A real Emirati spread
Not a continental tray: chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat and karak, the food locals grew up on.
In detail
The short answer: a morning desert trip in Abu Dhabi with an authentic Emirati breakfast served in the dunes. Pickup around 7:30 AM, a gentle dune drive, camel farm and sandboarding, then a Bedouin-style breakfast of chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat and karak, back by around 11:45 AM. From 435 AED per adult, which is the morning safari plus the Emirati breakfast (75 AED).
It belongs in our wider Abu Dhabi desert safari collection, but it is really a food and culture morning rather than a standard safari. If you want to taste genuine Emirati home cooking in the setting it was made for, this is the one.
On the breakfast table
Authentic Emirati spread · all halal
Chebab Balaleet Bajella Luqaimat Karak teaAn authentic Emirati spread, served fresh in the desert. A typical morning includes:
Chebab: Soft Emirati pancakes scented with saffron and cardamom, served with date syrup or honey.
Balaleet: Sweet saffron and cardamom vermicelli, topped with a light omelette. Sweet and savoury together.
Bajella: Slow-cooked fava (broad) beans with local seasoning and a squeeze of lemon.
Luqaimat: Warm, crisp dough dumplings drizzled with date syrup. The classic Emirati sweet bite.
Karak tea: The UAE's beloved spiced milk tea, poured strong and sweet to finish.
These are cornerstones of Emirati food, the dishes Emirati families still make at home. The spread is seasonal, so not every item appears every day, and it is served outdoors in the desert. Everything is halal, with vegetarian options.
Your morning
Timings are indicative and may vary slightly with traffic and desert conditions.
Hotel pickup
Collected in a private 4x4 while the desert is still cool.
Drive to the desert
Out to the dunes as the morning light comes up.
Morning dune drive
A gentle dune drive, easy for families.
Camel farm & sandboarding
Meet the camels, try sandboarding, take photos.
Bedouin Emirati breakfast
The spread is laid out on the sand: chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat and more.
Karak tea & relax
Finish with karak and take in the quiet.
Return to hotel
Driven back to Abu Dhabi.
What's included, and what's not
Included
- Authentic Emirati breakfast in the desert (chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat, karak and more)
- Private 4x4 with an experienced driver-guide
- Return hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Bottled water on board
- Morning dune drive
- Camel farm visit
- Sandboarding
- Soft drinks, Arabic coffee, dates and tea at the camp
Not included
- Alcohol
- Quad bike or dune buggy
- Private majlis or setup upgrades
- Hotel breakfast (this replaces it)
How this differs from our morning and sunrise safaris
All three are morning trips, but they are not the same. The breakfast is what sets this one apart:
| Trip | Starts | Food | Best for | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedouin Desert Breakfast (this trip) | 7:30 AM | Full authentic Emirati breakfast | Food and culture | 435 AED | |
| Morning Desert Safari | 8:00 AM | Refreshments only | A simple morning drive | 360 AED | View → |
| Sunrise Desert Safari | 5:00 AM | Refreshments (breakfast optional) | Dawn light and photos | 390 AED | View → |
Prefer to see everything first? See all our Abu Dhabi desert safaris →
Is this experience right for you?
We'd rather you book the right morning than the wrong one. Here's the honest picture.
Perfect if you...
- Want to taste real Emirati food, not a hotel buffet
- Like a relaxed, cooler morning in the desert
- Are a family or couple who enjoy food and culture
- Want the calm of the dunes with a proper sit-down meal
Maybe not, if you...
- Just want a quick morning drive (choose the Morning Desert Safari)
- Are here for dawn light (choose the Sunrise Safari)
- Want an evening BBQ and shows
- Are mainly after quad bikes or dune buggies
Hungry for the desert?
Tell us your date and any dietary needs, and we will set your Bedouin breakfast in the dunes.
Contact us
Frequently asked questions
It is a morning desert trip built around an authentic Emirati breakfast served in the dunes. After a gentle morning drive, a camel farm visit and sandboarding, you sit down to a Bedouin-style spread of chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat and karak tea. From 435 AED per adult.
The spread features chebab (saffron and cardamom pancakes with date syrup), balaleet (sweet saffron vermicelli topped with a light omelette), bajella (fava beans with local seasoning), luqaimat (fried dough balls in date syrup) and karak, the UAE's spiced milk tea. The menu is seasonal and served outdoors.
The standard Morning Desert Safari includes refreshments only, and the Sunrise Desert Safari is an early dawn drive. This trip is a food and culture experience: the reason to book it is the full authentic Emirati breakfast served in the desert, added to the morning drive for 75 AED.
Yes. The breakfast is all halal, and most of the spread (chebab, balaleet, bajella, luqaimat, karak) is naturally vegetarian. Tell us any dietary needs when you book.
Pickup is around 7:30 AM and you are back by about 11:45 AM, so roughly 4 hours. Starting in the morning keeps the desert cool and the light soft for the breakfast.
From 435 AED per adult, which is the morning desert safari (360) plus the authentic Emirati breakfast (75). Children are 365 AED and infants are free. VAT is included.
All Abu Dhabi hotels, residences and malls, plus Yas Island, Saadiyat and the cruise port. Dubai pickup is available on request.
