Liwa Desert Safari

As the world continues to develop, one of the places that still stay true to its origins is the Empty Quarter desert with its infinite dunes and untouched beauty. More than 7 decades ago, before oil was discovered in UAE, the famous explorer Wilfred Thesiger traversed the sands of Liwa. His book, the Arabian Sands in 1959, mentioned the beauty that emanates from the silence and the towering dunes that add to the personality of the Empty Quarter. The only thing that has changed within these 70 years is that Liwa is more explorable now than it was back then. Enjoy a 90-minute drive from Abu Dhabi to off-road amidst the famous dunes, walk through the lush Liwa Oasis or stargaze under the Liwa desert's unpolluted sky. A trip to UAE would be incomplete without a visit to one of the world's most exalted terrains.

Tour Operators & 4x4 Transfers

There are certain reputed tour operators and guides that offer morning, afternoon, evening and overnight Liwa Safari experiences. These operators also provide pick-up from all parts of UAE.

Public Transports

From Abu Dhabi

From Dubai

There are no direct buses from Dubai to Liwa. You can board a bus to Abu Dhabi from Dubai and then go to Liwa by bus. 3 buses are operating from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

• E100 - Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Abu Dhabi central bus station (Main station near Al Wahda Mall)
• E101 - IBN Battuta Bus Station to Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station, Abu Dhabi
• E102 - IBN Battuta Bus Station to Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station, Abu Dhabi

Timings are subject to change, and please make sure you call toll free number of the AD Traffic department, 80088888, to double confirm the timings.

Even if you take a bus from Abu Dhabi to Liwa Mezairaa station, you can visit the major city attractions and other event venues. Mentioned below are the popular Liwa attractions, their distance from Mezairaa station and the cost of Transport from the station to the attractions.

Taxi

• Speed can sound fun, but it is actually quite deadly, especially in a desert terrain. Most advertisements display individuals making sudden maneuvers and drifting their dune buggies, quad bikes or 4x4. These moves are performed by professionals and should not be attempted by novices who aren't familiar with the terrain.

• Some desert guides in Liwa tend to drive recklessly. If you come across any, you are advised to immediately abort the trip for your safety and inform your tour operator or lodge a complaint with the tourism police at the numbers +97128002626 and +97125127777

• If you are experiencing the desert safari with kids, make sure to buckle up the kids in a Baby seat during Nature Desert Drive sessions and keep them in your line of site at all times.

Basic safety guidelines for Liwa desert

The UAE is dominated by a desert climate, and a journey to the Liwa desert needs to be well-planned with the climate in mind. You need to meticulously research which months and days are ideal for a pleasant Liwa desert experience and plan your trip accordingly. Summer in UAE, which starts from May and goes till September, is characterized by increased humidity levels and hot winds that result in unbearable heat in the Liwa desert.

Liwa's most famous and anticipated event is the Liwa Tel Moreeb Festival, which is attended by the owners of the region's most powerful four-wheelers and bikes. The festival consists of many activities like drag racing, bike races, Motorcross track challenge, horse racing, camel racing, freestyle drifting, classic cars competition and more. The showstopper of the event is the climb to the summit of the world's largest sand dune, the Tel Moreeb dune. Its name translates to 'the terrifying mountain', which is a fitting name for its 300-meter height and 50° angle.

Other famous events in Liwa