Two people cannot share one dirt bike on a ride with Dirt Bike Rental Dubai. The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is booked per bike for one rider, and that rider must be 18 or over with off-road experience. A pair either books two bikes, when both qualify, or picks a vehicle built to seat two, such as the Double Seater Quad Bike or a 2 seater dune buggy.
Key takeaways
- The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC carries one rider per bike. There is no passenger option on it.
- Both partners can ride the KTM only if each one is 18 or over and has off-road experience. Each person then books their own bike.
- A partner who is new to riding is pointed to quads and dune buggies, not the KTM.
- The rides that seat two people are the Double Seater Quad Bike (open deep desert), priced per quad, and the 2 seater Polaris RZR 1000 and Can-Am Maverick X3 buggies, priced per buggy.
- No driving licence is needed for any ride, for either of you.
- A partner who does not want to drive can add a camel ride, sandboarding or a desert camp, each priced per person.
- The sharing transfer needs at least two people from the same pickup point, so a pair travelling together qualifies.
- Every ride runs in the Al Badayer red dunes, about 45 to 60 minutes from Downtown Dubai.
Can two people ride a dirt bike in Dubai?
Not on this ride. Couples and friends sometimes picture one person steering and the other holding on behind. On a guided desert ride in Al Badayer, the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is sold per bike, one rider per bike. The price you see on the booking form covers one bike and the one person riding it.
That rule is simple, and it settles the planning question early. Instead of asking "can we share", the useful question for a pair becomes "what does each of us want to do in the dunes". The answer depends on two things: whether both of you meet the KTM rules, and whether you want to sit side by side or ride separate machines.
Can a passenger sit on the back of the KTM?
No. The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is booked for one rider only, so a passenger cannot be added to it. Dirt Bike Rental Dubai books every KTM ride as a solo rider on a solo bike, with a guide who rides with you.
Why the KTM is a one rider ride
A desert dirt bike ride asks a lot of the person on the bike. The rider stands, shifts weight, works the throttle and the clutch, and reacts to soft sand on every climb and descent. The guided format is built around one rider handling one bike, after a briefing and training. That is also why the KTM is limited to riders 18 and over with off-road experience: the bike suits people who already know what riding off-road feels like. You can read more on the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC page, including the ride lengths and what comes with each ride.
When both of you qualify: two KTM bikes
If you and your partner are both 18 or over and both have off-road experience, the plan is easy. Each of you books a KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC. You ride the same ride length side by side in the dunes, each on your own bike.
The KTM prices are per bike, one rider each:
| Ride | 1 hour | 2 hours | 3 hours | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC | AED 850 | AED 1,250 | AED 1,450 | per bike, one rider |
The 1 hour slot is a warm-up plus about 40 minutes of riding. Longer rides are booked as the 2 hour or 3 hour option on the booking form. For a pair, it helps to agree on the ride length before you book, because each bike is a separate booking line.
What each KTM rider gets
Every KTM rider gets their own full kit. Nothing is shared between the two of you:
- racing gear: pants, jacket and gloves
- a crash-resistant helmet
- collarbone and knee protection
- goggles
- fuel
- a briefing and training
- a guide who rides with you
Does each of us need our own gear?
Yes, and it is provided. Helmets, gloves, jackets and other protective gear are provided for every rider, whatever vehicle each of you picks. You only need to bring comfortable sports clothes and closed shoes that suit sport. In the cooler winter months, bring a jacket as well.
Do we ride with the same guide?
On the KTM, a guide rides with you. How guides are arranged for two riders on two bikes, or for a pair split across a bike and a quad, is something to ask the team when you book. Send the question on WhatsApp or call +971 52 440 9525, and mention both of your ride choices so the team can answer for your booking.
When one of you is new to riding
Say one person has years on dirt bikes and the other has never ridden off-road. The KTM is not the right ride for the newcomer: it is for riders 18 and over with off-road experience only, and beginners are pointed to quads and dune buggies.
The good news is that a mixed pair still gets a desert ride each. The experienced partner can book the KTM while the newer partner books a quad or a buggy. Earlier motorbike or bicycle experience helps on the KTM, but the KTM still asks for off-road experience.
