Desert Safari Guide
Desert Safari BBQ Dinner in Dubai: The Menu, Veg Options and VIP Live BBQ
Every evening desert safari in Dubai ends with a BBQ dinner at a desert camp. Here's what's usually on the menu, when dinner is served, what vegetarians and kids can eat, and what the VIP live BBQ really changes.
Key takeaways
- Every evening desert safari includes dinner at the desert camp
- Standard: a BBQ buffet with veg and non-veg dishes, opening 1 to 1.5 hours after you arrive, with carpet seating
- VIP: a much bigger menu with live BBQ (chicken, lamb, fish, shrimp), biryanis, curries and a chocolate fountain, served with no wait
- Vegetarians are well looked after, and the meat is halal
- Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included; alcohol isn't
- Tell us about allergies or diets when you book
Every evening desert safari in Dubai includes dinner at the desert camp, but what you get depends on your package. The standard safari has a BBQ buffet with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, served about an hour to an hour and a half after you arrive. The VIP menu is much bigger: live-grilled BBQ chicken, lamb, fish and shrimp, biryanis, curries, five kinds of starters, a long salad bar and desserts with a chocolate fountain, served as soon as you sit down. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included on both; alcohol isn't.
The BBQ dinner is included in every evening safari we run, from the AED 99 standard package upwards. This guide covers what to expect on your plate, what changes with VIP, and how to make sure everyone in your group eats well, including vegetarians, kids and anyone with allergies.
How the dinner evening runs
- Afternoon pickup from your hotel or home, around 2:00 pm.
- Dune bashing and a sunset stop in the red dunes.
- Arrival at the camp around sunset. You'll be offered water, tea, coffee and light snacks.
- Free time before dinner: camel ride, sandboarding, henna and photos in Arabic dress. This is why the buffet doesn't open straight away.
- Dinner opens about an hour to an hour and a half after you arrive. On a standard safari, you queue at the buffet. On VIP, food comes to you with no wait.
- Live shows during and after dinner: belly dance, two fire shows, tanoura and Khaleeji dance.
- Drop-off back at your hotel at about 9:30 pm.
Tip: have a snack at lunchtime. With the drive and the activities, it's a long gap until dinner.
What’s on the desert safari BBQ dinner menu
Here's the full menu served to VIP and premium guests at our camp. Standard guests get a smaller BBQ buffet (see the comparison further down).
|
Course |
VIP menu |
|---|---|
|
Starters |
Mini samosa, pakoda, falafel, batter fries and potato cutlet, with tomato ketchup and mint yogurt chutney |
|
Salads |
Hummus, fattoush, tabbouleh, kachumber salad, falafel, grilled vegetables and rice usually suit vegans. Dals and curries are often made with ghee, butter or cream, so tell us when you book and we’ll check how each dish is made. |
|
Bread basket |
Arabic bread, tandoori naan, garlic bread and papadam |
|
BBQ (non-veg) |
Chicken drumsticks, chicken kebab, lamb kebab, chicken boti, fish cutlet and grilled shrimp |
|
BBQ (veg) |
Veg shashlik and grilled potato, onion, tomato, capsicum and long green chilli |
|
Mains (veg) |
Steamed rice, veg biryani, rajma, dal tadka, dal makhani, sautéed and mixed vegetables, brinjal, mutter paneer, plus live pasta and live Hakka noodles |
|
Mains (non-veg) |
Chicken biryani, fried fish with lemon butter sauce, chicken chilli and mutton ouzi |
|
Desserts |
Gulab jamun, shahi tukda, moong dal halwa, rice pudding, custard, cut fruit and a chocolate fountain |
It's a mix of Arabic and South Asian favourites, so there's something familiar for almost everyone. The menu can change slightly with the season. If food matters a lot for your group, message us before you book and we'll confirm what's being served that week.
Vegetarian, halal, kids and special diets
- Vegetarians: you'll eat very well, especially on VIP: veg biryani, dal tadka, dal makhani, rajma, mutter paneer, veg shashlik, samosa, pakoda, falafel and the whole salad bar. The standard buffet always has vegetarian dishes too.
- Vegans: hummus, fattoush, tabbouleh, kachumber salad, falafel, grilled vegetables, rice and several dals can suit vegans. Tell us when you book, and we'll check how each dish is made.
- Halal: meat served at Dubai desert camps is halal.
- Seafood: the VIP menu includes grilled shrimp and fish. If someone in your group has a shellfish allergy, tell us in advance.
