While many may recognize Dubai for its iconic skyscrapers, diverse attractions, beautiful indulgence, and its world-class infrastructure. However, Dubai is much more than what meets the eye. Amidst the scenic beauty of its city life, it also features a world of beautiful dunes, which brings visitors to an indulgence of Desert Journey. While at first glance, the desert may appear to be just plain and dull in appearance, it’s the wide range of adventure sports, entertainment programs, and delicious dinners that make all the difference and bring a wholesome value to the visitors.
While we mention adventure sports in the Dunes, one of the most popular sports is Sandboarding. It is one of the most famous activities in Desert Areas like Dubai, Egypt, and Qatar. Originally, it was an ancient practice performed by Egyptians to carry cargo across the desert landscape on wooden planks. However, with the changing times and new evolutions being carried out in the transportation sector, this trading activity eventually transformed into an adventure sport for tourists and locals. Today, sandboarding is recognized as a fun desert sport that can be enjoyed by all age groups. While providing an adrenaline rush, it does not require any training or prior experience and is one of the safest sports to embark upon in the desert. Let’s check out some interesting facts about Sandboarding.
Sandboards featured in the Dubai Market
- Artisan Sandboard – This is a handmade sandboard that is made with rustic wood and is for learners. The average price for this sandboard is said to be around AED 700.
- Semi-Professional Sandboard – Made with Velcro and other similar padding, this is also a handmade sandboard that allows the participants to stand on the board and familiarise themselves with the basics of balance and maintaining composure.
- Professional Sandboard – Prepared with modern snowboard technology, it is used by seasoned sandboarders to practice and hone their craft in sandboarding. The average price for this sandboard is said to be around AED 1500.
Types of Sandboarding in Dubai
- Sit Down Sandboarding – Being a more beginner approach, this is catered towards elderly citizens and kids. Here, they do not have to worry about balancing themselves as they can simply sit on the sandboard while they glide down the dunes.
- Stand-up Boarding – This is the most common type of sandboarding among tourists and locals. Here, the participant’s feet are strapped into the board as they slide down the dunes. For a small added challenge, they can also try some slips to make it more interesting. These are optimized sandboards to provide better control, balance, and speed for a safe yet thrilling activity.
- Tow Boarding – This type of sandboarding is only reserved for seasoned sandboarders and professionals. Similar to waterskiing, here the professionals hold on to a rope that is connected to an ATV vehicle or a 4×4 SUV car. This is a challenging form of sandboarding as it’s not just about the speed, but also the up and down manoeuvres of the sandboarding. Some professionals and experts also take advantage of the speed and perform great tricks. But it’s best to just watch it from a distance.
Recommended places for sandboarding in Dubai
- Al Aweer Desert – It is one of the most famous spots for hosting safari adventures in Dubai. This location is home to a lot of Bedouin-style desert camps. It features grand dunes, which are not very big in stature, and that aspect of it comes in handy for beginners.
- Al Badayer Oasis – At a distance of an hour from Downtown Dubai, Al Badayer Oasis is considered one of the best locations for sandboarding in the city. It features multiple desert camps and also hosts many tourist companies’ officials here for desert sports like Dune Bashing and Sandboarding. The highlight here is the big red dunes which are famous for their ruby red texture.
- Al Faya Desert – These dunes are red and feature a cluster of tall, fine dunes in the heart of the desert. It is among the most popular spots for desert activities like Dune Bashing, Quad Biking, and Sandboarding, among other activities. Usually more popular in winter, this place often finds itself overloaded with visitors.
- Lahbab Desert – The location of this desert, which is only 45 minutes away from Downtown Dubai, makes it one of the most ideal spots for Desert Adventure Dubai. The Lahbab Desert is a famous excursion that provides an immersive experience of the desert landscape.
Conclusion
Sandboarding is one of the most famous desert activities in Dubai to experience thrill and adventure while being safe at all times. This adventure activity is presented as an exciting and distinctive experience of the desert and can be enjoyed by all age groups.
