Sunset cocktails on the rooftop
The evening centres on Qasr Al Sarab's rooftop terrace, with a cocktail and views across the dunes of the Rub' al Khali as the sun goes down.
A private sunset cocktail tour to Qasr Al Sarab
No Liwa desert safari itinerary is complete without an evening at Qasr Al Sarab, and this private tour is built around exactly that. Pickup from Abu Dhabi is around 1 pm, followed by a two to two and a half hour drive out to the Empty Quarter. Once there, you spend the afternoon on foot and on the sand: a guided desert walk and sandboarding on the dunes, before the light softens toward the evening.
The tour then moves to Qasr Al Sarab itself for its signature moment, a cocktail on the rooftop terrace as the sun sets over the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert. Food and drinks at the resort, including the sunset cocktail, are ordered from Qasr Al Sarab's own menu and billed separately; the tour price covers your transport, guide and the desert activities that lead up to it. You return to Abu Dhabi afterward, with drop-off between 9.30 and 10.30 pm.
Compare the Qasr Al Sarab experiences
Use this comparison to choose between the sunset cocktail, lunch and BBQ dinner tours.
| Sunset Cocktail, this tour | Qasr Al Sarab Lunch | Qasr Al Sarab BBQ Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time of day | Afternoon into evening | Midday | Evening |
| Desert activity | Desert walk, sandboarding | Dune drive | Dune drive |
| At the resort | Rooftop sunset cocktail | Lunch reservation | BBQ dinner reservation |
| Food and drink cost | Billed separately at the resort | Billed separately at the resort | Billed separately at the resort |
| Best for | Couples, sunset views | Daytime visitors | Evening dining |
Looking for a champagne toast in the open dunes rather than at the resort? See Liwa Sunset Champagne.
Your afternoon and evening
Timings are indicative and may shift slightly with traffic and sunset.
Pickup in Abu Dhabi
Your guide collects you for the drive out to Liwa's Empty Quarter, around two to two and a half hours.
Arrival in the Empty Quarter
Arrival in Liwa, ready for the desert activities ahead of the evening.
Desert walk and sandboarding
A guided desert walk followed by sandboarding on the dunes.
Transfer to Qasr Al Sarab
Transfer to the resort ahead of sunset, in time for the rooftop terrace.
Cocktail on the rooftop terrace
The tour's centrepiece: a cocktail with sunset views across the Rub' al Khali, ordered from the resort menu.
Time at Qasr Al Sarab
Optional dinner from the resort's menu, billed separately, before the drive back.
Drop-off in Abu Dhabi
Return to your hotel or agreed point in Abu Dhabi.
What is included, and what is not
Included
- Experienced dune guide, skilled in dune driving
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with rollover protection
- Comprehensive insurance coverage
- Round-trip transport from Abu Dhabi to Qasr Al Sarab
- Bottled water on board
- Guided desert walk
- Sandboarding
- Access to order from the Qasr Al Sarab menu
- Soft drinks, Arabic coffee, dates and tea during the tour
Not included
- Food and beverages at Qasr Al Sarab, billed directly by the resort
- The sunset cocktail itself and any alcoholic drinks
Have a date in mind?
Tell us your date, remembering the tour does not run on Tuesdays or Sundays, and we will confirm pickup time for your Qasr Al Sarab sunset cocktail tour.
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Qasr Al Sarab Sunset Cocktail Tour FAQs
The 1890 AED price covers a private 4x4 with an experienced dune guide, rollover protection and insurance, round trip transport from Abu Dhabi, the guided desert walk and sandboarding, and access to the Qasr Al Sarab rooftop terrace. Food and drinks at the resort are ordered from the menu and billed separately.
No. The tour price covers transport, your guide and the desert activities. The cocktail itself, along with any other food or drinks at Qasr Al Sarab, is ordered from the resort's menu and paid for directly there.
Pickup begins around 1 pm from Abu Dhabi. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours in total, with drop-off between 9.30 pm and 10.30 pm.
No, this tour does not run on Tuesdays or Sundays. All other days of the week are available; contact us to confirm your preferred date.
A full refund is given when the booking is cancelled at least 24 hours before the tour. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the start time are not eligible for a refund.
This tour is built around the afternoon desert activities and the sunset cocktail on the rooftop terrace. The lunch tour visits at midday for a lunch reservation, and the BBQ dinner tour visits in the evening for dinner. All three are private tours to Qasr Al Sarab with the food and drink cost billed separately by the resort.
Qasr Al Sarab is an Anantara resort in Liwa's Empty Quarter, built to resemble a fortress rising from the dunes, with interiors reflecting Arabian architecture. It sits inside the Rub' al Khali, the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert.
No. The price is per 4x4 vehicle regardless of how many people travel, up to 4 adults or a family combination, so solo travellers and couples pay the same as a full car of four. Some other Liwa operators require a minimum of two to four guests before they will confirm a booking, Arabiers does not.
