Choose a hot air balloon if you want a sunrise view and can manage a pickup between 3:45 and 4:30 AM; the Standard Flight starts at AED 1,049 per adult. Choose a desert safari if you want a dune drive, dinner and shows at an easier hour, from AED 225 per adult. You can also book both on different days.
Key takeaways
- The hot air balloon comes in three tiers, Standard Flight, Deluxe Flight and Premium Flight, priced per person: AED 1,049, AED 1,149 and AED 1,349 per adult.
- Balloon pickup runs from 3:45 to 4:30 AM, and the sharing pickup is included at no extra charge.
- The shared safaris are priced per person with hotel pickup included: the Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 is AED 225 per adult, and the Shared Classic Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is AED 240 per adult.
- Private safaris are priced per car for up to 6 guests: AED 799 for the private morning safari and AED 1,400 for the Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner.
- Ages differ: balloon adult prices cover ages 12 to 80 and child prices ages 7 to 11; safari adult prices start at 12 and child prices cover ages 5 to 11.
- Each price stands alone. If you book both, you pay each one at its own price and in its own unit.
- A self-drive dune buggy is a third option, priced per buggy rather than per person.
Hot air balloon or desert safari in Dubai: what is the real difference?
The two activities share a setting, the desert outside Dubai, but they give you very different mornings or evenings.
A hot air balloon is about the view. You are collected in the dark, and the experience is built around the sunrise over the desert. It is quiet and slow, and the point is to look out rather than to do anything active.
A desert safari is about being in the dunes. You travel in a Land Cruiser 4X4, the drive itself is part of the fun, and the evening version ends at a camp with a BBQ dinner and shows. It is social, physical in places and much longer on the ground.
So the question is less "which is better" and more "which kind of experience do you want". If you are asking which is better, desert safari or hot air balloon, the honest answer depends on your budget, your tolerance for an early start and who is travelling with you.
What do you actually do on each one?
On a hot air balloon flight
The balloon is a sunrise activity. The day starts with a pickup between 3:45 and 4:30 AM, so you reach the desert in time for first light.
There are three flight tiers: the Standard Flight, the Deluxe Flight and the Premium Flight. Each is priced per person, and the difference between them is set out on the hot air balloon page. If you are weighing up the tiers, ask the team what each one includes before you book, so you choose on what matters to you rather than on the name.
The appeal is simple: you see the desert from above as the sun comes up. It suits people who want one standout memory from the trip and who do not mind an alarm set very early.
On a morning desert safari
The Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 is the shorter, lighter way to see the dunes. You are collected from your hotel, driven out in a Land Cruiser 4X4 and taken into the desert for the morning.
It does not include the evening BBQ dinner or the shows. That makes it a good fit if you want the dune drive and the scenery, then the rest of the day free for the city.
If you want more time in the sand, there is a version of the morning safari with a 30 minute ATV quad bike ride added, priced on its own per person.
On an evening desert safari
The Shared Classic Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is the classic choice. After pickup you head into the dunes in a Land Cruiser 4X4, then the evening ends at a desert camp with a BBQ dinner and live shows.
The shows are a belly dance, a fire show and a tanoura performance. For many visitors, this mix of drive, dinner and entertainment is what "desert safari" means.
A camel ride is sold separately at AED 150 per person, if you want to try one on another visit to the desert. More detail on the safari line-up is on the desert safari page.
Hot air balloon vs desert safari: prices and units side by side
The biggest practical difference is the pricing unit. Balloon flights and shared safaris are priced per person, while private safaris are priced per car. Keep each price with its own unit when you compare them.
