You may have heard of snowboarding before, but what about sandboarding? This desert equivalent of the popular winter sport is a must-try experience, especially if you’re travelling to Dubai.
With its unique desert landscape, Dubai is one of the best places in the world to try sandboarding. In this guide, I have outlined everything you need to know to make the most of your experience sandboarding in Dubai.
I have included basic information like what is sandboarding (or sand boarding, different spelling but both mean the same thing), where you can do it, what you need, the best sandboarding tours and much more.
So if you would like to go sandboarding in Dubai, but aren’t sure what to expect, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive in, and start planning the perfect Dubai sandboarding experience.
Table of Contents
What is sand boarding?
In essence, sandboarding is pretty simple: it’s like snowboarding, but exchanging powdery white snow for baking hot desert sand instead. And instead of mountains, you’ll be heading down tall, golden dunes on your sandboard.
And when it comes to sandboarding in Dubai, it’s a great way to head out into the expansive nature just on the doorstep of the city.
Though it sounds like it might be, sandboarding is not something that’s inherently dangerous.
You can get up to some pretty impressive speeds while you’re whizzing down the dunes, which can result in a fall, but that’s totally normal (and all part of the fun!).
If you do feel like it’s too scary for you to stand, you can even sit on the board if you like.
Where to go sandboarding in Dubai
The desert, obviously! It’s usually just a matter of a short-ish drive into the desert; there are various different destinations, but the drive usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour.
Sandboarding tours from Dubai will almost always include pick up and drop off, as well as all the gear you’ll need to start hitting the dunes as soon as you arrive.
Click here to book your sandboarding tour in Dubai!
Or check out prices & availability for your chosen dates below!
How much does sandboarding in Dubai cost?
To be honest, it can be a little expensive. This is partly due to the fact that a sandboarding experience is usually incorporated into a longer “desert safari” style tour. It can be hard to find toursjust for sandboarding in Dubai.
However, if you look at it another way, it’s kind of cool because you get to do more than just one thing on your trip out to the desert.
This can be a great idea if you’ve never done sandboarding before – if you end up not liking it that much, then there’s always the next activity to sample.
Dune bashing, for example – that’s zipping around the desert in a little buggy – is another thing that’s usually included in these tours.
The best sandboarding tours in Dubai
Though you may not be able to find a sandboarding tour in Dubai, there are a lot of tours from the Emirates city that do incorporate sandboarding as part of the whole experience.
So to get you inspired for your Dubai trip, here are just a few tours that you might want to consider for your desert adventures.
Dubai: Premium Red Dunes, Camel Safari, & BBQ at Al Khayma
This desert safari allows you to get away from the city for the day for a fun-packed adventure on the red sand dunes. As well as sandboarding, this highly recommended tour also includes a whole bunch of other cool things.
Dune bashing in the Lahbab Desert is one of them. As is camel riding. You’ll also get to have dinner and BBQ at a desert camp and enjoy traditional performances. It’s the complete package!
Click here to book your Premium Red Dunes & Sandboarding Tour in Dubai!
Or check out prices & availability below!
Dubai: Desert Quad Bike Safari, Camel Ride, Sand Surf, & BBQ
This tour sees you heading out into the Lahbab Desert on a quad bike safari, before hitting up the soft dunes on a sandboard.
There’s also the opportunity to enjoy traditional food and entertainment, with a camel ride thrown in for good measure, too. This is definitely one for adrenaline junkies – those quads are super fun!
From Dubai: Red Dunes and Camel Safari with Overnight Camp
If you really want to make the most of your time in the desert, then this tour is definitely one you should take note of – it has the option of camping overnight!
So after a day of sandboarding a stone’s throw from Dubai, you can stay in a Bedouin campsite in your very own tent. There’s a delicious buffet for dinner and sunset to watch over the sand.
Then, after a spectacular sunrise, it’s time for an Arabian breakfast.
Don’t miss out, book your sandboarding experience with overnight desert stay!
Morning Red Dunes with Camel Ride, Sandboarding and Refreshments
An affordable option, this Dubai sandboarding tour is a simple option – and a good one for morning people.
