Travel Alone.
Never Feel
Alone.
Solo Desert Safari Abu Dhabi
Some of the best moments in solo travel happen when you sit on a desert dune at golden hour and realise you are exactly where you are supposed to be. The Abu Dhabi desert is that kind of place. Safe, beautiful, and yours entirely.
Travel Alone.Never FeelAlone. Solo Desert Safari Abu Dhabi: The Short Answer
Some of the best moments in solo travel happen when you sit on a desert dune at golden hour and realise you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
- 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.
The Desert Is Made
for Solo Travel
There is a particular quality to experiencing something extraordinary on your own. When the 4×4 stops at the summit of a high dune and the desert spreads out in every direction at golden hour, you have no obligation to explain how you feel about it, photograph it for someone else’s benefit, or share the moment with anyone. You just have it.
Solo travel in the Abu Dhabi desert offers something that group travel cannot — the freedom to be completely present. To sit quietly at the edge of a dune and watch the light change. To take a photo only because you want to remember something, not because you are documenting an experience for others.
And then you arrive at the Bedouin camp, and the communal dinner table is there, and the fire show starts, and you are surrounded by people from every corner of the world who are all having exactly the same feeling you are having. Solo, but never lonely. That is the Abu Dhabi desert safari alone.
Three Reasons the Desert
Is Perfect for Solo Travel
Complete Freedom
No compromise on pace, timing or what you want to spend time looking at. The shared safari gives you your own relationship with the dunes, the sunset and the silence — while the driver handles all logistics so you can simply be present.
The World at Dinner
The Bedouin camp communal table is one of the best places in Abu Dhabi to meet travellers from around the world. Solo guests consistently describe the camp dinner conversation as an unexpected highlight — stories exchanged over BBQ under the desert stars with people you will never have met any other way.
The Best Solo Photography
Solo travel produces the best photographs — not because you have no one to photograph, but because you have complete freedom to wait for exactly the right light, the right angle, the right moment. The Al Khatim dunes at golden hour reward patience that a group rarely allows.
DCT Abu Dhabi Licensed
Every vehicle, every guide, every route — fully licensed and regulated by the Department of Culture and Tourism.
Hotel-to-Hotel
Picked up at your hotel, returned to your hotel. No taxis, no meeting points, no navigation in an unfamiliar city.
Always Reachable
WhatsApp contact available throughout your booking and safari. Your driver’s number provided at pickup.
4.9 Stars · 5,000+ Reviews
Thousands of solo guests, including solo female travellers, rate Royal Arabian Safari five stars for safety and welcome.
Everything the Desert
Has to Offer
Every activity is included — solo or group, the complete experience is yours.
Every Option,
Built for One
All packages include the complete desert experience. Solo travellers — every option is designed so you never feel like a missing person in a group.
Self Drive Solo
- Drive your own car to the camp
- All camp activities included
- Dune bashing at camp
- Camel ride · Sandboarding · Henna
- Full BBQ dinner + unlimited drinks
- Live shows at communal tables
Shared Solo Safari
- Picked up directly from your hotel
- Shared 4×4 with fellow travellers
- Meet people during the drive
- All activities + sunset + camel + henna
- Full BBQ dinner + unlimited drinks
- Communal camp tables — social and warm
Private Solo Safari
- Exclusive 4×4 — just you and driver
- Complete freedom and your own pace
- Extra photo stops, flexible timing
- Driver as personal guide and photographer
- All activities + BBQ dinner + shows
- The ultimate solo desert experience
No one to wait for.
No one to explain it to.
Just the desert and you.
Some experiences are better alone. This is one of them — and Royal Arabian Safari makes every solo traveller feel looked after from first WhatsApp to final drop-off.
Book Your Solo Safari
“Solo travel is the best way to experience anything — and the desert is no exception. When you are alone on a dune watching the sun set with no obligation to explain how you feel, that is something. Royal Arabian Safari created the perfect conditions for a solo traveller.”James Porter · Solo Traveller
From Solo Travellers
Around the World
“Solo female traveller, first time in Abu Dhabi. From the moment my driver arrived I felt completely safe. At the camp I met people from six different countries and we watched the fire show like old friends. One of the best evenings of my travelling life.”
