Dune rides
Several visitors found the Land Cruiser dune bashing thrilling, smooth and safe, including a family with three senior passengers.
Desert Express Tourism Camp
Ras Al Khor
Desert Express Tourism Camp in Ras Al Khor is a desert safari venue built around dune bashing, camel rides and evening entertainment. Reviews point to particularly engaging quad biking, dramatic fire shows and a relaxed camp atmosphere, though food and add-on charges can vary considerably.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
290 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fire show
The fire show is one of the camp’s strongest entertainment features, with several reviews calling it exciting or outstanding.
Clean tents
An overnight guest described the tents as spacious, clean and decorated with traditional Rajasthani touches.
Sunset views
The desert setting works well for sunset photography, with camel and dune experiences adding to the evening.
Group events
A group of almost 80 people reported a well-coordinated overnight stay, with staff available around the clock.
Tips for a Better Visit
Confirm charges. Agree every transfer, activity and seating charge before setting off; one guest was asked for an extra AED 50 for a short ride to camp.
Check inclusions. Before booking, confirm sand boarding and belly dancing are available and included rather than relying only on the package description.
Ask about food. Vegetarians should check the meal arrangement in advance, as one review described having no suitable vegetarian options.
Plan sunset. Leave time for sunset photos in the dunes; one review specifically recommends capturing the sunset and desert views.
Request boards. If sandboarding matters to you, ask whether it is available on the day, since one review says it can be provided on request.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Desert - Desert Express Camp Al Aweer
Al Awir Second, Dubai
Popular Mentions
Camel ride
Camel rides are part of the camp experience, though one review says the included ride lasted only about two minutes.
Tanoura dance
The Tanoura performance was praised alongside the fire show as a standout piece of the entertainment programme.
BBQ
Barbecue dinner is part of the camp meal experience, but reviews disagree widely about its quality and portion size.
Common Concerns
Fire safety
One visitor reported a burning slingshot flying over their head during the fire show, followed by a slow response and no apology.
Missing inclusions
A repeat visitor said promised sand boarding and belly dancing were unavailable despite being included in the package.
Short rides
Some guests found the dune bashing and camel ride much shorter than expected, including one report of roughly five minutes of dune driving.
Upselling
Reviews warn about pressure to pay for VIP seating, souvenirs and other extras, with some guests saying prices were unclear.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
50 AED
VIP seats
“They ask 50 AED extra for VIP seats which may be worth in some cases if you are looking to get a good view of performances”Google review · January 2024
AED 50
transfer to the camp
“still, he charged us an extra AED 50 to take us to the camp in his private vehicle in less than 5 minutes, without any dune driving”Google review · August 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Desert Express Tourism Camp in Ras Al Khor is a fairly classic Dubai desert-safari evening: dune bashing in a Land Cruiser, camel rides, quad biking, camp dining and stage entertainment. The strongest reviews focus on the driving, with one family saying the ride felt thrilling but safe even with three senior passengers. Quad biking also gets a clear nod from visitors who found it more engaging than the camel ride.
The entertainment can be a real highlight. The Tanoura dance and fire show were described as exceptionally impressive, while sunset photography and the desert setting add a memorable backdrop. Overnight guests have also mentioned spacious, clean tents and a well-coordinated group stay.
Food is the biggest gamble. Some diners enjoyed the barbecue, rice, pasta and salads, but others reported cold, stale or inedible dishes, long waits and very limited vegetarian choices. The camp can also feel sales-focused: reviews mention VIP-seat pressure, hawkers and unexpected charges, including AED 50 for a very short transfer to camp.
Confirm prices and package inclusions before you go, especially sandboarding and advertised shows. Also keep an eye on fire-show seating after one guest reported a burning prop flying overhead.