Dubai & Abu Dhabi Explorer

Welcome to Dubai. Your flight from India brings you in over the Gulf, and as the plane comes in to land, the city spreads out below: glittering towers, wide highways, the Creek winding inland and, beyond it all, the desert. The flight from most Indian cities takes only three to four hours, and Dubai's clock is an hour and a half behind India's, so you gain time on the way.

Your UAE tourist visa is arranged before you fly, so immigration at Dubai International is quick: show your passport and visa, look into the camera for the facial scan, and you are through. Collect your luggage and walk into the arrivals hall, where our representative will be waiting with a sign bearing your name. A private car takes you to your hotel, usually a drive of 20 to 40 minutes.

Check in and spend the afternoon resting after your journey. Most hotels in Dubai allow check-in from 2 or 3 PM. If you arrive early, leave your bags at the desk and have lunch nearby; Dubai has Indian restaurants in almost every neighbourhood, from Bur Dubai and Karama to Al Barsha and the Marina.

If you arrive early and feel like a walk before the cruise, the Al Seef waterfront on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek is close to many hotels. Built in the style of old Dubai, it has sand-coloured houses, wooden balconies, small museums and cafés by the water, and it is a gentle way to get your bearings after the flight.

For the cruise itself, smart-casual clothes are fine. In winter, the evening breeze on the water can be cool, so bring a light jacket or shawl. The boats usually board from the Creek around 8 PM, and the timing of your transfer allows for traffic.

In the evening, you are picked up for a dhow cruise on Dubai Creek, the waterway where the story of Dubai began. Long before the skyscrapers, this natural saltwater inlet was the heart of a small trading town, where pearl divers, fishermen and merchants from India, Persia and East Africa loaded and unloaded their boats. The Creek still divides old Dubai into two halves, Deira on the north bank and Bur Dubai on the south, and wooden dhows still carry cargo from its wharves to ports across the region.

Your dhow is a traditional wooden boat, beautifully lit and fitted out for dining, with an open upper deck and an air-conditioned lower deck. As it sets off, you glide past the old souks of Deira, the wind-tower houses of the Al Fahidi district and the Bastakiya quarter, the domes and minarets of mosques, and the little abra water taxis criss-crossing the Creek with passengers. Further along, the modern city takes over, with the curved glass of the Dubai Creek Golf Club, the towers of Deira and, in the distance, the lights of Downtown.

Dinner is a buffet served on board, with Indian, Arabic and continental dishes and a good choice for vegetarians, along with soft drinks, tea and coffee. During the cruise, a Tanoura dancer performs on deck, spinning for minutes on end in a wide, colourful skirt, a traditional dance of the region that is mesmerising to watch, especially with the lights of the Creek behind.

The cruise lasts about two hours. Afterwards, our driver takes you back to your hotel for a good night's sleep before a full day exploring the city tomorrow.

Dubai is a very safe city, with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere in the evenings, when the weather is at its most pleasant. Mosques call the faithful to prayer five times a day, and you will often hear the call echoing across the Creek at sunset, a beautiful sound that reminds you that, for all its modernity, Dubai is deeply rooted in Arabian tradition.

If you are hungry later, Dubai has restaurants for every taste near almost every hotel, many of them open until midnight, from Indian and South Indian cafés to Arabic grills and international chains. Bur Dubai and Karama, close to the Creek, are famous for their Indian restaurants, where you can find everything from Gujarati thalis to Kerala fish curry. Drink plenty of water during your stay: even in winter, the dry desert air can be dehydrating. And if you need a local SIM card or eSIM, they are easy to buy at the airport or in any mall.

After the cruise, our driver takes you back to your hotel. Rest well: tomorrow begins with the city tour and the Burj Khalifa.

Included today: private arrival transfer from Dubai International Airport, hotel, Dubai Creek dhow cruise with buffet dinner (shared).

Good to know: keep your passport, hotel booking and visa copy handy for immigration. Dubai is 1.5 hours behind India. The Tourism Dirham fee is paid at the hotel. See our guide to flights from India to Dubai.

After breakfast, the half-day Dubai city tour takes you from the old heart of the city to its most famous modern landmarks. It is a wonderful introduction to how a small pearling town on the Gulf turned into one of the world's great cities in just 50 years.

Start at the Jumeirah Mosque, one of the most elegant mosques in Dubai, built of white stone in the style of the medieval mosques of Cairo, with two tall minarets and a large central dome. Then drive south along Jumeirah Beach Road, past villas, beach parks and cafés, to the Burj Al Arab. Built on an artificial island about 280 metres off the shore and opened in 1999, the hotel is shaped like the sail of a dhow, and at around 321 metres it was once the tallest hotel in the world. Stop for photos on the beach nearby, where the sail rises against the blue of the Gulf.

