Desert Sunset
The sunset setting, decorated tents and open desert views create a memorable backdrop for dinner and photographs.
Sonara Camp
Umm Eselay
Sonara Camp is a desert restaurant and evening experience in Umm Eselay, combining dinner with sunset views, live performances and activities such as camel rides and sandboarding. It suits visitors looking for a celebratory outing rather than a quick meal, with family-friendly touches and an overnight Nest option.
Reputation Score
4.5
★★★★★
308 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fire Show
The fire show is a standout part of the evening, alongside acrobatics, balance acts and traditional dance.
Family Friendly
Children can watch movies with popcorn, roast marshmallows by the fire and play in the desert setting.
Camp Activities
The experience includes hands-on activities such as sandboarding, camel rides, archery and falcon photography.
Attentive Service
Reviews repeatedly describe warm, attentive hospitality, including careful handling of food allergies and special occasions.
Clean Facilities
The camp's restrooms are described as modern, spacious and unusually clean for a desert venue.
Quality Lamb
Some diners particularly enjoyed the lamb, describing it as well cooked and full of flavour.
What to Eat at Sonara Camp How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Sonara Camp, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Sonara Camp got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 2
-
Freshly fired pizza Net +1
“I was impressed with the quality of canapés and freshly fired pizza, grills from the kitchen that serves only 14 nests.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I was impressed with the quality of canapés and freshly fired pizza, grills from the kitchen that serves only 14 nests.”May 2025
-
Wood fired pizza Net +1
“Really great experience from riding camels in the beautiful evening sun to tasty appetisers (including wood fired pizza), sand football, many shows during the dinner, cozy ambience and lights.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Really great experience from riding camels in the beautiful evening sun to tasty appetisers (including wood fired pizza), sand football, many shows during the dinner, cozy ambience and lights.”January 2024
What to Avoid (7)
Food 4
-
Bowl of fruit Net −1
“The vegan menu showed vegan apple tartine which initially grabbed our attention to go, what my wife received was a bowl of fruit. Disappointing.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The vegan menu showed vegan apple tartine which initially grabbed our attention to go, what my wife received was a bowl of fruit. Disappointing.”December 2024
-
Hot chocolate Net −1
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”January 2023
-
Shrimp Net −1
“- Rubbery shrimp n meat”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- Rubbery shrimp n meat”January 2023
-
Vegan apple tartine Net −1
“The vegan menu showed vegan apple tartine which initially grabbed our attention to go, what my wife received was a bowl of fruit.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The vegan menu showed vegan apple tartine which initially grabbed our attention to go, what my wife received was a bowl of fruit.”December 2024
Drinks 3
-
Cappuccino Net −1
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”January 2023
-
Latte Net −1
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- hot drinks (all coffees are BAD and taste the same; cappuccino, latte whatever all tastes the same) hot chocolate is no better”January 2023
-
Virgin mojito Net −1
“- ANYTHING you want you have to pay extra .. photos, virgin mojito …etc”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- ANYTHING you want you have to pay extra .. photos, virgin mojito …etc”January 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Arrange Return. If you book dinner only and skip the company's transport, arrange your return ride in advance because taxis can be difficult to hail.
Bring Layers. Desert evenings can turn cool, so bring a scarf or jacket; blankets may also be available.
Check Menu. Check the current menu before booking, especially for dietary dishes: one vegan item was replaced by a bowl of fruit.
Arrive Early. For a Nest stay, arriving on time gives you room to leave luggage, take photos and enjoy golden hour before check-in crowds.
Choose Sunset. Aim for the sunset session if you want the strongest combination of camel riding, views, photographs and dinner entertainment.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Umm Eselay, Dubai
| Mon | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Tue | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Wed | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Thu | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Fri | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Sat | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Sun | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent Food
Several diners found the food bland or poor for the price, despite other reviews praising the dinner.
High Pricing
The overall cost, including drinks, has left some guests feeling the experience was poor value.
Loud Audio
One guest reported that loud, poorly balanced sound and faulty speakers distracted from the entertainment.
Extra Charges
A review says some items, including photographs and virgin mojitos, cost extra beyond the main booking.
Transport Delays
A Nest guest experienced long waits for room service and buggy transfers, which mattered when travelling with an injured companion.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 1,350
bottle of wine
“Charging AED 1,350 for a bottle of wine that retails for around AED 200 at a dealer shop is unacceptable”Google review · March 2026
close to AED 4,000
overall experience bill
“A final bill close to AED 4,000 for such an experience is simply not acceptable”Google review · March 2026
over AED 6,000
six-person experience
“We paid over AED 6,000 for six people and we left hungry, bored and full of dust”Google review · December 2023
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Sonara Camp is a desert restaurant and evening outing in Umm Eselay, built around sunset, dinner and live entertainment. A typical visit can include camel riding, sandboarding, falcon experiences and a fire show, so it feels closer to a full desert programme than a standalone restaurant meal. The sunset viewpoints and decorated tents are especially useful for birthdays, anniversaries and proposals.
Families are well catered for. Reviews mention popcorn and films for children, marshmallow roasting and activities that work across different ages. The camp is also praised for attentive service, clean restrooms and thoughtful handling of food allergies.
Guests who book The Nest can stay overnight, with comfortable rooms, breakfast and stargazing mentioned in reviews. The main caution is value and food consistency. Some diners praised the lamb, wood-fired pizza and broad dinner selection, while others found dishes bland, industrial or poorly matched to the advertised menu.
Wine and add-on charges can push the bill sharply higher; one guest reported AED 1,350 for a bottle and another a bill close to AED 4,000. Arrange transport back if needed, bring a jacket for the cooler desert night and check the current menu before booking.