Dubai, UAE, is preparing for a new chapter in desert tourism as Arabian Adventures invests AED 8 million in the expansion of The Fort – Lisaili. The redevelopment will add new adventure attractions, dining venues, cultural experiences, family facilities and event spaces from 2027. Executive Bulletin
Located around 45 minutes from Downtown Dubai, Fort Lisaili has operated since November 2024, offering visitors desert dining, live entertainment and activities including camel rides, dune buggy experiences and 4×4 desert drives. Executive Bulletin
A New Desert Tourism Experience Near Dubai
For travellers planning a Dubai itinerary, Lisaili provides an alternative setting to the city’s central attractions. The desert destination is designed around an evening experience combining food, entertainment, outdoor activities and cultural elements.
The current Fort Lisaili experience includes shared transfers, camel rides, henna painting, live entertainment and BBQ dining. Visitors can also add activities such as quad biking, buggy rides and ziplining, subject to the selected experience and availability. Visit Dubai Experiences
The redevelopment will expand this mix rather than focus solely on adventure activities. Arabian Adventures has planned new hospitality, cultural and family-oriented facilities across two phases.
First Phase Brings Zipline and Arabic Market
The first phase is scheduled for January 2027 and will introduce several new visitor attractions. These include an Arabic market, a VIP majlis, new dining concepts overlooking the dunes and a dedicated children’s play area. Executive Bulletin
The destination will also add new entertainment and event spaces. These are planned for private celebrations, corporate gatherings and larger events, giving Fort Lisaili additional uses beyond conventional desert safari visits.
One of the headline additions will be the UAE’s first dune-top desert zipline. The attraction will stretch 250 metres from the crest of a sand dune, giving visitors a different way to experience the surrounding desert landscape. Executive Bulletin
Second Phase Adds Visitor Facilities
A second phase is scheduled to begin in July 2027, introducing a new visitor centre intended to become the central hub of the destination. The facility will include cafés, retail outlets, prayer rooms and ticketing services. Executive Bulletin
The expansion will also add elevated viewing decks and VIP lounges overlooking the desert. Dedicated camel experiences and curated animal encounters are planned as further additions, connecting the visitor experience with established desert traditions. Executive Bulletin
For tourists, these facilities could make it easier to combine several activities during one visit, from dining and shopping to adventure and cultural experiences.
Travel Details for Visitors
Fort Lisaili is accessible from Dubai through shared transport or self-drive options, depending on the experience booked. Current experiences offered through Dubai’s official tourism booking platform include shared 4-wheel-drive transfers and desert activities at the site. Visit Dubai Experiences
The destination is approximately 40 to 45 minutes from Downtown Dubai, with the exact journey depending on the transfer arrangement and starting point. Visitors using shared transfers are advised to confirm their pickup location and be ready in the hotel lobby ahead of the scheduled departure. Visit Dubai Experiences
Families can also plan around age restrictions. Current Fort Lisaili information states that children aged five to 12 can participate in shared-vehicle experiences, while children under five are not permitted on off-road safaris in shared vehicles. Quad-bike driving has a minimum age of 12. Visit Dubai Experiences
A Two-Stage Tourism Expansion
The Fort Lisaili redevelopment is being delivered in two stages, with the original experience scheduled to reopen for bookings from October 2026 before the expanded attractions begin arriving in 2027. Phase one is planned for January, followed by phase two in July. Executive Bulletin
With its combination of desert adventure, dining, family facilities, cultural spaces and new visitor infrastructure, Fort Lisaili is becoming a larger component of Dubai’s desert tourism offering. The AED 8 million programme will add new reasons for visitors to travel beyond central Dubai and spend more time exploring the emirate’s desert landscape.