| Experience | Unit | Adult price | Child price | Pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Flight (hot air balloon) | Per person | AED 1,049 (ages 12 to 80) | AED 999 (ages 7 to 11) | Pickup 3:45 to 4:30 AM, sharing pickup included |
| Deluxe Flight (hot air balloon) | Per person | AED 1,149 (ages 12 to 80) | AED 1,049 (ages 7 to 11) | Pickup 3:45 to 4:30 AM, sharing pickup included |
| Premium Flight (hot air balloon) | Per person | AED 1,349 (ages 12 to 80) | AED 1,149 (ages 7 to 11) | Pickup 3:45 to 4:30 AM, sharing pickup included |
| Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 | Per person | AED 225 (12+) | AED 210 (5 to 11) | Hotel pickup included |
| Shared Classic Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner | Per person | AED 240 (12+) | AED 225 (5 to 11) | Hotel pickup included |
| Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 | Per car, up to 6 guests | AED 799 per car | Included in the car price | Hotel pickup included |
| Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner | Per car, up to 6 guests | AED 1,400 per car | Included in the car price | Hotel pickup included |
Two things stand out from the table. First, every balloon tier sits well above the shared safaris on a per adult basis. Second, the private safaris use a different unit altogether, so a per car price should be read as the price for the vehicle and its group, not as a per person figure.
Hot air balloon Dubai price: what are you paying for?
The hot air balloon Dubai price depends on the tier and the age of each guest.
For adults aged 12 to 80, the Standard Flight is AED 1,049 per person, the Deluxe Flight is AED 1,149 per person and the Premium Flight is AED 1,349 per person.
For children aged 7 to 11, the Standard Flight is AED 999 per child, the Deluxe Flight is AED 1,049 per child and the Premium Flight is AED 1,149 per child.
Pickup runs between 3:45 and 4:30 AM. The sharing pickup is included at no extra charge, so the flight price is the price you plan around.
The price reflects that this is a single, short window of the day built around sunrise. You are paying for the view and the moment rather than for hours of activity, which is why it feels different from a safari that fills a whole evening.
Is a hot air balloon worth it in Dubai?
Whether a hot air balloon is worth it depends on what you want from the trip.
It tends to be worth it if:
- You want one standout experience that feels different from everything else on your itinerary.
- Sunrise matters to you, and you are happy to be up and ready before 4:30 AM.
- You prefer a calm, scenic outing to an active one.
- You are marking a special occasion and want the morning to stand out.
It may not be the right pick if:
- Your budget is tight and you would rather spread it across several activities.
- Early starts leave you tired for the rest of your stay.
- You are travelling with children under 7, since the child prices listed cover ages 7 to 11. Ask the team about younger children before you plan around a flight.
- You want dinner, entertainment and time on the ground in the desert.
If several of the second list apply, a desert safari will likely suit you better, and you can always come back for the balloon on a later trip.
Morning or evening desert safari in Dubai?
If you have settled on a safari, the next choice is morning or evening.
Choose the morning safari if
- You want the dune drive in a Land Cruiser 4X4 without a long evening out.
- You would like the afternoon and evening free for the city, a beach or dinner elsewhere.
- You are travelling with younger children who tire by night.
- You want the lower shared price: AED 225 per adult and AED 210 per child.
Choose the evening safari if
- You want the full classic experience: dune drive, desert camp, BBQ dinner and shows.
- You would enjoy the belly dance, fire show and tanoura performance.
- You prefer not to set an early alarm.
- You are happy with AED 240 per adult and AED 225 per child for the shared version.
Evening safaris pick up from Dubai hotels and from Sharjah too. If you are staying in Sharjah, mention it when you book.
If you want to add a short quad bike ride to either one, the guide on a desert safari with a quad bike, morning or evening walks through both versions.
Private desert safari in Dubai: when does it make sense?
A private desert safari keeps the Land Cruiser 4X4 for your group alone. Both private options are priced per car for up to 6 guests, with hotel pickup included.
The Private Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 is AED 799 per car. The Private Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner is AED 1,400 per car and includes the BBQ dinner and the shows.
A private safari makes sense when:
- You are a family or a group of friends and want the vehicle to yourselves.
- You would rather share the drive and the evening only with people you know.
For a couple or a solo traveller, the shared safaris priced per person are usually the simpler fit. For a group, compare the per car price with the shared per person prices on their own terms, and choose the format you prefer rather than trying to split the car price.
Who suits each option?
The hot air balloon suits
- Couples marking an occasion who want a quiet sunrise together.
