Dubai desert safari photography: 12 tips from a local guide

You will take more photos on a desert safari than on any other day of your Dubai trip. Here's how to make sure the good ones actually come out.

1. Shoot the last 40 minutes before sunset

The red sand only turns properly red when the sun is low. Ask your driver to stop about 45 minutes before sunset for the best dune light.

2. Get low

Kneel or lie down. Dunes look flat from standing height and dramatic from ankle height.

3. Include a person for scale

A tiny silhouette on a distant crest is worth ten empty landscape shots.

4. Ride shotgun for dune bashing

Front-passenger seat, phone in a hand grip, film in landscape at 60fps for smooth slow-mo.

5. Backlight the camels

Put the sun behind the camel and slightly to the side — you get a rim-lit silhouette and the fur glows.

6. Shoot the camp at blue hour

The 15 minutes between sunset and full dark, when the sky is deep blue and the camp lanterns are on, is the most flattering shot of any Bedouin camp.

7. Ask before shooting performers

The tanoura, belly dance and fire show performers are used to cameras but flash disrupts the show — turn it off.

8. Overnight tours = the Milky Way

New-moon nights in Lahbab are dark enough to see the galactic core. Phone night mode works; a real camera with a 20-second exposure at f/2.8 is much better.

9. Sand protection

A cheap resealable plastic bag around your camera between shots. Never change lenses in the wind.

10. Wipe your lens

Sand plus finger grease equals hazy photos. A microfibre cloth in your pocket saves the day.

11. Use portrait mode sparingly

Phones sometimes blur the sand behind a person in a weird crescent. Turn depth effect off for wide dune shots.

12. Drone rules

GCAA approval is required for drone photography in Dubai. Camp airspace is off-limits during shows for safety. Ask us before you fly — we can advise on legal spots.