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Explore Dubai Desert · The Journal

Stories from the Dubai desert

Culture, nature and honest, practical guides to the dunes, camps and mountains beyond the city.

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A traditional wooden Omani dhow cruising through the calm turquoise water of the Khor Ash Sham fjord in Musandam, with steep rocky mountains on both sides and dolphins surfacing near the bow

Featured · Culture & Nature

Musandam Day Trip from Dubai: Dibba vs Khasab, Border Rules and Dhow Cruises

Plan a Musandam day trip from Dubai: Dibba vs Khasab, Oman border and visa rules, what a dhow cruise includes, Telegraph Island, dolphins and tips for the day.

Explore Dubai Desert Team · 12 November 2026 · 11 min read

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Guests in light jackets sitting around a glowing fire pit at a desert camp in the red dunes near Dubai on a December evening, with lanterns, string lights and camels resting on the dune behind

Travel Tips

Dubai in December 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Planning Dubai in December? Get real weather data, 2026 dates for National Day, DSF and New Year's Eve, the best desert trips, packing tips and a 5-day plan.

8 Nov 2026 · 10 min read

A traditional wooden dhow boat with warm lights sailing through Dubai Marina at sunset, with guests dining on the open upper deck and the Marina skyscrapers glowing behind

Planning

Desert Safari and Dhow Cruise in Dubai: How to Plan Both

Planning a desert safari and dhow cruise in Dubai? See if both fit in one day, Creek vs Marina cruises, sample itineraries, what's included and booking tips.

5 Nov 2026 · 9 min read

Tourists watching a golden November sunset from the top of a red sand dune in the Dubai desert, with 4x4 vehicles parked below and soft evening light over the dunes

Travel Tips

Dubai in November 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Planning a trip to Dubai in November? Get the real weather, 2026 event dates, the best desert safaris and outdoor attractions, what to pack and a 4-day plan.

4 Nov 2026 · 10 min read

Open-air desert dinner in Dubai at dusk with Arabic mezze dishes and brass lanterns on a low wooden table, cushions, a campfire and string lights among the sand dunes

Experiences

Desert Dinner in Dubai: Al Hadheerah, Sonara Camp and Safari Camps Compared

Planning a desert dinner in Dubai? Compare Al Hadheerah, Sonara Camp, heritage Bedouin camps and safari BBQ dinners: food, shows, timings, dress code and tips.

3 Nov 2026 · 10 min read

Safari guide giving a safety briefing to a smiling family beside a white 4x4 with a roll cage in the red dunes of the Dubai desert, with a cooler of water bottles nearby

Planning

Is a Dubai Desert Safari Safe? Dune Bashing, Health and Safety Tips

Is a Dubai desert safari safe? What dune bashing feels like, who should skip it, rules for kids and pregnancy, heat tips and how to choose a licensed operator.

2 Nov 2026 · 10 min read

Racing camels with small robot jockeys galloping along a sandy track at the Al Marmoom camel racetrack near Dubai at sunrise, with 4x4 vehicles following on a parallel road

Culture & Nature

Camel Racing in Dubai: How to Watch the Races at Al Marmoom

Camel racing Dubai guide: when the 2026-27 Al Marmoom season runs, race times, free entry, robot jockeys, how to get there and tips for your first race day.

1 Nov 2026 · 10 min read

White 4x4 parked on a red sand dune ridge outside Dubai while a family of four looks out over empty dunes in warm late-afternoon light

Experiences

Private Desert Safari in Dubai: Is It Worth It and How to Book

Private desert safari Dubai guide: what private really means, private vs shared vs VIP, who it suits, what to check before you book and the best tours.

31 Oct 2026 · 9 min read

Rider on a chestnut Arabian horse walking along a golden sand dune ridge outside Dubai at sunset, with ghaf trees and soft warm light

Experiences

Horse Riding in the Dubai Desert: Stables, Rules & First-Ride Tips

Plan horse riding in the Dubai desert: where to ride, sunrise vs sunset slots, age and 85kg weight limits, what to wear, beginner tips and tours to book.

30 Oct 2026 · 10 min read

Private luxury dinner table with lanterns, cushions and rugs set on golden sand dunes outside Dubai at sunset, with a vintage open-top Land Rover parked nearby

Experiences

VIP Desert Safari Dubai: Luxury Camps, Private 4x4s & What's Included

Planning a VIP desert safari in Dubai? Compare luxury camps, private 4x4 and vintage Land Rover tours, gourmet dinners, what's included and how to pick one.

