Al Wathba Lake Camp is a free, official campsite run by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, open 24 hours a day. It has 13 campsites around a man-made lake for tents or RVs, plus about two dozen picnic sites with BBQ areas, a 1.4 km lakeside path, a cycle pump track, playgrounds and food trucks. There is no published booking system, so it is first come, first served: arrive early on winter weekends. It is in Al Wathba South, about 45 to 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi city.
At a glance
- Cost
- Free to camp and picnic
- Booking
- No published booking system; first come, first served
- Open
- 24 hours, every day
- Campsites
- 13, for tents or RVs, about 120 campers in total
- Picnics
- About 24 picnic sites with BBQ areas, open to non-campers
- Run by
- Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi
- From Abu Dhabi
- About 45 to 50 minutes
Last checked: 13 October 2026. Facilities follow the Department of Municipalities and Transport’s opening details; check current access on the Abu Dhabi government’s TAMM channels before a group trip.
On this page
What it costs
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Campsite, tent or RV | Free | 13 sites with lake or desert views |
| Picnic site with BBQ area | Free | Open to day visitors too |
| Walking path, playgrounds, volleyball, observation decks | Free | |
| Bike and activity rentals | Paid | At the rental centre by the pump track, when operating |
| Food trucks and cafés | Paid | Varies by season and day |
| Organised group camps | Check first | Large groups and events may need permission |
Do you need to book?
When the camp opened in February 2022 there was no booking system for families, and none has been published since: you drive in and pick a free pitch. Guides disagree on whether this has changed, so before a large group trip, check the Department of Municipalities and Transport or the TAMM portal. On Friday and Saturday nights from November to February, the best lakeside pitches go by mid-afternoon, so arrive early or go midweek.
What you get
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| Campsites | 13 sites for tents or RVs, including graded, compacted 8-metre pitches for vehicles |
| Picnic and BBQ areas | About 24 sites with dedicated barbecue spots |
| Gathering space | 3,000 square metres for up to 500 day visitors |
| Walking and running | A 1,400-metre path around the lake |
| Cycling | A 1,200-metre cycle pump track with a rental centre, on the Al Wathba cycling route |
| Play and sport | Seven playgrounds and two volleyball courts |
| Views | A pontoon walk and two observation decks |
| Services | Parking, restrooms, first aid, waste management and space for food trucks and cafés |
Bring everything you need. Visitors report that facilities such as restrooms and food trucks are not always open, and there is no electricity at the pitches. Bring water, food, lighting, power banks and your own tent; nothing is rented on site for camping.
Rules
- Camp only in the marked campsites, and keep off the fenced lake edges, which are protected.
- Barbecues only in the designated BBQ areas.
- No swimming in the lake.
- Take all rubbish with you or use the bins provided.
- Do not cross into nearby reserve land: entering protected areas without Environment Agency permission can bring very large fines.
- Follow the Visit Abu Dhabi camping advice: do not pitch at the base of dunes, do not leave food out overnight, and never use heaters or stoves inside a tent.
Best time to go
- Season: October to March; avoid June to September.
- Nights: can drop to the low teens Celsius in December and January, so pack warm clothes.
- Stars: the darkest skies are on the nights around the new moon, roughly early in each month this winter: around 9 November and 9 December 2026, and 7 January, 6 February and 8 March 2027.
- Crowds: midweek nights are quietest; winter weekends and public holidays are busiest.
Photography and birdwatching
The lake is a good spot for photos at sunrise and sunset, when the water mirrors the dunes, and the observation decks give a raised view. Herons, ducks and other water birds visit the lake, and the nearby Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is one of the UAE’s best places for flamingos. Bring a tripod for night-sky shots away from the car park lights.
Getting there
The camp is in Al Wathba South, about 45 to 50 minutes from central Abu Dhabi and around 90 minutes from Dubai. From Abu Dhabi, take the E30 (Al Rawdah Road), pass Al Wathba Palace on your right, take the exit for Razeen Road and follow the signs for Al Wathba Lake Camp, which has its own access lane; search “Al Wathba Lake Camp” in Google Maps. A regular car can reach the camp on the paved road and the compacted pitches.
What to bring
- Tent with sand pegs, sleeping bags, mats and warm layers.
- At least 4 litres of water per person per day, food and a cool box.
- A portable grill and charcoal for the BBQ areas.
- Head torches, lanterns and charged power banks.
- A first aid kit, insect repellent and rubbish bags.
- Check your tyres and fluids before driving out.
Combine it with
- Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba, open from 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027.
- Al Wathba Wetland Reserve for flamingos.
- Al Wathba Salt Lake for sunrise photos.
- Adventure activities in the UAE: desert, water, camping and wheels by season.
- Camping in the UAE: the rules in every emirate.
- Camping in Abu Dhabi: Liwa, Al Wathba and more.
- Camping in Dubai: Al Aweer permits and legal spots.
- Stargazing in the UAE: the darkest skies.
Al Wathba Lake Camp FAQs
Is Al Wathba Lake Camp free?
Yes. Camping and picnicking at Al Wathba Lake Camp are free. Only extras such as rentals and food trucks cost money.
Do you need to book Al Wathba Lake Camp?
No booking system has been published. Pitches are first come, first served, so arrive early on winter weekends, and check with the Department of Municipalities and Transport for large groups.
What facilities does Al Wathba Lake Camp have?
13 campsites for tents or RVs, about 24 picnic sites with BBQ areas, a 1.4 km lake path, a cycle pump track, playgrounds, volleyball courts, observation decks, parking, restrooms and first aid.
Can you have a BBQ at Al Wathba Lake?
Yes, in the designated BBQ areas at the picnic sites.
Can you swim in Al Wathba Lake?
No. Swimming in the lake is not allowed.
How far is Al Wathba Lake Camp from Abu Dhabi?
About 45 to 50 minutes by car from central Abu Dhabi, via the E30 and Razeen Road, and about 90 minutes from Dubai.