Al Ruwayyah winter camping is back for 2026-27, and it is bigger than ever, with room for 600 camps, caravan plots for the first time and ready-made camps you can rent by the day. The season runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. There is one catch to know before you start packing, though: bookings are open to UAE nationals.
So here is what is new at Al Ruwayyah this season, who it is for, and where the rest of us can pitch a tent in Dubai while the weather is this good.
Al Ruwayyah winter camping 2026-27 at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 |
| Capacity | 600 camps, around 120% more than previous seasons |
| Standard plots | 400 square metres |
| Large plots | Up to 800 square metres (back this season) |
| Caravan plots | 50, new this season |
| Ready-made camps | 10 fully equipped camps for daily rental, new this season |
| Event spaces | 10, for family activities, community programmes and seasonal markets |
| Booking length | Seasonal plots from three to six months |
| How to book | wintercamp.dm.gov.ae or the DubaiNow app |
| Who can book | UAE nationals |
What’s new at Al Ruwayyah this season
Dubai Municipality has more than doubled the size of the site, and it is clearly trying to turn Al Ruwayyah into a proper winter destination rather than a patch of fenced desert. The big changes:
- Caravan plots: 50 dedicated plots for caravans, a first for the site.
- Daily rental camps: 10 fully equipped camps you can book by the day, so you do not need to own a single tent peg.
- Double-sized plots: larger 800 square metre plots return alongside the standard 400 square metre ones.
- Event spaces: 10 areas set aside for family activities, community programmes, recreational experiences and seasonal markets.
- Small business pop-ups: space for small and medium-sized businesses to offer food, desert activities and recreation.
Dubai Municipality has also said this season is the start of a longer upgrade plan, with more improvements promised for future seasons.
Who can book Al Ruwayyah winter camping?
Al Ruwayyah winter camping plots can be booked by UAE nationals through wintercamp.dm.gov.ae or the DubaiNow app. Seasonal plots run for three to six months, while caravan plots and the 10 daily rental camps have separate booking options. Dubai Municipality has not confirmed whether expat residents can book the daily camps or caravan plots.
If you are Emirati, or heading out with Emirati friends who hold a permit, the rules are worth a look before you go. Permit holders have to install temporary fencing, use the camp only for family and camping purposes, stick to approved temporary tents and equipment, stay inside their marked boundaries and display their campsite number plate at the entrance. Permanent structures are not allowed.
Prices for plots, caravan spaces and daily camps were not included in the announcement. Check the booking portal for current fees.
Where expats can camp in Dubai this winter
Good news first: according to Dubai Municipality, you do not need a permit for a short weekend camping trip in the desert. Permits are for long-term and seasonal camps like Al Ruwayyah. That leaves plenty of options.
Hatta Campsite and glamping
Hatta Resorts reopened for its ninth season on 28 September 2026, and it remains Dubai’s most straightforward option for an organised camping night. Hatta Campsite near Hatta Wadi Hub is bring-your-own-tent, with shared facilities on site. Rates change with the day of the week and the season, so check visithatta.com for your dates.
Prefer a mattress to a roll mat? Hatta Dome Park starts from AED 1,120 a night, with air-conditioned domes, private plunge pools and a fire pit, while the new Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas starts from AED 1,280 a night. Spend the day at Hatta Wadi Hub and you have a full weekend sorted.
Al Qudra and Al Marmoom
The desert around Al Qudra, inside the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, is the closest proper camping escape for most of Dubai. Just do not pitch up at the lake itself. Dubai Municipality signs at Al Qudra Lake ban camping, fires, barbecues and dog walking there, with AED 500 fines that double for repeat offenders. Raised barbecue stands are allowed in the wider Al Qudra area, but fires lit directly on the sand are not.
💡 WOW Expert Tip: Al Qudra gets busy on cool Friday and Saturday nights from November onwards. If you want stars rather than other people’s speakers, go on a weeknight, drive a little further into the desert and take everything you bring back out with you.
Glamping and desert camps
If camping to you means someone else puts up the tent, our round-up of places to go glamping in Dubai is your starting point. Licensed operators in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve also run overnight desert camps, and our guide to desert adventures and safari experiences in Dubai has more ideas for a night under the stars.
Winter camping rules worth knowing
- Short trips: no permit needed for a weekend in the desert. Long-term and seasonal camps need a Dubai Municipality permit.
- Fires: use a raised barbecue stand, never a fire straight on the ground.
- Rain and wadis: entering valleys or flood zones during rain can mean a AED 2,000 fine, 23 black points and your car impounded for 60 days.
- Waste: leave nothing behind. The desert does not have bin collection, and fines apply for littering.
💡 WOW Expert Tip: Check the National Centre of Meteorology forecast the day before you go. A rainy week in November or December can turn a dry wadi into a river in minutes, and the fines are the least of your worries.
Camping is only one way to make the most of the cooler months. For the rest, see our list of things you have to do in a Dubai winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Al Ruwayyah winter camping plots are open to UAE nationals, who book through wintercamp.dm.gov.ae or the DubaiNow app. Dubai Municipality has not confirmed whether expat residents can book the new daily rental camps or caravan plots, so check the booking portal before planning a trip.
The Al Ruwayyah winter camping season runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. Seasonal plots are booked for three to six months.
Not for a short weekend trip in the desert, according to Dubai Municipality. Long-term and seasonal camps, like the plots at Al Ruwayyah, need a permit.
There is room for 600 camps, around 120% more than previous seasons. That includes standard and double-sized plots, 50 caravan plots and 10 fully equipped camps for daily rental.
Hatta Resorts reopened for its ninth season on 28 September 2026, with stays bookable through visithatta.com. Hatta Campsite is bring-your-own-tent, and rates vary by date.
Not at the lake itself. Dubai Municipality bans camping, fires, barbecues and dog walking at Al Qudra Lake, with AED 500 fines. Camping and raised barbecue stands are allowed in the wider Al Qudra desert area.
