When it comes to the UAE, deserts are synonymous.
The country has more desert areas than cities. As a result, these deserts aid the UAE in attracting tourists from around the world for desert sporting actions, forming an element of the UAE’s tourism infrastructure.
Going out into the deserts in Abu Dhabi brings you closer to nature’s genuine spirit.
A journey to Abu Dhabi would be incomplete without a visit to the desert, and there is no more suitable way to do so than on a desert safari.
In Al Ain, Liwa, and the dramatic Empty Quarter, you’ll find imposing dunes, rare species, and thrilling adventures you’ll never forget.
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Abu Dhabi Desert Safari
A desert adventure opens up a universe of possibilities. Climb into a 4×4 and drive across the dunes, meet falcons and camels, go sandboarding, see belly-dancing displays and camp beneath the stars.
You can spend an afternoon having fun or learning more about the soul of Arabia by participating in traditional life while visiting deserts in Abu Dhabi. Try local cuisine at an Arabian buffet or receive artistic henna tattoos with your family.
From high-adrenaline dune bashing excursions to more eco-friendly nature and heritage safaris, a desert safari allows you to escape the city and explore the UAE’s actual heartland.
Summary of the Famous Deserts in Abu Dhabi
When it comes to booking travel for a desert safari, there are numerous alternatives. Here are some top deserts in Abu Dhabi for a one-of-a-kind trip every time.
1. Al Khatim Desert Safari
Al Khatim Desert Safari is a picturesque desert located on the Al Ain highway road E22 also known as Al Ain Desert Safari, only 80 km from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s downtown area.
It is one of the best and most well-known deserts in Abu Dhabi for desert sports, including 4×4 off-road driving.
Al Khatim Desert is also recognized for its serene mood, as well as its beautiful scenery and dunes. It is the finest location for anyone looking for an adrenaline-pumping off-road adventure. Explore and learn about this area of Abu Dhabi by taking an off-road tour through the famed Al Khatim Desert.
Explore the towering dunes, which may reach a height of 934 feet.
You can pause for refreshing refreshments between the enormous dunes surrounded by Arabia’s peaceful sands to make yourself relaxed.
If you want to embark on an adventure here, Al Khatim Desert Safari has something for everyone.
2. Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis
The Liwa Oasis is a 100-kilometre-long crescent-shaped oasis on the northern fringe of Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter (the Ruba’ Al Khali), 220 km north of Abu Dhabi island.
The oasis is one of the UAE’s most important farming and pasture-producing zones, making it an essential element of the country, particularly integral to the UAE’s rural culture.
The desert life on display at this one-of-a-kind oasis is authentic and immersive.
More than 50 communities may be in Liwa Oasis. The most intriguing part is that the current rulers of several Emirati cities are descendants of the Bani Yas clan of Liwa Oasis.
Many portions of the Liwa Oasis still have traces of royalty. Furthermore, due to its importance on the UAE map, Liwa Oasis is currently well connected to most major Emirates by multilane highways.
The oasis also has some of the highest dunes, for ideal desert drag racing grounds.
3. Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter Desert
In 1947, the British explorer sat alone on a ridge overlooking the desert on one of two epic treks with Arabian Bedouin that led him past the enormous dunes of the Empty Quarter and the Liwa oasis towns that dot its southern border.
Arabian Sands is considered a travel literary classic.
While others visited the deserts in Abu Dhabi as an empty nothingness and the Bedouin as primitive tribesmen, Thesiger saw them as they saw themselves: great men who saw the desert as a sea upon which they could freely roam. The desert was life itself to them and him. Beautiful. Harsh. Epic. He referred to them as “desert Arabs,” and described them as possessing “austere dignity.”
Those dunes still live, as do the Liwa oases, just an hour and a half south of Abu Dhabi via slippery roads, and camping in them or driving over them in a four-by-four is an experience of one of the beauties of the Earth.
The sand is smooth and powdery, with multicoloured khaki and orange hues, and it rolls in windswept hills hundreds of feet high as far as the eye can reach, unbroken by trees or plants or even the rarest of clouds.
Driving off-road into its vastness allows you to experience that piercing silence, whether at night or during the day. Time evaporates as the night sky erupts with stars, shimmering and falling, the Milky Way like a thick swirl of tapioca.
4. Sweihan
Sweihan is known as “Little Liwa” and is among the best deserts in Abu Dhabi near Al Ain and Dubai.
Its dunes, silky sands, roving camels, oryx, and gazelles make it a breathtakingly beautiful desert film backdrop for a cinematic masterpiece.
But be warned: due to the remote location, you’ll need an expert guide, a good 4×4, and a very skilled driver to get there.
A destination for expert off-roaders only, you’ll find some beautiful and massive natural sand ridges (the most outstanding as Naqrah) and plenty of breathtaking views. You’ll come across some stunning and inspired ready-made desert film sets wherever in UAE.
