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What to book before you travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length
WeekendOne weekTwo weeks

6 activities to book · about €409 per person

Dubai

Days 1-3
Days 1-3Burj Khalifa, levels 124 and 1251hThe observation decks of the tallest building in the world, some 450 metres above the city.€45Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 1-3Aquaventure at AtlantisFull dayA huge waterpark on the Palm Jumeirah, with slides that drop almost vertically and a private beach.€85Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

All activities in Dubai on GetYourGuide

Abu Dhabi

Days 5-6
Days 5-6Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, guided1h30White marble, 82 domes and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world, explained by a guide.€12Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 5-6Louvre Abu Dhabi2hJean Nouvel's museum, opened in 2017, where sunlight falls through a vast latticed dome like light through palm leaves.€17Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Corniche and its beach · Qasr Al Watan (from outside) · Yas Island

All activities in Abu Dhabi on GetYourGuide

Dubai

Day 7 · return

This stop's activities are already listed above: nothing new to book.

No booking needed: The gold and spice souks of Deira · Al Fahidi historic district · The Dubai Fountain show · Dubai Marina beach

All activities in Dubai on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Dubai and Abu Dhabi cost?

€409 per person if you do them all, across 6 bookings. The most expensive is "A night in a desert camp" at €190, the cheapest "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, guided" at €12. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi without booking anything?

14 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with The gold and spice souks of Deira, Al Fahidi historic district, The Dubai Fountain show, Dubai Marina beach. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Dubai, with 2 activities to book, against 0 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 1h for the shortest to Full day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→