- Photographers and anyone who loves wide views.
- Travellers who prefer a calm activity to a bumpy one.
- Guests aged 7 to 80, with children priced from 7 to 11 and adults from 12 to 80.
The desert safari suits
- Families with children from age 5, with child prices covering ages 5 to 11.
- Groups who want a shared evening with dinner and entertainment.
- Visitors on a tighter budget who still want a full desert experience.
- Anyone who enjoys a lively, social outing more than a scenic one.
A note on health and comfort
Dune bashing in a 4X4 is a rough ride. If you have a back or neck condition, a heart condition, recent surgery or a pregnancy, speak to a doctor before you book and tell the team about it when booking. The same applies to the balloon: declare any condition when you book, and follow your doctor's advice.
Can you do a hot air balloon and desert safari on the same day?
Yes, the timings allow a dawn balloon and an evening safari on the same day, but it makes for a long one.
The balloon pickup runs from 3:45 to 4:30 AM, and the Shared Classic Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner fills the evening. Between the two you will want a proper rest at your hotel. If you are travelling with children or you struggle with early starts, splitting them across two days is easier.
A morning safari and a balloon flight do not fit well on the same day, because both use the morning. Pair the balloon with an evening safari, or put the morning safari on a different day.
When you book both, each one keeps its own price and unit. The balloon is priced per person by tier and age, and the safari is priced per person (shared) or per car (private). Book them as two separate experiences and plan around each price on its own.
How to fit both into one trip
Here is a simple way to plan a stay that includes both.
On a short stay
- Day one: arrive, settle in and keep the evening light.
- Day two: book the Shared Classic Evening Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner for an easy introduction to the desert.
- Day three: set an early alarm for the balloon, then take the rest of the day slowly.
Putting the balloon later in the trip gives you time to adjust to the time zone before a pickup between 3:45 and 4:30 AM.
On a longer stay
- Keep at least one rest day between the balloon and any other early start.
- Try the Morning Desert Safari With Land Cruiser 4X4 on one day and the evening safari on another if you want both sides of the desert.
- Leave a spare day near the end of the trip in case a weather change moves the flight.
Booking and changes
Payment is by Visa or Mastercard in AED, in full when you book online, with no card processing fee. Your confirmation arrives by email.
Moving to another date costs nothing, subject to availability. If the team cancels for weather, you can take a refund less a 5% processing fee or choose a new date.
For bookings of fewer than 4 guests, cancelling 96 hours or more before departure carries no fee, with the refund made less a 5% processing fee. At least 48 hours before departure, the fee is 50%, and under 24 hours it is 100%.
For bookings of 4 or more guests, cancelling 7 days before departure carries a 50% fee, and 5 days or less before departure the fee is 100%. Refunds go back to the original card within 7 to 10 business days. Cancellations are made by email only, and the time the email arrives sets the fee. The full terms are on the cancellation policy page.
Is a self-drive dune buggy a better choice?
There is a third option if neither the balloon nor the safari feels quite right: a self-drive dune buggy.
You drive the buggy yourself on private desert terrain outside Dubai, with a guide riding ahead and setting the pace. Buggies are priced per buggy, not per person, starting with the 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC at AED 600 for 30 minutes. Pickup is not included in the buggy price: add a sharing transfer at AED 175 per person, a private car at AED 450 for 5 to 6 guests, or meet at the location emailed after booking.
It suits people who want to be in control rather than looking on. If that sounds like you, the dune buggy page lists every machine and ride length. For most visitors choosing between the sky and the sand, though, the balloon and the safari remain the two clearest options.
Choosing your morning or evening
If you want one calm, memorable sunrise and the early pickup does not worry you, book a Standard Flight, Deluxe Flight or Premium Flight. If you want dunes, dinner and shows at a gentler hour, or you are travelling with younger children, a shared or private desert safari is the better fit. If you have the days, do both, on separate days or with the balloon at dawn and the safari that evening.
To book either one, use the online booking form, or call +971 52 440 9525 or email [email protected] with your dates and the number of guests.
