Evening Desert Safari – Dubai – A Must-Do Cultural and Adventure Experience

A trip to Dubai isn’t complete without venturing into its desert. A desert safari offers an exhilarating mix of adventure, culture, and cuisine, providing a glimpse into the traditional Emirati way of life while delivering an off-road experience. On my recent trip to the UAE, I had the chance to experience a Platinum Heritage Desert Safari, an eco-friendly and culture-focused tour that truly stood out.

The Journey

The adventure began in the afternoon when my guide picked me up from my hotel in a new Land Rover. As we left urban Dubai, the scenery changed dramatically, with low-lying shrubs, sand dunes, and occasional trees dotting the landscape.

A common sight on the way to the desert preserve is camel farms, which house camels bred for racing, beauty contests, and milk production. The UAE has a thriving camel culture, with some racing camels fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interestingly, female camels are the ones that race and male camels are entered into camel beauty contests.

In the distance, we saw the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This is one of the world’s largest solar energy projects, located south of Dubai. It features a massive solar power tower that uses concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, where mirrors focus sunlight to generate steam for electricity. The glowing effect at the tower’s top, resembling a fireball, is due to extreme heat. This solar park is a key part of Dubai’s clean energy strategy, aiming for 5,000 MW capacity by 2030 to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

Gearing Up

The Platinum Heritage Desert Safari takes place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR), the UAE’s first national park. Upon arriving at the reserve for the Platinum Heritage desert safari, the experience began with gearing up for the adventure. Guests were provided with traditional headscarves, which helped protect against the sun and wind-blown sand. The guide assisted in tying them properly, ensuring they stayed secure during the drive.

The men were given a red and white checked cloth, which I was told was traditional for Dubai, but I am not convinced since all the Emirati men I saw wore the white scarf tied with a black elastic band.

Next, we changed vehicles for the desert journey. While we arrived in modern air-conditioned Land Cruisers, we transferred into vintage open-top Land Rovers, iconic 1950s models that early explorers and Bedouins in the region had used. These rugged, sand-worn vehicles had no windows or roofs, offering an unobstructed view of the stunning desert landscape.

Before setting off, we were handed reusable water bottles as part of the tour’s eco-friendly initiative, ensuring we stayed hydrated in the arid environment. With everyone settled, the convoy of classic Land Rovers rumbled into the dunes, kicking up soft plumes of sand as we headed deeper into the conservation area for the wildlife safari and falconry show.

Into the Heart of the Desert

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve covers 225 square kilometers of pristine desert and is dedicated to preserving the region’s unique ecosystem, including native wildlife like the Arabian oryx, gazelles, and various bird species.

Unlike many desert safaris that focus on dune-bashing (which can be damaging to the environment), this tour took a more responsible approach, driving through a protected desert conservation reserve to explore its unique flora and fauna.

We saw the Arabian Oryx, which is the national animal of the UAE. This striking white antelope with long, straight horns is a conservation success story. Though we only saw them from a distance, their presence in the reserve is significant, as they were once nearly extinct in the wild.

We also saw two species of antelope grazing or darting across the dunes. The sand gazelle prefers the open desert, while the mountain gazelle is often found in more rugged terrain.

We spotted a few desert birds, including an owl perched in one of the trees. 

Our guide also pointed out how the Bedouins would use local plants, such as one that was used like soap, to freshen up from a long journey.

The guide demonstrated the iron-rich soil in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve using a simple but fascinating technique. He took his magnetic name tag and stirred it around in the red desert sand. After a few moments, he lifted it, revealing tiny black flecks of iron oxide clinging to the magnet. This visual experiment highlighted the high iron content in the sand, which gives the desert its distinctive reddish hue.

Falconry: A Glimpse into Emirati Heritage

The falcon show during the desert safari in Dubai was a fascinating demonstration of the traditional art of falconry, an integral part of Emirati culture. The presentation showcased how Bedouins trained falcons for hunting, capturing wild birds, and small game in the desert.

A trained falcon was released to chase a spinning lure, swung on a cord by the handler to mimic the movement of prey. The falcon repeatedly swooped down at high speed, displaying its incredible agility and precision. The handler explained that falconers must carefully manage the birds’ hunger levels—if a falcon is too hungry, it may fly away in search of food, while if it’s too full, it loses interest in hunting.

Historically, falcons were caught and trained for a single season, then released back into the wild before the summer heat set in. Training could be accomplished in 3-4 weeks.

Today, modern falconers in the UAE often keep their birds year-round, even flying them in first-class airline cabins for competitions and hunting expeditions abroad. Falcons are now equipped with a transponder, and the falconer has an app he can use to track wayward falcons.

Desert Camp Experience

After sunset, our group went to one of the desert camps nearby for a cultural experience that included a traditional meal, a dance performance, star gazing, and options like a henna tattoo, a camel ride, and a hookah. For this part of the program, you might want to bring a jacket as the temperatures will drop in the evening in the desert.

Arriving at the desert camp, we were greeted with Arabic coffee, dates, and traditional sweets before settling in for the evening.

The camp itself was beautifully set up, offering authentic Bedouin-style seating, traditional decor, and a warm ambiance under the stars. 

Camel Rides

No desert safari is complete without a camel ride, and while this one was brief, it was a fun and essential part of the experience. 

If you have not ridden a camel before, the tricky part is when the camel stands up or sits down as it does so by moving the back legs and then the front, which makes you pitch forward in the saddle. 

Dining: A Taste of Traditional Emirati Cuisine

Dinner was a lavish spread of Middle Eastern dishes featuring slow-cooked lamb, aromatic rice, freshly baked bread, grilled chicken kabobs, and an array of dishes, including hummus and baba ganoush. Everything was prepared in a style reminiscent of how Bedouins would cook in the desert—especially the lamb, which was traditionally slow-roasted under the dunes for hours.

One man was baking a fresh, thin Bedouin flat bread which was made with just flour, salt, and water.

The meal ended with fruit for dessert.

Dance Performance

As the meal wound down, we enjoyed live cultural performances, including a traditional Yola dance, where performers gracefully moved while holding mock rifles, reenacting Bedouin war dances.

Then there was a drumming performance, where guests were invited to join the dance. 

Star Gazing

After dinner and cultural performances, the evening transitioned into a stargazing session. The electric lights were turned off, and a knowledgeable guide led the session. He explained how the Bedouins and early travelers of the Arabian Peninsula relied on the stars for navigation across the vast desert since much of their travel was at night because of the desert heat.

Some of the highlights included:

• Orion’s Belt – Easily recognizable with its three bright stars aligned in a row.
• The North Star (Polaris) – Essential for desert navigation, as it remains fixed in the sky.
• Sirius – The brightest star in the night sky, historically used by Arabian sailors and traders.

Photography

In addition to the photographs taken by guests and their guide, there was also a professional photographer who was taking photos, including drone photography. Before the evening wrapped up, he came around and showed his photos, including a video of our trip that included drone shots. 

Final Verdict: A Balance of Adventure and Culture

Unlike high-speed dune-bashing tours, this Platinum Heritage Desert Safari delivered a more authentic, eco-friendly, and culturally enriching experience. The combination of wildlife encounters, falconry, camel rides, and a traditional meal under the stars made it an unforgettable evening.

For travelers seeking an insightful and immersive desert experience, this tour is worth it. Whether you’re interested in learning about Emirati heritage, savoring traditional cuisine, or simply soaking in the desert landscape, a Dubai desert safari is a must-do.

My Platinum Heritage Desert Safari experience was sponsored by the Dubai Tourism Board, but all opinions expressed here are my own.