When I was in Dubai for around 24 Hours in 2011, I had a day full of activities.
Despite usually not being into touristy stuff, such as guided tours, the Dubai Desert Safari seemed like a good deal. Around 30€ to get out of town, drive through the desert, enjoy dinner in a camp with traditional bellydance and fire shows.
Back in 2011 that was a great deal. Driving through the dunes was incredibly fun and from what I remember, there weren't that many tourist camps.
Now though it seemed overcrowded. The drive was short, the driver lackluster, while the pakistani food was quite nice, we had to wait for a few hours before dinner and the shows started. There wasn't really anything to do, besides listening to the abismal DJ or buy colored sand in bottles (in the desert ...)
So, was it worth it? Well yes and no. For me, having had the experience before, being miserable outside in the heat, no. Then again, probably still better than spending another day inside a mall ...