Read This or Risk Ruining Your Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Trip
Ever gone camping and had everything end up in a disaster? I did. No tour guides, no itinerary, no camp bookings, and no restaurant reservations. I know that sounds bad, but I was really clueless back then.
I don’t know how I survived that trip, but I learned that no matter how excited you are about an activity, you can’t just wing it. There are too many people around who want the same experience, and one mistake can take you out of those plans altogether.
So for my recent trip to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, I made sure everything was planned out. My friends and I put together a detailed travel guide, and we think it could really help you if you’re planning a trip there yourself.
What is the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve known for?
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is known for its wildlife—it has the largest free-roaming herd of Arabian oryxes! You’ll also find Arabian gazelles, sand gazelles, and a variety of birds, reptiles, and insects there.
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is from October to March. The weather is cooler and comfier, allowing visitors to enjoy a night safari camping or a dune dinner for a relaxing and memorable experience.
Things to Know
How to Get Around
Taxi/Car: You may call a cab to reach the reserve, but you’ll need a 4×4 car or vehicle to explore inside it.
What to Do in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Ride a Camel
Media from natgeotravel
When you think of the desert, what’s the first thing you think about other than the sand? The camels, right? Riding one of these even-toed animals at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is among the most exciting and classic activities there!
But first, you’ll leave the city via a cool minivan and head to the desert to meet a camel train. Then, you’ll get carried through the desert on the traditional “ship of the desert” (a.k.a., the camels), and it typically lasts around 45 to 60 minutes.
You can imagine yourself as the lead in a famous movie like Aladdin! Afterward, you can have a delightful Emirati dinner at a Bedouin-style (nomadic Arab tribes) camp on your desert adventure.
Spot the Wildlife
Media from ddcr_uae
Love animals? You’ll get to see some cool new creatures at the reserve, with its wide variety of wildlife (Dubai wildlife)!
Spot the local stars like the Arabian onyx, gazelles, and birds like the Pharaoh eagle-owl, Cream-coloured courser, and Asian green bee-eater!
Just make sure to pay attention to your tour guides, as they’ll share tons of interesting facts about the plants and animals in the area.
Interact with the Falcons
Media from brandonau
At the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, you can see the ancient art of falconry—this is where you can see these magnificent creatures showcase their expertise in hunting! You can also marvel at other birds of prey, such as hawks and desert eagle owls.
And guess what? We love that some tours also let the guests interact with the birds. With expert supervision, they can land seamlessly on your arm!
If you have ornithophobia (fear of birds), we reckon this might be a magnificent place to overcome it once and for all. Otherwise, we think looking at them from a distance is cool too.
Slide Down the Dunes via Sandboarding
Media from bpchua_photography
If you’re familiar with snowboarding, we think it’s time to switch the snow to sand and try something new, like sandboarding! This sport might be intimidating to some, but this activity suits almost all ages—a great bonding option with your family or crew!
Should this be your first time, we say don’t be scared to wear shoes strapped onto a trusty sandboard—it’s specially adapted for the terrain!
Just make sure to wear all the essential gear, like helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads. Pay great attention to your instructors too, as they’ll share tips and tricks on how you’ll perfectly balance on the board.
Stargaze with Your Date
Media from platinumheritage
Do you and your significant other prefer introvert-friendly dates to wild dancing in the club? In our view, checking out the stars at the conservation reserve is a fantastic alternative to enjoying the nightfall.
You may ride a 4-wheeler to enjoy the cool breeze as you spot the constellations, if any. You may also pair it with a tasty 3-course dinner at camp, trying out different Emirati gourmet dishes to find your new favorites.
For some added fun, we suggest looking up upcoming astronomical events before you go. That way, you can plan your visit to catch things like meteor showers, lunar eclipses, or supermoons—don’t miss your chance!
Where to Eat near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Sonara Camp
Media from sonara_camp
Website: http://www.nara.ae/
Address: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Contact Details: +971 50 336 0397
Pricing: $$$
Sonara Camp is where you have dinner after a guided tour at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. For us, it’s the best way to enjoy your time there since you’re right in the reserve with a fancy outdoor scene or big tents set up.
We also love the fairy lights that add a magical touch, the comfy cushions, and the entertainment that goes on all night.
When it comes to food, our favorites are the Tahitian ceviche and the pulled lamb shoulder. You might also like the grilled Black Angus picanha (top sirloin cap)! We appreciate that the desserts, like fresh fruit salad, are light and balance out the meal.
