Belly dance is integral to Emirati culture, so tourists want to see at least one belly dance performance during their Dubai holiday.
One of the best ways to enjoy this Arabic dance is by booking a desert safari with belly dancing.
A desert safari in Dubai is an exciting adventure that takes you out of the city and into the heart of the desert.
It typically involves a 4×4 drive over dunes, camel rides, a traditional Arabian BBQ dinner, and live entertainment such as belly dancing.
A professional dancer performs belly dancing as part of the evening’s entertainment.
This article shares everything you must know before booking your desert safari in Dubai with belly dance.
Table of contents
- Top Dubai Desert Tickets
- What to expect during a belly dancing performance
- Best desert safari with belly dancing from Dubai
- Belly dancing desert safari from Sharjah
- Belly dancing desert safari from Abu Dhabi
- Desert Safari with belly dancing from Ras Al Khaimah
- Belly dancing only in evening safaris
- When belly dance gets cancelled
- FAQs about Belly dancing
What to expect during a belly dancing performance
The cultural show starts on the central stage a little after all guests return from watching the colorful sunset in the desert sky.
The seating arrangement is all around the stage; some seats are better than others.
Keep your ears open for the announcement to assemble around the stage. There is usually a rush to get the best seats.
Belly dancing is one of the performances in a long list of cultural shows, but when it starts, you will realize it was well worth the wait.
Belly dancers at these safaris are top professionals and mesmerize you with their knives and kaftans woven effortlessly into belly-wobbling routines.
The dancers invite the women on the stage to join and perform, and from one performer, it turns into a dance party pretty soon.
The belly dancer deftly sends them back when drunk men try to get on the stage.
The dance performance lasts 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the day’s schedule.
Best desert safari with belly dancing from Dubai
Hundreds of desert safaris include traditional Arabic dances, making it difficult for tourists to decide.
To simplify, we have listed the three best desert safaris, which start from Dubai and include belly dancing.
Important: When it comes to a safari, you get what you pay. So don’t let the cost of the desert safari in Dubai be your deciding factor.
Premium Red Dunes, Camel Safari, & BBQ at Al Khayma
Rating: 4.9/5
Duration: Seven hours
Starting time: 3 pm and 4 pm
Pick up: Available from all hotels or apartments in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, as well as the cruise port (Port Rashid).
Type of tour: Small Group
Tour Operator: OceanAir Travel
Cost of Desert Safari (Shared tour with BBQ)
Adult ticket (12+ years): AED 352 ($96)
Child ticket (3 to 11 years): AED 299 ($81)
Kids aged 2 and younger are not allowed.
Red Dune Safari, Camel Riding, Sandboarding & BBQ
Rating: 4.9/5
Duration: Seven hours
Starting time: 2.30 pm
Pick up: Available from all hotels or locations within Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and the Port Rashid Cruise Terminal.
Type of tour: Small Group
Tour Operator: Ammar Tours
Cost of Desert Safari
Adult ticket (12+ years): AED 210 ($57)
Child ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 203 ($55)
On the booking page, you must select 7-hours long safari.
Red Dune Safari, Camel Ride, Sandboard & BBQ Options
Rating: 4.8/5
Duration: Seven hours
Starting time: 3.30 pm
Pick up: Available from all hotels or locations within Dubai city and Port Rashid cruise terminal
Type of tour: Small Group
Tour Operator: Dream Journey Tourism
Desert Safari price: AED 200 ($54)
Belly dancing desert safari from Sharjah
Tourists in Sharjah can also book a desert safari with a belly dancing performance.
These safaris usually start from Sharjah between 2 pm and 3 pm and last seven to eight hours.
| Safaris with Belly Dancing | Cost |
|---|---|
| Premium Red Dunes, Camel Safari, & BBQ at Al Khayma | AED 352 ($96) |
| Red Dune Safari, Camel Riding, Sandboarding & BBQ | AED 210 ($57) |
| Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride & Al Khayma Camp | AED 452 ($124) |
| Desert Safari with 35-mins quad bike ride | AED 195 ($53) |
| Desert Quad Bike Safari, Sand Surf, Barbeque | AED 350 ($95) |
| Evening Desert Quad Bike Tour with BBQ Dinner | AED 282 ($77) |
| Desert Safari Photography Session, Camel Ride, & BBQ | AED 452 ($124) |
Belly dancing desert safari from Abu Dhabi
The belly dancing safari is the most popular desert safari in Abu Dhabi and starts at 2.45 pm with a pick-up from your hotel in a 4WD vehicle.
Once in the desert, you participate in exhilarating adventure activities and sit down for cultural shows (including belly dancing) and BBQ dinner.
Cost of a shared Safari
Adult ticket (12 to 75 years): AED 296 ($81)
Child ticket (3 to 11 years): AED 242 ($66)
Cost of private safari: AED 275 ($75) per person for a group of six people
Want to experience the desert of Abu Dhabi with an exciting safari, but at a budget? Check out this desert safari with BBQ Dinner, Belly Dance & Tannura Dance.
Desert Safari with belly dancing from Ras Al Khaimah
This six-hour evening desert safari starts with a 3 pm pick-up from your hotel in Ras Al Khaimah.
You visit a camel farm, get your pulse racing at Dune Bashing and Sand Boarding, and then head for the camp to see the Arabic belly dancing and have a fantastic barbeque dinner.
Cost of Safari
Adult ticket (12+ years): AED 253 ($69)
Child ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 220 ($60)
Belly dancing only in evening safaris
Morning desert safaris focus more on adventure activities such as Dune Bashing, Quad Biking, Sandboarding, etc.
When you opt for the morning safari, you miss a few experiences, such as the fantastic sunset, BBQ dinner, and Emirati cultural activities at the Bedouin camp.
These cultural activities include Falconry, Arabic costume, Henna Painting, Shisha Smoking, and Belly Dance.
To experience belly dancing, you must opt for an evening desert safari.
When belly dance gets cancelled
Traditional dance shows, including belly dancing, are not part of desert safaris during Ramadan.
Per the UAE government’s orders, they are also canceled during special Islamic days. But such days are sporadic and far in between.
*During Ramadan, even the bar is not included in the safari.
FAQs about Belly dancing
This section answers some of the questions about belly dancing that tourists who have never watched a performance may have.
- Is belly dancing inappropriate?
Belly dancing is a social dance appropriate for all ages, including children. It is a recreational activity, sometimes even performed at weddings and other family occasions.
- Is belly dance religious?
Belly dance is a Western name for an ancient Arabic dance style developed in the Middle East. It has no religious significance.
- What music accompanies belly dancing in Dubai?
Different flavors of Middle Eastern music usually accompany the belly dancers, and they fall under two categories – folk music and modern Egyptian classical music.
- What's the purpose of belly dancing?
Belly dancing began as a ritual for childbirth preparation in the ancient Middle East. Back then, it was performed mainly by women for women. Today it is performed only for entertainment.
Recommended Reading
# Best Desert Safaris in Dubai
# Desert Safari from Sharjah
# Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi
# Desert Safari in Ras Al Khaimah
# Price of desert safari in Dubai
# VIP Desert Safaris in Dubai
# Morning desert safaris in Dubai
# Dubai Safari with BBQ dinner
# Dubai Safari with Quad Bike
# Dune Buggy Safari in Dubai
# Overnight desert safari in Dubai
# Safari in Dubai with belly dance
# Safari without dune bashing
# Falconry safari in Dubai
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