UAE Winter Camping: Where to Go and What to Pack
From November to March, the UAE becomes one of the best places in the world to camp. Days are warm, nights are cool, and the stars are bright once you leave the city lights. Here is where to go and what to bring.
Popular camping areas
- Al Qudra, Dubai: easy access, lakes and wildlife nearby. Good for a first trip.
- Fossil Rock and Mleiha, Sharjah: red dunes and rock formations. Some areas need a 4x4.
- Hatta, Dubai: mountain scenery, with organised campsites and cabins.
- Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah: the UAE's highest peak and noticeably colder at night. Pack warm layers.
- Liwa, Abu Dhabi: vast dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter, for experienced desert drivers.
- East coast beaches: some beaches allow camping, often with a permit. Check with the local municipality.
Rules on wild camping and permits differ between emirates and change over time. Check with local authorities, and never drive in the dunes without recovery gear and a second car.
Shelter and sleep
- Tent with a sand-resistant groundsheet and sand pegs
- Sleeping bag rated for 10°C or lower (desert nights get cold)
- Sleeping mat or air mattress plus pump
- Pillow and an extra blanket
Cooking and food
- Portable stove or BBQ, fuel and a lighter
- Cooler bag with ice packs: meat and dairy at the bottom, drinks on top
- At least 4 to 5 litres of water per person per day, for drinking and cooking
- Pots, utensils, chopping board, foil, bin bags
Read our guide on how to pack a cooler bag so food stays cold overnight.
Clothing
- Warm layers: fleece and a windproof jacket
- Hat for the day, beanie for the night
- Closed shoes. Sand gets very hot, and scorpions are rare but real.
Safety and essentials
- Headlamps and spare batteries
- First-aid kit and any personal medication
- Power bank and car charger
- Share your location with someone at home
- Shovel, tyre pressure gauge and recovery tracks if driving off-road
Leave no trace
Take all rubbish home, keep fires in a fire pit or BBQ, and don't drive over vegetation. The desert ecosystem is more fragile than it looks.
Our expandable cooler bag grows from 6.15 to 11.88 litres and comes with a hot/cold pack, and a quick-dry microfiber towel is useful for everything from washing up to a beach stop on the way home.
