Short answer
Wear light, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, closed shoes that stay on in sand, and sunglasses. Bring a light layer for the return journey, as evenings can feel cooler. Follow any clothing or equipment instructions from the operator, especially for quad bikes.
Clothes
Choose loose, breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen. They keep you cooler in the sun than tight synthetic clothes and dry quickly if you sweat. Light colours reflect heat and hide sand better than dark ones.
Covering clothes are practical as well as respectful. Long, light trousers or a long skirt protect your legs from the sun and from sand when you sit on dunes or sandboard. A shirt with sleeves protects your shoulders. Camps are visited by guests from many countries, and modest clothing is a sensible default in the UAE.
Avoid very short or delicate items. Fine fabrics can catch on camel saddles and sandboards, and sand gets into everything.
Shoes
Wear secure shoes for activities. Trainers or light closed shoes work well. Sandals and flip-flops are fine for the camp but slip off on dune climbs and are not suitable for quad bikes. Expect sand in your shoes whatever you wear. Many travellers take them off to walk on the dunes and put them back on for riding.
Avoid your best shoes. Fine sand gets into mesh and stitching and can be hard to remove.
Morning and evening differences
The desert can feel very different at different times of day and in different months. This table gives a general guide.
| Situation | What to wear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Morning tour | Light, covering clothes, hat, sunglasses | The sun gets strong quickly as the morning goes on |
| Sunrise start | Add a light jumper or jacket | Early hours can feel cool before the sun rises |
| Evening safari | Light clothes plus a layer for later | Afternoon heat gives way to cooler evenings and air-conditioned vehicles |
| Cooler months | A warmer layer for the camp | Evenings in the desert can feel noticeably colder than in the city |
| Warmer months | The lightest covering clothes you have | Heat stays high even after sunset |
Dressing for activities
Dune bashing
Wear clothes you can sit comfortably in for a bumpy ride. Avoid loose items in pockets, and keep sunglasses on a cord or in a case.
Sandboarding
Trousers protect your legs if you fall. Sand will get into pockets, so empty them first.
Quad bikes and buggies
Closed shoes are usually required. Operators normally provide helmets. A scarf or buff over your mouth and nose helps with dust, and sunglasses or goggles protect your eyes. Tie back long hair. Follow the operator's equipment instructions; they may refuse riders without suitable shoes. See quad bike vs dune buggy for more on riding.
Camel rides
Trousers or a long skirt are more comfortable than shorts. You sit astride, so very tight or very short clothing is awkward.
Camp dinner
Most camps are casual. At premium camps such as Al Khayma Camp, many guests choose smart casual clothes, but closed shoes still help in the sand.
What to bring
- Sunglasses and a hat or cap
- Sun cream, applied before pickup
- A light layer for the return journey
- A refillable water bottle
- A scarf or buff against dust
- Phone with your voucher and operator contact saved offline
- A small bag or zip pouch to keep sand away from electronics
- Wet wipes or tissues
- Any personal medication
What to leave behind
- Valuable jewellery and anything you would hate to lose in sand.
- Large bags. Space in shared vehicles is limited.
- Expensive camera gear without a protective bag. Fine sand can damage lenses and zoom mechanisms.
- White or delicate clothes you want to keep perfectly clean.
For the rest of your planning, see morning vs evening or compare packages on the comparison page.
Sources and further reading
We used these public sources to check formats and terminology. They are independent of this website and we do not earn commission from them.
- Visit Dubai experiences (opens in a new tab): the official tourism portal, useful for the range of desert formats, including heritage experiences.
- Arabian Adventures desert safaris (opens in a new tab): an operator that separates morning, evening and private formats.
