FIELD GUIDE / DESERT

Quad or buggy in Dubai: which to choose

QUICK ANSWER

Choose the quad if you want a fuller tour, with a 4x4 session, sandboarding and a camel ride. Choose the buggy if you prefer a two-seater vehicle and you have your driving licence.

Barjano · Travel guide

Editorial review November 12, 2026

Illustration of a 4x4 among orange dunes — Travel illustration

Quick comparison

Dubai Quad Biking

English-speaking guide

Duration: 3 h 30
Rating: 9.2/10 · 289
From: €60.31

Hotel pickup and drop off · English–speaking guide · Transport by 4x4 vehicle

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Desert Dune Buggy Tour

English-speaking guide

Duration: 3 h 30
Rating: 7.9/10 · 47
From: €126.52

Hotel pick up and drop off · English-speaking guide · 30-minute buggy ride · Helmet and safety glasses

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Check the price and availability on Civitatis for your travel date.

What to choose for your case

If you want a trip with more activities
It includes a 4x4 session, sandboarding and a camel ride on top of the driving.
Dubai Quad Biking
If you want to share a vehicle with another person
The buggy is a two-seater and the listing price is per vehicle.
Desert Dune Buggy Tour
If other travellers' opinions matter to you
Its listing has a better rating and quite a few more reviews than the buggy's.
Dubai Quad Biking

Before booking

Which option to choose

What differs between the two trips

Both last 3 h 30, have an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and 30 minutes of driving. The quad adds a 4x4 session over the dunes, sandboarding and a short camel ride. The buggy focuses on off-road driving in a vehicle for two people, with helmet and goggles.

Licence, age and how it is paid

The buggy requires you to show your driving licence on the day of the activity and the listing makes clear that the price is per buggy, not per person. For both, the minimum age on the listing is 16.

What they have in common

Both listings offer pickup at hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman and at the Port Rashid cruise terminal, with a supplement at four properties. You must sign a liability waiver before driving. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before on both.

BEFORE BOOKING

Travel questions

Which is better, quad or buggy in the Dubai desert?

It depends on the plan. The quad offers more activities in the same trip and the buggy is a two-seater vehicle priced per unit.

Do I need a driving licence for the buggy?

Yes, the listing asks you to show it on the day of the activity.

Is the buggy priced per person?

No, the price is per buggy, which seats two people.

How much do you drive on each?

The listing indicates about 30 minutes of driving on the quad and about 30 minutes on the buggy.

Do the guides speak Spanish?

No, on both listings the guide speaks English.