The tour continues to Palm Jumeirah, the vast artificial island shaped like a palm tree, created from sand dredged from the sea floor. You drive along the trunk, lined with apartment towers, past the fronds where villas sit on their own beaches, and through an undersea tunnel to the outer crescent, where the grand Atlantis The Palm resort stands. Stop for photos and look back across the water to the skyline of Dubai Marina.

From the Palm, the tour heads to Dubai Marina, with its forest of towers along a man-made canal, and then back towards the old city and the Creek. If time allows, there is a stop near the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, where the sand-coloured houses with their wind towers show how people lived before air conditioning. The wind towers caught the breeze from any direction and directed it down into the rooms below, keeping them cool even in the summer heat.

In the afternoon, head to Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai, one of the largest malls in the world. Even if you are not a shopper, it is worth exploring: the huge Dubai Aquarium tank, three storeys high, can be seen from the main floor, with sharks and rays gliding past; there is an Olympic-sized ice rink, a waterfall with sculptures of divers, and a gold souk inside the mall. Have lunch at one of the many restaurants or food courts, where Indian, Arabic and international food is easy to find.

Then go up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, to At the Top on levels 124 and 125. The high-speed lift rises about 450 metres in roughly a minute, and as the doors open, you step out to a view that takes in the whole city: Downtown below, the Dubai Fountain lake, Sheikh Zayed Road stretching away towards the Marina, the Palm and the World Islands out in the Gulf, and the desert inland. The building itself is 828 metres tall, and it took six years to build.

Allow about an hour to an hour and a half at the top of the Burj Khalifa, and keep your ticket handy, as it is checked again on the way down.

As evening falls, watch the Dubai Fountain show from the lakeside promenade. Every half hour, jets of water rise up to 150 metres into the air, swaying and dancing in time to music, from Arabic classics and Bollywood songs to international hits, lit by thousands of lights. It is free to watch, and one of the most beautiful sights in Dubai. Then our driver takes you back to your hotel.

For dinner, Downtown has plenty of restaurants with views of the fountain, or you can head back to your hotel and rest before tomorrow's trip to Abu Dhabi.

Dubai's growth is one of the most remarkable stories of the modern world. In 1960, it was a small town of a few tens of thousands of people, living from pearling, fishing and trade, with very few paved roads. Oil was discovered in 1966, and the rulers of Dubai used the wealth to build a port, an airport, roads and a free trade zone, turning the city into a hub for business, tourism and aviation. Today, more than three and a half million people live here, from more than 200 nationalities, and Indians make up the largest community.

Getting around on your own is easy. The Dubai Metro links the main areas, from the airport and Deira to Downtown, Mall of the Emirates and the Marina, and it is clean, safe and inexpensive. Buy a Nol card at any station; there are carriages reserved for women and children. Taxis are metered and reliable, and ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber are widely used.

Included today: half-day Dubai city tour (shared), Burj Khalifa At the Top ticket for levels 124 and 125 at a non-prime time, Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain visit, transfers, breakfast.

Good to know: carry your passport or a copy for Burj Khalifa entry. Lunch is at your own cost. Plan the rest of your stay with our Dubai itinerary.

Today you travel to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for a full day of sightseeing. After breakfast, the coach leaves Dubai and heads south along the Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi, a drive of about one and a half to two hours across flat desert dotted with palm plantations, power lines and new towns. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, and Abu Dhabi is the largest and wealthiest, home to most of the country's oil and the seat of its government.

Both temples and mosques have dress codes. For the BAPS Mandir, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid tight or see-through clothing; visitors are usually asked to register online in advance, and the temple is closed to visitors on Mondays. For the Grand Mosque, men and women should wear long, loose clothing covering their arms and legs, and women must cover their hair with a scarf. Shoes are removed before entering the prayer halls in both places. The mosque is closed to tourists on Friday mornings for prayers, so on a Friday the tour visits in the afternoon.

On the way, visit the BAPS Hindu Mandir at Abu Mureikha, just off the highway near the Dubai–Abu Dhabi border. Opened in February 2024, it is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, built on land donated by the UAE government, and a powerful symbol of the friendship between India and the Emirates. The temple is carved from pink sandstone from Rajasthan and white Italian marble by craftsmen in India, assembled without steel, and decorated with thousands of intricate carvings of deities, animals, flowers and scenes from Indian epics, as well as stories from other cultures. Its seven shikhars, or spires, represent the seven emirates. Walk through the prayer halls, admire the carvings and the peaceful courtyards, and take a moment for darshan.

