What to Avoid When Exploring Dubai’s Desert

Author : VIP Dubai Tours | Published On : 26 Oct 2026

Dubai Desert Safari is a great experience to enjoy while visiting the place, yet people who visit Dubai for the first time often end up committing a number of mistakes which are completely avoidable. What is fortunate about this matter is that all those mistakes are quite easy to avoid. This guide will tell you about the most common mistakes travelers commit while enjoying Dubai Desert Safari.

Why a Little Planning Makes a Big Difference on a Desert Safari

While a desert safari seems to be a straightforward event when viewed through a booking website, even small oversights may ruin a perfectly good day for you. Most of the errors result from hasty planning, vague information, and a lack of knowledge. For those who plan to have their adventure in the evening desert safari, it will not take much time to find out everything you need to know.

The following guide is a list of the eight most frequent mistakes people make during their safari trips. This guide describes all possible mistakes and gives tips on how to avoid them. All you need is just to read this guide before the trip and you will have a memorable adventure ahead.

Mistake 1: Booking Without Checking What Is Actually Included

The bulk of tourists tend to purchase the first available package without even looking at the conditions of this package. Tour packages that sound alike can vary a lot depending on such factors as timing, means of transportation, food, entertainment programs, and others. Thus, some tours may offer you a chance to go for dune bashing and have dinner, whereas the other ones may give you access to various exciting adventures in the form of an option.

Questions to Ask Prior to Booking

Any good operator will be glad to answer any questions of yours. The following is worth finding out about whether the quoted price is per person, whether the children's fee is the same as the adults' one, and whether the price includes drinks, sand boarding, camel riding, and photo session.

Mistake 2: Choosing the Wrong Time of Day or Season

Time of day and season influence the experience differently from how many people think. A visit in the middle of the day during July may turn out to be exhausting, and an evening visit during winter may turn out to be cold after the sun goes down. Also, many visitors select the wrong format, as they want morning and they selected evening, or vice versa, simply because they have not done comparisons.

In order to prevent this, you need to figure out what is important to you: cooler weather, less time, or a complete cultural evening? Make sure to look at the forecast on your dates, and note that winter, between November and March, is the best time of the year.

Mistake 3: Wearing the Wrong Clothes and Shoes

• Bad clothing is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes of tourists. During summer, tourists will be wearing thick jeans, during winter – light clothes, fashion shoes will be filled with sand. Dune bashing, sandboarding and camel rides require special clothes which should be comfortable and breathable, as well as special footwear that will easily be taken off.
• It depends on the season what clothes should be packed, but there are some universal recommendations. Pack light and natural fabrics clothes, protect yourself from the sun and pack more clothes to wear during the night at the campsite. Dress comfortably and keep in mind the following recommendations when choosing your clothes:
• • Light cotton and linen clothes during the summer;
• • Jacket or sweater during the winter evening;
• • Closed and comfortable shoes or slip-on;
• • Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
• Clothes you do not mind to get sandy

Mistake 4: Ignoring Health and Safety Guidelines Before Dune Bashing

Dune Bashing is an exhilarating adventure, but it is also a very rough ride done at a very high speed, and not everyone can have fun on this. Some tourists get so excited about the activity that they may neglect to take into consideration health precautions, which can put them at risk. People suffering from back pains, neck pains, people having a history of heart problems, pregnant women with high risks, and those who suffer from severe motion sickness should talk to the driver of the vehicle and choose something else.

Do not forget about all safety instructions that will be given by the operator, always wear the seat-belt, and listen to the driver during the whole ride. Make sure you eat some food before the ride to prevent motion sickness. It is necessary to make sure that children are seated properly.

Mistake 5: Choosing the Cheapest Operator Without Checking Reviews and Licensing

While being the most affordable option might be appealing, pricing alone is a bad way to select an operator since very cheap deals might imply very crowded transport means, long queues, hidden costs, and compromises regarding safety and customer services. Tourists who decide based only on price usually end up spending even more money afterwards since additional services and upgrades cost extra.

How to Establish a Company's Reputation

Review their reputation through the past comments on different platforms, not only the official website of the company. The comments must be related to the punctuality of drivers and vehicle condition, as well as the honesty of the company. The company should have a tourism trade licence issued by Dubai's tourism authority and its transport means should be insured.

Mistake 6: Not Confirming Pick-Up Time, Location, and Transfer Type

This happens due to the fact that the guests do not confirm their schedule or make use of the services provided by pick-ups because they might be unaware of all the details. This is because of the fact that the name of the hotel is misleading as the pick-up services are not reliable and people are not aware of the fact that the vehicle that is being used for transporting them is not being used for them alone, and there is a schedule.

All these things need to be confirmed for a VIP Dubai tour.The name of the hotel, room number and contact information, through which you can be reached out on telephone or WhatsApp, should be provided.

Mistake 7: Over packing or Forgetting the Essentials

While some individuals are left carrying too many bags that they do not know where to keep, some other individuals face the challenge of remembering to carry the few important things. It is going to be difficult to move around with those huge bags both in the vehicle and even in the sandy beach campsite since some valuables may be either lost or damaged. On the other hand, leaving behind things like sunscreen lotion, water bottles, or a power bank might make the vacation terrible because of moving far in the hot sun taking photographs.

It is therefore very important for an individual to carry only the necessary luggage in order to travel comfortably. All you need to carry are backpacks or just small waist bags while storing the valuables in the hotel. Some things which you need to carry during the packing process include the following:

• Sunscreen lotion, sunglasses, and hats
• Bottles of water
• Mobile phones and power banks
• Money for meeting other needs
• Light scarf

Mistake 8: Skipping Respectful Behavior and Cultural Etiquette

One of the aspects that may easily slip through the net during your excitement about the event is behaving yourself. This is because UAE is a country with a number of cultural practices, and all the family members and visitors of varying cultures use the same camping ground. At some instances, there are visitors who dress inadequately, behave themselves in a violent manner, or even take photographs of others without seeking permission.

Dress properly, covering your shoulders and your knees, and always seek permission before taking pictures of the others, artists, or employees of the camping ground. Behave yourself in front of the artists, follow the camp rules, and take along with you whatever garbage you have produced. It is important to show respect to your driver and guide, who have made your stay interesting.

Quick Pre-Booking Checklist and Frequently Asked Questions

• Would the desert safari suit children? Yes, but small children could find it tough due to dune bashing. Do I have to give a tip to the driver/guide? No, it is optional as tips can be given only in case the service was good enough. Would I be able to cancel or reschedule my trip? It depends on each individual safari company as they may have different policies regarding it and you should know about them.
• In order to avoid any troubles planning your desert safari, please look at all the checklist below. This simple check would not take much time, yet will help you a lot as most of the complaints tourists face come from this particular point. Everything you need to know will be clarified during the reservation process and you will be able to back yourself up in case of any trouble. Please make sure that the following points are clarified prior to paying:
• List of inclusions/exclusions in detail
• Final price
• Pick up time/place and transportation
• Cancellations/rescheduling policies
• Valid license and reviews