“Korean solo traveller on a layover. Responsive booking on WhatsApp, smooth pickup, extraordinary dunes, then a table with a Dutch couple and an Australian family. We exchanged travel recommendations over BBQ and the fire show. Solo travel at its best.”
“Solo female traveller from Pakistan. First Middle East trip. Completely, warmly, professionally safe. My driver was kind and attentive. I sat under the desert stars with a sheesha after dinner and felt more at peace than I have in years.”
“I have done safaris in Kenya and Jordan and this was different in the best way. The Al Khatim dunes are enormous and beautiful, the camp is genuinely authentic, and as a solo traveller I felt I was seeing something real rather than something performed for tourists.”
“Business trip. Booked on WhatsApp the morning before, instant confirmation, picked up on time. The guide noticed I was alone and made extra effort to include me at the camp. I made friends, saw something beautiful, and felt completely safe.”
“There is something about standing on a dune by yourself as the sun sets that requires no companion — it is completely sufficient in itself. And then the communal camp dinner returns you to the world in the best possible way.”
Solo Safari
Questions Answered
Yes — completely safe. Royal Arabian Safari is DCT Abu Dhabi licensed. All drivers and guides are professional, experienced and vetted. Solo guests are picked up from their hotel, accompanied throughout and returned to their hotel. The camp environment is welcoming and international. Solo female guests consistently rate the experience five stars for safety and comfort.
Yes — both the shared safari (AED 100/person with hotel pickup) and self-drive option (AED 35/person) are perfectly suited to solo travellers. The shared safari places you in a 4×4 with fellow travellers. At the camp, solo guests join the communal tables and meet travellers from around the world over the BBQ dinner. You are never isolated or made to feel like an outsider.
No — solo guests consistently report the opposite. The shared 4×4 introduces you to fellow travellers on the drive, and the camp dinner creates natural social connection with guests from many countries. Many solo guests describe the camp dinner as the most unexpectedly social experience of their trip. You have solitude when the desert gives it, and company when the camp provides it.
Yes. Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities in the world for female solo travellers, and Royal Arabian Safari maintains the same high standard. Solo female guests are treated with complete professionalism throughout. Thousands of solo female guests have reviewed the experience as comfortable, safe and highly recommended specifically for solo female travel.
The self-drive option costs AED 35 per person. The shared home pickup safari is AED 100 per person — the most popular choice for solo travellers. The private solo car (exclusive 4×4 just for you) is AED 599 per vehicle — ideal for solo travellers who want complete flexibility and privacy.
Most solo travellers choose the shared home pickup safari at AED 100 — hotel pickup, a natural social experience, all activities, BBQ dinner and live entertainment. For budget-conscious solo travellers, the self-drive at AED 35 delivers the same camp experience. For solo travellers who want complete solitude and a personal guide-photographer, the private car at AED 599 is extraordinary.
Yes — WhatsApp +971582282683 and we confirm availability instantly. Many solo travellers book on the day or the morning before, especially those on layovers. Same-day bookings are often possible. For weekends and public holidays, 24 to 48 hours in advance is recommended.
Yes — consistently rated one of the best solo travel activities in Abu Dhabi. It combines the freedom of an individual experience (dunes, sunset, silence) with the warmth of a communal camp dinner and shared entertainment. Solo travellers who do it almost universally describe it as a highlight of their Abu Dhabi visit.
Light comfortable clothes, closed shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen for daytime, a light jacket for evening (the desert cools significantly after sunset), and your camera or phone. Water is provided throughout. A small bag is fine — no need to travel heavy.
The Desert Is Waiting
Just for You
Instant WhatsApp booking. Hotel pickup. Complete safety. Fellow travellers from around the world at the camp table. The most beautiful solo evening in Abu Dhabi. DCT-licensed.
Related Desert Safari Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Is dune bashing safe?
Yes with a licensed operator. Every passenger wears a seatbelt, vehicles are maintained and insured, drivers are trained specifically for dune driving, and vehicles travel in convoy so recovery is immediate. You can ask to stop at any time.
