Family Desert Safari Dubai — camel ride with children
For families

Family Desert Safari Dubai

A safe, genuinely enjoyable desert day for parents, grandparents and kids of every age — here's how to plan it right.

See Family-friendly Tours Ask About Ages

Is a Desert Safari a Good Idea with Kids?

Short answer: yes — with the right tour choice, a desert safari is one of the most memorable family activities in Dubai, suitable for children of any age with the correct safety precautions and pacing.

Families make up a large share of our bookings, and the concerns parents raise are almost always the same: is dune bashing too rough for my child, is the heat manageable, and will there be food my kids will actually eat. The honest answer to all three is that it depends on which tour and time slot you choose — which is exactly why we've built this page.

Below, we cover which of our tours suit which age groups, what's genuinely safe versus what needs adjusting, real child pricing, and a sample family itinerary so you know exactly what a day looks like before you book.

Best picks

The Best Family Desert Safari Tours

Morning Desert Safari

Cooler temperatures and a shorter 4-hour duration make this the easiest full safari for young children to manage.

Morning Desert Safari Dubai

Private Desert Safari

Your own driver-guide adjusts pace and intensity to your specific children, ideal for mixed-age or multi-generational families.

Private Desert Safari Dubai

Camel Ride Dubai

The gentlest desert activity we offer — no dune bashing at all, just a calm trek suitable for the youngest travellers.

Camel Ride Dubai

Evening Desert Safari

Still a great family option for children comfortable with a later finish — includes dinner and a live show kids tend to love.

Evening Desert Safari Dubai
Safety

Safety Information for Families

Every Dubai Safaris vehicle carries a seat belt for every seat, and our drivers hold RTA desert-driving permits with a minimum of five years' experience. Drivers are trained to read discomfort in young or nervous passengers and adjust their driving style immediately — you don't need to specifically ask, though it always helps to mention children are on board when booking.

  • Seat belts fitted for every passenger
  • Drivers adjust pace for children automatically
  • Camel handlers experienced with nervous first-timers
  • Air-conditioned vehicles throughout
  • Free rescheduling if a child is unwell on the day
  • Water provided throughout every tour
Ages

Age Recommendations by Activity

ActivityRecommended ageNotes
Dune bashing (standard)Any age, with an adultInfants and toddlers ride on a guardian's lap
Dune Bashing Adventure (intense)10+More intense than our standard route; better for older kids
Camel rideAny ageYoung children ride with an adult or handler
Sandboarding5+Requires basic balance and following instructions
Quad bike (self-drive)16+Valid ID required; younger riders join as a passenger from age 8
Overnight camp stayAny ageBest for children comfortable sleeping away from a normal bed
A day with kids

Sample Family Itinerary (Morning Safari)

8:30 am

Hotel pickup

Confirmed driver details sent by WhatsApp the evening before, so you know exactly who's collecting you.

9:15 am

Gentle dune bashing

Driver checks comfort levels early and adjusts pace — most children find the morning drive exciting rather than scary.

10:15 am

Sandboarding & camel ride

Two calmer activities kids consistently rate as the highlight of the day.

11:00 am

Photo stops

Time for family photos in the dunes before heading back.

12:30 pm

Hotel drop-off

Back in time for lunch and a pool afternoon — no late-night finish to manage with tired kids.

Pickup for families

Pickup Information

Free air-conditioned pickup and drop-off is included on every family tour, from any Dubai hotel or residence. We recommend confirming your child's exact age and any specific needs (allergies, mobility, nervousness around animals) when booking, so your driver and camp host know in advance rather than finding out on the day.

From families

What Parents Say

"Was nervous about bringing our 5-year-old but the Morning Safari was perfectly paced for her. The driver checked in constantly and she loved the camel ride most of all."

LC
Lucy C.United Kingdom

"Booked the Private Safari for three generations of our family and it was the best decision — grandma got a gentle ride while the teenagers still got their thrill."

HD
Hassan D.UAE

"Our toddler fell asleep on the drive back which tells you everything about how comfortable the whole day was. Genuinely stress-free for a family trip."

MW
Megan W.Ireland
Parent FAQs

Family Desert Safari FAQs

Is a desert safari safe for kids?
Yes. Our dune-bashing drivers are trained specifically to adjust intensity when children are on board, vehicles have seat belts for every seat, and gentler alternatives like the camel ride are always available for younger or nervous children.
What is the minimum age for a desert safari?
There's no strict minimum age for our standard safaris — infants ride on a parent's lap. For self-driving activities like quad biking, riders must be at least 16 (or 8 for a supervised tandem passenger ride).
Which desert safari tour is best for young children?
The Morning Desert Safari (cooler, shorter) and the Private Desert Safari (fully adjustable pace) are our top picks for families with young children. The standalone Camel Ride Dubai is the gentlest option of all.
Do children get a discounted price?
Yes, children aged 3-10 typically pay 20-30% less than the adult rate, and infants under 3 ride free on most tours. See our full price guide for every tour's child rate.
Can my toddler come on the dune-bashing drive?
Yes, toddlers can join, seated securely with a parent throughout, though there's no separate car seat in a desert 4x4 — very young or motion-sensitive children may do better on our gentler Camel Ride Dubai instead.
What if my child gets scared during dune bashing?
Drivers can ease off immediately if a child (or adult) is uncomfortable — just let your driver know at any point, and on a private booking you can set a gentler pace from the start.
Is there food my kids will actually eat?
Our evening and overnight camp buffets include simple grilled options, rice, bread and fruit alongside the fuller spread, which most children eat happily.
How long can young children manage on a safari?
The 4-hour Morning Safari is the easiest for young children to manage; the 6-hour Evening Safari works well for most families, especially with an afternoon nap beforehand.
Is pickup safe and reliable for families?
Yes — every pickup is confirmed by WhatsApp with your driver's details in advance, and our vehicles are inspected regularly with working seat belts and air conditioning throughout.
Can grandparents join a family safari too?
Absolutely — the Private Desert Safari is especially popular with multi-generational families, since your driver can moderate the pace for older relatives while still giving younger family members a real thrill.

Related Reading

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