If you haven’t heard about Dubai’s desert, it may come as a surprise that less than half an hour away from the city centre, you can see nothing but sand dunes on the horizon. The desert’s sea of sand dunes is whipped by the wind into something that resembles a scene from the film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. The warm colour of the sand, especially at sunset, is the best backdrop for photos you could ever imagine.
Many visitors to Dubai are drawn purely by its city life, the daunting architecture, the aspects that have found their way into the record books, and the luxury of its museums and hotels. However, a visit to Dubai desert presents a completely different aspect, an image much closer to what this place was like before it became a sought-after commercial port and then an oil-rich Emirate. Seeing the arid land, the little oases, the perfectly trained birds of prey… These are certainly worthwhile experiences, and they are not unduly expensive. Below, we tell you about a few activities recommended for all travellers, lasting from one afternoon up to several days.
- Por qué visitar el desierto de Dubái
- Qué podrás encontrar en el desierto
- Consejos y recomendaciones para la visita
- Dónde alojarte en Dubái
Why visit Dubai desert?
Dubai desert is worth visiting for the contrast that it offers with life in the city. After several days surrounded by skyscrapers, you will be ready to exchange glass building façades for honey-coloured sand dunes. In less than an hour, you can travel from Downtown Dubai to a vast emptiness. Before you go, you will need to have decided on the kind of experience that suits you best, since there is a varied range of possibilities.
If you think of yourself as someone who loves thrilling experiences, you’ll enjoy an excursion in the Dubai desert because you can experience it from the ground or from the air. The feeling you get as the hot-air balloon ascends and the landscape opens up to infinity is indescribable. If you’re lucky, you may see Arabian oryx and gazelles scurrying across the landscape. Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground can also have their moments of excitement touring the high dunes in all-terrain vehicles. We can assure you that you’ll be screeching as you drive down the sand dunes at top speed. The expeditions are called Dubai desert safaris but, in fact, you won’t see many animals.
The most adventurous types can even ride a quad bike around the desert, snaking around the dunes, and leaving clouds of sand in their wake. Some of the dunes are extremely impressive — for example, the Big Red, the largest in the United Arab Emirates. If you’re travelling with your family, and you have teenage children, they will no doubt ask to surf down the sides of these sandy hills. Many companies rent out boards for this activity, so you won’t have to take with you any special equipment for your children to enjoy ‘sandboarding’.
If you don’t like hair-raising adventures and would prefer something more relaxing, you could have a candle-lit dinner in a camp in the desert, and even sleep beneath the stars. There are so many possibilities on offer that you are sure to find a Dubai desert tour that suits you.
What you might find in the desert
An excursion to the Dubai desert would normally allow you to see the remarkable landscape of sand dunes that forms part of the Arabian desert, the largest expanse of sand anywhere on Earth. If you could see the Arabian peninsula from the air, you would find the part occupied by the desert somewhat surprising. Once in the desert, you have a choice between adventure-type programmes of activities (such as those described above) and cultural pursuits, including falconry, camel-rides, and desert camps. The desert camps include other cultural aspects, such as gastronomy, dance, music, and even henna tattoos. Although this might strike you as a very ‘touristy’ activity, it is easy to learn and a fun way to spend an afternoon or an evening. After dinner, you are taken back to the city less than an hour’s drive away.
Practical advice and recommendations for your trip
The advice for your excursion to the Dubai desert is simple common sense. Don’t take risks with any adventure activities for which you are not properly prepared. Don’t try to drive over the dunes, as it’s not an easy thing to do if you’re not experienced: leave it to the specialist drivers, and don’t put your own safety at risk. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear for walking over the dunes or for sandboarding or for camel rides.
Take great care if you take your camera on a desert safari, because the sand is very fine and can easily find its way inside as you are changing a lens. If you have a tripod, use it, because the desert sunsets are amazing — and as there is no light pollution, you can even take photos at night-time.
Where to stay in Dubai
In the city of Dubai, you will find scores of excellent hotels in every area, but we’re going to recommend a few that we know, which are ideal for all kinds of travellers. If you’re looking for a central hotel with easy access to Downtown Dubai, you could choose the Occidental Al Jaddaf. The hotel has 365 modern and spacious guest rooms, very good restaurants (such as Carmen Tapas, Beit Beiruty, and Souk), a temperature-regulated swimming pool, a gymnasium, a sauna, and a Turkish bath.
In the Palm Jumeirah area, you will find the magnificent Dukes the Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, a five-star hotel with 279 guest rooms and suites, in addition to 285 apartments. The hotel has a private beach, an infinity pool, and the renowned Khyber restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine.
If you are seeking the privacy offered by an apartment, you may like to check what is available at the Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, 253 units in a modern tower block in the Dubai Marina area. Its facilities include swimming pools and a gymnasium, and the beach is close by.
Lastly, make sure to check out the accommodation at the Occidental Dubai Production City, a four-star hotel with 239 very spacious guest rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a sky lounge with a swimming pool, and two temperature-regulated swimming pools. There is also of course the Occidental Sharjah Grand, a 221-room, four-star hotel in Sharjah, a town near Dubai.
