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. In the morning they are at their quietest and best for photos, and they are the first half of your day, one of the cooler-weather picks among Abu Dhabi's morning 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, so a morning tour is a good way to catch it, and even off-season you can usually watch the training. Check the Al Wathba camel race schedule before you book, and see other things to see in Al Wathba for the flamingo wetland and the rest of the area.
| Experience | Morning (this tour) | Evening (Al Wathba) | Standard morning |
|---|---|---|---|
| When | Morning, half day | Afternoon to night | Morning |
| Fossil dunes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Camel race track | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dune bashing | Al Khatim | Al Khatim | Al Khatim |
| Dinner & shows | No, lighter | BBQ buffet + shows | Lighter |
| Best for | Cool light, photos | Sunset + full evening | Classic shared camp |
Want the sunset, dinner and shows? See the evening fossil dunes safari. Prefer the classic morning without the Al Wathba stops? That is the standard morning desert safari.
Your morning, from pickup to early afternoon
Hotel pick-up in a 4x4
Your guide collects you from your Abu Dhabi hotel or landmark for the drive out to Al Wathba.
Al Wathba camel race track
See the track and, in season, morning training or racing, with your guide explaining the sport.
The fossil dunes in cool light
Walk among the 120,000-year-old formations while the light is soft and the crowds are thin, and take your photos.
Al Khatim mega dunes
Cross to Abu Dhabi's tallest dunes for 30 to 45 minutes of dune bashing.
Camel farm, camel photo & sandboarding
Meet the camels, take a photo ride, and try the boards on the sand.
Back by early afternoon
Drive back with the rest of your day free.
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 and camel photo ride
- Sandboarding on the dunes
- Soft drinks, Arabic coffee, dates and tea at the camp
- Insurance
Not included
- BBQ dinner, Tanoura and belly dance shows and stargazing (these are on the evening tour)
- Al Wathba wetlands and flamingoes (Thursday and Saturday add-on, extra hour and charge)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Quad biking and camel trekking (on request, extra charge)
- Emirati or continental breakfast (on request, extra charge)
Who the morning tour suits
This one is for early risers and photographers who want the fossil dunes in their best light, families who prefer a shorter half day, and anyone visiting in the warmer months who would rather be out before the heat. It is a lighter, more relaxed trip than the evening safari, and it leaves the rest of your day free.
If you are after the full desert evening, with a sunset over the dunes, a BBQ buffet, live shows and stargazing, the evening version with dinner is the better fit. The dune bashing on either tour is not suitable for pregnant travellers or anyone with back, heart or other serious conditions.
Have a morning 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 morning tour.
Contact us
Frequently asked questions
It is 350 AED per adult and 250 AED per child, minimum two adults. That covers a fully insured 4x4 with an experienced guide, the fossil dunes and camel race track visits, dune bashing on the Al Khatim mega dunes, a camel farm visit, a camel photo ride, sandboarding, and water and a soft drink. It does not include the evening BBQ dinner, shows or stargazing, which belong to the evening tour.
The tour runs about five hours. Pick-up is in the morning from your Abu Dhabi hotel or landmark, with drop-off by early afternoon. If you want to combine it with a morning camel race, pick-up can be as early as 5 am. Your exact pick-up time is confirmed when you book.
They cover the same fossil dunes, camel race track and Al Khatim dune bashing, so it comes down to what you want. The morning tour is shorter and cheaper, with cooler air, softer light and fewer people, which suits photography and families who prefer a half day. The evening tour is a longer trip that adds the sunset, a BBQ buffet dinner, Tanoura and belly dance shows and stargazing.
The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, known for its winter flamingoes, opens only on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm. If your tour falls on one of those days we can add an extra hour to include it for an additional charge. On other days the tour focuses on the fossil dunes, the camel track and the Al Khatim desert.
Racing season runs roughly October to March, mostly on weekend mornings, which is a good fit for a morning tour. You can usually watch the training runs at the track, and if a race falls on your date we will try to time the day around it, with an earlier pick-up if needed. See our Abu Dhabi camel race guide for the current schedule.
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.
The dune bashing is not recommended for travellers with back problems, heart conditions or other serious medical conditions, or for pregnant travellers, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Infant seats are available on request.
