Camel Riding Abu DhabiIncluded free — safari from AED 35

Abu Dhabi’s Own Desert Safari Operator — Not a Booking Middleman

We own the vehicles, employ the drivers and answer the WhatsApp ourselves.

Camel riding sits inside the camp programme rather than being sold separately — how it measures up against the other ten formats is set out in our Abu Dhabi desert safari tours guide.

Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Packages — Book Direct, Best Price Guaranteed

All packages depart from our own DCT-licensed Abu Dhabi camp. Instant confirmation on WhatsApp, no middleman, pay on the day. No hidden fees.

AED 35 per person

Self-Drive Desert Safari

Drive yourself to our Dubai camp — most affordable option

• Drive to Al Khatim Camp (GPS link provided)
• Dune Bashing in 4×4 at Camp
• Sandboarding & Camel Ride
• Arabic Costume & 360° Photo Point
• Henna Painting for Ladies
• BBQ Buffet Dinner (Veg & Non-Veg)
• Tanoura, Belly Dance & Fire Show
• Soft Drinks, Water, Tea & Coffee
• Duration: 6–7 Hours

Book Now — AED 35 View Details →

AED 50 per person

Shared Bus Transfer

Shared bus from a central Abu Dhabi pickup point — budget group travel

• Pickup from Central Abu Dhabi Meeting Point
• Comfortable Air-Conditioned Bus
• Dune Bashing in 4×4 vehicle
• Sandboarding & Camel Ride
• Arabic Costume & 360° Photo Point
• Henna Painting for Ladies
• BBQ Buffet Dinner (Veg & Non-Veg)
• Tanoura, Belly Dance & Fire Show
• Soft Drinks, Water, Tea & Coffee
• Duration: 6–7 Hours

Book Now — AED 50 View Details →

AED 100 per person

Sharing Home Pickup

Shared AC 4×4 pickup from your Abu Dhabi hotel or residence

• Pickup from Your Hotel / Residence
• Shared Air-Conditioned 4×4 Vehicle
• Dune Bashing in 4×4 vehicle
• Sandboarding & Camel Ride
• Arabic Costume & 360° Photo Point
• Henna Painting for Ladies
• BBQ Buffet Dinner (Veg & Non-Veg)
• Tanoura, Belly Dance & Fire Show
• Soft Drinks, Water, Tea & Coffee
• Drop-off at Your Location
• Duration: 6–7 Hours

Book Now — AED 100 View Details →

AED 599 per car

Private Car Desert Safari

Exclusive 7-seater 4×4 vehicle for your group only

• Private Hotel / Residence Pickup
• Exclusive 7-Seater 4×4 vehicle
• Your Group Only — No Strangers
• Dune Bashing & Sandboarding
• Camel Ride & 360° Photo Point
• Arabic Costume & Henna for Ladies
• BBQ Buffet Dinner (Veg & Non-Veg)
• Tanoura, Belly Dance & Fire Show
• Soft Drinks, Water, Tea & Coffee
• Private Drop-off Included
• Duration: 6–7 Hours

Book Now — AED 599/car View Details →

AED 800 per car

Private Land Cruiser Safari

Private Land Cruiser pick & drop with all standard activities

• Private Land Cruiser Pick & Drop
• Exclusive Premium 4×4 Vehicle
• Your Group Only — No Strangers
• Dune Bashing & Sandboarding
• Camel Ride & 360° Photo Point
• Arabic Costume & Henna for Ladies
• BBQ Buffet Dinner (Veg & Non-Veg)
• Tanoura, Belly Dance & Fire Show
• Soft Drinks, Water, Tea & Coffee
• Private Drop-off Included
• Duration: 6-7 Hours

Book Now — AED 800/car View Details →

AED 799 per car

Morning Desert Safari

Cooler private morning adventure with hotel pickup — perfect for families & photographers

• Private Hotel / Residence Pickup
• 4×4 Red Dune Bashing (45 min)
• Camel Ride & 360° Photo Point
• Sandboarding on Golden Dunes
• Quad Bike Option (add-on)
• Tea, Coffee, Water & Light Snacks
• Arabic Costume & Photo Stop
• Cooler Morning Temperatures
• Your Group Only — No Strangers
• Duration: 3–4 Hours

Book Now — AED 799/carView Details →

Add-Ons & Extras

Customise your safari — add any of these to your chosen package.

