You drive Tel Moreeb yourself
The world's tallest sand dune, 300 metres high with a 50 degree incline. After instruction and a training session, you take the wheel yourself under your guide's supervision.
A curated self drive on the Empty Quarter's tallest dunes
Take on the challenge of driving the world's tallest sand dune yourself. This tour ticks a genuine Liwa bucket list item off the list: instruction and a demonstration from an experienced desert safari guide, a short training session on desert driving, and then 15 to 25 minutes at the wheel yourself on Tel Moreeb, under your guide's supervision throughout.
Once the driving is done, the tour continues to the Liwa camel farm, home to a breed of black camel found nowhere else in the UAE, followed by the Liwa Oasis, Mezairaa Fort, also known as the Liwa Fort, and a vegetable farm. The day closes at the top of a dune for sunset over the Rub' al Khali. Lunch or dinner at the luxurious Qasr Al Sarab resort can be added for an additional charge to round out the day.
Your day, pickup to drop-off
Timings are indicative and may shift slightly with traffic and desert conditions.
Pickup anywhere in the UAE
Your guide collects you for the drive to Liwa, around 230 km and two and a half hours.
Tel Moreeb instruction
Instructions and a demonstration on riding the dunes from your expert guide.
Desert driving training session
A short training session to prepare you for driving Tel Moreeb yourself.
Self drive on Tel Moreeb
You take the wheel under your guide's supervision, driving over the dunes yourself.
Black camel farm
A stop at the Liwa camel farm to see and photograph the region's black camels.
Liwa Oasis, Mezairaa Fort and vegetable farm
Visits to the oasis, the historic fort and a local vegetable farm.
Rest at the dune summit
Time at the top of the dune to watch the sunset over the Rub' al Khali.
Drop-off
Return to your pickup location. Optional lunch or dinner at Qasr Al Sarab can be added for an extra charge. Timings can be adjusted to your preference.
What is included, and what is not
Included
- Use of Arabiers' 4x4 on the highest dunes of the Empty Quarter
- Safe route planning in Liwa for your drive
- Experienced Liwa desert safari guide
- Insurance and a rollover-protected 4x4 vehicle
- Bottled water on board
- Liwa camel farm stop to see black camels and take photos
- Soft drinks, Arabic coffee, dates and tea during the tour
- Sunset viewing over the Rub' al Khali
- Introductory desert-driving lessons and a short training session
- 15 to 25 minutes of self-driving in the desert
- Liwa Oasis visit
- Mezairaa Fort visit
Not included
- Meals
- Alcoholic drinks
- Lunch or dinner at Qasr Al Sarab, available as an add-on for an extra charge
Who this tour suits
This is a self drive experience, so it suits confident drivers who want more control than a fully guided tour. It is not recommended for the following:
- New driving licence holders or anyone sensitive to off road driving
- Those who do not enjoy long road travel: Liwa is around 230 km from Abu Dhabi or Dubai, about two and a half hours each way
Have a date in mind?
Tell us your date and group size and we will confirm pickup time and hold your place on the Liwa Self Drive Adventure.
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Liwa Self Drive Adventure FAQs
You do not need prior dune driving experience, but a full, non-provisional driving licence is required, and it is not recommended for new licence holders or anyone sensitive to off road driving. Your guide gives instruction and a training session before you drive yourself.
Around 15 to 25 minutes on Tel Moreeb, after instruction and a training session, always under your guide's supervision.
The 2900 AED price covers the 4x4 vehicle, insurance, an experienced dune guide, route planning, driving instruction and training, your self drive time, the camel farm, Liwa Oasis and Mezairaa Fort visits, bottled water and soft drinks. Meals and alcoholic drinks are not included.
Yes, lunch or dinner at Qasr Al Sarab can be added to this tour for an additional charge. Ask when booking, or see our dedicated Qasr Al Sarab lunch and BBQ dinner tours.
Pickup is from anywhere in the UAE, around 1.30 to 2 pm. Drop-off is around 9 to 10 pm, with timings adjustable to your preference.
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.
On the Liwa Day Tour, a guide drives throughout. On the Self Drive Adventure, you take the wheel yourself for 15 to 25 minutes on Tel Moreeb after instruction and training, with your guide supervising.
Arabiers does not offer unsupervised 4x4 rental in Liwa. This tour is a guided self drive experience instead: the vehicle, insurance and an experienced dune guide are included, with instruction and training before you take the wheel under supervision. A full, non-provisional driving licence is required, but no dune driving experience or equipment of your own is needed.
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. Some other Liwa operators require a minimum of two to four guests before they will confirm a booking, Arabiers does not.
