The question we get asked most about this trip: "Is the quad biking a separate excursion before the safari?" No. It happens at the desert, in the middle of your evening — you ride right around sunset, between the dune bashing and dinner at the camp. Our desert safari with quad bike Dubai combo folds a 30-minute ATV session into the classic evening program: hotel pickup, dune bashing, BBQ dinner, and live shows, all in one 6–7 hour trip.
We've run this combo since 2018, and the same handful of questions lands in our WhatsApp every week. When exactly do the quads happen? What's the difference between the 30 and 45 minute sessions? Can the kids ride? This guide answers all of it with the actual timings we run — not vague marketing copy.
How the Combo Evening Runs, Hour by Hour
Total trip time is 6 to 7 hours, door to door. Here's the sequence:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3:00–3:30 PM | Hotel pickup in a Toyota Land Cruiser (Dubai, Sharjah, or Ajman) |
| ~4:15 PM | Arrive at the Lahbab red dunes — tires deflated for sand driving, safety briefing |
| 4:15–5:00 PM | Dune bashing: 45 minutes (60 minutes on Premium) |
| ~5:00 PM | Quad bike session: gear fitting, briefing, then 30 minutes of riding (45 on Premium) |
| Before sunset | Photo stop on the dune ridge — golden hour on the red sand |
| 6:00–9:00 PM | Desert camp: camel ride, sandboarding, henna, shisha, BBQ dinner, live shows |
| ~9:30 PM | Drop-off back at your hotel |
A few notes on that schedule. The drive out to Lahbab takes about 45 minutes from central Dubai — the sand there is the iron-oxide red you see in photos, and it's worth the drive. Exact timings shift a little through the year because we plan the quad session and photo stop around sunset, which lands near 5:30 PM in December and closer to 7:00 PM in June. Your driver adjusts on the day.
On pickup: it's shared by default, which means the Land Cruiser may collect one or two other groups on the way out. If you'd rather have the vehicle to yourselves — families with small kids usually do — you can upgrade to a private pickup for your group only (up to 6 guests) when you book. Either way, the driver confirms your pickup time the evening before, so keep your phone on.
The quad session gets the best light of the evening. The sun sits low, the dunes turn deep orange, and you're riding through it instead of watching it from a car window. If photos matter to you, this is when to hand your phone to whoever's not riding.
The camp is the longest stretch of the night, and it's unhurried. The camel ride is short — a loop around the camp area, more photo op than trek. Sandboarding has no time limit, so you can keep climbing dunes until dinner. There's a henna station, a shisha lounge, and Arabic coffee and dates on arrival. Dinner is a BBQ buffet with live cooking — lamb, chicken, kebabs, salads, Arabic mezze, desserts — and three live shows run through the evening: tanoura, a fire show, and belly dance. Premium guests get a fourth show and seats closer to the stage.
The Quad Session: 30 vs 45 Minutes, Standard vs Premium
The combo comes in two tiers, and the differences between them are concrete — not "premium experience" fluff. Here's exactly what changes:
| Feature | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Quad biking | 30 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Dune bashing | 45 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Live shows | 3 (tanoura, fire, belly dance) | 4 |
| Camp seating | Standard | VIP — closer to the stage |
| Soft drinks | Included at camp | Unlimited |
Everything else is identical. Both tiers ride the same 250CC ATVs with helmet, goggles, and gloves provided. Both include hotel pickup and drop-off, the camel ride, sandboarding, henna, shisha at the camp lounge, and the full BBQ buffet.
Worth knowing what's not in either tier, so there are no surprises at the camp. Alcohol isn't served — the camp doesn't have a license, and that's true across Dubai's desert camps, not just ours. A professional photographer works the camp, but that's pay-on-site if you want it; your own phone does fine everywhere else. The souvenir stalls, extra quad time, and tips for the drivers and guides are all separate too. If you already know you'll want more riding, add the extra quad time when you book rather than trying to arrange it on the night.
We don't print prices in blog posts — rates change with the season, and an outdated number helps nobody. The current desert safari prices page pulls live rates for both tiers straight from our booking system, so what you see there is what you'd pay today.
Which tier should you pick? If it's your first time on a quad, 30 minutes is honestly enough — your forearms will tell you. If you've ridden before, or the quads are the main reason you're booking, go Premium for the 45-minute session. The extra dune bashing and the better seats are nice to have, but the longer ride is the real reason people upgrade.
