Liwa Desert, UAE

Liwa Desert hosted the filming of Dune (both 2021 and 2024 editions). It's the Empty Quarter — one of the world's largest sand deserts, spanning the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The desert is genuinely otherworldly. Dunes reach 300 meters high. The color shifts from orange to red to deep brown depending on light and iron oxide content. Silence is absolute.

Beyond Dune, Liwa works as a desert experience destination. You can do dune bashing (driving fast in a 4x4 over dunes), camel rides, desert camping under stars, and sunrise desert drives. It's only 2–3 hours from Dubai, so it's accessible, but far enough away that it feels genuinely remote.

The experience is surreal in a way that film production actually captured. The vast emptiness rewires perspective the way empty ocean does. You feel very small and very alive.

Dune bashing (4x4 drive): Professional driver takes you over massive dunes in a Land Cruiser. Exhilarating and bumpy. $50–80 for half-day. Multiple companies offer this.

Desert camping overnight: Sleep under stars in a Bedouin-style camp with a guide. Includes dinner, breakfast, desert drive. $80–150 per person. Companies arrange from Dubai.

Sunrise or sunset dune drive: Less intense than dune bashing, more scenic. $60–100 for a half-day. Watch the light change the dune colors.

Camel ride: Short ride (30 minutes to 1 hour) on a camel across dunes. $30–50. Less thrilling than you'd expect but culturally resonant.

Budget:: Camps and desert lodges with basic facilities. $40–70/night.

Mid-Range:: Upgraded camps or small desert hotels. $80–120/night.

Splurge:: Luxury desert resort (Al Maha, Qasr Al Sarab). $200–400/night.

Lamb and camel meat: Grilled and served with rice, bread, salads. At camps and restaurants. $12–22.

Hummus and mezze: Chickpea dip, flatbread, vegetables. Staple accompaniment. $8–15.

Date-filled pastries: Local sweets. Markets and shops. $2–5.

Strong Arabic coffee: Dark, cardamom-spiced coffee served in small cups. Offered freely at camps; restaurants $2–4 per cup.

Fresh fruit juices: Orange, mango, pomegranate. Freshly squeezed. $2–4.