Desert Safari While Pregnant: What Works and What Does Not
The dune drive is a firm no. Everything else — the camp, the food, the shows, the sunset, the stars — is open to you at the same price, and the driver takes the graded track instead.
- 7 min read
- No dune drive
- Same price
Two things before anything else. We are not doctors and this page does not pretend to be medical advice — your own doctor or midwife knows your pregnancy and we do not. And the answer to the question you actually came here with is yes, you can do a desert safari, with one part left out.
What follows is the honest version: the one thing that is off the table, the five practical realities nobody mentions, and which of our trips suits best. All of it is easier to arrange before the day than on it.
The one firm no
No dune bashing. This is not a caution or a judgement call we leave to you — it is a no, and we will say so rather than take the booking and let you decide in the car.
The reason is the nature of the movement. A dune drive is thirty to forty-five minutes of unpredictable pitch, roll and drop, with the tyres deliberately soft so the car floats over the sand. It is not the speed that matters, it is that the jolts cannot be anticipated or braced against. The same list that rules out the dune drive for pregnancy also rules it out for a heart condition, a back or neck problem, and recent surgery.
Asking for the “gentle” route is not a workaround here. Gentle helps with travel sickness. It does not change the fundamental character of driving over dunes.
What you still get
Skipping the dunes does not mean skipping the safari, and it does not cost less because nothing has been taken away except a drive. Your driver takes the firm graded track straight to the camp, and the evening runs exactly as it does for everyone else.
That means the camel ride, the sandboarding dune, the Arabic coffee and dates on arrival, the henna, the costume photos, the tanoura and the fire show, the full BBQ buffet with unlimited water and soft drinks, the sunset, and the sky once the camp lights go down. Most of the evening was never the drive.
Plenty of guests skip the dune section for one reason or another and nobody at the camp knows or asks. You simply arrive a few minutes before the rest of the convoy.
Five practical realities
These are the things guests tell us afterwards they wish they had known. None of them is a reason not to come; all of them are easier to plan for than to discover.
1. The seating is on the floor. The camp is carpets and cushions, Bedouin style. Getting down is fine; getting up again, repeatedly, over three hours, is what people underestimate. The fix is the VIP majlis add-on at AED 50 a head — a front-row cushioned bay by the live BBQ with an actual back to the seat, and no queueing for food. For most pregnant guests that fifty dirhams is the best money spent on the whole evening.
2. The washrooms are basic. There are separate washrooms at the camp. They are desert-camp standard rather than hotel standard — they exist, they work, and they are not what you are used to. Bring your own tissues and hand sanitiser.
3. There is no stop between the city and the camp. Forty-five minutes to an hour of driving, and the only pause is the tyre stop at the edge of the dunes. If you are likely to need a break, a private car is the answer, because it stops when you say.
4. You are an hour from the city, with patchy signal. Signal is usable near the road and unreliable once you are in among the dunes. That is worth weighing in late pregnancy in a way it is not otherwise.
5. The evening is long. Pickup mid to late afternoon, home around half past nine. Six hours door to door. In the cooler months that is a pleasant length; in August it is a long time to be out.
Which trip suits best
| Trip | Suits pregnancy? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Private car — AED 599, up to 7 | Best choice | Front seat, your own pace, stops when you want, no pickup loop, and nobody else in the car waiting for the dune drive |
| Evening safari, shared | Good | The full evening. Add VIP seating at AED 50 and go straight to camp |
| Morning safari | Good in winter | Shorter day, finished by midday, cool sand. No shows or dinner though |
| Overnight | Think hard | The sky is the best thing here, but it is a night on a camp bed an hour from the city |
| Sunrise safari | Only if you are an early riser | A pre-dawn pickup, but the coolest and quietest hours of the day |
| Quad bike or dune buggy | No | Same reasons as the dune drive |
On season: October to April is a different trip from May to September. If your dates are flexible, the best time to go guide compares all twelve months with real figures, and the summer safari page is honest about what the hot months actually feel like at the camp.
What to tell us when you book
Just say that someone in the group is pregnant. That single sentence does four things: the driver is briefed to take the graded route from the start rather than turning back halfway, the timing is set so you are not waiting in a hot car, we hold the VIP bay if you want it, and we tell you honestly if your dates fall in a month we would steer you away from.
You do not need to share anything more than that, and it does not change the price. Nothing is taken until you are at the camp anyway, so if plans change on the day you cancel and owe nothing — free up to twelve hours before pickup.
One last thing worth saying plainly: if you tell us the details and we think the trip is not right for you, we will say so and lose the booking. That is a better outcome for everyone than finding out an hour into the desert.
Questions from pregnant guests
Can I do a desert safari in Abu Dhabi while pregnant?
Yes, but not the dune bashing. That part is a firm no for pregnancy. Your driver takes the graded track straight to the camp and the rest of the evening runs exactly as normal, at the same price.
Why can I not do dune bashing while pregnant?
Because the movement is unpredictable. A dune drive is thirty to forty-five minutes of pitching, rolling and dropping on deliberately soft tyres, and the jolts cannot be anticipated or braced against. Asking for a gentle route does not change that.
What is the seating like at the desert camp?
Carpets and cushions on the floor, Bedouin style. Getting up and down repeatedly over three hours is what most pregnant guests find hardest. The VIP majlis add-on at AED 50 gives you a front-row cushioned bay with a back to the seat and no queueing for food.
Are there proper toilets at the desert camp?
There are separate washrooms, but they are desert-camp standard rather than hotel standard. They exist and they work. Bring your own tissues and hand sanitiser.
Which desert safari is best if I am pregnant?
A private car. It costs AED 599 for the vehicle holding up to seven, and it buys you the front seat, your own pace, stops whenever you want, and no pickup loop around other hotels.
Do I pay less if I skip the dune bashing?
No, and nothing is taken away either. The camel ride, sandboarding, shows, BBQ buffet, drinks and the stars are all still included. You simply arrive at the camp a few minutes before the rest of the convoy.
Read next
The dune bashing page explains exactly what the drive involves, and is it safe? covers the whole trip. If travel sickness is also a worry, this page has the gentle and skip options. Travelling with small children too? The family safari page has the ages and the car seat rule. Everything worth sorting out first is gathered on before you book. Every other kind of group is covered on who it’s for.
One message and the whole evening is set up around it
Say that someone is pregnant and we brief the driver, set the timing, hold the seating and tell you straight if your dates are a bad month. No deposit, and free cancellation up to twelve hours before pickup.