JBR and the desert · 10 minutes to half a day
Horse and Camel Riding in Dubai
A short camel ride on JBR beach, horse riding in the dunes at sunrise or sunset, or a camel trek in the desert with a Bedouin breakfast.
Horse and camel riding in Dubai connects two sides of the city: the urban coast and the desert. You can ride a camel for a few minutes on JBR beach, facing the giant wheel, or head into the desert for an hour on an Arabian horse or for a camel trek that fills a whole morning. Camels and horses run deep in Emirati heritage, and the experience suits anyone, even someone who has never ridden.
The camel ride on JBR beach is the shortest and easiest of them all. You arrive at the beach, wait in a shaded area until the camel is ready, and the handlers help you up. Then you walk for about ten minutes along the shore, with the handler leading the camel, and you see the Dubai Marina towers, the giant wheel on Bluewaters Island and the Palm. It is a particularly good experience for children.
Horse riding in the desert takes place at riding clubs on the edge of the city, in the Al Marmoom area and in other desert areas. You ride trained horses, with a certified guide, on a route between the dunes. There are group rides and private rides, and the guide matches the horse and the pace to your level. At some clubs you get Arabic coffee and dates after the ride.
The camel trek takes half a day. You are picked up from your hotel and driven to the Al Marmoom reserve, where you ride in a camel caravan for about 45 minutes among the dunes. Then you reach a Bedouin village, eat a Bedouin breakfast, watch Arabic coffee being made, and can have your photo taken with a falcon and try on traditional dress.
Al Marmoom is a desert area outside the city. According to Visit Dubai, it is also home to the largest and best-equipped camel racing track in the emirate, about half an hour's drive from the city centre, next to the Al Marmoom heritage village and the Al Lisaili area. The camel racing season runs from October to April, and the races are usually held on weekend mornings.
According to Visit Dubai, Dubai has several more ways to ride horses: a full-moon night ride among the ghaf trees in Mushrif Park, riding between the lakes and on the mountain slopes of Hatta, and stable tours at the Meydan racecourse. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve also offers, according to its official site, camel treks and horse riding among the dunes.
Tip: for horse riding in the desert choose sunrise or sunset. The light is beautiful, and the heat is more bearable.
Tickets and prices
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Camel ride on JBR beach | 177 AED per person |
| Horse riding in the desert | 177 AED per person |
| Camel trek with breakfast at Al Marmoom | 342 AED per person |
What is included
Included
- A guided ride according to the ticket
- A handler or qualified instructor
- Safety briefing
- A helmet for horse riding
- Water, and at some clubs Arabic coffee and dates
- Pick-up and drop-off, a Bedouin breakfast and a photo with a falcon, on the camel trek
Not included
- Transfer, on the beach camel ride and on most horse rides
- Professional photographs
- Riding boots
- Tips
What you will see and do
- A camel on JBR beach: about 10 minutes facing the giant wheel and the Marina.
- An Arabian horse in the dunes: a guided ride at sunrise or at sunset.
- A group ride or a private one: matched to your level and your pace.
- A camel caravan at Al Marmoom: about 45 minutes among the dunes.
- A Bedouin breakfast: in a desert village, on the camel trek.
- Arabic coffee and dates: after the ride, at some of the clubs.
- A photo with a falcon and traditional dress: on the camel trek.
Who it suits
Good for…
- Families with children: the camel ride on the beach suits little ones too.
- Anyone who has never ridden: the guides match the horse to your level.
- Experienced riders, on a private desert ride.
- Anyone who wants a taste of Bedouin heritage.
Less suited to…
- Anyone after jeep safaris and fast dune driving.
- Children under 10 for horse riding, at most clubs.
- Anyone who does not like early starts: the desert rides begin at sunrise.
When to go
The best time for horse and camel riding in Dubai is October to April, when the heat is more comfortable. In the desert people ride at sunrise or sunset, not in the middle of the day. The camel on JBR beach can be fitted into the afternoon, with sunset in front of the big wheel. Anyone who also wants to see camel racing at Al Marmoom needs to come in season, October to April, on a weekend morning.
Getting there
- Camel on JBR beach: the meeting point is on JBR beach. Get there on the Metro Red Line and the Dubai Tram, or by taxi.
- Horse riding in the desert: the clubs are on the edge of the city. Get there by taxi or by car. Most tickets have no transfer, and some offer a hotel transfer option.
- The camel trek at Al Marmoom: includes hotel pick-up and the return.
- You reach the Al Marmoom camel racing track by car or by taxi. According to Visit Dubai, there is no metro to it.
Good to know
- For horse riding, wear long trousers and closed shoes.
- Horse riding: at most places from age 10.
- Camel ride on the beach: children from age 4, with an adult.
- The camel trek: children from age 3.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- For the camel ride on the beach you need ID; a copy is also accepted.
- On some rides you can take photos with your own phone, and the guide will help.