Most-asked questions
Site-wide
Site-wide
FAQ.
Common questions across every silo — booking, pickup, vehicles, age limits, season, cancellation, payment, weather, accessibility. Use the chips to filter by topic.
Categories10+
Questions40+
Updated2026-04-27
ChannelWhatsApp
▸ Booking
Booking
How do I book?+
WhatsApp +971 52 440 9525 with your dates, group size, package preference, and pickup hotel. Reply within 5 minutes during 06:00–22:00 GST.
Can I book same-day?+
Most standard Dubai silos accept same-day. Hot air balloon and Liwa/Empty Quarter expeditions need 1+ days advance.
Do I pay in advance?+
Standard half-day Dubai bookings: full payment on pickup. Long-distance overnights: 30% deposit at confirmation.
How is the booking confirmed?+
WhatsApp message: you reply 'yes confirm', the team responds with pickup time, driver name, what to bring.
▸ Pickup & logistics
Pickup & logistics
Is hotel pickup included?+
Free Dubai hotel pickup across most silos. Pickup window 15 minutes wide.
Where do you pick up from?+
Any Dubai hotel — Downtown, Marina, JBR, Palm, Bluewaters, Business Bay, DIFC, Deira, Jumeirah, Al Barsha, JLT, Discovery Gardens, plus Sharjah / Ajman / Fujairah on request.
How long is the transfer?+
Lahbab ~45 min from Downtown. Margham balloon ~50 min. Sweihan AD ~1h15min. Liwa ~3h. Jebel Jais RAK ~1h30min.
Will my driver speak English?+
Yes — all guides and drivers speak English. Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog often available.
▸ Vehicles & age
Vehicles & age
Driver age for buggy?+
18+ with valid passport ID. Automatic transmission, no licence required for the private dune routes.
Rider age for quad?+
13+ on Yamaha 220cc with parental approval. 16+ on 400cc and above.
Kids 90cc?+
Ages 9-12 on a fenced kids track with reduced-speed Yamaha 90cc. Supervised by instructor.
Balloon age?+
Minimum 5. Below 5 not permitted on shared baskets.
▸ Season & weather
Season & weather
Best season for the desert?+
October to April for comfort. November to February peak for photography.
Best season for balloon?+
October to early May only. Summer pause for safety.
Summer feasible?+
Adjusted timing — early morning + late evening, midday closed for heat. Jebel Jais and Wadi Shawka work year-round.
What if weather cancels?+
Operator-initiated cancellation: complete refund or reschedule per guest preference.
▸ Cancellation
Cancellation
Cancellation policy?+
96+ hours: no fee. 72+ hours: 50%. Under 24 hours / same-day / no-show: 100%.
How do I cancel?+
WhatsApp the same thread used to confirm. Email [email protected] with the booking date as backup.
Refund timeline?+
5-10 working days through the original payment channel.
Reschedule?+
96+ hours ahead: free, subject to availability. 72+ ahead: subject to availability + small admin fee for substantial changes.
▸ Payment
Payment
Payment methods?+
Card via UAE-licensed gateway (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), cash in AED, bank transfer with advance notice, gift voucher redemption.
Currency?+
AED across the site. Future localization columns reserved (USD/EUR/GBP/INR/CNY/RUB) showing 'Coming soon' until populated.
Card surcharge?+
None. Pricing identical regardless of payment method.
VAT?+
5% UAE VAT applies where invoiced; pricing displayed includes VAT for transparent comparison.
▸ Accessibility & dietary
Accessibility & dietary
Wheelchair access?+
Selected silos (Jebel Jais drive-up, Al Marjan beach resorts, balloon with operator pre-approval). Mention at booking.
Dietary preferences?+
Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, allergies accommodated across BBQ camps. Mention at booking.
Multi-language guides?+
Yes — English plus Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog reliably; Russian, Mandarin, French, German rotating availability.
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