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Had a few people asking me about the location and details of a trip like this, so I'm going to make a thread that covers everything from how to plan a trip like this to camera settings if anyone else is interested. https://twitter.com/casiowristwatch/status/1247574736294612993
First of all, you need to find a place with low light pollution. I've that the closest place with an adequate level of light pollution is the Abu Qryan desert according to google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/pwdTyzXBV4LweMgd9
You can see the levels of light pollution in the UAE, or anywhere in the world for that matter using this website: https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/24.089/54.437
Next thing you need to know is that the main section of the milky way is not visible throughout the whole year, and according to this website https://www.slrlounge.com/the-best-time-to-see-the-milky-way-is-coming-soon/ these are the best time to go on a trip like this if you're in the northern hemisphere
You would also need to take the moon phase into consideration, as the moon would emit a pretty strong level of light that would have an effect on the visibility of the milky way. So pick a day where the moon is in its new phase. https://www.moongiant.com/phase/today/
As for locating the milky way in the sky I strongly suggest using an app called Sky Guide, or any similar app. These apps overlay a 'render' of the milky way on the sky using you phones display. They are essential.
A quick note, you will probably need to pack a good amount of snacks and water as it's approximately a 3 hour drive from Dubai
Now for the photography gear side of things. A DSLR or a mirror-less camera that allows you to control the settings manually is essential.
As far as lenses go, I would strongly suggest going with the fastest lens you have (i.e. lowest aperture) at a wider focal length. This website goes into more detail about the science of choosing a lens for astro photography https://petapixel.com/2014/01/29/picking-great-lens-milky-way-photography/
A tripod is essential, you cannot shoot the milky way without a tripod. It would be reasonable to carry some sort of flash light too. A shutter remote is also a valuable tool, as it allows you to trigger the shutter release without shaking the camera.
Now for the camera settings. This 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆 depends on 4 factors: sensor size, maximum ISO, focal length and minimum aperture. This website helps you calculate a baseline for the settings you should use for your camera setup https://www.lonelyspeck.com/milky-way-exposure-calculator/
