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No deposit and no card details. Message us and we confirm the plan and the exact price before you commit — answered at any hour.
- Send your date and guest countYour date, how many of you, and where we collect from. That is all we need.
- We send the plan and the pricePer car, not per person. You see the route, the timings and the exact figure first.
- Pay the driver on the dayCash or card, after the run. Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.
Answered 24 hours · No deposit · No booking fee · Licensed operator
How Far Is the Desert from Abu Dhabi?
Al Khatim Desert — where Royal Arabian Safari operates — is exactly 80 km from Abu Dhabi city centre on the E22 highway. That is a 40-minute drive in normal traffic. Here is everything you need to know about the distance, route, and what to expect on the way.
How Far Is the Desert from Abu Dhabi?: The Short Answer
Al Khatim Desert — where Royal Arabian Safari operates — is exactly 80 km from Abu Dhabi city centre on the E22 highway.
- How much does a desert safari in Abu Dhabi cost?: Booking direct with us: AED 35 self-drive, AED 50 shared bus from Al Wahda or Mazyad Mall, AED 100 shared hotel pickup, AED 599 for a private 7-seater car and AED 800 for a private Land Cruiser.
- How long is the dune bashing?: Around 40 to 45 minutes with short breaks. Tyres are deflated to roughly 15 psi first so they float on the sand.
- What time does the desert safari start and finish?: Pickup is usually 3:00 to 3:30 PM and you are back in the city around 10:00 to 10:30 PM. Timings follow sunset, so in December pickup moves earlier and in June it moves later.
- Where does the desert safari take place?: At our own DCT-licensed camp in the Al Khatim desert, roughly 80 km east of Abu Dhabi city along the E22 Abu Dhabi to Al Ain highway, about a 50 to 60 minute drive.
- What is included in the Abu Dhabi desert safari?: Every evening package includes 4×4 dune bashing, a short camel ride, sandboarding, a sunset photo stop, Arabic costume for photos, henna for ladies, a full BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, unlimited soft drinks, water, Arabic coffee and tea, a shisha corner, separate washrooms and around eight live shows including tanoura, belly dance and a fire show.
- How do I book?: Message us on WhatsApp with your date and group size. We reply with the exact total, no deposit and no booking fee, and you pay at the camp on the day.
How Far Is the Desert from Abu Dhabi City?
The Al Khatim Desert — where Royal Arabian Safari operates and where most Abu Dhabi desert safaris take place — is 80 km from Abu Dhabi city centre. The drive takes approximately 40 minutes in normal traffic on the E22 Abu Dhabi to Al Ain Highway. Camp coordinates are 24.1302 degrees North, 54.6136 degrees East. You can see open desert from the highway window before you even arrive — the dunes begin to appear about 20 minutes into the drive.
If you book with us, you do not need to worry about the distance at all — we share the precise GPS pin after booking and our drivers handle the navigation. For self-drive guests, the route is a single highway: take the E22 from Abu Dhabi city toward Al Ain and we will send your exact turning point coordinates on WhatsApp.
3 Desert Options — How Far Each One Is
Not all Abu Dhabi deserts are the same distance or the same quality. Here is the honest comparison.
How Far From Your Location to the Desert
Drive times from popular Abu Dhabi areas to Al Khatim Desert camp.
| Pickup Area | Distance to Camp | Drive Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corniche / Downtown Abu Dhabi | 78–82 km | 38–42 min | Standard reference distance. E22 highway direct. |
| Khalidiya | 75–80 km | 36–40 min | Slightly closer to E22 entrance. One of the fastest pickup zones. |
| Tourist Club Area / Al Zahiyah | 78–83 km | 38–43 min | Central location. Standard drive time. |
| Al Reem Island | 82–87 km | 42–48 min | Bridge exit adds 5 to 8 minutes. We adjust pickup time accordingly. |
| Yas Island | 88–95 km | 45–55 min | Further from city centre. Pickup adjusted 10 to 15 minutes earlier. |
| Saadiyat Island | 83–88 km | 42–48 min | Short bridge to mainland then E22. Standard desert drive. |
| Mussafah | 60–68 km | 32–38 min | Closest industrial zone to Al Khatim. Shorter drive — pickup adjusted later. |
| Khalifa City | 55–65 km | 28–35 min | Close to E22 entrance. One of the shortest drive times from any zone. |
| Dubai (city centre) | ~180 km | ~1 hr 45 min | Private car arrangement only. Supplemental fee applies. Book via WhatsApp. |
How we use this: When you book, we ask your pickup area. We then calculate your exact pickup time so you always arrive at the dunes at the right moment for golden hour dune bashing. You do not need to plan this — we handle it.
