First timer heading to Al Qudra – what do I actually need to check?

So I’ve finally booked a weekend to take the family out to Al Qudra for some dune bashing and a BBQ sunset thing, but honestly I’m a bit nervous because I’ve never really taken my sedan off the tarmac before. I keep reading horror stories about people getting stuck or breaking down in the middle of nowhere, and I really don’t want to be that guy calling for recovery. I’ve been looking into preparing your vehicle for desert trips and came across a decent checklist on that balance check site that mentioned tyre pressures and fluids, but I’m still wondering about the smaller stuff like what kind of shovel to bring or if I need a flag. Has anyone here done a trip in a standard car recently and survived? Would love some practical advice from people who do this regularly without all the complicated gear.