Camel Ride Dubai: What You Need to Know Before You Ride

When you think of a camel ride Dubai, a traditional desert experience tied to Bedouin culture and modern tourism. Also known as camel trekking, it’s one of the few activities in Dubai that lets you move slowly enough to feel the desert, not just see it. Most people picture it as a quick photo stop—just you, a camel, and a golden dune. But the real ride? That’s something else.

A desert safari Dubai, a guided tour combining dune bashing, sandboarding, and cultural stops. Also known as Dubai desert tour, it’s the most common way tourists experience the dunes. And the camel ride? It’s usually the quiet middle part—the calm after the adrenaline rush of dune bashing and before the BBQ dinner under the stars. But skip it, and you miss the heartbeat of the desert. Locals don’t ride camels for fun. They rode them for survival. Today, the best rides aren’t the ones with the most cameras. They’re the ones where the guide lets you walk beside the camel, feel the rhythm of its steps, and hear nothing but wind over sand.

Not all camel rides are equal. Some operators cram six people onto one camel. Others charge extra for photos. The real ones? They let you sit quietly, maybe even dismount for a few minutes. You’ll find these at smaller, family-run tours—not the big branded ones near the Mall of the Emirates. Look for operators who mention "traditional Bedouin routes" or "off-the-beaten-path dunes." They often skip the Instagram spots and take you where the sand is untouched, and the only footprints are yours and the camel’s.

What you wear matters. Shorts and flip-flops? You’ll regret it. Sand gets everywhere. Long pants, closed shoes, and a light scarf for your head make the ride bearable. And don’t expect to gallop. Camels don’t run like horses. They glide—slow, steady, and surprisingly smooth if you let your body move with them. Most rides last 20 to 40 minutes. Longer ones? They’re rare, and usually cost more. But if you’re looking for peace, not performance, even 20 minutes under a fading sunset can feel like hours.

There’s a reason Dubai keeps camel rides in its tourism lineup. It’s not just tradition. It’s contrast. In a city that runs on speed, neon, and verticality, the camel ride is the one thing that forces you to slow down. You don’t control it. You don’t rush it. You just ride. And for a few minutes, you’re not in Dubai—you’re in the desert.

What you’ll find below are real stories from people who’ve taken these rides—the good, the weird, and the ones they still talk about years later. From hidden operators who don’t advertise online, to families who turn it into a ritual, to the photographer who waited three days just to catch the perfect light. This isn’t a list of top 10 tours. It’s a collection of what actually happens when you get on a camel in Dubai—and why it sticks with you.