Then continue to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Completed in 2007 and named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, who is buried here, it can hold more than 40,000 worshippers. Its 82 white marble domes, four tall minarets and vast courtyard of inlaid marble flowers gleam in the sunshine, and reflecting pools line the arcades. Inside, the main prayer hall is covered by what was once the world's largest hand-knotted carpet, and huge chandeliers sparkle with crystals and gold. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times, and the mosque is free to enter.

After the mosque, the tour drives along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi's long waterfront promenade, lined with gardens, beaches and gleaming towers, with views across the turquoise water. Stop for photos at Emirates Palace, a grand hotel with domes and gardens set behind a long private beach, and at Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, a vast white and sand-coloured building with a great central dome, which is open to visitors on some days at extra cost.

If you visit the Grand Mosque in the late afternoon, stay until dusk if you can. As the sun sets, the white marble glows pink and gold, and after dark the mosque is lit by a lighting system that changes with the phases of the moon, from bright white at full moon to a soft blue-grey at the new moon. It is one of the most beautiful sights in the Gulf.

There may be time for a short stop at a date market or the Heritage Village, depending on the day, before the drive back to Dubai in the late afternoon. If you are interested, Yas Island, home to Ferrari World and the Formula 1 circuit, can be seen from the road, and can be visited on a separate day as an optional tour.

Abu Dhabi has many other attractions for a future visit. On Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, opened in 2017, displays art from around the world under a vast silver dome that filters the sunlight into a 'rain of light'. Yas Island is home to Ferrari World, with the world's fastest roller-coaster, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and the Formula 1 circuit. These can be added as optional tours on another day.

It is a full but rewarding day, and one that shows a very different side of the UAE: calmer, greener and more traditional than Dubai.

The drive back to Dubai takes about one and a half to two hours. Rest well tonight: tomorrow brings a free morning and the desert safari.

Included today: full-day Abu Dhabi city tour with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (shared), BAPS Hindu Mandir visit subject to the temple's visiting days, breakfast.

Good to know: about 1.5–2 hours' drive each way. Dress modestly for both the mandir and the mosque; women need a headscarf at the mosque. The mandir is closed to visitors on Mondays, so the tour day is planned around it. Lunch is at your own cost. Read our Abu Dhabi day trip guide.

Enjoy a slow morning at your hotel after yesterday's long day. Have a late breakfast, swim, or head out for some shopping. If you have not yet seen them, the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira are lively in the morning, and you can reach them by metro or taxi and cross the Creek by abra.

Most safari camps are in the red dunes south-east of Dubai, in the Lahbab and Al Awir areas, where the sand has a deep red-orange colour. The drive out takes about 45 minutes, and pickups are usually between 2:30 and 3:30 PM, depending on the time of sunset, which is earlier in winter than in summer.

In the afternoon, a 4x4 picks you up from your hotel for the desert safari. Leaving the city behind, you drive out to the red dunes on the edge of the desert, about 45 minutes away. The driver lets some air out of the tyres, and then the dune bashing begins, a thrilling ride over the sand, climbing up the dunes and sliding down the other side, with plenty of screams and laughter. If you would rather have a gentler ride, let the driver know.

The safari is suitable for most travellers, but dune bashing is not recommended for pregnant women, babies or anyone with back, neck or heart problems. If anyone in your group prefers to skip it, the driver can take a gentler route to the camp. Wear comfortable clothes, closed shoes or sandals, sunglasses and a hat, and carry a light jacket in winter, as the desert cools quickly after dark. Keep your phone or camera in a bag during the drive, as fine sand gets everywhere.

At the top of a high dune, the car stops for sunset. The dunes stretch away in every direction, the sand changing colour from gold to orange and red as the sun goes down, and the silence of the desert is broken only by the wind. It is the perfect moment for photographs.

After sunset, arrive at a desert camp set up like a traditional Bedouin encampment, with carpets, cushions and low tables around a central stage. Take a short camel ride, try sandboarding, have your hands painted with henna, or try on traditional Emirati clothes for photos. Arabic coffee and dates are served on arrival.

After dark, enjoy live entertainment: a spinning Tanoura dancer whose skirts light up as they whirl, a fire show and music under the stars. Dinner is a barbecue buffet with grilled chicken and lamb, Arabic salads and dips, rice, breads and plenty of vegetarian dishes, followed by desserts. Return to your hotel by about 9 PM.

