Your own 4x4 Land Cruiser and driver, your own pickup time, your own route through the Al Khatim dunes — nobody else in the vehicle. Up to 6 guests per car. From AED 900 per vehicle, with optional VIP, quad bike and dune buggy upgrades.
Free hotel pickup across Abu Dhabi city, Yas & Saadiyat English-speaking driver-guide, other languages on request Bring: closed shoes, warm layer Nov–Mar, ID/passport copy, soft bag
Some trips are better when you do not have to share them. A private desert safari in Abu Dhabi gives you your own 4x4, your own driver, and your own pace. There are no strangers in your vehicle, no waiting for other groups at the pickup point, and no rushing through photo stops because the car behind you is ready to go.
You pick the day. You pick the time. You choose how adventurous the ride should be. Then our team takes care of the rest, from hotel pickup to the drive back at the end of the night.
This page explains how our private desert safari Abu Dhabi tour works, what is included, how much it costs, and who it suits best. If you have a question that is not answered here, send us a message and we will reply quickly.
Plain English, no jargon
A private desert safari is a desert tour where the vehicle and the guide are booked for your group only. Instead of sitting with other travelers in a shared 4x4, you ride with the people you came with. That could be your partner, your family, your friends, or your work team.
The tour itself is the same kind of adventure people love about the desert near Abu Dhabi. You drive over tall sand dunes, stop for photos, ride a camel, try sandboarding, and, on evening tours, enjoy a BBQ dinner at a desert camp. The difference is control. Because the vehicle is yours, the tour bends around your group instead of the other way around.
Many people also search for a "private desert tour Abu Dhabi" or "private car desert safari Abu Dhabi". These all mean the same thing. One vehicle. One group. One schedule that you help shape.
At a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| What's private | The 4x4, the driver, the pickup time, the itinerary order, [your own section at camp] |
| What isn't | The camp & facilities |
| Price | AED 900 vehicle, up to 6 guests · 7+ needs a second car, or we can arrange a bigger one |
| Duration | 4 hrs morning · 6 hrs evening · 17 hrs overnight |
| Where | [Al Khatim Desert, 45 min east of Abu Dhabi |
| Pickup | Any address within Abu Dhabi city, Yas, Saadiyat, Khalifa City, Mussaffah, the mall, the cruise terminal, AUH |
| Meals | Morning: none/optional breakfast. Evening: unlimited BBQ dinner served at your table |
| Bring | Closed shoes, warm layer Nov–Mar, ID/Passport copy, soft bag |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours · |
Private tour packages
Six ways to do private — same desert, your own vehicle, different time of day or adrenaline add-on.
Own 4x4 and driver, pickup time you choose, 30–40 minutes of dune bashing, sunset on the dunes, camp dinner served at your table, shows from a front seat, back at your hotel when you decide. Up to 6 guests.
Per vehicle
AED 900 up to 6 guests
Four hours, cooler sand, empty dunes, no queue at the quad or camel. For families with small children, photographers, and anyone flying out that afternoon.
Per vehicle
AED 900 up to 6 persons
Everything in the evening, minus the crowd at 9:30pm: your own tent, a fire, stars, sunrise, breakfast, back by 9am.
Per vehicle
AED 900 up to 6 + AED 400 / person
A 30 minutes Quad Bike Ride on a supervised course, plus the safari. Priced on this page rather than revealed at the camp.
Per vehicle
AED 900 + AED 100 / person quad
An exclusive Private Desert Safari Trip with VIP Services.
Per vehicle
AED 900 + AED 250 / person VIP
An exclusive Private Desert Safari Trip with 30 Minutes of thrilling dune buggy ride full of adventure.
Per vehicle
AED 900 + AED 500 buggy
Pick your style
"Private" is not one fixed time slot. It is a way of booking. You can add the private option to most of our desert safari styles. Here are the main ones.