+AED 50 per person

VIP Sitting Area Upgrade

Add VIP access to any package — premium camp seating

AED 50

• Dedicated VIP Section at Camp
• Premium Cushioned Seating
• Best View of the Stage
• Priority Dinner Service
• Add to Any Package

Add VIP Upgrade — AED 50 View Details →

From AED 100

Quad Biking

Single seater AED 100 — Double seater AED 150 (pre-booked)

AED 100 single · AED 150 double

• Single & Double Seater Available
• Safety Helmet & Gear Provided
• Full Safety Briefing
• Supervised Desert Riding
• Available at Camp During Safari

Book Quad Bike View Details →

AED 800 / 30 min · 2h min

Dune Buggy Safari

High-speed side-by-side buggy — 30 minutes of pure desert thrill

• Powerful Side-by-Side Buggy
• Safety Harness & Helmet Provided
• Expert Desert Guide Escort
• High-Speed Dune Riding
• Maximum 2 Persons per Buggy

Book Buggy — AED 800 View Details →

AED 30 per person

Falcon Photo Experience

Hold a real Arabian falcon and capture the moment

AED 30

• Real Arabian Falcon Photo
• Authentic Desert Heritage
• Great for Social Media
• Available at Camp

Add Falcon Photo — AED 10–30 View Details →

AED 50–150

Professional Photography

A pro photographer captures your desert moments

AED 50–150

• Professional Photographer
• Edited High-Resolution Photos
• Sunset & Dune Shots
• Packages from AED 50

Add Photography View Details →

The Camel Ride Experience

Slow, steady and surprisingly serene — a camel ride is a highlight of the desert for almost everyone who tries it.

There’s a reason the camel ride is the moment most people remember from their safari. As the camel rises — back legs first, then front — you sway gently upward, suddenly high above the sand, with the dunes rolling away in every direction. The pace is calm and rhythmic, the handler leads you along the ridge, and for a few minutes you experience the desert exactly as travellers and Bedouin have for centuries. It’s peaceful, a little bit thrilling, and endlessly photogenic — especially with the low golden light of sunrise or sunset behind you.

Royal Arabian Safari runs its camel rides in the Al Khatim dunes, about 45 minutes from the city, as part of every safari. The camels are calm, friendly and well looked after, and a handler stays with you throughout, so even first-timers and nervous riders feel completely safe. It’s a gentle, authentic taste of Emirati heritage that suits every age and fitness level.

Heritage

A living symbol of the Emirates

For thousands of years the camel carried the Bedouin across these sands — for transport, milk, wool and companionship. Riding one today connects you directly to that heritage, in the very landscape where it all took place.

The Ship of the Desert

Gentle, iconic and unforgettable — camel riding across the Al Khatim dunes.

Camels & Emirati Culture

The camel isn’t just a desert animal in the UAE — it’s a national icon woven into the country’s history and identity.

Known as the “ship of the desert,” the Arabian camel (the single-humped dromedary) made life in this harsh landscape possible. For the Bedouin, camels meant everything: a way to cross vast distances, a source of milk and wool, a measure of wealth, and a loyal companion. That deep bond endures today — camels feature in Emirati poetry, festivals and heritage racing, and remain a proud symbol of the nation. When you ride a camel in the Abu Dhabi desert, you’re not just enjoying an activity; you’re taking part in a tradition thousands of years old.

Camel farms in the region

Beyond the dunes, the Abu Dhabi region is dotted with traditional camel farms, especially toward the Al Dhafra and Liwa areas, where camels are still bred and celebrated. On a Liwa safari you can sometimes visit these farms and meet the animals up close — a fascinating glimpse into a way of life that continues to this day.

Is Camel Riding Safe & Suitable for Everyone?

Yes — a guided camel ride is gentle, safe and enjoyable for almost everyone, including children and older guests.

The camels used for rides are calm, experienced and well cared for, and a handler leads the animal on foot the entire time, so you’re never in control of a moving camel yourself. The ride is slow and steady; the only slightly wobbly moments are when the camel stands up and sits down, which the handler manages carefully. You simply hold the saddle handle and enjoy the view.

