Two names, two places
The Al Qudra Lakes lie in the desert inside the Al Marmoom reserve. Love Lake is the heart-shaped lake with the heart sculptures that has made the area popular on social media. Not every map pin that says Al Qudra leads to Love Lake, so check the exact location before you set your navigation.
This is an independent guide, not run by a tourism authority, a municipality or a tour company. Rules around the lakes can change, and signs on site count more than any guide, including this one. Prices and times on this page are examples from 2026.
What Al Qudra is good for
Four reasons people go, and what each needs.
| Reason | What it involves | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Cycling | Long cycle path through the desert | Water, sun protection, a repair kit, a start before the heat |
| Photos at Love Lake | Heart-shaped sculptures by the water | Soft light early or late in the day |
| Water birds and landscape | Lake edges against a dune backdrop | Binoculars, patience, quiet behavior |
| An evening outing | Dusk over the lakes, then the drive home | A light, a charged phone, a fuel stop on the way |
The table is a planning aid, not a promise of what you will see on your day.
Our picks: Al Qudra tours
An evening trip with dinner and a shorter lake stop.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Al Qudra Lakes and Al Marmoom with dinner
A guided visit to the Al Qudra lakes and bird reserve, a ride in a vintage G-Class, the Al Marmoom Oasis camp, a traditional dinner, entertainment, a falcon photo, a camel and astronomy. Drinks, quad and buggy are not listed.
Check availability →Love Lake and Flamingo Lake trip
Pick-up and return, a driver-guide, Flamingo Lake, Love Lake and water.
Check availability →Desert tours and day trips from Dubai
Safaris, balloon flights, camel rides and more, with live prices and availability.
Getting there and moving around
What you can plan with and what to check on the day.
By car or ride-hailing
The lakes lie outside the city and do not have a published bus link you can rely on. Most visitors drive, rent a car or book a ride. Check the last stretch of the access road on the day, because conditions at the end of a route can differ from the main road.
Cycling rules
The Roads and Transport Authority treats Al Qudra and Seh Al Salam as external training tracks without a fixed cycling speed limit. The limit for city cycle paths does not carry over. Safety instructions on site still apply, so ride predictably and follow signs.
Reading the distances
Tourism information names an 86 km path and a 50 km loop. Do not add them together, and do not read the 50 km as a ring around Love Lake. Look at a current map of the path before you plan a ride.
Parking, fees and hours
Look for signs at the entrance for any parking charge, entry fee or opening times, and plan for basic facilities. Bring what you need, including water and snacks.
What to bring
Desert outings need more than a phone.
Tourism guidance for desert outings suggests enough water, a first-aid kit, sun protection, a light and a GPS. Tell someone where you are going, because mobile coverage can be limited. No fixed number of liters is an official rule, so take more than you think you need.
Tourism information recommends November to April for camping in the desert and advises against the hot months. The older long-term averages for Dubai show monthly highs above 38 °C (100 °F) from June to September, which is why early starts and short stays make sense in summer. The best time guide has the full table.
Best time for the Dubai desert →
Camping, photos and drones
Three topics where the rules matter.
Camping
A 2026 tourism article recommends camping in the desert reserves. An older news report, last updated in 2018, describes municipal signs against camping, fires and barbecues around the lakes. Which applies where, and today, depends on the signs at the spot. Do not assume you may camp, light a fire or grill at the shore.
Photographing people
Photograph people only with their consent. This matters at a popular photo spot where strangers are in the frame. Do not photograph government or military facilities.
Drones
The aviation authority requires registration of the user and the device and flying only in approved zones. Registration alone is not permission to fly, and a national suspension of drone permits was ordered on February 28, 2026. Leave the drone at home unless you have checked the current rules.
Swimming, fishing, pets and vehicles
Do not assume that swimming, fishing, pets, night camping or driving off the track is allowed. Zones and rules can differ along the shore, so follow the signs at the lakes.
Combine it with the rest of the desert
Pages that fit a day near Al Qudra.
Al Qudra and Love Lake: frequently asked questions
Are Al Qudra Lakes and Love Lake the same?
No. Love Lake is the heart-shaped lake in the Al Qudra area. Many pins that say Al Qudra do not mark its entrance, so check the exact location.
Is there a speed limit for cyclists?
The Roads and Transport Authority describes Al Qudra and Seh Al Salam as external training tracks without a fixed cycling speed limit. Safety instructions still apply, and the limit for city cycle paths is a different rule.
Can I camp at the lakes?
A 2026 tourism article recommends camping in the desert. An older report from 2018 describes signs that ban camping, fires and barbecues around the lakes. Follow the current signs, and do not assume a permission that you have not seen.
Can I fly a drone at Love Lake?
Do not assume so. Drones need registration and approved zones, and permits were suspended nationally on February 28, 2026. A report of commercial flights resuming does not settle private use. Check the current rules first.
What do travel advisories say about the UAE?
Germany's Federal Foreign Office has advised against non-essential travel to the UAE since September 30, 2026 (status October 21, 2026), citing a volatile regional situation and the risk of airspace closures. The UK FCDO updated its advice on July 24, 2026 and points to the risk of further escalation, flight cancellations and temporary airspace closures. The US State Department has listed the UAE at Level 3, Reconsider travel, since August 29, 2026, citing terrorism and armed conflict. Read your own government's current advice before you book, and choose flexible cancellation terms.