This is the most popular choice. The evening tour starts in the afternoon and runs into the night. You get dune bashing in your own 4x4, a sunset photo stop, a camel ride, sandboarding, and a BBQ dinner at the camp, followed by live shows such as belly dance, Tanoura, and fire performances.
A private evening desert safari in Abu Dhabi is a good fit for couples who want a calm sunset together, families who want everyone to stay together, and friend groups who want an easy night out. If you want to know more about the standard evening package, read our Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi page.
If you like the desert quiet and cool, a private morning or sunrise tour is a great pick. You head out early, before the heat builds, and drive through the dunes while the light is soft. You get dune bashing, a photo stop on a high dune, a camel ride, and sandboarding, and you are usually back at your hotel by late morning.
This option is popular with photographers, with families who have young kids, and with summer visitors who want to avoid the afternoon heat. See our Morning Desert Safari Abu Dhabi page for more details.
If you want a longer desert experience, you can book a private overnight safari. You enjoy the evening activities, then stay at the camp for the night in a tent, with a campfire and a clear sky full of stars. The next morning, you wake up to the sunrise and have breakfast before heading back.
It is a good pick for couples, adventure travelers, and residents who are hosting family and want to show them something special. Learn more on our Overnight Desert Safari Abu Dhabi page.
On evening and overnight tours, you can also enjoy the live shows at the camp, such as belly dance and Tanoura. Some extras, such as quad biking, are available as add-ons. If you want to add one, just tell us when you book, and we will confirm the details and the final price.
What's included
Optional upgrades
Not sure which? Send us the group size, the address and the hour you would like to be back, and we will quote the smaller product that works. We talk people out of the private car more often than you would expect.
Evening & overnight
For evening and overnight guests, dinner is one of the best parts of the day. In a private setup, your group gets its own seating space at the camp, so you can eat and talk without sitting next to other tour groups.
The menu usually includes grilled chicken, beef, and kebabs, along with rice, salads, hummus, bread, and a few local dishes. There are vegetarian options too, and they are real dishes, not just a side plate. If anyone in your group has dietary needs, tell us before the tour. We can plan the meal in advance so that everyone has something good to eat.
Dinner is served while the sky gets dark and the lights come on around the camp. Dessert and hot drinks follow, and then the shows begin. It is a slow, relaxed meal, which is exactly how an evening in the desert should feel.
Side by side
Both options are good. They just suit different people. Here is a simple side-by-side look.
| Private Safari | Shared Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Your group only | Shared with other guests |
| Pickup time | Flexible, based on your plan | Fixed time slot |
| Pace of the tour | You decide | Set by the group schedule |
| Dune bashing style | Gentle or thrilling, your choice | Standard for all guests |
| Photo stops | As long as you like | Short and shared |
| Price | Charged per vehicle | Charged per person |
| Best for | Families, couples, small groups | Solo travelers, budget trips |
If you are traveling alone or on a tight budget, a shared tour can be a smart choice. But once you have three or four people in your group, a private vehicle often costs about the same per person, with a lot more comfort. That is why many families and friend groups choose private after comparing prices.
Your safari, your rules
One of the best parts of a private tour is that you can adjust it. Here are some things many guests ask us for:
Just tell us what you have in mind when you book, and we will let you know what we can do.
Is it worth it
| Your situation | Verdict |
|---|---|
| 4–6 people, one family or one group of friends | Yes. Same money as shared, a better day, and nobody else's timetable |
| 2 people, and you want to be back by 8pm for a flight | Yes. You are buying hours, not company |
| A layover or a cruise call in Abu Dhabi | Yes, and it is the only sensible option: no waiting for a bus with four other hotels |
| Anyone with a child under 6, or an elder who cannot sit on sand | Yes, clearly. The car seat is fitted, there is a real seat at camp, food comes to you, and you leave when someone is tired |
| 2 people on a budget, flexible timing, want to meet people | No. A shared evening at AED 150 is the same desert for AED 600 less |
| You want the biggest dunes and 4 hours of driving | Not this product. Book a private Liwa day or a dune-buggy session; the Al Khatim dunes are medium |
| You want an empty desert at sunset | Nobody can sell you that on a winter Friday. We can get you [2] km further out and [40] minutes later, which is the next best thing |
| You want privacy for a proposal | Yes, but book the [dune dinner], not a camp. We will put no other guest within sight |
Timings
Timing depends on which style of tour you pick. Here is a simple guide.