Where & How to Ride a Camel in Abu Dhabi

The best way to ride a camel in Abu Dhabi is on a desert safari — it’s included on every tour, so you get the ride plus dune bashing, a camp and more. Here are your options.

On a Sunrise Safari

Ride at dawn with soft golden light and cool air — the most photogenic and peaceful time for a camel ride.

On an Evening Safari

The classic — a camel ride at sunset, followed by dinner and shows at the camp. The most popular choice.

A Family Ride

Gentle and closely supervised — kids love meeting and riding the camels on a family-friendly safari.

A Longer Private Ride

On a private tour we can arrange a longer, more personal camel experience, timed around the best light.

Best Time for a Camel Ride

Camel rides run on every safari, year-round, but the experience is best in the cooler, softer light of early morning and late afternoon. Sunrise and sunset give both comfortable temperatures and beautiful golden light for photos.

Photographing Your Camel Ride

A camel on a dune at golden hour is one of the most iconic desert photos you can take.

To capture it well, shoot during the golden hour and use the low sun behind or to the side of the camel for a warm, glowing image or a striking silhouette. The clean lines of the dunes make a perfect backdrop. Your guide is happy to take photos of you on the camel so you’re in the frame, and knows the best spots and angles. Just remember to secure your phone or camera with a strap — you’re up high and moving.

• Golden hour — sunrise or sunset for the warmest, most flattering light.
• Silhouette shots — place the sun behind the camel for a classic desert image.
• Get low — shooting slightly upward makes the camel look majestic against the sky.
• Ask your guide — they’ll snap the photo so both of you are in it.

Why Ride With Royal Arabian Safari

• Well-cared-for camels — calm, healthy animals given rest, shade and water.
• Included on every safari — the camel ride comes with dune bashing, camp and more.
• Safe & guided — a handler leads the whole time; perfect for kids and nervous riders.
• Our own Al Khatim base — quiet, beautiful dunes and the best light for photos.
• From AED 35, 4.9-star rated — authentic, direct-priced and trusted by thousands.

The question nobody selling camel rides in Abu Dhabi will answer

We read every page ranking on page one for camel riding in Abu Dhabi. Here is the finding, and it is a complete result rather than a partial one: not one of the ten pages publishes a single word about animal welfare. No rest periods. No working hours. No load limits. No mention of veterinary care, handler training, shade or water. Nothing.

That silence is not evidence of mistreatment — but it does mean that if you care about the animal, no page on this search gives you anything to judge it by. So ask. Ask us and ask anyone else, and treat a shrug as an answer:

How long does each camel work before it rests? Is there a rider weight limit, and who enforces it? Where do the animals shelter between rides? Who handles them, and how long have they done it?

We will answer those four questions for your specific booking, in writing, before you pay. We are not going to publish welfare claims we cannot substantiate on a page — that would be the same marketing move the rest of this SERP makes with everything else. What we will do is give you a straight answer when you ask, and if the answer is not good enough for you, do not book.

And the practical numbers, which are also missing

Nobody publishes a rider weight limit. Zero of the eight pages fetched states one — including a product selling a one-hour ride at AED 450. A weight limit is the most basic safety and welfare parameter there is.

Minimum age is stated on exactly one page, and that page contradicts itself between its own sections. Everywhere else it is absent.

Helmets are not mentioned on a single page on page one. Not offered, not required, not ruled out — simply absent.

And the ride length, which is the thing you are actually buying, is routinely missing or contradicted. The highest-traffic product on this search — nearly 3,800 reviews at 4.9 — specifies its dune-bashing minutes and never says how long the camel ride is. Neither OTA category page states it either. One operator describes a “one-hour camel ride” in its prose while its own inclusions list says “camel riding for 30 minutes”. Another gives three different durations for the same product on one page — 3–4 hours in its overview, 4 hours inside its inclusions, and a different figure again in its timings block — and sells a sunset camel tour under a heading and title promising a morning one.

Our position: we tell you the ride length in minutes before you book, and we tell you whether it is a short led ride around the camp or a genuine trek out into the dunes. Those are two different products and most of this SERP sells them under one name.

