Your Dubai Desert Camel Ride, Explained

What a Camel Ride Is Actually Like

A camel ride is the oldest way to cross this landscape, and it still feels like it once you're up there. You mount while the camel is seated (kneeling on its front legs), hold the saddle handle, and the animal rises in two distinct motions — back legs first, then front — which tips you forward, then back, briefly. Handlers always warn guests this is coming, and it's over in a couple of seconds.

Once standing, the walk itself is a slow, rolling sway rather than a bounce — closer to being on a boat than a horse. Camels in our care are guided single-file or in small groups by a handler who keeps a lead rope the entire time; you are never asked to steer or control the animal yourself.

Who This Is Best For

Because there's no physical exertion required and the pace never exceeds a slow walk, a camel ride works for age ranges almost nothing else on a desert safari can accommodate at once — we've had three generations of the same family, from a six-year-old to an eighty-year-old grandparent, ride the same short trek back to back.

Who Should Probably Skip It

Guests with severe motion sensitivity even at slow speeds, or significant hip or back mobility issues that make mounting and dismounting difficult, sometimes find the trek uncomfortable — let your handler know in advance and they'll help you mount and dismount with extra support, or suggest sitting this activity out while the rest of your group rides.

Family, Children's and Senior Traveller Advice

There's no minimum age for a supervised camel ride when a child rides with a parent or guardian, though most camps ask children under roughly seven to ride accompanied rather than in their own saddle. For seniors, the biggest practical tip is timing the mount and dismount rather than the ride itself — that's the only moment requiring any real balance, and handlers are trained to support guests through both.

The Best Photo Moments

The single best camel photo we see guests come home with almost always happens at a brief stop, not while walking — camels amble at a steady pace that blurs easily in photos, so ask your handler for a 15-second pause at a good vantage point instead of shooting on the move. Shoot from slightly below the camel's eye line rather than standing over it; it reads far better in the final photo.

Pair a camel ride with our evening safari for sunset light, or the morning safari for the same soft light with far fewer other groups in frame.

What to Wear and Bring

The saddle sits higher than most guests expect, so trousers make mounting more comfortable than a dress or skirt, and shoes with a back strap stay on far better than flip-flops during the rise-and-sit motion. Loose items — sunglasses, hats, phones — are worth securing before you mount, since the initial rise can catch you off guard. Our full what to wear on a desert safari guide covers seasonal clothing for the rest of your tour.

Safety on a Camel Ride

Handlers keep a lead rope on every camel throughout the ride and never leave a mounted guest unattended. The animals used are trained, camp-based camels accustomed to daily tourist traffic, not wild or unfamiliar animals — a meaningfully calmer experience than an unguided ride would be. If you're unsteady mounting or dismounting, say so; handlers physically support guests through both without hesitation.

First-Time Visitor Mistakes to Avoid

• Standing up or leaning far to one side once mounted — stay centred and let the handler manage positioning.
• Gripping the saddle horn instead of the handle — most saddles have a proper hand-hold; ask if you're unsure.
• Skipping the ride because "it's just for kids." Many adult guests tell us it ends up their favourite quiet moment of the whole safari, precisely because it's unhurried.
• Wearing a long, loose skirt or dress — it can catch during mounting; save it for photos on the ground instead.

Money-Saving Tips

A camel ride is included at no extra cost in almost every Dubai Safaris tour — the evening, morning, overnight and VIP safaris all bundle it in, so there's rarely a reason to book a separate standalone session unless you specifically want a longer route than the standard 10-15 minute camp trek.

Heritage and Etiquette

Camels are central to Bedouin heritage — for centuries they were transport, currency and companionship across this same desert. Treat the animals and handlers with respect, follow their guidance on mounting and photos, and you'll connect with a tradition thousands of years old, explored further in our UAE culture guide.