Sunrise and sunset times change through the year. In winter, the sun sets earlier. In summer, it sets later. Because your tour is private, we can adjust the pickup time to match, so you do not miss the best part of the light.
Hour by hour
Same Al Khatim as the shared evening, but the order, the pace and the photo stops are yours. Differences from the shared convoy in bold.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Pickup at your door, on your time (not a shared hotel loop) |
| 3:30 – 4:15 PM | Drive east on the E22 to Al Khatim, ~80 km. Stop for coffee or photos on the way if you want |
| 4:15 – 4:30 PM | Tyres down, safety briefing, seatbelts on — just for your group |
| 4:30 – 5:15 PM | Dune bashing 30–45 minutes, intensity you set (soft, full, or skip entirely) |
| 5:15 – 5:45 PM | Camel farm stop and short camel ride |
| 5:45 – 6:30 PM | Sandboarding and sunset on the ridge — you can stay for 40 minutes, not 10 |
| 6:30 – 7:00 PM | Drive to camp; qahwa and dates on arrival |
| 7:00 – 7:45 PM | Camp activities: henna, costume photos, shisha, falcon (no queue — you are VIP-priority by virtue of being private) |
| 7:45 – 8:45 PM | BBQ buffet dinner (or add VIP table service for AED 250/person) |
| 8:45 – 9:45 PM | Live shows: Tanoura, belly dance, fire show. Sit wherever you like |
| 9:45 – 10:00 PM | Stargazing and last shisha at your own pace |
| 10:00 – 10:45 PM | Return drive, hotel drop-off |
Who it suits
Young children can get tired or nervous on a fast ride. In a private vehicle, you can ask the driver to take it easy, stop for breaks, and skip the wild parts if needed. You also do not need to worry about your kids bothering other guests, or being bothered by them.
A private desert safari is one of the most romantic things to do in Abu Dhabi. You can watch the sunset together, take photos at your own pace, and enjoy dinner at a quiet table. If you are celebrating a honeymoon, an anniversary, or a proposal, tell us in advance, and we will help you plan it.
Older family members often prefer a smooth ride and easy access to the vehicle. In a private car, your driver can choose gentler routes and stop whenever someone needs a rest.
If you eat halal only, are vegetarian, vegan, or have allergies, a private setup makes it easier to plan the food. Let us know before the tour, and we will arrange your meal.
If you are traveling with friends, a private vehicle keeps the fun inside your group. You can play your own music during the drive to the dunes, take group photos, and enjoy the evening together.
If you are hosting clients or a work team, a private tour is a smooth and professional way to show them something special. It is also easier to manage pickup times when everyone is staying at the same hotel.
Pick up & drop off
You do not need to find the desert yourself. We pick you up from your hotel, apartment, or another place in Abu Dhabi that you choose. Then your driver takes you to the sand dunes outside the city — our tours run on the Al Khatim dunes. The drive usually takes a little while, and it is a nice part of the tour, because you watch the buildings fade away and the open desert take over.
After the tour, we bring you back to the same place, or somewhere else you ask for, as long as it is within our service area. If you want to be dropped at a restaurant, an airport hotel, or a different address, tell us when you book.
Yes — here is how
Safety matters most, and a private tour makes it easier to manage. Here is how we look after it:
Dune bashing is exciting, but it can be rough. If anyone in your group has a back or neck problem, is pregnant, or gets motion sick easily, we may suggest a gentler option, or skipping the fast dune driving altogether.
