A camel ride is included in our full-day desert safari from $45 per person, and at a safari camp it is usually a short, led walk of a few minutes with a photo stop. Longer treks are sold by some camps and resorts at extra cost, and camel races run on cool-season mornings at Al Marmoom. This guide covers what a ride is like, how to get on and off, what to wear, what children can do, who should skip it and how to tell a well-run camel stop from a poor one.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
How long is a camel ride in Dubai?
At a safari camp it is usually a short led walk of a few minutes. Longer treks exist at some camps and resorts, and the minutes vary by operator, so ask before you pay. Our full-day desert safari, from $45 per person, includes a camel ride at sunset.
This guide also answers:
- How much does camel riding cost in Dubai?
- Is camel riding safe for children?
- Where can I watch camel racing near Dubai?
Five ways to meet a camel in Dubai
#1
The safari camp ride
A saddled camel led on a rope by a handler for a short walk, then a photo. It takes a few minutes, which is exactly enough to enjoy the sway and the height without getting sore. On our full-day safari it comes at sunset, as the desert turns gold, with falcon photos nearby, and it is part of the price.
#2
The evening quad safari camp
The evening quad safari from $70 per person on a shared quad, or $105 on your own, adds a short camel ride to sandboarding, sunset photos, Arabic coffee and dates and the camp dinner. Children under 12 ride camels only with an adult, and camels are not advised for guests over 60 or with back problems.
#3
The balloon breakfast camp
After the sunrise balloon flight, a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast, a short camel ride and a falcon photo. The air is cool and the light is soft, which makes it the most comfortable way to ride in the warm months. The flight itself is from $275 per person.
#4
A longer trek at a desert camp or resort
A few camps and desert resorts sell a longer camel walk across the dunes at sunrise or sunset. Camels move at a walking pace and the saddle gets less comfortable the longer you stay in it, so be sure of the minutes, the route and the price before you book. We do not sell a stand-alone trek, so ask the operator for details.
#5
Camel racing at Al Marmoom
The racetrack runs races on cool-season mornings, roughly September to April, usually around 6-9 AM and mostly at weekends with no fixed timetable. Entry is free, commentary is in Arabic and the jockeys are small remote-controlled robots. There is no public transport, so you need a taxi or a car. Arrive early to see the camels before they run.
Camel riding in Dubai: the short answer
A camel ride is part of our full-day desert safari, from $45 per person, and that is how most visitors do it. At a safari camp the ride is usually short: a led walk of a few minutes on a saddled camel, then a photo. Longer treks are sold by some camps and desert resorts at extra cost, so ask how many minutes you are paying for. Camel races run on cool-season mornings, roughly September to April, at Al Marmoom, about 40 km from the city.
A short ride is enough for most people, because a camel is a surprise to sit on: you are high up, the walk sways you from side to side and the first minute is the best of it. If you want the animal and not just the photo, add a sunrise camp or a race morning. Our full-day desert safari includes a camel ride and falcon photos at sunset, and the whole 7-hour day, with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and no prepayment, starts at $45.
What a camel ride is like, step by step
Dubai's camels are dromedaries, the one-humped Arabian camel, and the ride at a camp follows a standard routine.
- The camel kneels. You sit in a padded saddle with a handle at the front, and the handler tells you which way to face.
- It stands in two jerks. The back legs rise first, which tips you forward, then the front legs, which tips you back. Hold the handle with both hands, lean back for the first and forward for the second, and the handler will call it.
- A handler leads it. At a camp the camel walks on a rope led by a handler, sometimes in a short line with other camels, with one or two riders each.
- The walk sways. It is a slow rocking motion from side to side. Camels also grumble loudly when they stand or kneel; it is not a sign that anything is wrong.
- It kneels again to let you off. Wait until the camel has stopped and the handler says so, then swing off in the same two stages in reverse.
Safari ride, longer trek or race morning
These are the four ways to meet a camel near Dubai. For most visitors, the first is the right one.
| Option | Where | How long | Cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safari camp ride | Desert camp on a safari | A few minutes, led | Included in our full-day safari from $45 | Almost everyone |
| Balloon breakfast camel | Bedouin camp after the flight | A short ride | Included in the sunrise flight from $275 | Cool, early and quiet |
| Longer trek | Camps and desert resorts | Ask the operator for minutes | Set by the operator | Slow-travel fans |
| Camel race | Al Marmoom track | A morning to watch | Free entry | Early risers with a car |
Camp rides are included in our tour prices; for stand-alone treks, ask the operator the duration and price before you pay.
The honest value test is time against price. If a longer trek is only 30 minutes at a high price, you may do better with a safari that includes the ride, plus sandboarding and a camp dinner. If you want the camel to be the whole point, a sunrise trek or a race morning is a better use of a day.
