Desert birthday celebration in Dubai: ideas by the lakes

A birthday outside is simple to love and easy to get wrong. The hard parts are not the cake or the candles but the practical details: the wind, the heat, the rubbish and what the local rules allow. Get those right and the rest is just good company.

This guide uses the rules set out in our camping rules and permits guide and the kits on our outings page. Rules change and we are a shop, not a regulator, so treat this as general guidance, follow posted signs and check with Dubai Municipality (800 900) if in doubt.

1. Four ways to celebrate

• Sunset picnic: a beach mat, food and a cake as the light drops. Love Lake at sunset is the classic choice, as described in our Love Lake guide.
• Breakfast birthday: sunrise, coffee and pastries before the day heats up. Ideal for early risers and the hot months.
• Campfire evening: a fire in a pit or on a stand, never on the sand, with hot karak to go round.
• Stargazing birthday: a clear night, a flask and a blanket. See the stargazing guide.

2. The rules to follow

From the camping rules guide: day visits, picnics, photography and sunset are described as fine, with free entry. Overnight camping at the lake edge and Love Lake should be treated as not permitted, and nothing should be lit on the sand.

• BBQ on a stand or in a fire pit, never straight on the sand. A portable fire pit is AED 63 at Zad.
• Keep fires small, watched and well away from tents, vehicles and the lake edge.
• Take everything out, including ash, food scraps and wrapping. Littering fines start at AED 500.
• Leave ghaf trees alone. Bring bought firewood instead: medium AED 40, large AED 70.
• Do not feed or disturb wildlife, and keep music low.

Drones: rules in Dubai are strict, so check current official guidance first, and if in doubt leave the drone at home. Zad does not claim any permit for your event. If your plan involves a larger set-up, our outings page notes that we bring in licensed partners for set-ups, décor and permits where they are needed.

3. Zad kits that suit a celebration

The ready-to-go kits on the outings page are pre-ordered on WhatsApp and packed for your pickup time. Every item is also sold separately.

• Lake Picnic Box (for 4): 4 chicken wraps, 2 x 1.5 L water, 4 London Dairy ice creams, a bag of ice and a beach mat, AED 199.
• Stargazing Kit for Two: medium firewood, fire-starter cubes, a beach mat, a vacuum flask of hot karak and 2 croissants, AED 129.
• Campfire Night Kit (up to 6): a large bundle of firewood, fire-starter cubes, a bag of ice and 6 hot karak, AED 129.
• Lake BBQ Box (4 to 6): foldable grill, 3 kg charcoal, fire-starter gel, tongs and 2 bags of ice, AED 125.

Prices are indicative and may vary. For a cake, our outings page mentions a cake from our café as part of a planned celebration, so ask us when you enquire. A Portuguese tart (Ola Nata) is AED 20 if you prefer something smaller.

4. Tailor-made celebrations

Birthdays, proposals and celebrations are on our tailor-made list: Love Lake at sunset, a picnic set-up and a cake from our café, planned with you and our décor partners. Tell us the date, the group size and the idea on WhatsApp at +971 55 566 6037, and we come back with a plan and a clear price. Allow at least a week for tailor-made plans.

5. Plan around heat, light and guests

Pick the season first. The cooler months suit outdoor celebrations, and in summer the only comfortable slot is dawn. Our best time to visit Al Qudra guide covers the months, and the sunrise and sunset guide gives timings. Sunset in mid-November is about 17:30, and you should plan to leave before it is fully dark.

Bring shade, because you should assume there is none. Beach mats and umbrellas are AED 20 to 52 at Zad. Take a bin bag, a power bank and a jumper for after sunset, and read the desert picnic ideas for food that travels well. With children, our lakes family guide is the place to start.

6. The day itself

Collect your kit at Zad on the way in, open 24/7 at the Last Exit. Arrive early, park legally on hard ground, set up in daylight and keep a pin of your car. There are no shops at the lakes, so buy ice and water on the way, and fill the tank in the city, because Zad does not sell fuel.

Frequently asked questions

Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai, the last stop before the desert since 2013.