Liwa Desert Safari Tours

Q: How much does a Liwa desert safari cost?

Arabiers Liwa desert safaris start from AED 790 per private vehicle for a sunset experience. Day tours start from about AED 1,690 and private overnight camping in the Empty Quarter starts from about AED 2,490. Prices are per private Land Cruiser, not per person.

Q: What is the best time for a Liwa desert safari?

October to April is the most comfortable time, with daytime temperatures suited to dune driving and camping. Summer is far hotter but cheaper. For fewer crowds, choose a weekday over a Thursday to Saturday weekend.

A Liwa desert safari is a guided 4x4 trip into the Rub al Khali, the Empty Quarter, around Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region. It crosses some of the world's tallest sand dunes, far from the crowds of Dubai. Arabiers runs Liwa safaris as half-day tours, overnight desert camps and luxury stays at Qasr Al Sarab, with pick-up from across the UAE and local Emirati guides who hold the permits needed for Empty Quarter driving.

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Couple with an Arabiers guide on a Liwa desert safari in the Empty Quarter

Liwa desert safari: key facts

Where Liwa, Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, on the edge of the Empty Quarter

From Abu Dhabi About 242 km, usually around 2 hours 25 minutes by road

From Dubai About 362 km, usually around 3 hours 30 minutes by road

Tours from From AED 790 per private vehicle

Tour formats Day tour, overnight camping, luxury desert stay and self-drive options

Best time October to April, when the desert weather is cooler

Famous dune Moreeb Dune, one of the UAE’s tallest and steepest sand dunes

Operator Arabiers, licensed UAE tour operator

Quick answers

How far is Liwa from Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Liwa, including the Tal Moreeb area, is about 242 km from Abu Dhabi and usually takes around 2 hours 25 minutes by road. From Dubai, it is about 362 km and usually takes around 3 hours 30 minutes. Arabiers can arrange door-to-door pickup from any emirate.

How much does a Liwa desert safari cost?

Liwa desert safari prices start from AED 790 per private vehicle for a sunset experience. Day tours start from around AED 1,690, and a private overnight camp in the Empty Quarter starts from around AED 2,490. Prices are usually charged per private Land Cruiser, not per person.

Is a Liwa desert safari worth it?

Yes. A Liwa desert safari is worth it if you want the real Empty Quarter experience instead of a busy city-edge safari. Liwa offers huge dunes, quiet desert landscapes, fewer crowds than Dubai’s Lehbab or Al Awir deserts, and access to premium desert experiences such as Qasr Al Sarab.

Liwa or Dubai desert safari?

Choose Dubai if you want convenience, shorter travel time, camp shows and quad bike add-ons close to the city. Choose Liwa if you want dramatic Empty Quarter scenery, taller dunes, a quieter atmosphere and a more remote desert experience.

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Private overnight desert camp set among the Liwa dunes at dusk

Liwa Overnight Camping
Empty Quarter

Safety Verified
Flexible & Free cancellation
Private tour

From 2600 AED

2490 AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

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On this guide

1. Tours and prices
2. Why Arabiers?
3. Empty Quarter
4. How to get to Liwa
5. Best time
6. Where to stay
7. Moreeb Dune Festival
8. Safety
9. Faq's

On this guide

Written by Piumi Samarasinghe

Dubai Holiday Packages Consultant

Written and reviewed by Piumi Samarasinghe. Last updated 2 July 2026.

Liwa desert safari tours and prices

Every Arabiers Liwa safari is a private trip in your own Land Cruiser with an experienced desert driver. Choose by how long you have and the style you want.

Day Tours Overnight Trekking Luxury

BBQ desert dinner setup at Qasr Al Sarab on a Liwa day tour

BBQ Dinner at Qasr Al Sarab Liwa Day Tour from Abu Dhabi - Private Tour & personal chef and butler

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

2990AED

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Aerial view of Qasr Al Sarab desert resort among the Liwa dunes

Qasr Al Sarab Lunch and Liwa Day Tour from Abu Dhabi - Private Tour

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1890AED

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Sunset over the Liwa dunes during a Qasr Al Sarab cocktail tour

Qasr Al Sarab Sunset cocktail and Liwa Day Tour from Abu Dhabi - Private Tour

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1890AED

maximum 4 guest or combination of 4 guests

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Liwa Day Tour

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1690AED

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Sparkling toast at sunset on top of a Liwa sand dune

Liwa Sunset Champagne

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

790AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

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Liwa Day Tour

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1690AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

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Liwa Sunset Champagne

8 hours
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

790AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

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Best Seller

Liwa Overnight Camping Empty Quarter

Overnight
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

From 2600 AED

2,490 AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

Book Now

Best Seller

Liwa Overnight Camping Empty Quarter

Overnight
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

From 2600 AED

2,490 AED

For one Land cruiser private tour

Book Now

Group trekking across the high dunes of the Liwa Empty Quarter

Liwa trekking and Overnight Desert Camping

24 hours - 2 days
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

2700 AED

maximum 4 guest or combination of 4 guests

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Liwa trekking and Overnight Desert Camping

Overnight
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

2,700 AED

maximum 4 guest or combination of 4 guests

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White 4x4 on a guided self-drive across the Liwa Empty Quarter

Self 4x4 Drive On Liwa Empty Quarter

24 hours - 2 days
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

2900 AED

group of 4 adults

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Cars and bikes at the Liwa Moreeb Dune Festival hill-climb

Liwa dune festival tour from Abu Dhabi

Last minute availability
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1890 AED

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Self 4x4 Drive On Liwa Empty Quarter

24 hours - 2 days
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

2,900 AED

maximum 4 guest or combination of 4 guests

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Liwa dune festival tour from Abu Dhabi

Last minute availability
Flexible & Free cancellation
Safety Verified

1890 AED

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Why book a Liwa desert safari with Arabiers

Liwa is not a city-edge desert. The dunes are higher and the terrain softer, so the driver matters more than anywhere else in the UAE. Arabiers desert drivers hold the permits required for Empty Quarter driving and run private Land Cruisers prepared for soft sand, so the day is built around your group rather than a shared coach.

