One camel per person
Every guest rides their own camel for the full hour. This is not a short turn at a camp corral. You mount at the dunes and ride alongside your group all the way through sunrise and back.
Your itinerary
Timings are indicative and can vary with traffic and desert conditions. Sunrise time is for Abu Dhabi in October to March; it shifts by several minutes across the year.
Hotel pickup
Collected from your Abu Dhabi hotel, residence or a designated meeting point by your private 4x4 and guide. Drive to the dunes takes approximately 45 minutes.
Arrive and prepare for camel trekking
Your guide introduces the camels, shows you how to mount and explains how to hold the reins. The camels are calm, experienced desert animals. No prior riding experience is required.
Private one-hour camel trek
One camel each for the full hour. Your guide leads the group along a dune route with stops at the best vantage points for sunrise photography. The pace is a slow walk; the guide adjusts it for your group. ☀ Sunrise at approximately 6:44 AM
Arabic coffee and dates
Served at the dune edge by the guide. Qahwa, the lightly roasted Arabic coffee spiced with cardamom, poured into small handleless cups alongside a plate of Emirati dates. A traditional moment of rest after the ride.
Light desert breakfast at camp
A simple breakfast at a small desert camp: eggs, bread, cheese, fresh fruit and more Arabic coffee or tea. Eaten in the open air as the desert heats up and the dunes shift from gold to white.
Sandboarding
Sandboards provided. The dune slopes in Al Khatim suit all levels, including first-timers and children. Your guide demonstrates technique and stays with the group on the slope.
Depart for hotel
Drive back to Abu Dhabi in your private 4x4.
Hotel drop-off
Back at your hotel with the rest of the morning free.
What is included, and what is not
Included
- Return hotel pick-up and drop-off by private 4x4
- Bottled water on board
- Private English-speaking guide
- One-hour camel trek, one camel each
- Sunrise photo stops
- Arabic coffee and dates at the dunes
- Light desert breakfast at camp
- Sandboarding with boards provided
- VAT included in all prices
Not included
- Dune bashing (not part of this tour; see our evening desert safari if you want off-road driving)
- Alcohol
- Gratuities
- Professional photography service (personal cameras and phones are welcome)
Straight talk: This tour is built around the camel ride and the sunrise. If you want dune bashing, a BBQ dinner or live entertainment, the evening desert safari is the better choice.
Sunrise camel riding vs other Abu Dhabi desert tours
| Tour | Starts | Duration | Camel | Main activity | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Camel Riding Tour (this tour) | 5:30 AM | ~4 hrs | 1 hr, one each | Private camel trek at sunrise | 390 AED |
| Sunrise Desert Tour | 5:00 AM | ~4 hrs | Short camp ride | Dune bashing at first light | 390 AED |
| Camel Trekking Tour | Flexible | ~4 hrs | Full trek | Camel trek, flexible timing | 360 AED |
| Evening Desert Safari | 2:30 PM | ~7 hrs | Short camp ride | Dune bashing, BBQ, live shows | 189 AED |
| See all Abu Dhabi desert safaris |
Is this tour right for you?
Perfect if you...
- Want the sunrise camel experience as the main event, not a side activity
- Are travelling as a couple, a family or a small private group
- Want to be back at the hotel by mid-morning
- Like photography and want the golden-hour light on the dunes
- Prefer a slow, quiet desert experience over an off-road adventure
Maybe not, if you...
- Want dune bashing or an off-road driving experience
- Are looking for a BBQ dinner, live shows or overnight camping
- Cannot manage a 5:30 am departure
- Have very young children who cannot sit in a saddle independently
Questions before you book?
Ask about pickup from Yas Island, Saadiyat, the cruise terminal, group rates or any dietary needs. Our Abu Dhabi team replies shortly.
Frequently asked questions
Hotel pickup is at 5:30 am. You arrive at the desert at approximately 6:15 to 6:30 am, and the camel trek begins at 6:30 am. Sunrise in Abu Dhabi falls at approximately 6:44 am, so you are already on camelback when the sky turns gold. The tour ends with hotel drop-off at approximately 9:30 am, giving you the rest of the morning free.
This is a fully private tour from start to finish. Your group has its own 4x4 vehicle, its own guide, and its own camels. You will not share the experience with strangers. The pace, the photo stops, and the time spent on each camel are all yours to set.
One camel per person. This is one of the key differences from a standard camp camel ride, where guests queue and take short turns on a single camel. On this tour, each person mounts their own camel and rides alongside the group for the full one-hour trek.
The Abu Dhabi sunrise desert tour focuses on dune bashing in a 4x4 at first light and includes a short camel ride at the camp as one of several activities. This sunrise camel riding tour puts the camel at the centre of the experience: a private one-hour trek with one camel each is the main event. There is no dune bashing on this tour, and the group moves at a walking pace across the sand. It suits travellers who want an intimate, slow and quiet encounter with the desert rather than an off-road adventure.
The Abu Dhabi camel trekking tour runs at a flexible time and is designed for a longer, more varied desert day. This sunrise camel riding tour is specifically timed around the sunrise at 6:44 am, departing at 5:30 am so the trek is already under way when the light peaks. The short, focused four-hour format is back to the hotel by 9:30 am, which is ideal for guests who want a morning activity before a full day in Abu Dhabi.
After the camel trek, the guide serves Arabic coffee and dates at the desert edge, a traditional welcome common across the Gulf. This is followed by a light desert breakfast at the camp between 7:45 and 8:30 am. Bottled water is available throughout the tour.
Yes. Sandboarding on the dunes is included between 8:30 and 8:45 am after breakfast. Boards are provided. No experience is required. The dunes in the Al Khatim area suit all levels, from children to adults trying sandboarding for the first time.
Yes. Camels walk slowly and the trek is conducted on flat desert ground at a calm pace. Children who are old enough to sit securely in the saddle and follow simple instructions from the guide can take part. We recommend the tour for children aged five and above, subject to parents' judgement. The 5:30 am start is early, so plan the night before accordingly.