Once you’ve decided on a site, they can deliver you studio space, post-production facilities, skilled crew, filming permissions, and even support with travel and logistics.
5. Al Ain: The desert’s oasis
Al Ain is one of the renowned deserts in Abu Dhabi on the border with Oman, about an hour east of Abu Dhabi. The vegetation is what first draws your attention to it.
Palm trees adorn the streets, and groomed gardens abound. It is known as the Garden City of the Gulf, and it is a pleasant relief from the concrete jungle of construction and development that is so common in cities in this region of the world.
The natural water supply is responsible for Al Ain’s oasis-like atmosphere.
The city’s name means “spring” in Arabic, and it is notable for its “falaj system,” which includes underground water lines dating back to 1,000 BC.
Some are still in service, and the best spot to observe them is in one of the city’s six oases. Walking into one, you notice little farms that still harvest date palms today.
Little paths wind through these oases, sending you far away from the large city bustle of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Activities to do while visiting deserts in Abu Dhabi
Here are some exciting activities you can do during your excursion to deserts in Abu Dhabi.
On a Sandboard, Surf the Big Sand Sea
Hold your board and ride the dunes! Sandboarding, like snowboarding, is an intense activity that requires technique and a good sense of balance.
Parties can move over or directly down the dunes while standing, sitting, or lying on their boards.
Tanoura Ballet
A compelling tanoura dance may be presented as an alternative to, or in addition to, belly dancing.
Tanoura, another Egyptian dance, gets its name from the distinctive skirt worn by the performer.
Discover the Joys of Dune Bashing
Dune bashing – driving up and down dunes at high speeds – is something desert safaris include as part of their agenda.
While many tourists like it in recent years, dune bashing has come under fire for its harmful influence on the fragile desert habitat.
Shisha smoking
Many visitors to the Middle East like smoking shisha. On a desert safari in a unique environment under the desert stars.
While shisha includes fewer toxins than cigars and cigarettes, it is still dangerous and, if smoked consistently, can influence blood pressure and cause heart disease and lung cancer.
Enjoy Some Belly Dance
Belly dance is entertainment at some campgrounds and deserts in Abu Dhabi excursions. Belly dance originated in ancient Egypt but spread throughout the Middle East until the establishment of Islam.
Arabic Barbecue
Many desert safaris feature a traditional Arabic barbeque dinner.
A variety of meze style starters like hummus (chickpea dip), moutabal (aubergine dip), fattoush salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, radishes, onion, pomegranate, and molasses), olives, mixed pickles, and Arabic bread are at the barbeque.
Take a Camel Ride
Riding into the desert sunset on a camel is a fantasy for many, but it may be a nightmare for others!
To avoid damage, follow your directions and lean backwards when the camel stands or sits.
Get a Henna Tattoo
For decades, women in the region have sported henna tattoos, now available to visitors at most desert camps and on many desert safaris.
Tattoos are often painted on hands, arms, and feet to bring good luck.
Accelerate Across the Desert on a Quad Bike
A quad bike is another method to explore the desert. Some packages include it, while others charge you extra after you reach the desert.
If you want to accomplish in deserts in Abu Dhabi, double-check your itinerary before booking, as it is not an automatic inclusion.
FAQs
Which Desert is More Beautiful, Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
The desert in Dubai is smaller than in Abu Dhabi, yet it presents a variety of activities such as camel riding, dune bashing, and entertainment programs. On the contrary, Abu Dhabi boasts the largest desert area, with massive dunes and traditional activities. Quad riding and sand surfing are two examples.
What is Dubai’s Most Famous Desert?
Rub al Khali, also known as the Great Sandy Desert, is the world’s biggest sand desert, covering over 250,000 square miles. It is also regarded as one of the most important, as it possesses large amounts of oil and natural gas under its sands.
Is Abu Dhabi More Plentiful than Dubai?
If you want to experience the sights and sounds of the city while staying in luxury, Dubai is the place to be. With a family, I prefer Abu Dhabi, but for a romantic break, you can prefer Dubai. However, Abu Dhabi is the superior choice, if you want a more traditional experience.
What is the Name of Abu Dhabi’s Largest Desert?
National Geographic photograph of the Rub al Khali Empty Quarter Desert in Abu Dhabi. The Empty Quarter, often known as the Rub al Khali desert, is the world’s largest sand desert.
Final words
Adventure enthusiasts who want to experience desert life can come with families fascinated by camels, fin-lovers, and history fans. These deserts in Abu Dhabi are ideal for those who desire to learn about different aspects of Arabic culture.
Whether shooting an Arabian-themed drama, an adrenaline-pumping war thriller, or a sci-fi epic set on unnoticed planet billions of light-years away, Abu Dhabi’s deserts are the ideal natural setting.
It is time to head to the desert for a few nights of camping or a day trip from town.