Desert camps are well equipped, with clean toilets, plenty of seating and a buffet area, and staff are used to looking after families, couples and senior travellers. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included, and vegetarian food is always available. If you have any dietary needs, let us know in advance, and we will pass them on to the camp.

For something extra, you can add quad biking or a dune buggy ride at the camp, at extra cost, or upgrade to a private 4x4. Some travellers also book a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the desert on another morning, a magical way to see the dunes from above.

During the holy month of Ramadan, the live shows at the camps may be paused, and dinner is served after sunset, in keeping with local customs.

The desert also has a long and fascinating history. For centuries, the Bedouin tribes of Arabia lived as nomads, moving their camels and goats between wells and oases, and their knowledge of the desert, its winds, stars and plants, was passed down through generations. Falconry, camel racing and traditional poetry are still treasured parts of Emirati culture, and you may see camel farms and racing tracks on the drive out to the dunes.

The desert is especially beautiful in the cooler months, from November to March, when the afternoons are mild and the night sky is full of stars. Many guests say the moment of sunset on the dunes, with the silence all around, is their favourite memory of Dubai.

Back at your hotel, shake out the sand and get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's visit to the Museum of the Future.

Whatever you choose, it is an evening in the desert you will remember long after you are home.

Included today: evening desert safari with dune bashing, camel ride, live shows and BBQ dinner (shared), breakfast.

Good to know: dune bashing is not recommended for pregnant women, babies or anyone with back or heart problems. Quad biking, buggies and private 4x4s are optional, at extra cost. See our desert safari and dhow cruise guide.

After breakfast, visit the Museum of the Future, one of the most striking buildings in Dubai and a highlight of any visit. Opened in 2022 on Sheikh Zayed Road, it is a gleaming silver ring, or torus, about 77 metres tall, with an empty centre. Its stainless steel surface is covered with windows in the shape of Arabic calligraphy, quotations by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, about the future and innovation. Many architects call it one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Inside, the museum is not about history but about the possible future of humanity. A lift takes you up to the top floor, which is designed like a spaceship, and you work your way down through a series of immersive exhibitions. You visit an imagined orbiting space station in the year 2071, explore a library of living species and DNA, step into a calming wellness space, and see how technology might change the way we live, work and travel. It is visually spectacular and fun for all ages, and children especially love it.

The museum usually takes about two hours to explore at a relaxed pace. Tickets are sold for timed entry slots, and our team will arrange your slot in advance. Transfers are included.

If you are interested in the story of how Dubai planned its future, the Museum of the Future is part of a wider vision: the city has set goals for driverless transport, solar energy and space exploration, and the UAE sent the Hope probe to orbit Mars in 2021, the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country. Many of these ideas are explored in the museum's exhibitions, making it as interesting for adults as it is for children.

Next to the museum stand the twin Emirates Towers, among the first skyscrapers on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the Dubai International Financial Centre, with its art galleries, sculptures and restaurants. If you enjoy architecture, Sheikh Zayed Road is a showcase of modern design, with towers of every shape lining the highway for kilometres.

The afternoon is free. You might spend it shopping at the Gold Souk or Dubai Mall, relaxing on the beach at JBR or Kite Beach, or visiting another attraction such as the Dubai Aquarium or the Dubai Frame. From October to May, Global Village is a great evening out, with pavilions from about 90 countries and cultures, international food stalls, shopping and live shows.

For the afternoon, here are some ideas depending on your interests. Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a beautiful recreation of a traditional Arabian market, with winding lanes, wind towers and waterways, where you can take an abra ride through the canals with views of the Burj Al Arab. La Mer, a beachfront area in Jumeirah, has cafés, shops and a long sandy beach with views of the city skyline. Kite Beach, nearby, is popular for its views of the Burj Al Arab, its running track and its food trucks.

For families, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall, the Green Planet indoor rainforest in City Walk, and the Dubai Miracle Garden, open in the cooler months and filled with millions of flowers arranged into shapes, are popular choices. For shoppers, the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira, Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are within easy reach by metro or taxi.

For dinner, Dubai has an enormous range of restaurants, from Indian thalis in Karama and Bur Dubai to Arabic grills, seafood on the beach and fine dining in the Marina. It is a lovely last full evening in the city.

In the evening, take a final stroll along the Dubai Fountain lake or the Marina Walk, or treat yourselves to a special dinner. Dubai is one of the best places in the world to eat, with every cuisine imaginable, from Emirati machboos and Lebanese mezze to Indian thalis, Japanese sushi and Italian pizza.

