Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in a few days

Dubai and its towers, the dunes at sunset and the great mosque of Abu Dhabi, day by day: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

Day by day

1

Dubai

Days 1-3

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

• Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
  The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
• Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
  A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.

✦ Free to visit

• The gold and spice souks of Deira
• Al Fahidi historic district
• The Dubai Fountain show
• Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown ↗ (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ ↗ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm ↗ (€450 a night) · All places to stay by budget →

📲 Book things to do in Dubai on GetYourGuide

2

The Dubai desert

Day 4 · 🚗 Car 1h

The dunes begin less than an hour from the towers. Evenings are for 4x4 rides, dinner in a camp and a sky full of stars.

🎟️ Worth booking

• 4x4 desert safari and Bedouin-style dinnerEvening · from €60
  Dune driving in a 4x4, then dinner under canvas in a desert camp.
• A night in a desert camp1 night · from €190
  Sleeping out among the dunes, far from the city lights, and waking to the desert at dawn.

✦ Free to visit

• Sunset over the dunes
• Sandboarding
• Stargazing

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Bab Al Shams ↗ (€230 a night) · Luxury: Al Maha Desert Resort ↗ (€550 a night) · All places to stay by budget →

📲 Book things to do in The Dubai desert on GetYourGuide

3

Abu Dhabi

Days 5-6 · 🚗 Car 2h

The capital of the Emirates, home to the white marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi under its latticed dome.

🎟️ Worth booking

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, guided1h30 · from €12
  White marble, 82 domes and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world, explained by a guide.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi2h · from €17
  Jean Nouvel's museum, opened in 2017, where sunlight falls through a vast latticed dome like light through palm leaves.

✦ Free to visit

• The Corniche and its beach
• Qasr Al Watan (from outside)
• Yas Island

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Premier Inn Abu Dhabi ↗ (€70 a night) · Mid-range: Beach Rotana ↗ (€140 a night) · Luxury: Emirates Palace ↗ (€480 a night) · All places to stay by budget →

📲 Book things to do in Abu Dhabi on GetYourGuide

4

Dubai

Day 7 · return · 🚗 Car 1h30

A city raised from the sand in a few decades: the Burj Khalifa (828 m), artificial islands, and the old gold and spice souks on the far side of the creek.

🎟️ Worth booking

• Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251h · from €45
  The observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.
• Aquaventure at AtlantisFull day · from €85
  A huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.

✦ Free to visit

• The gold and spice souks of Deira
• Al Fahidi historic district
• The Dubai Fountain show
• Dubai Marina beach

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Rove Downtown ↗ (€75 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Marina 4★ ↗ (€180 a night) · Luxury: Atlantis The Palm ↗ (€450 a night) · All places to stay by budget →

📲 Book things to do in Dubai on GetYourGuide

Worth sorting before you go

The metro, then a car · The Dubai Metro covers most of the city. For the desert and for Abu Dhabi, about an hour and a half away, hire a car or book a transfer.

📶 eSIM data
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly

🛡️ Travel insurance
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta

🚗 Car hire
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking

💳 Fee-free card
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut

🚐 Airport transfer
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer

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Flavours & local habits

🍽️ Worth tasting

• Shawarma: grilled meat shaved from a spit and rolled in flatbread, the street food of every neighbourhood.
• Machboos: spiced rice cooked with meat or fish, often called the national dish.
• Hummus and mezze: the small dishes of the Levant, on every table.
• Luqaimat: small fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup.
• Dates and Arabic coffee (gahwa): a light coffee with cardamom, poured as a sign of welcome.

⚠️ Best avoided

• Dress modestly away from the beach, and cover arms, legs and hair to enter a mosque.
• Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly hotels: never drink in the street.
• During Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public in daylight.
• Ask before photographing anyone, and never photograph women without their consent.
• Friday midday prayers still change opening hours, even though the weekend is now Saturday and Sunday.

Words that help

English ↔ Arabic

✈️ Flight delayed by 3 hours or more, or cancelled? You may be owed up to €600. Check your flight on AirHelp.

The practical page

Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/dubai-abu-dhabi

Packing checklist

Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.