Camping in the UAE

Get your gear in check!
Depending on the level of comfort that you are looking for, you can pack anything from a simple sleeping bag to a portable toilet. Carrefour stocks a lot of camping gear at reasonable prices, so it’s always a good idea to browse through their selection. Nevertheless, the essentials include night lights, wood for a bonfire (as temperatures do tend to drop significantly at night), sleeping bags, tents, cool boxes for food and beverages, cooking gear, and a large mat for everyone to sit on.

Your most important item will, of course be your tent and these can range in quality and price, costing as little as Dhs60 or as much as Dhs400. Most tents do need to be set up, however the process is very simple and shouldn’t take more than ten minutes with two people. While most campers prefer sleeping in a tent, the other option is to simply kip outside. There’s something inherently magical about dozing off by a dwindling camp fire, under a starry blanketed sky. A word of caution though: while sleeping outside is a special experience, you will be woken up at day break with the quickly rising temperatures and eye-scorching light.

Whether you are intent on sleeping within the confines of a tent or not, you will need to purchase a sleeping bag. If possible, try to buy one made with natural material because synthetic fibres will cause you to perspire more and will make the morning hours very uncomfortable.

We advise investing in some kind of awning to protect you from the sun, too. There are a wide variety of options to choose from, with basic ones that can be attached to your car or more elaborate ones that can cover large groups of people.

You can also settle for simple beach umbrellas. If you are taking along young children or pets, do make sure that they are not over-exposed to the sun.

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