You have booked the desert safari, imagined yourself standing on a perfect orange dune at sunset, and then comes the surprisingly complicated question: what to wear on a desert safari in Dubai?

The answer is less “Lawrence of Arabia costume department” and more comfortable, breathable clothes that can survive sand, sun, camel saddles and a rather enthusiastic 4×4 ride.

For most Dubai desert safaris, we recommend a lightweight top, loose trousers or comfortable shorts, trainers or secure sandals, sunglasses and a hat. If you’re heading out on an evening safari during the cooler months, throw a light jacket into your bag too. The desert can feel surprisingly cool once the sun disappears.

What to Wear on a Desert Safari in Dubai: Quick Answer

If you just want to get dressed and leave the hotel, this is the outfit we would choose: loose cotton or linen top + lightweight trousers + comfortable trainers + sunglasses + hat.

Add sunscreen, and if you’re taking an evening safari between roughly autumn and early spring, bring a lightweight cardigan, hoodie or jacket.

If camel riding, quad biking or sandboarding are on the itinerary, trousers or comfortable shorts are considerably easier than a short skirt or floaty dress.

And wear something you are happy to get sandy. Because you will.

Best Clothes for a Dubai Desert Safari

The Dubai desert may look wonderfully serene from an air-conditioned Land Cruiser, but once you step outside, the heat becomes much more convincing.

Choose lightweight, breathable clothes. Cotton, linen and lightweight technical fabrics all work well. Loose clothing generally feels much better than thick jeans or tight synthetic fabrics, particularly if you are visiting during warmer months.

A loose T-shirt, linen shirt or lightweight blouse is ideal. Long sleeves can actually be useful because they protect your arms from direct sunshine without leaving you constantly reaching for the sunscreen.

Can You Wear Shorts on a Dubai Desert Safari?

Yes, you can wear shorts on a Dubai desert safari. You don’t need to arrive wrapped from wrist to ankle just because you’re heading into the desert.

Comfortable shorts are particularly practical for dune bashing, walking around the desert camp and warmer-weather safaris. However, we still prefer lightweight trousers for most people because they provide better protection from the sun and sand and are more comfortable for camel riding.

Trousers or Shorts for a Dubai Desert Safari?

If you want one simple answer, choose loose trousers.

Linen trousers, lightweight hiking trousers, cargo pants, loose cotton trousers and breathable joggers all work well. They protect your legs from the sun, blowing sand and hot surfaces without making you feel as though you’ve dressed for January in Scotland.

They’re also much easier when climbing onto a camel.

A short skirt may look lovely in your sunset photos. The moment a camel kneels down and you have to get onto it is when the practical flaws in that plan become clear.

What Shoes Should You Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari?

Trainers are the best all-round choice, especially if your desert safari includes sandboarding, quad biking, dune walking or anything remotely energetic.

There is one catch: sand will get inside them. Possibly enough sand to start your own small beach back at the hotel.

But trainers still give you better grip, support and protection than loose flip-flops.

Can You Wear Sandals?

Yes. Secure sandals with straps are a good alternative if your safari is more relaxed and mainly involves sightseeing, photos, a short camel ride and dinner at a desert camp.

We would leave flip-flops, high heels and heavy boots at the hotel. And perhaps think twice about the brand-new white trainers unless you have already accepted their fate.

What Should Women Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari?

A practical outfit for women is wonderfully uncomplicated: loose linen trousers, a breathable T-shirt or blouse and trainers.

You can also wear a jumpsuit, shorts, a midi skirt or a maxi dress. There is no special desert-safari dress code requiring female tourists to cover from head to toe.

Practicality matters more than anything else. If your trip includes camel riding, quad biking or sandboarding, trousers or shorts are much easier than dresses and skirts.

A flowing maxi dress can look spectacular against orange dunes at sunset. It becomes slightly less spectacular when you’re trying to climb onto a camel without showing the entire camp your underwear.

Do Women Need to Cover Their Hair?

No. Female tourists do not need to wear a headscarf on a standard Dubai desert safari.

A lightweight scarf is still worth taking. It can protect your hair and face when the wind picks up, and it doubles as an extra layer after sunset.

What Should Men Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari?

Keep it simple: a lightweight T-shirt or shirt, shorts or loose trousers, and trainers.

A long-sleeved linen or cotton shirt is particularly useful because it protects your shoulders and arms from direct sunshine while remaining relatively cool.

We would avoid very heavy denim during warmer months. Spending an afternoon inside thick jeans at desert temperatures is a form of suffering that can easily be avoided.

What to Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari in Winter

Dubai’s cooler months are one of the best times for a desert safari, but there is a small wardrobe trap: the desert can feel noticeably cooler after sunset.

You can leave Dubai in glorious sunshine wearing a T-shirt and several hours later find yourself sitting outside at a desert camp wondering why nobody packed a hoodie.

For a winter evening safari, wear a T-shirt or lightweight shirt, trousers and comfortable shoes, then pack a cardigan, hoodie or light jacket.

You don’t normally need serious winter clothing. We’re still talking about Dubai rather than Lapland.

What to Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari in Summer

Summer requires a different strategy: keep everything light and protect yourself from direct sun.

A lightweight long-sleeved shirt with loose trousers or longer shorts works particularly well. Add secure sandals or trainers, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.