- Kids: most children love the chicken drumsticks, fries, pasta, noodles and the chocolate fountain. Some curries are spicy, so ask the staff which dishes are mild.
- Allergies (nuts, gluten, dairy): it's a shared buffet, so cross-contact is possible. Tell us at booking, and we'll pass it to the camp and confirm what's safe. For severe allergies, bring your own safe snacks as a backup.
Drinks: what's included and what's extra
|
Drink |
Standard safari |
VIP safari |
|---|---|---|
|
Water, soft drinks, tea, coffee |
Included, unlimited (self-service) |
Included, with waiter service for soft drinks and water |
|
Shisha in the shared area |
Included |
Included |
|
Shisha at your table |
Extra charge |
Extra charge |
|
Alcohol |
Not included |
Not included |
Alcohol isn't part of any of our packages.
Standard buffet vs VIP live BBQ
This is where the two packages really differ: the size of the menu, how fast you eat, and how comfortable you are while you do.
|
Standard (from AED 99) |
VIP (from AED 149) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Menu |
BBQ buffet with veg and non-veg dishes |
The full VIP menu above, including grilled shrimp, lamb kebab, biryanis and a chocolate fountain |
|
Live BBQ |
No |
Yes, grilled fresh at the camp |
|
When you eat |
Buffet opens 1 to 1.5 hours after you arrive |
As soon as you sit down, no waiting |
|
How it's served |
Self-service; you queue with everyone |
No queue |
|
Seating |
Carpets with cushions and low tables |
Sofa seating |
|
Waiter service |
No |
Yes, for soft drinks and water |
Is VIP worth AED 50 more? For couples who don't mind a queue, the standard dinner is good value. For families with young children or older parents, VIP makes the evening noticeably more comfortable: no waiting with hungry kids, and no sitting on the floor for three hours. See what's included in each safari package for the full comparison.
Is the desert safari food good? Honest expectations
It's a good, filling camp buffet, not a fine-dining restaurant. The grilled chicken and kebabs are usually the highlight, and the Arabic starters are fresh and tasty. Most guests leave full and happy.
Where it can disappoint is the timing and the queue on busy nights, not the food itself. A few tips:
- Join the queue early when dinner is announced, or let the first rush pass and go back 10 minutes later.
- Go for the grill first. It's best fresh.
- Take water to your seat. The desert air is dry, even in winter.
- On a busy weekend or public holiday, VIP is worth it just to skip the queue.
Which safaris include the BBQ dinner
|
Safari |
BBQ dinner |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Buffet |
From AED 99 per adult, AED 70 per child (3+) |
|
|
Live BBQ, no queue, sofa seating |
From AED 149 per person |
|
|
Buffet (VIP dinner if booked with VIP) |
From AED 285 per person |
|
|
Buffet (VIP upgrade available) |
AED 750 per car, up to 6 people |
|
|
Live BBQ, VIP seating, waiter service |
AED 885 for 2 people |
|
|
No dinner (refreshments only) |
Ask for your group price |
If dinner is a big part of the evening for you, the VIP safari is the one we'd point you to.
Frequently asked questions
Is dinner included in a Dubai desert safari?
Yes, on every evening safari. It's a BBQ buffet at the desert camp, with vegetarian options. The morning safari doesn't include a meal.
What time is dinner on a desert safari?
About an hour to an hour and a half after you reach the camp at sunset. In winter that’s usually around 7:00 pm; in summer, when the sun sets later, closer to 8:30 pm.
Is the desert safari food halal?
Yes. Meat served at Dubai desert camps is halal.
Can vegetarians eat well on a desert safari?
Yes. The standard buffet always has vegetarian dishes, and the VIP menu adds veg biryani, dal makhani, mutter paneer, veg shashlik, samosa, falafel and a large salad bar.
Is alcohol served at the desert camp?
Alcohol isn't included in any of our packages.
What's the difference between the BBQ buffet and the VIP live BBQ?
The standard buffet is smaller and opens 1 to 1.5 hours after you arrive. VIP guests get a much bigger menu, a live BBQ with no queue, sofa seating and waiter service for drinks.
Can I tell you about food allergies in advance?
Yes, please do. We'll pass it to the camp and confirm what's safe before your safari.
Have a food question before you book? Tell us about any allergies or diets, and we'll check with the camp and confirm in writing. Message us on WhatsApp or browse our FAQs.