Desert Safari in November: The Most Comfortable Month of the Year
Thirty-one degrees by day, under twenty at night, and the first proper jacket weather since March. November is the month everything we run works exactly as it should — which is also why it is the month you have to book ahead.
- 7 min read
- Al Khatim Desert
- Peak season begins
- Same price all year
If you asked us to pick one month and put every guest in it, this would be the one. November is where the daytime finally comes down to something you would call warm rather than hot, and the evening becomes properly cool.
There is a cost to that, and it is not the price. It is company. This is when the season fills.
The short version
The daytime finally eases. November averages 31.0°C, down more than five degrees on October. For the first time since spring the afternoon is not something to plan around.
The nights get properly cool. 19.6°C at the camp. Not cold, but you will want a layer once the sun goes, and most people are glad they brought one.
Rain comes back, just. About 2.4 mm across the whole month. That is not weather to plan around, but it is the first measurable rain since spring.
Book earlier than you think. Peak season starts here. Weekends fill first and the good dates go weeks ahead.
What November actually looks like in numbers
Official Abu Dhabi climate normals, with October and December either side.
| Measure | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 36.6°C | 31.0°C | 26.5°C |
| Average overnight low | 23.7°C | 19.6°C | 15.7°C |
| Rainfall | 0.2 mm | 2.4 mm | 7.8 mm |
| Sunset, 1st | 6:10 PM | 5:43 PM | 5:33 PM |
| Sunset, last day | 5:44 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:37 PM |
| At the camp after dark | Comfortable, no jacket | Cool, bring a layer | Cold, jacket needed |
Notice the sunset row. November barely moves — ten minutes across the whole month, against October’s twenty-seven. The clock stops shifting and stays put, which is why November feels settled in a way October never quite does.
The month also sits at the bottom of the year’s daylight curve. By the end of November the sun is setting before half past five and full dark arrives while dinner is being served.
Why November is the month we would pick
Everything works at once. In August only the evening trip makes sense. In January the nights are cold enough that people stay near the fire. November is the overlap where the morning safari, the evening safari and the overnight trip are all comfortable on the same day.
The afternoon becomes usable. Quad bikes, buggies and long camel rides no longer have to wait for sunset. At thirty-one degrees you can do them at four in the afternoon without anyone suffering.
The light lasts through the programme. With sunset at 5:43 PM you get dune bashing and photographs in daylight, sunset on the sand, and a fully dark sky by dinner — all inside one trip.
And the sky is still clear. November sits inside the same October-to-March stargazing window, so the stars are as good as October’s. You simply need a jacket to enjoy them.
What you give up for that comfort
Two things, and it is fair to know them before you book.
Company. November is when the season properly fills. Where October gives you space on the carpets, November gives you a busy camp with the shows playing to a crowd. Some people prefer that — a full camp has an atmosphere an empty one cannot manufacture. If you wanted the dunes to yourself, that was September.
Notice. The dates that go first are Friday and Saturday evenings and anything near a public holiday. Leaving it to the week of travel works in August; in November it often does not, particularly for a group or a private car.
Rule of thumb for this month: a weekday evening can usually still be arranged at short notice. A weekend evening for six people needs a couple of weeks.
What to bring in November
- A jacket or a proper layer. This is the change from October. Nineteen degrees with a breeze on open sand feels cooler than nineteen degrees in the city.
- Long trousers for the evening. Shorts are fine at pickup and less fine at nine at night.
- Closed shoes for the drive. Sand cools fast once the sun is down.
- Still sunglasses and sunscreen. Thirty-one degrees is comfortable, not weak. The afternoon sun is still strong.
- Something for children to put on. Kids feel the evening drop before adults do.
The full list is on the what to wear page.
What a November safari costs
Prices do not move with the season, and they do not rise in peak months. November costs exactly what August costs.
| How you travel | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Self-drive to the camp | AED 35 | per person |
| Shared bus from Al Wahda or Mazyad Mall | AED 50 | per person |
| Hotel pickup, shared vehicle | AED 100 | per person |
| Private car, up to seven guests | AED 599 | per car |
| Private Land Cruiser | AED 800 | per car |
Add-ons at the camp: quad bike AED 100 single or 150 double, VIP majlis seating AED 50 per person, falcon photo AED 30.
No deposit and no card details. You pay on arrival and can cancel free up to twelve hours before pickup — which is worth knowing in a month when you are booking further ahead than usual.
Who November suits, and who should look elsewhere
Book November if comfort is what you actually want, you are travelling with children or older relatives, you want the morning and evening trips both to be pleasant, or you are combining the desert with a lot of city walking.
Choose another month if you want the desert quiet — September and early October are far emptier — or if you are booking at the last minute and cannot be flexible about dates. And if you want a real fire-and-blankets winter night, December and January do that better.
November questions we get on WhatsApp
Is November a good time for a desert safari in Abu Dhabi?
It is the most comfortable month of the year. Official normals give 31.0°C by day and 19.6°C at night, which means the afternoon is pleasant rather than punishing and the evening is cool enough to enjoy a fire. It is also the busiest month to book, so leave more notice than you would in summer.
How cold does it get at night in November?
The average overnight low is 19.6°C. That is not cold, but on open sand with a breeze it feels cooler than the same figure in the city, and almost everyone is glad they brought a jacket or a long-sleeved layer.
What time is sunset in November?
About 5:43 PM at the start of the month and 5:33 PM at the end — only ten minutes of movement, against twenty-seven in October. Pickup stays at 3:00 to 3:30 PM, so you get daylight for the dunes and full darkness by dinner.
Does it rain in November in Abu Dhabi?
A little. The monthly average is about 2.4 mm, the first measurable rain since spring. It is not weather to plan around, and the trip runs in it, but it is the point in the year where rain becomes possible at all.
Should I book October or November?
November if daytime comfort matters most and you do not mind a busy camp. October if you want warm nights, an emptier desert and no jacket. Both share almost the same sunset time — the difference is the air and the crowd.
How far ahead should I book in November?
A weekday evening can usually still be arranged at a few days notice. A weekend evening, a group, or a private car needs a couple of weeks, and anything falling near a public holiday needs longer.
Is the desert safari more expensive in November?
No. Prices are the same every day of the year: AED 35 self-drive, AED 50 on the shared bus, AED 100 with hotel pickup, or AED 599 for a private car for up to seven. We do not run peak-season pricing.
Is November good for the overnight safari?
Yes, and it is one of the better months for it. Nights at 19.6°C are cool enough to sleep well but not cold enough to be uncomfortable, and the sky is inside the clear-season window.
The month either side
The October guide covers the reopening of the season and the warm-night stargazing window, and the December guide covers the month the fire starts doing real work. All twelve months are compared on the best time to go page. Every package sits on the price and timings page.
Tell us your November date — and book it sooner than you think
Send the date, the package and how many of you there are. A real person replies, usually within a few minutes. In peak season we will tell you honestly whether the date you want is still open.
Al Khatim Desert · Abu Dhabi | Pay on arrival · Free cancellation · No deposit