29 Oct 2026 · 10 min read

Stories worth your time

Arabic coffee being poured from a brass dallah into a small cup beside a bowl of dates in a desert majlis

Culture & Nature

Bedouin Culture on a Dubai Desert Safari: Traditions, Food & History

Bedouin-style desert camp glowing under the Milky Way on an overnight safari near Dubai

Experiences

Overnight Desert Safari in Dubai: What It's Really Like

Kayakers on the turquoise water of Hatta Dam surrounded by the rocky Hajar Mountains

Culture & Nature

Hatta Day Trip from Dubai: Dam, Kayaking, Heritage & Hiking

20 Oct 2026 · 6 min read

Small herd of white Arabian oryx standing among low shrubs on pale sand dunes in the morning

Culture & Nature

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve & Wildlife: An Eco-Friendly Safari Guide

20 Oct 2026 · 5 min read

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Culture & Nature

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Culture & Nature

Travel Tips

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A colourful hot air balloon floating above golden red dunes near Dubai on a clear January morning, with a camel caravan on the dune crest and travellers in light jackets watching from the sand

Travel Tips

Planning

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Planning

Experiences

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Experiences

Families

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Family with young children relaxing at an Arabian-style desert camp near Dubai at dusk

Families

Desert Safari with Kids: A Practical Family Guide

4 Oct 2026 · 7 min read

A family on a camel ride at a desert camp

About the journal

Honest writing about the Dubai desert

Explore Dubai Desert is an independent travel journal covering desert culture, nature, experiences and practical planning. We update guides when things change and label every affiliate link.

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Stories from the Dubai desert

Musandam Day Trip from Dubai: Dibba vs Khasab, Border Rules and Dhow Cruises

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Latest stories

Dubai in December 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Desert Safari and Dhow Cruise in Dubai: How to Plan Both

Dubai in November 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Desert Dinner in Dubai: Al Hadheerah, Sonara Camp and Safari Camps Compared

Is a Dubai Desert Safari Safe? Dune Bashing, Health and Safety Tips

Camel Racing in Dubai: How to Watch the Races at Al Marmoom

Private Desert Safari in Dubai: Is It Worth It and How to Book

Horse Riding in the Dubai Desert: Stables, Rules & First-Ride Tips

VIP Desert Safari Dubai: Luxury Camps, Private 4x4s & What's Included

Stories worth your time

Bedouin Culture on a Dubai Desert Safari: Traditions, Food & History

Overnight Desert Safari in Dubai: What It's Really Like

Hatta Day Trip from Dubai: Dam, Kayaking, Heritage & Hiking

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve & Wildlife: An Eco-Friendly Safari Guide

Culture & Nature

Musandam Day Trip from Dubai: Dibba vs Khasab, Border Rules and Dhow Cruises

Fujairah Day Trip from Dubai: Snoopy Island, Al Bidya Mosque and the East Coast

Dubai Safari Park Guide 2026/27: Tickets, Zones, Timings and Tips

Camel Racing in Dubai: How to Watch the Races at Al Marmoom

Al Ain Day Trip from Dubai: Oasis, Forts & Jebel Hafeet

Mleiha & Fossil Rock: A Sharjah Desert Day Trip from Dubai

Bedouin Culture on a Dubai Desert Safari: Traditions, Food & History

Big Red & Al Qudra: Dubai's Iconic Desert Spots Explained

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve & Wildlife: An Eco-Friendly Safari Guide

Travel Tips

Dubai in January 2027: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Dubai in December 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Dubai in November 2026: Weather, Events and the Best Desert Experiences

Planning

Desert Safari and Dhow Cruise in Dubai: How to Plan Both

Is a Dubai Desert Safari Safe? Dune Bashing, Health and Safety Tips

Desert Safari Cost in Dubai: What You Pay For & Mistakes to Avoid

First-Time Dubai Desert Safari: What to Expect + 12 Tips

Best Time for a Dubai Desert Safari: Month-by-Month Guide

What to Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari (+ Packing Checklist)

Experiences

Desert Dinner in Dubai: Al Hadheerah, Sonara Camp and Safari Camps Compared

Private Desert Safari in Dubai: Is It Worth It and How to Book

Horse Riding in the Dubai Desert: Stables, Rules & First-Ride Tips

VIP Desert Safari Dubai: Luxury Camps, Private 4x4s & What's Included

Evening Desert Safari Dubai: Timings, BBQ Dinner, Shows & Tips

Morning Desert Safari Dubai: Timings, What's Included & Tips

Ras Al Khaimah Desert Safari: Al Wadi Dunes, Camps & Tips

Dune Buggy Dubai: A First-Timer's Guide to Self-Drive Desert Buggies

Stargazing in the Dubai Desert: Best Spots, Dates & Tips

Families

Desert Safari with Kids: A Practical Family Guide

Honest writing about the Dubai desert