Al Namoos Cafe
Media from alnamoos_cafe
Contact Details: +971 50 322 2101
Pricing: $$
Al Namoos Cafe is a spot near the reserve where there are lots of food options to enjoy while joining in various activities. Here, we love that guests can ride a horse or camel, drive an ATV, or catch the sunset.
In our opinion, the burgers here are a standout as well. But if that’s not your thing, we suggest going for the roast beef sandwich or one of the açaí bowls.
For desserts, we like the luqaimat (fried dough balls dunked in sugar syrup), which we feel complements the coffee well. Another recommendation from us is the strawberry mojito for a refreshing experience with your pals.
Shraa Al Safina
Media from sapphirelunatravels
Address: 9th St – Nadd Al Hamar
Contact Details: +971 50 126 0105
Pricing: $$
If you’re crazy about seafood, Shraa Al Safina, near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, is the place to be!
Our favorite dishes here are crab curry, kingfish biryani, and grilled seabass. We think the way they present the food is awesome too! There are lots of colors and textures, and the portions look generous—great for big appetites, we say.
Plus, we appreciate that this is one of the most affordable places near the reserve. In our opinion, this is handy if you’ve already splurged on activities and want to keep your food budget in check.
Where to Shop near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Zad Food Store
Media from cafezad
Website: https://www.zadfoodstores.com/
Address: Al Qudra Cycling Path – R8XV+QW2 Seih AL Salam
Contact Details: +971 50 502 5856
Zad Food Store is among your go-to convenience spots near the reserve. Here, you’ll find everything from snacks to groceries to camping and cycling gear. Swing by on your way to the conservation reserve and grab a cappuccino for a quick boost.
We also like the sandwiches and wraps, and you can enjoy them in the outdoor seating area where you’ll spot lots of bikers. Who knows? Maybe they’ll inspire you to become more active too!
And don’t skip on the store’s wide selection of protein drinks, bars, vitamin shots, and hydrating beverages. We reckon these can keep you fueled for all your physical activities at the desert later.
Near Expiry Shop
Media from sapphirelunatravels
Address: Dubai Land – Shop # 2, The Gate Residence 2 – Wadi Al Safa 5
Contact Details: +971 55 851 7171
Trying to save some dirhams? The Near Expiry Shop is exactly what it sounds like! They sell stuff that’s close to expiring, so you get great discounts on your way to the conservation reserve.
What’s really cool about this place for us is the transparency. Each item shows the discounted price, the original price, and the expiration date. No more guessing which ones are going to go bad first!
It may also seem like a small store, but it’s pretty neat! For us, this just makes it quick and easy to grab all the candies, snacks, drinks, and other goodies for your desert adventure.
Bookends
Media from bookendsae
Website: https://bookends.ae/
Address: Dubai Digital Park A3 Building – Dubai Silicon Oasis – Industrial Area
Contact Details: +971 50 362 1164
If you love books as much as food, Bookends is one of our favorite bookshops in Dubai that’s worth checking out. It offers a wide variety of both new and preloved books, so we believe it’s a true bookworm’s haven!
And even though many of the books here are used, we appreciate that they’re still in pretty good shape. There are a bunch of options in almost every genre, so we say take your time browsing to find something you’ll love.
We recommend checking the shop’s online collection first so you won’t miss out on any specific book. Alternatively, it offers convenient delivery if you prefer shopping from home.
Zahrat Al Marmoom Roastry
Media from sapphirelunatravels
Location: Marmoom, XF2V+5H
Contact Details: +971 56 4274419
Zahrat Al Marmoom Roastery is a cool spot where you can grab all kinds of nuts, whether you like Arabic, Turkish, espresso, or coffee powder flavors.
This shop also has an amazing selection of chocolates, including gift packages! In our opinion, it’s a great place to bring kids because the candies are organized by flavor and are super fun and colorful!
We also think it’s an awesome place to pick up some souvenirs or gifts after spending a day or two at the conservation reserve.
Darwish Salmin Trading Est.
Media from sapphirelunatravels
Address: XG25+P7G
Contact Details: +971 50 807 9228
Darwish Salmin Trading Est. is a small electronics store in Dubai that we reckon is perfect for picking up all sorts of handy items for your camping trip.
The store’s got everything from bags and flashlights to emergency lights, stainless steel pitchers, and mini fans. Even if you don’t end up using everything during your desert overnight, we bet these items would be super useful for future trips.
We also love that you can find bath essentials you might’ve forgotten to pack, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, petroleum jelly, and more—last-minute panic solved!
