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On the handlebars, not in a 4x4
Desert Ride Dubaiwith theMX-Academy
Desert ride Dubai with the MX-Academy means riding your own motorbike through the dunes behind experienced desert riders. Find out what to learn first, how long a ride takes and what you can hire in Jebel Ali.
Planning your trip from abroad? Desert ride Dubai on mx-academy.com
A desert ride on a motorbike, not in a car
On a desert ride in Dubai with the MX-Academy, you are the rider, not a passenger. You take a motocross or enduro bike across the sand while an experienced desert rider leads the way and chooses the route. Anyone looking for a desert drive in Dubai may picture a 4x4 with a driver at the wheel. That is a different kind of trip: the MX-Academy does its desert rides on motorbikes, so you control the throttle, the line and the speed.
A light bike gives you a freedom in the sand that no heavy vehicle can match. Once you can handle it, the dunes turn into a playground: up the slope, over the top and down the other side. If you know your home track by heart, the desert is a fresh challenge, with warm wind in your face, the sound of the engine carrying across open sand and the tyres biting into fine grains. If you love motorbikes, put a desert ride on your list while you live in or visit the Emirates.
Want the full picture before you book? Our guide to the motorbike desert safari explains how a guided tour on two wheels runs, who can join, how long it takes and what to prepare.
More on the Swiss main site: Desert Rides Dubai.
What you need before your first desert ride
The desert is no place to learn the basics. You need some off-road skills in sand before you join, because deep sand and big dunes are hard work and can be dangerous without the right technique. You prepare in Jebel Ali on the DMX track, where there is also a beginners' track, and on an easier practice area with shallower sand than in the dunes:
- New to off-road riding: count on about three training days on the track
- Some off-road experience: one day of sand training as a minimum
- Technique first: riding standing up, weight on the footpegs, smooth throttle
- Into the dunes only once your guide sees that you are ready
Experienced desert riders as your guides
Your guides know the desert around Dubai well; two of them are Mohammed Jaffar and Mohammed Al Balooshi. Born in Dubai, Mohammed Al Balooshi became the first Emirati in the motorbike class of the Dakar Rally in 2012. Out in the sand, the guides share all the tricks and secrets of the desert with you: how to read it, how to find the best way through the dunes, how to ride them and, step by step, how to jump.
Before the start, the group is split by skill and fitness, so nobody is pushed beyond what they can manage. The guides watch how you ride, encourage you to try a little more and keep you away from the risks the desert hides. MX-Academy Dubai is the joint school of Mohammed Al Balooshi and Chris Möckli, who is the founder and owner; as a rider he became two-time European champion (IMBA Openclass 2004 and 2005) and won several Swiss championship titles.
How long a ride in the dunes lasts
A ride can last a couple of hours or stretch over nearly an entire day. How far the group goes depends on everyone in it: on how well each rider handles the sand and on how fit they are. For riders who want even more, the MX-Academy also runs overnight tours, so you can sleep out in the desert.
In the season the team rides on the track or in the desert nearly every day of the week and runs two or three courses daily. Because of that, you choose the date yourself, on a weekday or at the weekend. If you are new to motorbikes, the motocross training in Dubai on the same track is the place to start, and a racing week of several days links three lessons to a desert ride. Information is available in Arabic too.
Hire a bike and protective gear in Jebel Ali
You do not need your own equipment. For the desert ride, the MX-Academy rents out competition motocross bikes and complete, modern protective gear in all sizes, and the bike hire includes the track fee, fuel and water. If you have your own bike and gear, you are welcome to ride with them. The page on dirt bike rental in Dubai lists the models and sizes.
In soft sand, a light bike is a big advantage. Weight matters here: the Honda CRF250, for example, comes in at around 100 kg, far below a heavy travel enduro, and that makes the dunes more fun and safer. Bikes are rented without coaching only to intermediate riders or under supervision. Prices are per rider: bike hire costs AED 450 for one hour or AED 4,000 for ten hours, a full set of protective gear AED 200 and single items or pairs AED 49. On top, each desert rider pays AED 50 a day as a convenience fee.
Weight according to Honda: Honda CRF250R
Safety and nature in the desert
The MX-Academy never takes riders into the desert without preparation, and you should never ride the dunes without a guide. The wind keeps moving the sand, so the dunes change shape over time. You need to know where a crest is and where the steep side drops away behind it, which you cannot see from below. Your guide reads this for you at first and then teaches you to read it yourself.
Out there, the desert is far from empty. On an early-morning ride, one of our team passed dunes as high as a house and saw camels, lots of birds, a lone falcon above a crest and two small antelopes crossing his path. Gazelles and Arabian oryx live in the desert around Dubai, so give animals plenty of room. Further south-west, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, Tel Moreeb near the Liwa Oasis rises around 300 metres and is one of the tallest sand dunes in the world.
Prices in AED: Desert Ride Dubai
Coaching only (own bike, own gear, own track fee)
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | AED 600 |
| 2 hours | AED 1,100 |
| 3 hours | AED 1,500 |
| 10 hours | AED 4,500 |
Bike rental (track fee, fuel, drinking water included)
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | AED 450 |
| 10 hours | AED 4,000 |
Gear rental (helmet, goggles, gloves, riding pants, protection pads, boots)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 piece or pair | AED 49 |
| Full set | AED 200 |
Rental without coaching is for intermediate riders or riders under supervision.
Access fees
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Track fee per rider and day (parking, track entry, amenities) | AED 100 |
| Fuel refill | AED 50 |
| Convenience fee for desert riders per day (parking, drinking water, amenities) | AED 50 |
Prices in AED per rider, as per the current price list of MX Ride Dubai (October 2026; no refunds, no exchanges). Price list of MX Ride Dubai
FAQ: Desert Ride Dubai
Can I do a desert ride in Dubai without any riding experience?
Not straight away. Riders without experience train for roughly three days in Jebel Ali first; those who have ridden off-road need a minimum of one sand training day.
How long does a desert ride Dubai tour take?
Anywhere between a few hours and almost a full day, depending on the skills and fitness of your group. You can also book a tour with a night in the desert.
Do I need my own bike and gear for the desert?
No. You can hire a competition motocross bike and complete protective gear in all sizes. If you prefer, ride your own bike in your own gear.
Who leads the desert ride?
Experienced desert riders who know the area, for example Mohammed Al Balooshi and Mohammed Jaffar.
Is the desert ride done in a 4x4?
No. The MX-Academy rides motorbikes, so you are at the handlebars yourself. If you would rather sit in a car, a 4x4 desert drive is a different kind of tour.