Pack list
A few easy tips to help you get ready:
For the photographers
A private tour is great for photography. Because you set the pace, you can spend more time at each stop.
Booking steps
Booking is simple, and it only takes a few minutes.
Once your booking is confirmed, we send you the exact pickup time and the details for the day. Try to book at least a day or two ahead, and earlier during busy months, since private vehicles are limited and fill up fast.
Small things, better trip
Reviews
Real words from guests who booked their own 4x4 for the trip.
"We had a 6pm flight and wanted the desert on the same day. The driver picked us up at the hotel at 11am, did the dunes without rushing, dropped us at the airport with bags in the boot. That is the whole point of a private car — nobody else's clock."
"Six of us, three kids under 8. The driver slowed the bashing when the smallest one cried, took the long route to camp so the kids could nap, and we ate at our own table without queueing once. Same price as four shared seats would have been."
"Booked for my husband's 40th. The camp put a banner on the table, the photographer waited at a distance, and the cake came out during the break between shows. Nobody else at the table. Worth every dirham of the private car."
Gallery
Your own car, your own route, your own table — three frames from real private bookings in the Al Khatim desert.
All photos taken on real tour runs, no stock. Ask us for more on WhatsApp · Or book now →
Your group, your desert
A private desert safari in Abu Dhabi is the easiest way to enjoy the desert without any stress. You get your own vehicle, a driver who knows the dunes, and a tour that fits your group, not the other way around. Whether you want a quiet sunrise, a sunset dinner under the stars, or a full night in a desert tent, we can plan it with you.
Send us a message with your date, your group size, and your hotel, and we will confirm your private tour and the final price. Your desert adventure is just one booking away.
Private cars held for your date · Instant confirmation
Same Al Khatim desert and the same live shows as our standard evening — but your own Land Cruiser, your own driver, your own pickup time, and your own timetable. From AED 900 per vehicle for up to 6, with optional VIP seating, quad bike and dune buggy upgrades.
Need a Hummer, a private camp, a proposal, or a corporate setup? Message us on WhatsApp — reply usually inside 10 minutes, 04:30–23:00.
Not sure if private is right for you? · Standard evening safari · VIP seating upgrade · Private vs shared comparison · Overnight desert safari and morning desert safari also run as private trips for your group · desert safari with quad bike if you want the 30-minute ride · desert safari with dune buggy where you take the wheel.
It is a desert tour where the 4x4 vehicle and driver are booked only for your group. You do not share the car with other guests.
Our private tours start from AED 900 per vehicle. The final price depends on the type of tour, the group size, the season, and any add-ons you choose.
Private desert safaris are priced per vehicle, so one price covers your whole group, up to the vehicle's seat limit.
Most vehicles seat up to 6 guests. For bigger groups, we can arrange more than one vehicle.
Yes. Within the tour window, we can adjust the pickup time to fit your plans.
Yes. Evening and overnight private tours include a BBQ dinner at the camp, with vegetarian options available.
Yes. Private sunrise and morning tours are popular with families, photographers, and summer visitors.
Yes. It is one of the best options for families, because the driver can adjust the ride to suit younger children.
Yes. Just tell your driver, or let us know when booking, and the ride will be smoother and slower.
Yes. Many couples choose it for the privacy, the quiet photo stops, and the sunset dinner.
Yes. Tell us in advance, and we will help you plan something special.
Yes. Let us know your food needs when booking, and we will arrange your meal.
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for locations within our service area in Abu Dhabi.
Yes. Our drivers are trained, vehicles are checked, and seatbelts are used throughout the ride. We also adjust the driving style to the group.
In a private tour, the vehicle is only for your group, and you have more control over timing and pace. In a shared tour, you ride with other guests on a fixed schedule.
Yes. Quad biking is available as an add-on. Let us know when booking, and we will confirm the details and price.
Light clothing for the day, a jacket for the evening, and closed shoes or sandals that can handle sand.
We suggest booking at least one or two days ahead, and earlier during winter and holiday periods.
