What to wear on a desert safari in Dubai, by season

What should you wear on a desert safari in Dubai?

Wear light, loose, breathable clothes that you do not mind getting sandy, with trainers or other closed shoes, sunglasses and a hat. Add a warm layer between November and March, because the desert gets cold after sunset. That covers almost every safari, from a morning dune drive to an overnight camp.

Visit Dubai puts it simply: comfort comes first in the desert, and you want an outfit you do not mind getting sand on. Cotton and linen in light colours stay cooler than synthetics in dark ones. Long, loose sleeves and trousers protect you from the sun better than a vest and shorts, and they are the more modest choice at the camp.

What should you wear on a desert safari in each season?

Dress for the month you are travelling in: the desert is warm to hot by day for most of the year, but winter evenings can be cold. These are the National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM) long-term monthly averages across the UAE, as reported in its monthly climate summaries.

Sources: NCM via Aletihad for December and January, and via Gulf News for April, August and November. Checked 2 November 2026. These are averages; a given day can be hotter or colder.

Winter: December to February

Winter days are warm and the evenings are cold. Visit Dubai gives average winter highs of about 25°C and lows of about 14°C between November and April, and recommends a thicker jacket and warmer clothing for evening trips to the desert. Wear layers you can peel off for the dune drive and put back on at the camp: a T-shirt, a long-sleeved top and a fleece or padded jacket. A scarf doubles as a wrap when the wind picks up.

Spring and autumn: March, April, October and November

These months are warm by day and mild after dark. Light trousers or knee-length shorts with a breathable shirt work for the afternoon, and a thin long-sleeved layer is enough for the evening. April’s average highs are 32 to 36°C, so by then a morning trip or a late-afternoon pickup is more comfortable.

Summer: May to September

Summer is about heat and sun. August’s average high is above 40°C across the UAE and the nights stay near 30°C, so you will not need a jacket. Wear loose, light-coloured clothes that cover your shoulders and arms, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and drink water throughout. A morning safari is the cooler choice in these months.

What shoes should you wear on a desert safari?

Trainers or other closed shoes are the best choice. They keep sand and hot ground off your feet when you climb out of the 4x4, walk up a dune or ride a quad. Operators such as Excursion Point ask guests to wear enclosed shoes, and Visit Dubai notes that slippers and flip-flops get caught in soft sand.

Strappy sandals are a fair second choice in the warmer months. Sand will get into any shoe, so wear socks you do not mind ruining and shake your shoes out before you get back in the car. Many people take their shoes off to walk or sandboard on the dunes, which is pleasant in winter but painful on hot summer sand.

How do you protect yourself from the sun and sand?

Cover up, wear sunscreen and protect your eyes. The NHS recommends sunscreen of at least SPF 30 with four-star or higher UVA protection, reapplied every two hours and after sweating, plus a wide-brimmed hat and wraparound sunglasses. Visit Dubai adds a reminder to reapply when you head into the desert, not only at the beach.

Sand is the other problem. On the dune drive and the quad bikes, wind and spinning wheels throw fine sand into the air.

• Eyes. Sunglasses keep sand out as well as glare. Glasses are easier than contact lenses in the wind.
• Face. A light scarf, shemagh or buff pulled over your nose and mouth stops you breathing sand on a quad or in the wind.
• Phone and camera. Keep them in a closed pocket or a zip bag when you are not using them.
• Hair. Tie long hair back or cover it, or you will be brushing sand out of it for days.

Do you need to dress modestly at a desert camp?

We found no published dress code for desert camps, but covering your shoulders and knees is the respectful choice. Visit Dubai says all clothing is generally acceptable in Dubai, while advising visitors to dress conservatively at cultural and heritage sites, to keep swimwear for the pool and the beach, and to avoid slogans or images that could offend.

A desert camp is a cultural setting: you may sit on floor cushions in a majlis, try on traditional dress for photos and watch Emirati or regional performances. Loose trousers, a long skirt or knee-length shorts with a top that covers your shoulders fit in with no fuss. The Dubai dress code guide covers the wider rules, including during Ramadan.

For a camel ride or a dune buggy, Visit Dubai suggests trousers or shorts rather than a skirt or dress.

What should you bring on a desert safari?

Pack light. The operators we checked do not allow luggage or large bags on the trip, so bring a small bag with:

1. Sunglasses and a hat.
2. Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher.
3. A warm layer between November and March.
4. A scarf or buff for sand and wind.
5. Money for extras such as a quad ride, shisha, souvenir photos or a tip, which are not always included.
6. Wet wipes and lip balm.
7. Any medicine you need, including motion sickness tablets if dune bashing might upset you.
8. On an overnight trip, a passport or ID copy, which OceanAir asks for, and a change of clothes.

Water and soft drinks are included on most trips, so you do not need to carry much. If anyone in your group might feel unwell on the drive, read is dune bashing safe before you go.

What should you leave at the hotel?

Leave anything big, valuable or delicate. That means luggage and large bags, which the operators we checked do not allow, flip-flops, jewellery you would hate to lose in the sand, and clothes you would mind getting dusty.

On a Yalla Dunes trip the same advice applies: light, loose clothes and closed shoes, sunglasses, and a light layer for winter evenings. The private evening safari and the kids-friendly safari both pick you up from your hotel, so you can leave anything you do not need in your room.