You’ll be up early, taken to the Lahbab Desert in a land cruiser, where you can try your hand at sandboarding, dune bashing, with a camel ride also included. Refreshments are also part of this particular tour, too.
Check out prices and availability for a morning sandboard & desert experience!
Is sandboarding in Dubai worth it?
To try sandboarding in Dubai, you’ll most likely have to book a comprehensive tour that includes this as an extra experience.
By itself, I wouldn’t say that sandboarding is a crazy travel bucket list experience – it’s fun, and it’s entertaining, but going out of your way to make the effort of getting to the desert just for sandboarding may not be worth it.
Especially if you don’t have long in Dubai, for example if you’re only in town for a long stopover between flights.
But, if you do get to try this activity on a wider desert safari tour from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, then of course it’s worth it. Plus, the desert is one of the most Instagrammable places in Dubai!
It becomes an even more unforgettable, unique experience if you opt to stay overnight in the desert at a camp. This sort of tour really makes it into an adventure.
There’s no denying that it’s a very touristy activity, very much like going for a dhow dinner cruise in Dubai Marina, but it’s still very enjoyable.
What to wear to go sandboarding in Dubai
Sandboarding or dune surfing in Dubai doesn’t call for designer clothes. In fact, you won’t want to be wearing your best outfits, because you’ll get hot, sweaty and (most likely) very, very sandy.
You should opt for loose, flowing clothes that are ideally breathable, and comfortable enough to move freely in; you shouldn’t be wearing anything that’s going to restrict your movement too much.
You’ll also be in the desert, so a shawl or scarf to cover your head in the heat, as well as your mouth when you’re sandboarding, would be a good idea.
A scarf for this reason is sometimes given as part of the tour, but it’s a good idea to bring your own – just in case.
When it comes to the colour of your clothing, I would steer clear of black or dark colours; that’s just going to soak up the sun and make you overheat.
Go for light colours or white. This is a general tip when it comes to what to wear in Dubai, not just the desert. Also, sunglasses are a must!
Where to stay to go sandboarding in Dubai
Since most Dubai sandboarding and desert safaris include pick-up and drop-off, it doesn’t really matter where you stay in Dubai. You can choose the area and hotel that best suits your travel style.
I have listed below some great accommodation options in Dubai for every budget.
Budget: Ramada Downtown Dubai– Overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, this is a polished, modern property made up of studio rooms, suites and a penthouse.
Click here to book your stay at Ramada Downtown Dubai!
Mid-range: 25hours Hotel One Central – I spent one night here and loved it. This hotel has an epic rooftop pool with a view of the Museum of the Future (one of the most unique views in Dubai!) and the interior design is truly unique.
Click here to book your stay at 25hours Hotel One Central!
Luxury:Address Downtown Dubai – Among other things, this luxury hotel features an incredible infinity pool with an equally incredible view of Burj Khalifa: the world’s tallest building. The location in Downtown Dubai is prime for exploring top sights, and the spacious rooms offer a luxurious experience.
Click here to book your stay at Address Downtown Dubai!
Final thoughts on sandboarding in Dubai
There you have it, the ultimate guide on sandboarding in Dubai! Have you been sandboarding before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
When I did it in Dubai it was my first time sandboarding in my life, and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t go as fast as I thought I would, but it was still a very enjoyable and unique experience.
Doing it with the backdrop of the Arabic desert around me made it all the more special. However, if your Dubai itinerary allows it, I would definitely recommend pairing your sandboarding experience with a longer, more complete desert safari.
This because while sandboarding is very fun, it’s not exactly an activity that will fill a whole day, and driving for hours into the desert just for that wouldn’t be worth it.
If you want to do something truly unique, then make sure to choose a desert safari with an overnight stay.
Spending the night under the stars, far from skyscrapers of Dubai, after a full day of sandboarding and other fun activities, will be an experience you will never forget.
I hope you have found this sandboarding in Dubai guide useful! I tried to answer all the questions I had about Dubai sandboarding prior to my own trip, if you have further questions, just let me know in the comments!
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