Sandboarding on the Al Badayer Red Dunes

Sandboarding on the red dunes

No engine required. Take a sandboard to a suitable soft dune, strap in and slide down the red sand. Sandboarding is included with most of our dune bashing desert safari packages and works particularly well as a breather between the 4x4 drive and the camp.

How it actually goes

Sand is slower than snow, so the first run is usually a controlled slide rather than a race. The board is waxed between runs to keep it moving. Most guests start sitting or lying down, then stand for the second or third go. Falling is soft and normal.

• Boards and wax are provided — bring nothing.
• Choose a slope the guide points at, not the steepest one you can see.
• Walking back up the dune is the hard part. Pace yourself in summer.
• Closed shoes and sunglasses make a real difference.

Ages and suitability

Suitable from around six years old on the gentler slopes. No experience is needed and there is no licence or age restriction as there is on a quad bike rental or a self-drive dune buggy tour.

Included with these packages

Sandboarding is included with every evening desert safari package and with the early morning private safari. Check the tour page for the exact inclusions before you book.

How to sandboard: the five-minute version

1. Pick the right face. A slip face — the steep, smooth, wind-shadowed side of the dune — slides. The gentle windward side does not. Your guide points you at the right one.
2. Start sitting or lying. Board flat, weight centred, feet up. Almost everyone's first run is a sit-down run, and that is the point.
3. Stand on run two or three. Front foot forward, knees soft, weight slightly back. Looking at your feet is what tips you over.
4. Steer with your heels and toes. Same idea as a snowboard, half the speed.
5. Walk back up the firm side. Going up the slip face is a workout you do not need.

Sandboarding vs snowboarding at Al Badayer

Sand is slower and stickier than snow, so a sandboard is waxed between runs and the speeds stay friendly. That is good news: falling into soft Al Badayer sand costs you nothing but a shirt full of grit. There are no lifts and no edges to catch, and the board is a flat-bottomed laminate rather than a carving snowboard. If you can sit on a tea tray you can sandboard.

Best time to sandboard in Dubai

Late afternoon, before the camp dinner, is the standard slot on an evening safari: the sand has stopped being uncomfortably hot and the low sun throws the dune's shape into relief. Early morning on the private morning safari is better still in summer — cool, firm sand that slides more cleanly than the afternoon's. October to April is comfortable at any hour.

What to bring, and what we provide

• We provide the board, the wax and the guidance on which face to use.
• Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing you do not mind filling with sand. Long sleeves keep the sun off while you walk back up.
• Bring sunglasses and a hat for the walk, and tie back long hair.
• Leave anything loose in the vehicle. Phones fall out of pockets on a dune and sand is very good at hiding them.

Sandboarding with the rest of the desert

Sandboarding is included with most desert safari packages, including the shared evening safari at AED 150, so for most guests it costs nothing extra. Pair it with quad biking from AED 150 an hour or a dune buggy from AED 249, and finish with a camel ride at the camp.