As a UAE-registered inbound and outbound operator, Arabiers handles pick-up from any emirate, the resort bookings at Qasr Al Sarab and the timing around sunrise, sunset and overnight stays. Tours on this page are reviewed by our Abu Dhabi desert specialist below.

About Liwa and the Empty Quarter

Sun rising over the dunes of the Rub al Khali Empty Quarter

Liwa Oasis sits on the northern edge of the Rub al Khali, the Empty Quarter, which is the largest continuous sand desert on earth at roughly 650,000 square kilometres across the southern Arabian Peninsula. The Liwa dunes are among the tallest anywhere, with Moreeb Dune (Tal Moreeb) rising around 300 metres at a steep slope that draws hill-climb drivers from across the region.

The explorer Wilfred Thesiger crossed and wrote about this desert in his 1959 book Arabian Sands, and Liwa has since become the UAE's leading destination for serious dune landscapes and quiet overnight camping.

How to get to Liwa

Arabiers includes return transfers on guided tours. If you are driving yourself, the table below shows distance and time to Tal Moreeb from the main UAE cities.

From	Distance to Tal Moreeb	Driving time
Abu Dhabi (AUH Airport)	242 km	2 h 25 min
Dubai (DXB Airport)	362 km	3 h 30 min
Sharjah (SHJ Airport)	386 km	3 h 43 min
Ajman	392 km	3 h 51 min
Al Ain	338 km	3 h 11 min
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK Airport)	458 km	4 h 23 min

Best time for a Liwa desert safari

October to April is the most comfortable window, with daytime temperatures suited to dune driving and overnight camping. Summer is far hotter but cheaper for hotels and flights, with good shoulder-season value at the end of April and September. For fewer crowds at the dunes, pick a weekday rather than the Thursday to Saturday weekend, when local residents also head to Liwa.

Where to stay in Liwa

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

The landmark luxury resort of the Empty Quarter, set among the high dunes with pools, spa, fine dining and desert activities such as camel treks and dune walks. It anchors all of our luxury Liwa safaris and overnight stays.

Tilal Liwa Hotel, Madinat Zayed

A four-star option on the edge of the dunes with an infinity pool and dune views, a comfortable mid-range base for a Liwa trip without the resort price.

Liwa Moreeb Dune Festival

The Liwa (Moreeb) Dune Festival is the area's best-known event, built around dune hill-climbs, drag racing, motocross, camel and horse racing and freestyle drifting, with the climb up the 300-metre Moreeb Dune as the showpiece. If your trip lines up with the festival, Arabiers can combine the morning dunes with festival viewing.

Liwa desert safety

Liwa dune driving should always be done with an experienced, licensed driver and a 4x4 prepared for soft sand. On a guided Arabiers safari your driver carries first-aid and recovery equipment, keeps a safe distance from other vehicles, and seats children appropriately. If you ever feel a driver is behaving unsafely, you can report it to the authorities.

Liwa desert safari FAQs

What is a Liwa desert safari?

A Liwa desert safari is a guided 4x4 trip into the Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) around Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region. It crosses some of the world's tallest dunes and is offered as a day tour, overnight camping trip or luxury stay at Qasr Al Sarab.

How much does a Liwa desert safari cost?

Arabiers Liwa safaris start from 790 AED per private vehicle for a sunset experience. Day tours start from about 1,690 AED and private overnight camping in the Empty Quarter from about 2,490 AED. Prices are per private Land Cruiser, not per person.

How far is Liwa from Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Liwa (Tal Moreeb) is about 242 km and roughly 2 hours 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi, and about 362 km and roughly 3 hours 30 minutes from Dubai by road. Arabiers arranges pick-up from across the UAE.

Can you do Liwa as a day trip?

Yes. A Liwa day tour from Abu Dhabi runs around 8 hours including transfers, dune driving and a meal stop. From Dubai it is a long day, so many travellers choose an overnight option instead.

What is the best time for a Liwa desert safari?

October to April is the most comfortable time for dune driving and camping. Summer is hotter but cheaper. For fewer crowds, choose a weekday over a Thursday to Saturday weekend.

Liwa or Dubai desert safari, which is better?

Dubai desert safaris are closer and built for entertainment, with camps, shows and quad bikes near the city. Liwa is a longer drive but delivers the genuine Empty Quarter, the tallest dunes and a quieter experience. Choose Dubai for convenience, Liwa for the landscape.

Is a Liwa desert safari worth it?

Yes, if you want the real Empty Quarter rather than a busy city-edge safari. Liwa has the tallest dunes in the UAE, far fewer crowds than Dubai's Lehbab or Al Awir deserts, and the only resort of its kind at Qasr Al Sarab. It suits a half-day, an overnight or a full luxury escape.

Are Liwa desert safaris safe?

Liwa dune driving requires an experienced, licensed desert driver and a 4x4 prepared for soft sand. Arabiers drivers carry the permits for Empty Quarter driving and travel with safety equipment. Self-driving the high dunes is not advised without experience.

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