You might have seen snowboarding. It is done in the snowy slopes of the temperate and polar regions. Sandboarding is an adaptation of this sport to the desert sands. Instead of the snow, sandboarding is done on the sand, as the name suggests. Though sandboarding is possible on loose sand, it is best done in the desert. Deserts have the perfect terrain for sandboarding with varying heights and slopes. Sandboarding is one of the activities during the desert safari Dubai trip.

Tall and steep dunes are the best for sandboarding. So look for them. Stand on top of the dune, strap the board to your feet, and slide down to the bottom. Carving the sand is different than cutting the snow. You can do some backflips in the air if you are an expert.

Sandboard vs. Snowboard

Although similar, sandboards are a little different from snowboards. Sand is a lot more abrasive than snow. Therefore, the board has to be more challenging. That also means the sandboards are a tad bit heavier than the latter.

Best locations to sandboard in the UAE

The Lahbab Desert

The Desert in Dubai is known for its red and tall dunes. Most of the dunes here range from 10 to 30 meters. But there are a few that are about 100 meters tall. The Lahbab desert is a 40-minute drive from Dubai on the Dubai-Hatta road Sunset in Lahbab desert.

Al Faya Desert

The sand color of the Sharjah desert is red. You will find a cluster of tall dunes in the center of this desert where 4x4s, dune buggies, and sand boarders flock. This area will be a little packed in the winter. So, getting a convenient spot to sandboard is a bit tricky.

Liwa Oasis

In Abu Dhabi, Liwa Oasis is famous for a particularly massive Moreeb dune. This is the single largest dune globally, standing 300 meters tall and 1.6 kilometers long. Though the dune is in the middle of the desert, a road will take you right to the bottom of the dune. But you would rather have 4×4 to your aid. Although skiing down the slope will be fun, walking back to the top won’t be. One advantage of the Moreeb dune is that it is vast. You will always find a place to put your skills to work.

Al Badayer

The tallest dune in Badayer is called the Big Red because it is ruby red and big. And that is the sweet spot for the adventure. This dune is easy for amateurs to sandboard. The Badayer is also close to Dubai. It only takes 45 minutes to drive from Dubai to get there.

There will be a lot of adventure lovers here on the weekends and during the colder weather, thanks to its proximity to the city.

Fossil Rocks

Scientific evidence points to the fact that the Arabian desert was once under the sea. Geologists call this sea Tethys. That’s how we can explain the presence of marine fossils in the middle of the desert. Jebel Maleihah also called the Fossil Rock, is located on the outskirts of Sharjah, near Mleiha archeological center. The fossils of marine animals that existed millions of years ago can be found here. Another thing the fossil rock is famous for is sandboarding and dune bashing.