Abu Dhabi to Liwa transfers, to the edge of the Empty Quarter.

The road from Abu Dhabi to Liwa

Liwa is a crescent of oasis villages on the northern edge of the Rub’ al Khali, the Empty Quarter, and the ancestral home of the Bani Yas tribes. Our Abu Dhabi to Liwa transfer leaves the city on the E11, follows the coast west, then turns inland towards Madinat Zayed, the administrative town of Al Dhafra. From there the road runs south through gravel plains and rising dunes to Mezaira’a, Liwa’s main town. Allow around two hours and forty-five minutes to three hours from central Abu Dhabi, depending on where you are staying.

It is a long drive, but an easy one in the right vehicle — and once the dunes turn from beige to deep orange, nobody minds the distance.

Where we drive in Liwa

• The Liwa Oasis villages strung along the crescent, with their date farms and restored forts
• Moreeb Dune, south of Mezaira’a, where a paved road runs to the foot of a dune that rises around 300 metres
• The desert resorts set among the dunes, such as Qasr Al Sarab, and the hotels in and around Mezaira’a
• Meeting points for licensed desert-safari operators, if you have booked dune driving or a camel trek separately

Two events change the pace of Liwa: a winter festival at Moreeb Dune and a date festival in the summer. Both bring heavy traffic, so tell us if your dates overlap and we will plan the timings around them.

A chauffeur, not a dune basher

Our vehicles stay on paved roads. Driving on the sand needs specially prepared 4x4s, lowered tyre pressures and drivers licensed for desert tours, and we leave that to the operators who do it every day. What we provide is the part that fills most of the day: a comfortable, unhurried road journey, a chauffeur who waits while you explore and a cool cabin at the end of it.

If you have booked a safari, we can drop you at the operator’s meeting point and collect you afterwards, so the long drive is never spent in a cramped safari vehicle.

Planning your Abu Dhabi to Liwa transfer

Leave early. The light is better, the heat is gentler and you arrive with the afternoon still ahead. If you want to see sunrise from Moreeb Dune, it is more practical to stay a night nearby than to leave Abu Dhabi in the small hours; we can book the transfer out and the transfer back on separate days.

Services thin out south of Madinat Zayed, so your chauffeur fuels up on the way and carries plenty of water. Mobile coverage is generally good along the main roads but can be patchy among the dunes, so we agree the pick-up time and place before you leave the vehicle.

What to pack for Liwa

Pack for both heat and cool evenings: in winter, desert nights can be surprisingly chilly, while the middle of the day is warm all year round. Bring sunglasses, a hat and closed shoes if you plan to climb a dune, and keep cameras in a bag — fine sand finds its way into everything. Your chauffeur keeps chilled water on board, and there is room in the boot for a cool box if you are planning a picnic at the oasis.

The right vehicle for the desert road

The luxury SUV is our first recommendation for Liwa: six seats, room for five bags and a commanding view of the dunes. Families of seven, or guests with plenty of luggage for a resort stay, will be comfortable in the V-Class. Larger groups heading to a resort, a celebration or a desert dinner can travel together in the Sprinter.

Combining Liwa with the rest of Al Dhafra

Liwa pairs naturally with a stay on the coast at Jebel Dhanna or a visit to Ruwais, and some guests continue to Al Ain on a longer tour of the emirate. See our Abu Dhabi to Ruwais and Abu Dhabi to Al Ain transfers, or start a booking and describe your plan in the notes. Each leg is quoted separately, so you can stay as long as you like in each place. Your fixed quote covers the vehicle, chauffeur, fuel, tolls and the agreed waiting time.

Related: Luxury SUV · Abu Dhabi to Ruwais · Abu Dhabi to Al Ain · Dubai & Al Ain Transfers · Book online