Who Can Ride — Ages, Licenses, and Doubling Up
You don't need a driving license for the quad session. It runs on private desert terrain with our guides, not on public roads. The rules that do apply:
- 16 and up to drive. Riders aged 16 or 17 need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver at the briefing.
- One rider per quad. The 250CC ATVs are single-seat machines, so there's no doubling up — everyone who wants to ride books as a rider.
- Younger kids skip the quads. They ride in the 4x4 with your driver during the session, then get the camel ride, sandboarding, and camp activities like everyone else. Nobody sits around bored.
Two fair warnings. First, you will get dusty. Fine red sand works its way into shoes, pockets, and phone cases — closed shoes make a real difference, and sandals are a mistake. Second, the helmet is non-negotiable, and it will flatten your hair. Take your camp photos before the quad session or make peace with helmet hair in them.
One more honest note: pregnant guests and anyone with back or neck problems should sit out both the dune bashing and the quads. We can slow the 4x4 right down for the transfer legs, but dunes are dunes — the terrain doesn't soften for anyone.
Combo vs Booking Quad Biking Separately
We run quads two different ways, and they suit different trips.
The combo is one organized evening. Pickup, dune bashing, a 30- or 45-minute quad ride, dinner, shows, drop-off. The quad session is one act in a longer program, and the pacing reflects that — it's a proper taste of riding, but it isn't the whole point of the night.
The standalone is riding and nothing else. Our self-drive quad bike Dubai session runs 30 or 60 minutes from our desert base, in small groups of eight riders max, with three difficulty tracks and an instructor who matches the route to your skill level. There's no camp program attached — you drive out yourself (about 45 minutes from central Dubai, with free parking) or add a private pickup, ride, and head back. Morning and afternoon slots run year-round, starting from 7 AM.
So which one?
- Book the combo if you have one evening for the desert and want everything — quads, dune bashing, dinner, shows — handled in a single booking with hotel pickup included.
- Book the standalone if riding is the goal. The 60-minute session goes deeper into the Lahbab dunes and leaves time for the steeper tracks, and you set your own schedule instead of following the safari program.
Honest advice: if you've ridden quads before, the combo's 30-minute session will feel short. It's built for first-timers trying quads as part of a bigger evening. Experienced riders are usually happier with the standalone 60-minute run — or at minimum, the Premium tier's 45 minutes.
Still weighing ATVs against buggies? A quad is handlebars and body weight; a buggy is a steering wheel, a roll cage, and a passenger seat next to you. We've written a full quad bike vs dune buggy comparison if you're deciding between the two machines.
Morning Person? The Sunrise Version
If a mid-afternoon pickup doesn't fit your plans — or you'd rather ride at 25–30°C instead of in the afternoon heat — our sunrise quad bike combo flips the same idea to the other end of the day. Pickup is at 5:00 AM, the quad session runs on cool morning sand, there's a light breakfast at the camp, and you're back at your hotel by 10:30 AM with the whole day still ahead of you. Groups stay small too — usually 6 to 15 guests, nothing like a full evening camp.
Ready to lock in a date for the evening version? The combo sells out on weekends and through the December–January peak, so book a few days ahead if your schedule is tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a driving license to ride the quad bike?
No. The quad session takes place on private desert terrain, not public roads, so no license is required. You get a safety briefing and gear fitting before you ride, and our guides lead the group the whole way. The minimum age to drive is 16.
Can two people share a quad?
No — the 250CC quads are single-seat machines, so it's one rider per quad. If someone in your group would rather not ride, they can watch from the 4x4 and rejoin everyone afterward. Kids too young to drive do the same and pick things back up at the camp.
How long is the quad ride in the combo?
30 minutes on the Standard package and 45 minutes on Premium. If that's still not enough, extra quad time can be added as an add-on when you book — or look at our standalone session, which runs up to 60 minutes and gets deeper into the dunes.
Is quad biking safe for beginners?
Most of our combo riders have never sat on a quad before. The briefing covers throttle, brakes, and how soft sand behaves; helmets, goggles, and gloves are provided; and the guides set a pace the slowest rider can hold. Ride within your comfort level and you'll be fine. Skip it if you're pregnant or have back or neck problems — the 4x4 transfer can be taken gently, but the quad ride can't.
What should I wear for the quad session?
Closed shoes, light clothes you don't mind getting dusty, and nothing loose that can flap around at speed. The desert cools off fast after sunset — from November to February, bring a light jacket for the camp. A bandana or buff keeps sand out of your face on the ride, and sunglasses help once the helmet comes off. Whatever you wear will collect fine red dust. That's just the desert.