Should you ride a camel at all?

Some people decide not to, and that is a reasonable decision rather than a squeamish one. If you would rather not, say so — you can visit the camels, photograph them and feed them without riding, and the rest of the desert evening is unchanged. We would rather run that than have you sit on an animal you are uncomfortable about.

A short led ride at a camp is gentle and slow, and suits most people including children who are comfortable at height. A longer trek is a genuinely different experience — quieter, further out, better at sunrise — and it is worth the extra time if the desert rather than the photograph is the point.

If you have a back or hip problem, or you are pregnant, do not book a camel ride. Mounting and dismounting is the awkward part rather than the riding: the camel rises back-legs first and pitches you forward sharply. No page on this search mentions that, and it is the thing that surprises people most.

What a Camel Ride Feels Like

If you’ve never ridden a camel, the experience is gentler and stranger than you might expect. It begins with the camel kneeling on the sand for you to climb into the saddle. Then comes the memorable part: the camel stands, back legs first, tipping you forward, then straightens its front legs to lift you high and level. It’s a brief, rocking motion that makes everyone laugh, and then you’re settled, sitting taller than you imagined, looking out over the dunes.

From there it’s pure calm. The camel walks with a slow, side-to-side sway that’s oddly soothing, the handler leading at an easy pace along the ridge of the dune. There’s time to take in the vastness of the desert, feel the breeze, and appreciate just how these remarkable animals move so effortlessly across sand that would swallow a car. For many guests it’s the quiet, unhurried highlight of the whole safari — a few minutes of connection with the desert and its oldest traveller.

Camel Riding vs Dune Bashing — Do Both

The camel ride and dune bashing are the two signature moments of a safari, and they’re wonderful opposites. Dune bashing is fast, thrilling and full of adrenaline — the 4×4 carving over the sand. The camel ride is slow, gentle and serene — a moment of calm and connection. You don’t have to choose: both are included on every safari, along with sandboarding and the camp, so your day balances the rush of the drive with the peace of the ride. It’s this variety that makes a desert safari such a complete experience for every kind of visitor.

Fascinating Camel Facts

Part of what makes riding a camel special is understanding just how extraordinary these animals are. Here are a few things that surprise most visitors:

• They don’t store water in their humps — the hump stores fat, which the camel converts to energy, letting it go long periods without food.
• They can drink enormous amounts fast — a thirsty camel can drink over 100 litres of water in minutes.
• They’re built for sand — wide, two-toed feet spread their weight so they don’t sink, and long lashes and closable nostrils keep sand out.
• They’re smart and social — camels recognise their handlers, have distinct personalities, and form strong bonds.
• They’ve shaped this region for millennia — without the camel, human life across the Arabian deserts would have been almost impossible.

Tips for the Best Camel Ride

A few small things make your camel ride smoother and more enjoyable.

• Relax and go with the sway — the standing-up motion feels dramatic but lasts a second; lean back slightly as the camel rises.
• Hold the saddle handle — not the reins; the handler steers, you just enjoy the ride.
• Bring your camera ready — but secure it with a strap; you’re up high and moving.
• Wear long trousers — far more comfortable on the saddle than shorts.
• Tell the handler if you’re nervous — they’ll keep it extra gentle and slow.
• Time it for golden hour — sunrise or sunset for the best light and coolest temperature.

A Highlight for Every Kind of Traveller

What’s remarkable about the camel ride is how universally it’s loved. Children are thrilled to meet and ride such a big, gentle animal. Couples find it romantic, especially at sunset. Photographers treasure the silhouette against the dunes. Older travellers appreciate that it’s calm and accessible, with the handler helping every step. And for anyone interested in culture and history, it’s a direct, tangible link to the Bedouin heritage that shaped this land. Few desert activities manage to delight toddlers and grandparents in equal measure — the camel ride is one of them.

That’s exactly why we include it on every safari rather than treating it as an optional extra: it’s simply too special to miss. Whether you’re here for the thrill of dune bashing, the romance of a sunset dinner, or a family day out, the moment you climb onto a camel and rise above the golden sand becomes the memory — and the photo — you take home. It’s the desert at its most timeless, and it’s waiting for you in the Al Khatim dunes.