Some nights deserve more than a restaurant booking. A private camp in the desert gives you a setting your group will talk about for years: the sunset over the dunes, a fire to gather around, lanterns glowing after dark and nobody else in sight.

Whether you are planning a birthday, an anniversary or a night out with your team, here is how to make the most of it.

Two ways to celebrate

An evening BBQ. A private desert BBQ setup is ideal for bigger groups and evening celebrations. Majlis-style floor seating with cushions, chairs for everyone, BBQs, a fire pit and lanterns are all set up before you arrive, and the evening is yours until midnight. It suits groups of up to 30.

An overnight camp. For a group that wants to wake up in the dunes, a private camping setup gives you glamping tents that sleep up to 4 each on air mattresses with duvets and pillows, plus a BBQ, a gas stove, a fire pit and lights around the camp. You can stay until 12pm the next day.

Both are private to your group, and both are fully set up before you get there, so you can focus on the people you are celebrating with.

Birthdays

A desert birthday is easy to plan and hard to forget. Arrive in time for the sunset, light the BBQ, bring out the cake once the lanterns come on and let the night run on around the fire.

Anniversaries and date nights

For two people, a single tent makes a private night away from the city without leaving Dubai. Cook dinner together on the BBQ, sit by the fire under the stars and wake up to the dunes.

Team nights and company groups

A night in the desert is a great way to bring a team together outside the office. Everyone shares the same setting, the same fire and the same food, and the evening does the rest.

For an overnight team camp, up to 40 to 50 people is the size where it still feels relaxed and personal. A camp of around 10 tents is the sweet spot: big enough for the whole team, small enough that everyone actually spends time together. Two or more tents are always charged at the weekday rate.

Bigger companies often split into smaller groups across several nights, for camping or a desert BBQ. It keeps each night easy to organise, and it gives managers proper time with each person on the team instead of one very large crowd. For anything beyond a standard setup, get in touch and our team will talk it through with you.

Decorations and making it your own

The setup itself does most of the decorating. Once the sun goes down, the lanterns, the fire and the lights around camp create the atmosphere for you.

If you would like to add your own touches, small balloons inside your tent or balloons with a weighted string work well, and a cake is always welcome. If there is something small you would like waiting for you, like a bunch of flowers, let us know beforehand and the team can take it along, within reason.

To keep the desert clean and natural, please leave these at home:

• Confetti and glitter

• Sky lanterns, which are not allowed under municipality rules

• Fireworks, as unlicensed fireworks are not allowed either

Planning the night

• Plan the food around the BBQ: skewers, burgers, Arabic bread, hummus and salads always work for a group

• Bring charcoal and firewood, or add them to your booking

• Time your arrival so you are settled in before sunset

Our guide to planning a desert BBQ night covers timings, food and fuel in detail, and our packing list for desert camping covers an overnight stay.

When to plan it

The cooler months from November to April are the most comfortable for a celebration in the desert, and weekends and holidays book up first. For a December weekend, book at least four weeks ahead. Our guide to the best time for desert camping goes through the season month by month.

Prices

A private desert BBQ starts from AED 1,497 + VAT for up to 10 people, AED 1,697 + VAT for up to 15 and AED 1,897 + VAT for up to 20, with setups for up to 30.

Camping is priced per tent: AED 1,297 + VAT on a weekday and AED 1,497 + VAT at the weekend, with each tent sleeping up to 4. Book two or more tents and every tent is charged at the weekday rate.

Book your celebration

For an evening with your group, choose your date and group size on our private desert BBQ page. For an overnight stay, pick your night on our tent rental in Dubai page. Everything is set up before you arrive, so all you need to bring is the food, the cake and your favourite people.