What to Wear on a Desert Safari in Dubai
Wear loose, breathable cotton and closed shoes — trainers, not sandals. In winter (October to March) bring a jacket, because desert evenings drop to around 12–15°C once the sun goes down. Skip heels, large bags and anything you would mind getting sandy.
Every week we pick up guests in the desert wearing something they regret within the first ten minutes. Usually it is sandals. Sometimes it is a brand-new white shirt. Once it was heels.
None of it ruins the day, but the right clothing makes a real difference to how much you actually enjoy the dunes. Here is what we tell guests when they ask, based on running these tours out of Lehbab since 2010.
The basics that apply all year
12–15°Cwhat a winter desert evening drops to
The desert is not a beach and it is not a nightclub. It is an outdoor activity where you will be climbing in and out of a 4×4, sitting on cushions at a camp, walking on soft sand and possibly sliding down a dune on a board.
- Loose, breathable clothing. Cotton and linen beat anything synthetic. Loose fabric moves air across your skin, which matters more than you think.
- Closed shoes. Trainers or canvas shoes. This is the single most common mistake — see below.
- Something with sleeves. Even in winter, the sun on open dunes is stronger than it feels in the city between buildings.
- Layers you can remove. The temperature swing between a 3 PM pickup and a 9 PM camp is bigger than most visitors expect.
The one thing people underestimate: sand gets everywhere. Not in a dramatic way, but enough that you would not want to wear something you are precious about. Dark colours hide it better than white.
Winter versus summer
Dubai has two genuinely different desert seasons, and they call for different clothing.
| Winter (Oct–Mar) | Summer (Apr–Sep) | |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | Comfortable, 24–30°C. Normal light clothing works. | Hot, 38–45°C. The lightest, loosest thing you own. |
| Evening at camp | Genuinely cold. Can drop to 12–15°C once the sun goes. Bring a jacket or hoodie. | Warm and pleasant. A light layer is plenty. |
| Best tour timing | Any. Evening is most popular. | Sunrise or morning, or a late evening start. |
| Most common mistake | Not bringing a jacket because it was warm at the hotel. | Wearing dark, tight or synthetic clothing. |
The winter evening chill catches almost everyone out. You leave your hotel in Marina at 3 PM in a t-shirt, it is 27°C and beautiful. By the time the BBQ is served in an open desert camp at 8 PM, the temperature has dropped more than ten degrees and there are no walls around you. Bring the jacket even if it feels unnecessary when you leave.
Footwear: closed shoes, every time
We say this on every booking confirmation and people still turn up in flip-flops.
Sand in the daytime gets hot enough to be genuinely uncomfortable underfoot. Loose sandals come off when you walk up a dune. And if you are doing a quad bike or dune buggy ride, closed shoes are a safety requirement, not a suggestion — open footwear means you will not be allowed on the vehicle.
Trainers are perfect. Canvas shoes are fine. Hiking boots are overkill but harmless. Anything with an open toe or a loose heel strap will cause you problems.
What women should know
There is no dress code at our camp and no requirement to cover up. Guests wear what they are comfortable in, and that ranges widely.
The practical considerations matter more than the cultural ones here:
- Trousers or long skirts are easier than short ones — you will be sitting on floor cushions and climbing into a high 4×4.
- Tie long hair back. Dune bashing with the windows down turns loose hair into a problem quickly.
- Skip the heels entirely. They sink into soft sand and there is nowhere flat to walk.
- If you plan to try sandboarding or a quad, wear something you can move freely in.
If you would prefer to dress more modestly, that is completely normal at the camp and nobody will look twice either way.
What to bring with you
- Sunglasses — the glare off pale sand is stronger than off water
- Sunscreen, applied before pickup rather than in the car
- A light jacket for winter evenings
- A hair tie if your hair is long
- Your phone, obviously, but consider a strap or a zip pocket
- Cash or card — our tours are paid on the day, and you may want extras at camp
What to leave at the hotel
- Anything you would be upset to scratch or lose. Sand and jewellery do not mix.
- Large bags. Vehicle space is limited and there is nowhere to leave things at camp.
- Heels, sandals, brand-new white anything.
- Drones, unless you have cleared it with us in advance — the desert has airspace restrictions.
If you are prone to motion sickness: dune bashing is genuinely bumpy. Eat something light beforehand rather than nothing at all, sit in the middle row if you can, and tell your driver — they will adjust how hard they drive. It is a normal request and we get it often.
A note on photos
Most guests are thinking about this even if they do not say it. Golden hour in the dunes is genuinely one of the best photo settings in Dubai, and clothing shows up strongly against the sand.
Flowing fabric photographs beautifully out there — long skirts, scarves and loose shirts catch the wind in a way that fitted clothing does not. Warm tones and white read well against the red-orange dunes. Just make sure whatever you pick still passes the practical tests above, because a two-hour photoshoot is not what most of the tour is.
Frequently asked
Can I wear shorts on a desert safari?
Yes. There is no dress code at our camp. Just remember you will be sitting on floor cushions and climbing into a high 4×4, so trousers are often more comfortable.
Do I really need closed shoes?
For the safari itself they are strongly recommended. For quad bikes or dune buggies they are a safety requirement — open footwear means you cannot ride.
Is it cold in the desert at night?
In winter, yes. Evenings can drop to 12–15°C in an open camp with no walls, even when the afternoon was 27°C. Bring a jacket.
What should I wear in summer?
The lightest and loosest clothing you own, in pale colours, with sleeves for sun protection. Consider a sunrise or morning tour instead of midday.
Do women need to cover up?
No. There is no requirement to cover up at our camp and guests dress in a wide range of styles. Practical considerations matter more than cultural ones here.
Our own fleet, our own guides, our own camp in the Lehbab dunes. DET-licensed since 2010 — and no advance payment, you pay on the day.