Most booked
What a desert ride in Dubai really is
There is no horse version of the big evening safari. Desert riding here means a guided hack from a stable on the edge of the open desert, mostly along Al Qudra Road and around Al Marmoom. You meet your horse, get a helmet and a short briefing, then ride in a small group behind a guide over sand tracks and low dunes. Time in the saddle is usually 30–60 minutes. With hotel transfers, a stable visit and coffee and dates, the outing takes about 3–4 hours.
The cards above show what you can book online. Most are one-hour rides at equestrian clubs or the Al Marmoom Oasis ride at Al Salah Studs. Some products carry the word "horse" but are not desert rides (beach rides, a stage show, yoga or pilates next to horses), so read the title before you book.
Stables and rides compared
| Where | Time riding | Level | Published rules | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Salah Studs, Al Marmoom Oasis | 30 or 45 min | Beginner to experienced | 90 kg maximum; helmet; pony ride for small children | A guide leading your horse costs extra on site (AED 100 per person in the listing) |
| JSR Equestrian Club | ≈ 1 h | Horse matched to your level | Morning or evening ride | Guided ride in the desert |
| M11 Equestrian Club | ≈ 1 h | Desert trail hack with certified guides | Private option with morning or evening slots | Several variants on the cards |
| "Desert Park" 1-hour ride | ≈ 1 h | Relaxed pace | You also wash, groom and feed your horse | Ghaf trees and sandy dunes |
| Al Jiyad Stables, Al Qudra Road | Varies | Riding school | Book with the stable | More than 120 Arabian horses; rides into Al Marmoom |
| Al Maha, inside the DDCR | Varies | Varies | Resort guests | Riding inside the reserve; see desert resorts |
Rules change by stable and by horse. The weight cap matters most: 90 kg at Al Salah Studs is a common figure, but confirm yours. If you ride often, say so when you book, so the stable can match the horse and the pace to you.
Sunrise, sunset and the season
Horses and riders both avoid the midday heat. Clubs sell morning and evening slots, and a sunset ride gives you the soft light on the dunes that most people want in photos. From late spring to early autumn, take the earliest slot you can. In winter, early mornings in the desert are cool, so bring a light layer; see best time and weather.
If you want the full sunrise but riding is not the priority, one balloon package adds an optional horse ride after landing.
What to wear and bring
- Long trousers that do not rub (leggings or riding trousers), not shorts.
- Closed shoes with a small heel; no sandals.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen; the stable gives you a helmet.
- A phone strap or zip pocket. Guides often take photos for you so you can keep both hands on the reins.
More in what to wear.
Riding inside a reserve
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) allows horse and camel rides only in its low-impact ecotourism zone, and Al Maha, the resort inside it, offers riding to its guests. Al Marmoom is unfenced and open to the public, and the stables along Al Qudra Road ride out into it. You may see gazelles or oryx on the way, but a ride is not a wildlife drive. For that, see our reserves guide. If you would rather sit high and slow on a camel, compare camel rides and treks.
Outside the dunes, Visit Dubai also lists mountain rides with Hatta Horses and beach rides at Jebel Ali. They are good rides, just not desert ones.
