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Environment & Welfare

Sustainability

Restricted routes, camel welfare, zero single-use plastic, waste-out policy, transparent footprint.

What we actually do (and don't do) for sustainability

Desert tourism has a real environmental footprint — fuel, noise, sand erosion, animal stress, waste. We don't pretend our tours are carbon-neutral or zero-impact. Instead we focus on the things that genuinely reduce our footprint: restricted dune routes, camel welfare, waste-out policy, local sourcing, and zero single-use plastic at our camps.

We also disclose what we still need to improve. Full transparency — no greenwashing.

What we do

🛤️

Restricted routes

We use the same set of dune tracks instead of blazing new ones — less cumulative erosion.

🐫

Camel welfare

Our stable is family-run, with 4-hour shift max per camel and every 7th day off.

🚯

Waste-out policy

Every tour collects all rubbish — including guests' — back to Dubai for licensed disposal.

🥗

Local sourcing

Camp food is sourced from UAE farmers and small local butchers.

🌊

Plastic-free camps

Zero single-use plastic water bottles, straws, cutlery or containers.

🔇

Quiet-hour rule

No motor noise in the reserve after 21:00 — camp programme uses acoustic entertainment.

What we still need to improve

Fuel footprint

Our fleet still runs petrol. EV buggies and hybrid 4WDs are years away from realistic desert duty.

🎈

Balloon propane

Hot air balloons need a lot of propane. We can't yet offset this directly.

📦

Guest-brought plastic

Guests sometimes bring plastic water bottles — we swap them for our glass ones at check-in.

🏜️

Sand displacement

Heavy dune bashing does displace sand. We rotate routes but can't fully eliminate this.

Community & welfare

👷

Local jobs

Guides are UAE residents; we prioritise hiring UAE nationals and long-term residents.

🏫

School partnerships

Free school desert trips for one Dubai underserved school each month.

🦅

Wildlife support

We donate 1% of revenue to UAE falcon and oryx conservation projects.

💧

Water bottle refill

All camps have potable-water refill stations. No charge to refill any guest's bottle.

🪙

Fair tipping policy

100% of tips go to the guide — no house cut, no shared pool, no deductions.

Frequently asked

Is your desert tour carbon-neutral?+

No — and we don't claim it is. Our fleet still burns petrol. We focus on measurable reductions (waste, welfare, local sourcing) rather than selling carbon-offset certificates that may or may not represent real reductions.

Do you donate to wildlife causes?+

Yes — 1% of revenue goes to UAE falcon and oryx conservation projects, documented annually in our sustainability report (published on this page each January).

Can I pay a carbon offset for my tour?+

We can point you to reputable UAE reforestation projects (Mangrove National Park, Jebel Ali reforestation) where you can donate directly. We don't take a cut.

How are your camels actually treated?+

4-hour maximum shift per camel, one day off every 7, regular vet checks, and no riding in summer midday heat. The family stable has been running since 1972.

Ready when you are

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