What the Drive to the Desert Looks Like
The E22 drive is part of the experience — not just a transfer.
🚗 Coming from Dubai? Here Is What You Need to Know
Dubai city centre to Al Khatim Desert is approximately 180 km — about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours drive. This makes a Dubai-based evening safari with standard hotel pickup logistically challenging without a private arrangement.
For guests based in Dubai who want to experience the Abu Dhabi desert, we offer a private car arrangement with a supplemental distance fee. Message us on WhatsApp with your Dubai location and we confirm the exact pickup time and total cost. Many Dubai guests choose to make a day trip: drive or take a bus to Abu Dhabi, do the evening safari, and return to Dubai by midnight.
Alternatively, Royal Arabian Safari also offers the option for Dubai-based guests to drive themselves to Al Khatim — take the E311 highway to Abu Dhabi then the E22 toward Al Ain. Total drive from Dubai Marina is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. We share the GPS pin after booking.
What Awaits at the End of the Drive
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the desert from Abu Dhabi city?+
Which highway do you take to the desert from Abu Dhabi?+
Is the desert closer in Abu Dhabi or Dubai?+
Can guests from Yas Island or Saadiyat Island be picked up?+
Can I do a desert safari from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?+
What is the exact GPS location of the desert camp?+
Is there phone signal at the desert camp?+
How do I get to the desert if I do not have a car?+
What is included in the Abu Dhabi desert safari?
Every evening package includes 4×4 dune bashing, a short camel ride, sandboarding, a sunset photo stop, Arabic costume for photos, henna for ladies, a full BBQ buffet dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, unlimited soft drinks, water, Arabic coffee and tea, a shisha corner, separate washrooms and around eight live shows including tanoura, belly dance and a fire show.
How much does a desert safari in Abu Dhabi cost?
Booking direct with us: AED 35 self-drive, AED 50 shared bus from Al Wahda or Mazyad Mall, AED 100 shared hotel pickup, AED 599 for a private 7-seater car and AED 800 for a private Land Cruiser. Agencies and hotel desks typically charge AED 180 to 250 per person for the same evening because they add commission on top of an operator price.
What time does the desert safari start and finish?
Pickup is usually 3:00 to 3:30 PM and you are back in the city around 10:00 to 10:30 PM. Timings follow sunset, so in December pickup moves earlier and in June it moves later.
Where does the desert safari take place?
At our own DCT-licensed camp in the Al Khatim desert, roughly 80 km east of Abu Dhabi city along the E22 Abu Dhabi to Al Ain highway, about a 50 to 60 minute drive. The Al Khatim ridges rise over 100 metres, which is considerably taller than the roadside dunes some operators use, and there is far less traffic on the sand.
How do I book?
Message us on WhatsApp with your date and group size. We reply with the exact total, no deposit and no booking fee, and you pay at the camp on the day. Free cancellation applies up to 12 hours before.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes on the AED 100 shared pickup, the AED 599 private car and the AED 800 Land Cruiser, covering the whole city including the Corniche, Al Maryah, Al Reem, Downtown, Khalifa City, Mussafah, Yas Island, Saadiyat, Shabiya and the airport. The AED 50 package departs from Al Wahda Mall or Mazyad Mall, and AED 35 is self-drive using a GPS pin we send you.
Do I need a 4×4 for the self-drive option?
No. You drive on tarmac to a meeting point, so any standard car or rental reaches it comfortably. Our team takes over there in a proper 4×4 for the dune bashing.
How long is the dune bashing?
Around 40 to 45 minutes with short breaks. Tyres are deflated to roughly 15 psi first so they float on the sand. Intensity is adjustable at any point — tell your driver you want it gentle and it becomes a scenic drive.
40 Minutes to an Extraordinary Evening
Book on WhatsApp. We handle the distance — GPS pin, pickup time, and navigation all confirmed for you.
If we have to cancel, what happens?
A cancellation policy that covers your obligations but not ours is only half a document. Here is our side of it, in writing.
If we have to cancel your booking — for weather, a vehicle issue, or driver illness — we will contact you as soon as we know and rebook you at no charge on the next date that works for you. You pay nothing for the cancelled booking.
If we need to send a different vehicle than the one you booked, we will ask you first rather than turning up in something you did not book.
This is separate from your own cancellation rights, which are unchanged: you can cancel free up to 12 hours before pickup. Because we take no deposit and no booking fee, there is no money of yours sitting with us either way — nothing to chase, and nothing to wait for.