Ice Age fossil dunes
Calcium carbonate sculptures around 120,000 years old, roughly 1,700 of them across a 7 sq km protected area. Nowhere else looks like it.
The fossil dunes and the camel race track
The Al Wathba Fossil Dunes are not ordinary dunes. They are hardened formations of calcium carbonate and salts, shaped over tens of thousands of years and dated to the Ice Age, roughly 120,000 years ago. Around 1,700 of them sit inside the seven square kilometre Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Protected Area, cared for by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, with a visitor centre, viewing platforms and a walking trail. Entry is free, and the rule is simply to look, not climb.
On this tour, the fossil dunes are the first half of your evening and its single most photographed stop, one of the more distinctive routes among Abu Dhabi's evening desert safaris.
Next to the dunes runs the Al Wathba camel race track, a main venue for a sport with roots going back centuries. Season runs roughly October to March, on weekend mornings and the odd afternoon, and even off-season you can usually watch the training. Read the full Abu Dhabi camel race guide for schedules and the things to do in Al Wathba guide for the wider area.
| Experience | Morning | Evening (this tour) | Standard camp |
|---|---|---|---|
| When | Early start | Afternoon to night | Afternoon to night |
| Fossil dunes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Camel race track | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dune bashing | Al Khatim | Al Khatim | Al Khatim |
| Dinner & shows | Lighter | BBQ buffet + shows | BBQ buffet + shows |
| Best for | Cool light, photos | Sunset + full evening | Classic shared camp |
Prefer cooler morning light? See the morning fossil dunes tour. For the classic camp evening without the Al Wathba stops, see the standard evening desert safari.
Your evening, from pickup to stars
Hotel pick-up in a 4x4
Your guide collects you after lunch for the drive out to Al Wathba.
Al Wathba camel race track
See the track and, in season, training or racing, with your guide explaining the sport.
The fossil dunes
Walk among the 120,000-year-old formations in low afternoon light and take your photos.
Al Khatim mega dunes
Cross to Abu Dhabi's tallest dunes for 30 to 45 minutes of dune bashing as the heat drops.
Camel farm, camel photo & sandboarding
Meet the camels, take a photo ride, and try the boards on the sand.
Sunset, then camp
Sundown over the dunes, then Arabic coffee, dates, henna, shisha and costume photos at camp.
BBQ buffet dinner & shows
Dinner at the camp with Tanoura and belly dance performances.
Stargazing, then drop-off
Time under a dark sky, then back to your hotel around 9 to 10 pm.
What's included, and what's not
Included
- Return transfer in a 4x4 (fully insured and rollover protected)
- Experienced Al Wathba and Al Khatim safari guide
- Bottled water on board
- Visit to the Al Wathba fossil dunes
- Visit to the Al Wathba camel race track
- Dune bashing in the Al Khatim desert (30 to 45 minutes)
- Camel farm visit, camel photo ride and sandboarding
- BBQ buffet dinner at the desert camp
- Shisha, henna tattoos and Arabic costume photos
- Live shows: tanoura and belly dance
- Soft drinks, Arabic coffee, dates and tea at the camp
- Insurance and stargazing
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks
- Quad bike and camel trekking (can be added on request)
- Al Wathba Wetlands and flamingoes (open Thursdays and Saturdays only, can be added on those days for an extra charge)
- Personal expenses and tips
Optional extras are arranged in advance: quad biking, camel trekking, and on a Thursday or Saturday, an extra hour at the wetland reserve to see the flamingoes.
Who this tour is for
This is the Al Wathba fossil dunes tour for people who want real scenery, not just a camp. Photographers chasing the fossil dunes in golden light. First time visitors who want the desert's greatest hits in one evening. Families and couples who like the idea of a sunset, a proper dinner and shows without a long drive. And anyone curious about the camel racing tradition, which you rarely get to see up close. If you would rather your evening began somewhere that looks like another planet, this is your tour.
Have a date in mind?
Tell us your date and group size and we will confirm the pick-up time and hold your places on the Al Wathba fossil dunes evening tour.
Contact us
Frequently asked questions
They are natural sculptures of hardened calcium carbonate and salts, shaped by wind and sediment and dated to the Ice Age, roughly 120,000 years ago. Around 1,700 of them sit within the seven square kilometre Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Protected Area managed by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. Entry is free and visitors are asked not to climb the formations.
Around seven to eight hours. Pick-up is usually about 2 pm after lunch, with drop-off between 9 and 10 pm, which is enough to cover both the fossil dunes and the Al Khatim mega dunes comfortably.
Racing season runs roughly October to March, mostly on weekend mornings. You can often see training runs at the track during the tour, and if a session falls on your date we will try to time the day so you catch it. For schedules, see our Abu Dhabi camel race guide.
You can drive a normal car to the edge of Al Wathba, but exploring the fossil dunes and the Al Khatim desert needs a 4x4. This tour includes a fully insured, rollover protected 4x4 with an experienced guide, so you do not need your own.
No. The wetland reserve, known for its winter flamingo population of around 4,000 birds, opens only on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm. If you book the tour on one of those days we can add an extra hour to include it for an additional charge.
It is 390 AED per adult and 290 AED per child, minimum two adults. That covers the 4x4 and guide, the fossil dunes and camel race track visits, Al Khatim dune bashing, a camel farm visit, camel photo ride, sandboarding, a BBQ buffet dinner, Arabic coffee, dates, shisha, henna, costume photos, Tanoura and belly dance shows, and stargazing.
It is not recommended for travellers with back problems, heart conditions or other serious medical conditions, or for pregnant travellers, and it is not wheelchair accessible. Infant seats are available on request.