Can my partner ride the KTM if they have never ridden off-road?
No. The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is for riders with off-road experience only. A first-timer, however confident, books a quad bike or a dune buggy instead. If you are not sure whether your experience counts, our post on dirt bike licence and age rules in Dubai explains who can ride the KTM and who starts on something else.
Is a licence needed for either of us?
No. No licence is needed for any ride, whether one of you takes the KTM, a quad or a buggy. The instructors teach the basics before the ride, and every ride starts with a safety briefing.
Rides that seat two people
If what you really want is to sit together on one machine, the dirt bike is the wrong choice and a two seat vehicle is the right one. Dirt Bike Rental Dubai lists two kinds of ride that seat two people.
The Double Seater Quad Bike
The Double Seater Quad Bike runs in the open deep desert and seats 2. It is priced per quad, not per person. This is the closest thing to "riding two up" that the menu offers, because two people share one quad in the open dunes.
Quads run in two areas: a fenced area and the open deep desert. The Double Seater Quad Bike belongs to the open deep desert group, alongside the Kymco, Yamaha, sports quad and the Raptor 700 manual.
The 2 seater dune buggies
Dune buggies come as 2 seater and 4 seater Polaris RZR 1000 and Can-Am Maverick X3 models, each with a turbo option, all priced per buggy, not per person. For a pair, the 2 seater models are the natural fit: you sit side by side, with one of you driving. The 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC and the 2 Seater Can-Am Maverick X3 each have their own page with the full details.
Prices for the rides that seat two
Every price below stands alone. It covers one vehicle for the ride length shown, in the unit shown.
| Ride | 30 minutes | 1 hour | 2 hours | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Seater Quad Bike ( Open Deep Desert ) | AED 350 | AED 425 | AED 820 | per quad, seats 2 |
| 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC | AED 600 | AED 900 | AED 1,750 | per buggy |
| 2 Seater Polaris Dune Buggy RZR 1000 CC Turbo | AED 900 | AED 1,200 | AED 2,200 | per buggy |
| 2 Seater Can-Am Maverick X3 | AED 999 | AED 1,499 | AED 2,800 | per buggy |
| 2 Seater Can-Am Maverick X3 RS TURBO RR | AED 1,200 | AED 2,300 | AED 4,200 | per buggy |
Note the units. The quad price is per quad and the buggy prices are per buggy. They are not per person prices, so the price on the form is for the vehicle, whoever sits in the second seat.
Who can sit in the second seat?
Each of these rides is priced per vehicle, and no passenger age is listed for them here. If you plan to bring a teenager or a child as the passenger on a quad or in a buggy, ask the team before you book. They will tell you what applies to your ride. Do not guess, and do not assume that a rule for one vehicle carries over to another.
Dirt bike or a two seat ride: how a pair decides
Pairs usually land on one of four set-ups. The aim here is to match the set-up to the two people, not to rank the vehicles. For a full side by side look at the three types of vehicle, the main site has a separate dirt bike, quad and dune buggy guide.
Both experienced off-road riders, both 18 or over. Two KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC bookings, one per rider. You each ride your own bike for the same length of time.
One experienced rider, one newcomer, both want to drive. The experienced rider books the KTM. The newcomer books a single seat quad or their own buggy. You ride in the same Al Badayer dunes on different machines. Ask the team how the two rides are timed and guided when you book.
You want to sit together. Book the Double Seater Quad Bike or a 2 seater buggy. One person drives and the other rides along on the same vehicle.
One of you does not want to drive at all. The rider books their ride, and the other person picks an add-on, or sits in the second seat of a two seat quad or buggy if the rider switches from the KTM.
The point to remember: the KTM never carries two. As soon as one of you wants company on the same machine, the plan moves to a quad or a buggy.
What a non-rider can book
Not every partner wants to drive. If one of you is coming along mainly for the desert, there are add-ons priced per person:
| Add-on | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Camel Ride in Desert 20 - 25 min | AED 150 | per person |
| SandBoarding | AED 50 | per person |
| Standard Camp | AED 125 | per person |
| Premium Camp (BBQ dinner and live shows) | AED 250 | per person |
These add-ons are chosen on the booking form alongside the main ride. Each one is priced per person, so it covers the person who takes it.