Kids, age and who should skip it
Children usually enjoy a camel ride, and on a safari they ride with an adult beside them. On our evening quad safari, children under 12 ride camels only with an adult, and camels are not advised for guests over 60 or with back problems. The full-day desert safari is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or infants under 3. Tell us the ages and any back or health issue when you book on WhatsApp, and we will tell you what the camp allows.
The balloon flight has its own limits, since children under 7 are not suitable and the baskets are not for pregnant women or guests with serious heart or back issues. For a family with young children, the safari is the better way to meet a camel; see the desert safari with kids guide for ages and bedtime, and the safari guide for seniors if grandparents are coming.
What to wear and how to sit
Wear what you would wear on the dunes: comfortable shoes or sandals, sunglasses, a sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen. For the camel itself, long trousers or leggings are better than shorts, because the saddle blanket can rub bare legs, and a long skirt or dress rides up. In December to February bring a light jacket for the evening.
On the camel, keep your feet still, your back straight and one hand on the handle while you take a photo with the other, and ask the handler to take the picture if you are nervous. Do not feed or stroke the camel unless the handler says so. Our what to wear on a desert safari guide has the full list by season.
A good camel stop and a poor one
Camels are made for heat, but a working camel still needs rest and water, and not every stop treats them well. Before you ride anywhere, look for the following.
- Water and shade in sight. Animals waiting in direct sun at midday, with no shade or water, are a reason to skip.
- A led walk at a gentle pace. The handler holds the rope and sets the speed; the camel is not hurried or hit.
- One or two riders per camel. Three adults on one animal is too many.
- Rest between rides. Camels that queue back to back in the heat are a poor sign; the best camps rotate the animals.
- Healthy animals. Bright eyes, steady walk, no sores under the saddle, and no limping.
In the hottest months, the safe answer is an evening ride, when the sand has cooled. Our desert safari in summer guide explains how the 7-hour day runs at 40 degrees, and the morning or evening guide helps you choose the slot.
Camel racing, camel milk and what else to do with a camel
Camel racing is a cool-season sport. The Dubai Camel Racing Club track at Al Marmoom is off the Dubai-Al Ain road, about 40 km from the city, and the season runs roughly September to April. Races are in the early morning, typically between about 6 and 9 AM, mostly at weekends, with no fixed schedule, so check before you drive. Entry is free; the commentary is in Arabic; the jockeys are small remote-controlled robots strapped to the camels' backs while the owners follow in 4x4 vehicles along the track.
Camel milk is sold in supermarkets and malls, and camel-milk chocolate is a common souvenir; try a small bar before you buy a box. For a wider desert day, combine the camel with sandboarding and falconry, both covered in our other guides, or read whether a desert safari is worth it for the full price breakdown.
Booking a camel ride on a tour
The easiest way is to book a safari that includes it, because there is no separate fee and no transport to arrange. Our full-day safari from $45 per person collects you from your hotel in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman in an air-conditioned 4x4, with 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Red Dunes, sandboarding, the camel ride at sunset and a BBQ dinner with shows at Al Khayma camp; the $65 option adds a 30-minute quad bike ride. You pay on the day, with no prepayment.
If you would rather drive than sit, the evening quad safari from $70 includes a one-hour quad ride as well as the camel ride. If you want the camel at dawn, the sunrise balloon flight from $275 ends with a camel ride, a falcon photo and breakfast. The price comparison shows what each option adds.
FAQ
How long is a camel ride in Dubai?
At a safari camp it is usually a short led walk of a few minutes. Longer treks exist at some camps and resorts, and the minutes vary by operator, so ask before you pay. Our full-day desert safari, from $45 per person, includes a camel ride at sunset.
How much does camel riding cost in Dubai?
On a safari the ride is included in the tour price: from $45 per person on our full-day safari, from $70 on the evening quad safari and from $275 on the sunrise balloon flight. Stand-alone rides and treks are priced by the operator, so ask the minutes and the price together.
Is camel riding safe for children?
Usually yes, with an adult beside them. On our evening quad safari children under 12 ride camels only with an adult. Tell us the child's age when you book and we will confirm what the camp allows.
Is camel riding cruel?
It depends on the stop. A well-run camp has shade and water, short led walks, one or two riders per camel and rest between rides. Skip any stop where the animals wait in direct sun, are overloaded or look tired.
Where can I watch camel racing near Dubai?
At the Dubai Camel Racing Club track at Al Marmoom, off the Dubai-Al Ain road, about 40 km from the city. The season runs roughly September to April, with races early in the morning, mostly at weekends and with no fixed timetable, so check before you go. Entry is free.
What should I wear for a camel ride?
Long trousers or leggings, comfortable closed shoes or sandals, sunglasses and a sun hat. Avoid long skirts and dresses, which ride up in the saddle. Bring a light jacket for evening and winter mornings.
Can I ride a camel in the summer in Dubai?
Yes, but the evening or early morning is far more comfortable than midday, when temperatures pass 40 degrees. Our balloon breakfast camp and the evening safari are the cooler options.
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