota Land Cruiser, a short camel ride, sandboarding, small henna for ladies, unlimited water, sheesha in the designated area, starters at 6:30pm (pakora, samosa and tea), Arabic costumes for photos, separate washrooms for men and women, a belly dance show, LED Tanoura, a fire show and a full BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Yes. The AED 40 self-drive option is designed for exactly that — you drive to the desert meeting point yourself and pay the lowest price. If you do want pickup, a shared bus from Al Wahda Mall, Mazyad Mall or Safeer Mall Shabiya is AED 60 per person, and a shared 4×4 pickup is AED 150 per person.
No. There is no booking fee and no online payment for standard packages. You send your inquiry on WhatsApp, we confirm your pickup and details, and you pay cash on arrival at the desert. Booking direct with us avoids the 20 to 30 percent commission and service fees that online travel agencies usually add.
The meeting point is near the Al Khatim desert, about 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi city. Once you book on WhatsApp we send you the exact location pin and your meeting time. If you prefer not to drive, you can be picked up from Al Wahda Mall, Mazyad Mall or Safeer Mall Shabiya.
Yes. The standard safari is family-friendly. Children above 3 years are welcome, and the dune bashing intensity can be adjusted for families on request. Pregnant women and guests with neck, back or heart conditions can skip the dune bashing and still enjoy the camel ride, camp activities, dinner and shows.
Booking is done on WhatsApp. Message us at +971 50 414 6025, choose your transfer option (self-drive AED 40, bus AED 60, 4×4 AED 150 or private AED 700) and add any extras such as a quad bike or VIP seating. We confirm availability and your pickup, and you pay on arrival.
The best time is October to April, when days are 22 to 30 degrees and evenings are cool. The evening safari is the best value as it includes the sunset, the full camp, live shows and the BBQ dinner. Evening safaris run year-round, departing later in summer to avoid the peak heat.
Other Abu Dhabi desert safaris
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