If you’re visiting during the hottest months, we’d strongly favour a morning or later-afternoon safari over spending the middle of the day under the desert sun.

What to Wear for Dune Bashing

Dune bashing mainly happens inside a 4×4, but don’t underestimate how much you’ll move around. Those vehicles climb and descend dunes at some fairly impressive angles.

Wear something that lets you sit comfortably with a seatbelt: a breathable top, comfortable trousers or shorts and trainers.

Very restrictive clothes aren’t particularly comfortable. Neither are elaborate hats, which look fantastic until they leave the vehicle without you.

What to Wear for Sandboarding

This is where trainers and flexible trousers or shorts win.

You need enough freedom to bend your knees, climb dunes and get back onto the board after discovering that sandboarding is considerably easier in promotional videos.

Expect sand everywhere.

And we do mean everywhere.

What to Wear for Camel Riding

Camel riding requires a surprising amount of leg manoeuvring, so trousers, leggings or comfortable longer shorts are the easiest choices.

Comfortable trainers or secure sandals both work well.

You aren’t sitting neatly on a chair. You are climbing onto a rather tall animal that will stand up in stages while you attempt to maintain both your balance and dignity.

What to Wear for Quad Biking or a Dune Buggy

If your safari includes quad biking or dune buggy driving, dress for the activity rather than the Instagram photo.

Long trousers and closed shoes are the safest practical choice, with a comfortable top that doesn’t restrict your movement.

Your operator should provide the safety equipment required for the particular activity, such as a helmet.

Should You Dress Up for the Desert Camp Dinner?

Not really.

Most evening desert safaris finish with dinner and entertainment at a desert camp, but you do not need to bring a separate evening outfit. The atmosphere is normally casual and everyone else has just spent the afternoon bouncing over dunes too.

If photographs matter to you, neutral and earthy colours look especially good against Dubai’s orange dunes. White, cream, beige, khaki, terracotta and pale blue all photograph beautifully.

This is an aesthetic suggestion rather than desert survival advice. Your fluorescent pink T-shirt will function perfectly well too.

What NOT to Wear on a Dubai Desert Safari

Avoid very tight clothing, delicate expensive outfits, heavy denim in hot weather and high heels. Loose jewellery and accessories aren’t particularly clever if you’re planning to sandboard or ride a quad bike either.

And although flip-flops aren’t forbidden, they have an impressive ability to disappear into soft sand precisely when you need them.

The desert is spectacular. It is not, however, a controlled studio photoshoot.

What Else Should You Bring on a Dubai Desert Safari?

• Sunglasses
• High-SPF sunscreen
• Hat or cap
• Light jacket or cardigan for cooler evenings
• Lightweight scarf
• Hair tie if you have long hair
• Water if your tour doesn’t provide it
• Phone or camera
• Small crossbody bag or compact backpack

One final tip: don’t bring a huge handbag. You will spend half the safari wondering where to put it.

The Perfect Dubai Desert Safari Outfit

Still standing in front of your suitcase?

For women: lightweight linen trousers, a loose T-shirt or blouse, trainers, sunglasses and a hat. Add a cardigan or light jacket for cooler evenings.

For men: lightweight trousers or shorts, a cotton or linen shirt, trainers, sunglasses and a hat. Bring a light extra layer for an evening safari in the cooler months.

For kids: T-shirt, lightweight trousers or shorts, trainers and a hat — preferably clothes nobody is emotionally attached to when they return covered in sand.

That combination works for almost everything from dune bashing and camel riding to sandboarding and dinner under the stars.

FAQ: What to Wear on a Desert Safari in Dubai

Can I wear shorts on a Dubai desert safari?

Yes. Shorts are perfectly practical, particularly during warmer months. Lightweight trousers provide better protection from sun and sand, though, and can be more comfortable for camel riding.

Can women wear shorts in the Dubai desert?

Yes. Female tourists can wear shorts on a normal desert safari. Choose something comfortable enough for climbing into 4x4s and participating in activities.

Can I wear a dress on a desert safari?

Yes, particularly if your safari is relatively relaxed. A midi or maxi dress can look fantastic in photos. However, trousers are more practical if you plan to ride camels, sandboard or drive a buggy.

Should I wear trainers or sandals?

Trainers are the best all-round option, especially for sandboarding and quad biking. Secure sandals work well for less active safaris. We’d avoid loose flip-flops.

Do I need a jacket for a Dubai desert safari?

For an evening safari during Dubai’s cooler months, bringing a lightweight jacket, cardigan or hoodie is a good idea. Temperatures can feel noticeably cooler in the open desert after sunset.

Do women need to cover their heads in the Dubai desert?

No. Female tourists do not need to wear a headscarf on a standard Dubai desert safari.

What colour should I wear for desert safari photos?

White, cream, beige, terracotta, pale blue and other earthy or neutral tones stand out beautifully against Dubai’s orange dunes. If photos are important to you, white or cream is probably the easiest winner.

Final Tip: Dress for the Activities, Not Just the Photos

Dubai’s dunes are one of those places where almost everybody wants the perfect sunset photograph — understandably.

But your safari may also involve climbing dunes, sliding down them on a board, bouncing around inside a 4×4, sitting on a camel and eating dinner outside several hours later.

So our rule is simple: wear breathable clothes you can move in, proper footwear, good sun protection and an extra layer for cool evenings.

You can still look great in the photos.

You will just be considerably happier between them.