Where to Stay near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Al Maha
Media from almaha_resort
Address: QJQ4+HX Murqquab – Al Ain – Dubai Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 832 9900
Pricing: $$$
Al Maha is a 5-star hotel near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where you can have a luxurious stay after all your desert adventures.
The suites offer satellite TV and minibars, as well as coffee-making facilities. But if you splurge on an upgrade, we like that some rooms have extra bedrooms, kitchens, courtyards, and even private staff quarters—like getting VIP treatment!
There are tons of activities for families too, from falconry to nature walks. This is why we think the hotel is a fantastic spot to bring older kids, ages 10 and up.
Bab Al Shams
Media from babalshamshotel
Website: https://www.babalshams.com/
Address: Al Qudra Road – Opposite Endurance City
Contact Details: +971 4 809 6100
Pricing: $$$
Bab Al Shams is a top-notch 5-star place where you can soak in Moorish-inspired (Islamic architectural style) mixed with modern luxury and amazing nature views.
You’ve got options here: rooms, suites, and family retreats. We like that the Arabian vibes look super cozy, with comfy beds, stylish interiors, and awesome views—especially from the terraces overlooking the desert and gardens!
But the coolest part? We love the pool areas! There’s space for adults to chill and lots of family-friendly fun with waterfalls, fountains, showers, a swim-up bar, and infinity edges that overlook the desert.
Terra Solis Dubai
Media from terrasolisdubai
Website: https://www.terrasolisdubai.com/
Address: Dubai Heritage Vision Exit – 29 Jebel Ali – Lehbab Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 459 8300
Pricing: $$$
Should you be looking for unique accommodation that doesn’t look like your typical hotel, Terra Solis Dubai is worth exploring. Here, you’ll get a comfy double bed, soft sheets, and your own bathroom in a fancy-looking tent or lodge.
We love the king-size bed, the mini fridge, and the safe deposit locker to keep your stuff secure. Plus, you can enjoy the property facilities, sun loungers by the pool, and various activities and entertainment.
Stargazing under the clear skies here feels like a magical experience too. For us, this is ideal for a romantic or family vacation or a solo retreat.
Al Badayer Retreat By Sharjah Collection
Media from albadayer.retreat
Website: http://www.sharjahcollection.ae/
Address: Al Badayer – Sharjah
Contact Details: +971 6 801 2000
Pricing: $$$
Al Badayer Retreat is another 5-star option where you can enjoy super comfy stays in private tents or traditional homes. We think these roadside-inn-inspired rooms are fabulous for couples and families who love watching stunning sunrises and sunsets.
In our opinion, travelers can really feel the “Emirati warmth” at this spot with the private spa, custom dining, family pool, and amphitheater.
We also love that this hotel is very eco-friendly! It uses biodegradable products, recycles, and tries to save water and electricity—guilt-free vacay for everyone!
Meliá Desert Palm
Media from meliadesertpalm
Website: https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/united-arab-emirates/dubai/hotel-desert-palm-melia-collection
Address: Al Awir Road – Warisan
Contact Details: +971 4 323 8888
Pricing: $$$
Just 20 km from downtown Dubai, Meliá Desert Palm is a fancy hotel with a huge 65-hectare estate. We think it’s pretty cool how it mixes Latin and UAE cultures and heritage.
We love the awesome views of the garden, polo fields, and pool too! The elegant rooms and suites have all the basics, and the upgraded ones even have balconies with garden access.
To make your stay more active and memorable, we recommend horseback riding with family or friends. And when it gets hot, we say grab some fruity frozen drinks by the pool—we heard regulars just couldn’t get enough of them.
Tips When Visiting the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Now that you know the ins and outs of the reserve, here are some handy tips to ensure your desert trip is a breeze:
Bring a sweater. Even though the desert gets really hot during the day, it can get surprisingly chilly at night! We think it’s smart to bring a jacket, sweater, or dress in layers so you can easily adapt to the temperature changes.
Plan your bathroom breaks. Some guided tours at the reserve don’t have bathroom stops once they begin. Take advantage of any opportunities to use the restroom before your tour to make your day more efficient and hassle-free.
Don’t forget your allergy meds. The camp serves gourmet food with various cuisines from around the world. If you’re allergic to seafood or other foods, make sure to prepare accordingly. This way, you can enjoy the food without worries!
Bring extra dirhams. Even if you’ve already paid for a package, there might still be extra costs for amenities. For instance, some BBQ extras, henna tattoos, or additional dune buggies require extra fees. For us, it’s handy to have extra dirhams on hand.