What to Wear for Desert Safari Dubai
Preparing for a Dubai desert safari means dressing for outdoor activity, sand and changing temperatures. This practical clothing and footwear guide explains what to consider, while the exact activities and requirements remain package-specific.
Best Clothes for a Desert Safari
The golden rule for desert safari wear is loose-fitting, breathable natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and modal. Long-sleeve shirts offer high defense against sunburns and sand spray.
Avoid tight-fitting jeans or structured pants. When sliding down sandboarding slopes or stepping into quad bikes, you need full hip mobility. Mid-length shorts, chinos, wide-leg trousers, or track pants work beautifully.
Best Footwear for Dunes and Camps
Sands get hot during afternoons, so open-toe sandals can lead to minor burns if you step off carpets. However, trainers or sneakers quickly get filled with sand.
We recommend wearing breathable trainers or slip-on canvas shoes for active sports like dune bashing and sandboarding. Once you arrive at the flat camp area, feel free to switch to comfortable slide-ons or flip-flops.
Dressing for a Winter Desert Safari
Winter afternoons are lovely, but as soon as the sun dips below the horizon, temperatures drops up to 10°C in an hour. This can catch tourists completely unprepared.
If you are booking a winter evening safari, bring along a denim jacket, active fleece, or a warm pashmina shawl. You will be grateful for it during the outdoor Tanoura show and BBQ dinner.
Dressing for a Summer Desert Safari
During summer months, lightweight light-colored wear is absolute bliss. Dark shades absorb heat and will leave you uncomfortable.
Pack sunglasses with polar filters to protect eyes from high glare off the dunes. A wide-brimmed safari hat or a wrapped Arabic keffiyeh is highly useful to shelter your head.
What Women Can Wear
For women, stylish jumpsuits, breezy maxi dresses, or linen shirts paired with comfortable trousers look fabulous in sunset photography while keeping sand out.
Avoid wearing short skirts or bodycon dresses. Moving on camel saddles and climbing dunes while sand boarding requires comfortable movement.
What Men Can Wear
Chino shorts or cargo joggers paired with sweat-wicking active tees, cotton polo shirts, or classic light button-down linen shirts look neat and keep you functional.
Long trousers or comfortable track pants are the best choice if you plan on driving or riding quad bikes to avoid grazing legs.
What Kids Should Wear
Kids have sensitive skin, so choose light-colored, long-sleeved clothes to keep them shielded from both desert sun and biting insects after dark.
Avoid laces if possible. Velcro-secured sneakers allow quick emptying of dunes sand when they inevitably end up rolling down dunes!
What strictly not to wear
Heels: Stilettos or high-wedge shoes sink into sands, ensuring you'll tumble, and can damage protective carpets inside Bedouin camps.
Expensive jewelry: Necklaces or watches can slip off easily during dunes activities and are near-impossible to recover in deep sand slopes.