Can I do the safari without dune bashing?
Yes. Book the self-drive package and come straight to the camp, or ask for a direct transfer on a private car. You still get the sunset, camel ride, sandboarding, dinner and every show. This is the right choice for pregnant guests and anyone with back, neck or heart conditions.
What food is served at the camp?
A full BBQ buffet: salads and mezze including fattoush, hummus and Arabic bread; rice dishes, dal, pasta and mixed vegetable sabzi; chicken tikka, shish taouk, lamb seekh kebab and fish from the grill; Om Ali and fresh fruit for dessert. All 100% halal, with unlimited soft drinks, water, Arabic coffee and tea.
Are vegetarian and special diets catered for?
Vegetarian options are always available as standard, and the whole buffet is halal. Vegan, Jain, gluten-free and allergy requirements can be accommodated with advance notice — tell us when you book and we will confirm what will be on the table.
Is alcohol available?
No. Alcohol is not served or permitted at our camp and guests should not bring their own. Unlimited soft drinks, water, Arabic coffee and tea are included, and shisha is available at the camp.
What should I wear?
Loose, light-coloured clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and closed shoes such as trainers you do not mind filling with sand. From October to April bring a jacket — camp temperatures drop to 13 to 22 degrees after sunset. Avoid flip-flops, heels and skinny jeans.
Is the safari suitable for children?
Yes, from about age three. Ask for gentle dune bashing when you book, bring closed shoes and a spare set of clothes because sandboarding puts sand into everything, and pack a warm layer from November to March.
Can I add quad biking or a buggy?
Yes. Quad bikes are AED 100 single seater and AED 150 double, the Can-Am buggy is from AED 800 for 30 minutes, VIP majlis seating is +AED 50 per person, the falcon photo is AED 10–30 and professional photography starts at AED 50. Nothing is required and nothing is upsold under pressure at the camp.
What is the best time of year for a desert safari?
November to March gives the most comfortable conditions. October and April are excellent value with near-peak evenings and far fewer people. From May to September the morning safari is more comfortable than the evening one.
Is there a morning safari option?
Yes. The morning safari is a private premium product at AED 799 per car for up to 7 guests and does not include dinner or the live shows. It suits summer travel, photographers, families with young children and anyone with an evening flight.
What happens if it rains?
Abu Dhabi averages fewer than ten rainy days a year, almost all December to March. Light rain does not stop the safari and the desert afterwards is spectacular. If heavy rain or a strong wind would genuinely spoil the experience we move your date at no cost.
Are there toilets at the camp?
Yes. The camp has clean, separate washrooms for men and women, plus a prayer space, lighting and seating for every guest.
Is a desert safari in Abu Dhabi safe for solo travellers?
Yes — a desert safari with Royal Arabian Safari is completely safe for solo travellers, including solo female travellers. Royal Arabian Safari is licensed by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi. All drivers and guides are professional, experienced and carefully vetted. Solo guests are picked up directly from their hotel, accompanied throughout the safari and returned directly to their hotel. The camp environment is welcoming and international, with guests from many countries.
Can I do a desert safari alone in Abu Dhabi?
Yes — the shared home pickup safari (AED 100 per person) and self-drive option (AED 35 per person) are both perfectly suited to solo travellers. The shared safari places you in a 4×4 with other guests travelling to the camp, so you are never isolated. At the camp, solo guests join the communal tables, enjoy all activities, and typically meet fellow travellers from around the world over the BBQ dinner.
How much does a solo desert safari cost in Abu Dhabi?
For solo travellers, the self-drive safari is the most affordable at AED 35 per person — you drive yourself to the Al Khatim Desert camp. The shared safari with hotel pickup is AED 100 per person. For solo travellers who prefer complete privacy and flexibility, the private car is available at AED 599 per vehicle — just you and the driver, with the full evening to yourself. All packages include all activities, BBQ dinner and live entertainment.
Will I be lonely doing a desert safari alone?
