Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) is Dubai's first national park, covering about 225 square kilometres of protected desert managed by the Emirates Group. It shelters native wildlife such as the Arabian oryx and Arabian gazelle, and is the place to see the dunes in a conservation setting rather than on a general safari.
The conservation team does not run tours itself. Wildlife drives and other activities inside the Reserve are only available through its approved tour operators: Arabian Adventures, Sand Sherpa, Travco, 57 Heritage, Nara Desert Escapes and Platinum Heritage, as listed on ddcr.org. The DDCR Visitors' Centre, with exhibits on local flora and fauna and a viewing platform, lists hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and a walk in fee of AED 35 for adults.
Source: ddcr.org/contact-us. Last checked 7 November 2026.
- Address: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, off Dubai Al Ain Road, Dubai
- Hours: Visitors' Centre: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, walk in fee AED 35 for adults (ddcr.org). Desert tours run only through the Reserve's approved operators.
- How to Reach: Inland from the city in the desert. For activities inside the Reserve, book one of the approved tour operators listed on ddcr.org, who arrange transport. Do not drive into the Reserve independently.
- Phone: Visitors' Centre: 04 880 2337
- Website: https://www.ddcr.org/contact-us/
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