Al Khatim desert
Al Khatim · Abu Dhabi
It is the nearest properly dark desert to the capital, about an hour out, so you can be under a clear sky without a weekend trip.
- Free
- About 3 h
- Bring your own
- Easy
- Needs a 4x4
How it works
Drive out after dark, leave the highway on a sand track and park well away from the road. Turn off all lights and give your eyes 20 minutes.
The catch
The city glow still sits on the northern horizon, and the dune tracks off the highway need a 4x4.
Bring
Blanket, red torch, warm layers, star-map app
Checked Nov 2026