For your last evening, many travellers like to return to the Dubai Fountain or the Marina, the two places that best capture the magic of Dubai by night.

Pack your bags tonight, as tomorrow is your departure day. Make sure your passport, tickets and any shopping bills are easy to find. See our places to visit in Dubai for more ideas.

It is a fitting final full day, ending a week that took you from the old Creek to the city of the future. Enjoy every moment of your last evening in Dubai, and take one more look at the Burj Khalifa lit up against the night sky.

Included today: Museum of the Future entry ticket with transfers (shared), breakfast.

Good to know: entry is by timed slot, which we book for you; carry your passport or a copy. Afternoon activities are at your own cost.

Enjoy your last breakfast in Dubai. If your flight leaves later in the day, make the most of your final morning: take a swim, walk along the beach or the Creek, or pick up some last-minute souvenirs.

Enjoy your final morning by doing something you enjoyed most during the trip, or something you have not yet had time for. Early risers can watch the sunrise from Kite Beach or the Marina, when the city is quiet and the light on the towers is soft and golden. Coffee lovers can try a cup of gahwa, the light, cardamom-scented Arabic coffee, served with dates in tiny cups, at one of the cafés in Al Fahidi or Al Seef.

Popular things to take home include dates, which come in many varieties and gift boxes, Arabic sweets such as baklava and maamoul, saffron, spices, camel milk chocolate, Arabic perfumes and oud, and gold jewellery from the Gold Souk. Supermarkets such as Lulu and Carrefour are good places to buy dates and sweets at fair prices.

If you shopped at stores with the Tax Free sign, you can claim back part of the 5% VAT at the airport, usually on a minimum spend of AED 250 per receipt. Validate your purchases at a tax refund kiosk before passport control.

Before leaving the hotel, check your room carefully for passports, phones, chargers and shopping, and make sure you have your flight details and any bills for valuable purchases. If you have any UAE dirhams left over, you can spend them at the airport or keep them for your next visit; currency exchange counters are also available at the airport.

If your flight is in the evening and you have a few free hours after checkout, ask the hotel to store your luggage and spend the time at a mall near your hotel, at the beach, or in the Al Fahidi district and the Creek. Late checkout is sometimes available, at extra cost and subject to availability.

Check out by noon, and our driver will collect you at the agreed time and take you to Dubai International Airport. The drive usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, but allow extra time at rush hour. Check your terminal: Emirates uses Terminal 3, and most other airlines to India use Terminal 1.

Keep perfumes and other liquids in your checked baggage if they are larger than 100 ml, make sure your bags are within your airline's allowance, and keep the bills for any gold or expensive items, as Indian customs may ask for them. Then relax at the airport's huge duty-free area before your flight home, with memories of the Burj Khalifa, the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the desert and the Museum of the Future.

Dubai International is one of the busiest airports in the world, with excellent facilities: restaurants, lounges, prayer rooms and one of the largest duty-free shopping areas anywhere, where you can buy last-minute dates, chocolates, perfumes and electronics. Leave plenty of time to check in, especially at weekends and during the school holidays.

Looking back on your trip, you will have seen both of the UAE's great cities: the soaring towers, glittering malls and desert dunes of Dubai, and the grand mosques, palaces and peaceful corniche of Abu Dhabi, along with the extraordinary BAPS Mandir and the Museum of the Future.

Dubai is only a short flight from India, and many travellers come back again and again, for the Shopping Festival, for a family holiday at the theme parks, for a beach break, or to explore the other emirates and neighbouring Oman. We would love to help you plan your next trip.

Our team will stay in touch until you are home safely. Thank you for travelling with Dreamland Vacations, and we hope to see you again soon. Before your next visit, see our Dubai shopping guide.

The UAE also makes an easy add-on to other trips: many travellers combine Dubai with a few days in Abu Dhabi on its own, with a beach stay in Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah on the east coast, where the Hajar Mountains meet the Indian Ocean, or with a stopover on the way to Europe. Ask us about combining them on your next holiday. The UAE is also a wonderful winter destination for a short family break, with direct flights from almost every major Indian city, an easy visa process and a choice of hotels for every budget, from comfortable 3-star city hotels to luxury beach resorts on the Palm. Until then, safe travels home, and thank you again for choosing Dreamland Vacations for your Dubai and Abu Dhabi holiday.

Included today: private departure transfer to Dubai International Airport, breakfast.

Good to know: book a flight that leaves at least 3 hours after you reach the airport. Late checkout is subject to availability and may cost extra.