Can a non-rider just wait while the other rides?
Waiting arrangements are not covered on the ride pages. Ask the team on WhatsApp or call +971 52 440 9525 before you book, and tell them that one person will ride and one will not. They will explain what fits your start time.
Getting to Al Badayer as a pair
Every ride runs in the Al Badayer red dunes, about 45 to 60 minutes from Downtown Dubai. You have three ways to arrive:
- No transfer. You make your own way, and the meeting point is emailed after booking.
- Sharing Transfer. AED 175 per person. It needs at least two people from the same pickup location.
- Private Transfer. AED 450 per car, for 5 to 6 people.
With a transfer, pickup is 1 hour before the ride time. For a pair staying at the same hotel, the sharing transfer fits well, because two people from one pickup point is exactly what it asks for. If you are staying at different addresses, the sharing transfer rule needs two people from the same pickup location, so check this with the team or choose a private car.
Can we share a transfer?
Yes, if you are both picked up from the same place. The Sharing Transfer is priced per person and needs 2 or more people from one pickup point. Otherwise, choose the Private Transfer, which is priced per car.
Is the JBR office a starting point?
No. The office at Al Fattan Marine Tower, Office 106, The Walk, JBR, is the booking office only. No ride starts there. Rides start in the Al Badayer dunes, either at the emailed meeting point or after your transfer pickup.
Choosing a start time for two
Ride start times run from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. You choose the start time on the booking form. Some pairs prefer an early start or a later one, and any start in that window can be booked.
If one of you rides the KTM and the other rides a quad or buggy, pick the start time with both rides in mind. The KTM comes as a 1, 2 or 3 hour ride, while the quads and buggies come in 30 minute, 1 hour and 2 hour options (the Single Seater Sports Quad Bike and the Raptor 700 start at 1 hour). Matching lengths keeps your day simple. If you are new to the KTM, our post on your first dirt bike ride in Dubai walks through what happens from check-in to the dunes.
The safety briefing applies to both of you
Every ride starts with a safety briefing, whatever vehicle each person picks. It covers the vehicle controls, off-road safety in the desert and what to do in an emergency. Helmets, gloves and body armour are provided.
For a pair, this means both of you go through the briefing for your own vehicle. The KTM rider also gets the training that comes with the KTM ride. A partner on a quad or in a buggy gets the briefing for that vehicle.
Is it safe to ride two up on a dirt bike?
The answer for a ride in Al Badayer is that it does not happen: the KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is one rider per bike. If you want to ride with someone on the same vehicle, book one built to seat two, the Double Seater Quad Bike or a 2 seater buggy. For any rule beyond that, such as health questions or passenger requirements, ask the team before you book.
Booking a ride for two
Booking is online 24/7. You choose the ride, the ride length, the start time and any transfer or add-on on the booking form. After booking, the order details are emailed to you.
A few tips for pairs:
- Book each KTM as its own bike. Two riders on two KTMs means two bikes on the form.
- Check the unit before you compare. The KTM is per bike, the Double Seater Quad Bike is per quad, the buggies are per buggy, the add-ons and the sharing transfer are per person, and the private transfer is per car.
- Ask about anything not covered here. Guides, waiting and passenger rules for quads and buggies are questions for the team.
- Pack for the desert. Comfortable sports clothes and closed shoes, plus a jacket in the cooler winter months.
In short
A dirt bike does not take two people on a Dirt Bike Rental Dubai ride. The KTM Dirt Bike 450 CC is one rider per bike, for riders 18 and over with off-road experience. If you both qualify, book a bike each. If one of you is new, that partner books a quad or a buggy. If you want to sit together, choose the Double Seater Quad Bike, priced per quad, or a 2 seater buggy, priced per buggy. A non-rider can add a camel ride, sandboarding or a camp, each priced per person.
When you know who rides what, book your desert ride online. For questions before you book, message the team on WhatsApp at +971 52 440 9525 or email [email protected].