No — solo guests at Royal Arabian Safari consistently describe the opposite experience. The shared 4×4 introduces you to fellow travellers during the drive, and at the camp you join communal tables with guests from many countries. The atmosphere at the Bedouin camp dinner is naturally social — shared food, shared entertainment and the shared experience of sitting under a desert sky create connections between strangers very naturally. Many solo guests describe the camp dinner as one of the most unexpectedly social experiences of their trip.
Is the desert safari safe for solo female travellers in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities in the world for female solo travellers, and Royal Arabian Safari maintains the same high standard. Solo female guests are treated with complete professionalism and respect throughout the entire experience. Many solo female guests have reviewed the experience as one of the most comfortable and enjoyable of their solo travel careers. The DCT-licensed operation and vetted team ensure a safe, respectful environment.
What is the best package for a solo traveller?
Most solo travellers choose the shared home pickup safari at AED 100 per person — it includes hotel pickup, a full evening with fellow travellers, all activities, BBQ dinner and live entertainment. For solo travellers on a tighter budget, the self-drive option at AED 35 per person delivers the same camp experience. Solo travellers who prefer complete solitude and their own pace can book the private car at AED 599 for an exclusive experience.
Will the driver collect me alone from my hotel?
Yes. The shared safari typically makes one or two other hotel pickups along the route, but your driver will arrive at your specific hotel address at the confirmed time and take you directly. You will not need to find a meeting point or travel to another location. Just be ready at your hotel entrance at the agreed time and your driver will be there.
Can I book a solo desert safari last minute?
Yes — WhatsApp +971582282683 and we will confirm availability instantly. Many solo travellers book on the day or the morning before, especially those on layovers or short city visits. Same-day bookings are often possible depending on vehicle availability. For dates that matter (weekends, public holidays), booking 24 to 48 hours in advance is recommended.
Is the desert safari a good activity for a solo traveller in Abu Dhabi?
Yes — it is consistently rated one of the top solo travel activities in Abu Dhabi. It combines the freedom of an individual experience (your own reactions to the dunes, the sunset, the silence) with the warmth of a communal camp dinner and shared entertainment. Solo travellers who do it almost universally describe it as a highlight of their Abu Dhabi visit and recommend it specifically for solo travel.
What should a solo traveller bring to the desert safari?
Light comfortable clothes, closed shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen for daytime, a light jacket for evening (the desert cools significantly after sunset), and your camera or phone. Water is provided throughout but you may want to bring a small snack for before pickup if you will be hungry before the BBQ dinner. A small bag is fine — there is no need to travel heavy.
Book this tour
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
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.
Desert safari Abu Dhabi: the timeline, hour by hour
This is how the evening actually runs, from pickup to drop-off. The sunset stop moves with the season; everything around it holds.
| Time | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 – 3:30 PM | Pickup | Hotel, residence or an agreed pickup point in Abu Dhabi — or drive yourself to the camp using the GPS pin we send. |
| 3:30 – 4:10 PM | Drive to Al Khatim | About forty minutes from the city to the Al Khatim dunes. |
| 4:10 – 5:00 PM | Dune bashing | Tyres are deflated, then a 4×4 run across the dunes. Tell your driver if you want it gentle or lively — you set the intensity. |
| 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Camp activities | Camel ride, sandboarding, falcon photos, henna and Arabic costumes. |
| ~5:30 – 6:00 PM | Sunset stop | The photo stop on a high dune. This one moves with the sunset rather than the clock, so it shifts through the year. |
| 6:30 PM | Starters served | Arabic coffee, dates and welcome starters as the lamps come on. |
| 7:00 – 9:30 PM | Dinner and 8 live shows | BBQ buffet with separate vegetarian and halal non-vegetarian lines, plus unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and coffee — alongside eight live performances including belly dance, the LED Tanoura, and a fire show. Shisha in the designated area. |
| 9:30 – 10:00 PM | Wind-down | Stargazing away from the lamps, then the vehicles load for the drive back. |
| 10:00 – 10:30 PM | Drop-off | Back at your Abu Dhabi hotel or pickup point. |
Times are the standard evening run and shift a little with traffic and the sunset. Your confirmed pickup time is the one we send on WhatsApp the day before.