When people ask me how long to spend in Dubai, I typically advise them to book between five and seven days to see all of Dubai's most impressive attractions, bars and restaurants. With that in mind, this guide covers all the top tourist attractions and things to see in Dubai in five days or more.
If you want to “see it all” and explore more of the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, no, it's not enough; we'd recommend two weeks to thoroughly cover the United Arab Emirates. 7 days will be a good sample though of everything the country has to offer but with plenty left to enjoy on future trips to Dubai.
While you surely could see the main tourist attractions in only two days, 3 days in Dubai is a good amount of time to see a bit more of the city. And four days in Dubai is actually even better.
If interested in planning a Dubai itinerary, then a stay of about 5 days is the best amount of time to squeeze all of the tourism juices out of this illustrious middle eastern gem. From luxury to style to architecture—it boasts of the tallest building in the whole world: the Burj Khalifa.
During your 4-day stay in Dubai, you will have time enough to spend a day in the surroundings of the city. In my opinion, the best option is to go on a trip to the desert. This can only be done with a guided excursion. The great thing is that everything is included!
When people ask me how long to spend in Dubai, I typically advise them to book between five and seven days to see all of Dubai's most impressive attractions, bars and restaurants. With that in mind, this guide covers all the top tourist attractions and things to see in Dubai in five days or more.
Dubai is much bigger and has more entertainment options, nightlife, family activities, luxury hotels, and plenty of budget options. In contrast, Abu Dhabi is slightly more expensive. Despite being more expensive, Abu Dhabi is a more peaceful location. And Abu Dhabi has better beaches than Dubai.
So, is Dubai really that expensive? Dubai isn't actually much more expensive than London, New York, and other big cities. However, Dubai's not a very walkable city. Jaywalking is illegal, and crossings are few and far between.
I'd say that the average cost of a trip to Dubai, for a week, per person, in 2023, ranges between £650 – 970 (US$795 – 1,186) for budget travellers. For a mid-range budget, expect to spend around £1,300 – 1,950 (US$1,590 – 2,385), and for a luxury holiday anything from £3,800 (US$4,650) upwards.
Single: For a 3-day solo trip to Dubai, a single traveler can expect to spend between $800 to $1,500 USD, depending on accommodation, transportation, food, and activities.
The UAE had last year cut its workweek to four and a half days, with Sharjah going for a full three-day weekend. This makes the Emirates the first country to have a four-day workweek by law.
No problem to fill 10 days. Beach day, Waterpark, Desert, Shopping, Burj Khalifa Area, Marina, the creek, Fesitvial City with Laser Show and Hardrock Cafe...
In addition to the poor travel times, keep in mind the big time difference (about 10 hours), therefore, the first two days you will be jet lagged and wont be utilizing your day to the max. As mentioned, 10 days is not too much. you can split it between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and/or Oman.
Generally, the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 in Abu Dhabi, but a Ministry of Tourism by-law prevents hotels from serving alcohol to those under the age of 21. In Dubai and all other emirates besides Sharjah, the drinking age is 21. Drinking alcohol in Sharjah is illegal.
November to February is considered to be the best time to visit this emirate, as temperatures are pleasant and there's a buzz in the air with a range of events and activities from the Dubai Shopping and Food Festivals to the Dubai World Cup.
The cost of visiting Dubai on a mid-range budget
You can expect to pay anything between $70 and $200 per day (or $490 and $1400 per week) to visit Dubai on a mid-range budget. This only includes accommodation, food and transportation, though, and the price of activities is not included.
Australia vs United Arab Emirates - Cost of Living Comparison. The average cost of living in Australia ($2104) is 40% more expensive than in the United Arab Emirates ($1498). Australia ranked 11th vs 28th for the United Arab Emirates in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.
If you plan on visiting either, remember to wear loose-fitting and conservative clothing, so avoid shorts and keep ankles covered. Women should also cover their head and arms before entering. You can bring a shawl of your own, but some mosques also let visitors borrow abayas.
Last June, Etihad Rail announced that its first passenger train station will be located in Fujairah and will connect 11 regions across the United Arab Emirates once completed. It will allow passengers to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.
As it is flanked by the Persian Gulf on its west and the enormous deserts and Hajar mountains in the east, Dubai has a more dramatic natural landscape than a typical desert city. Moreover, Dubai is the most popular emirates with visitors due to its futuristic vision and innovative modernization.
Bangkok is rich in culture, Dubai is for the rich. You need to go to Bangkok with an open mind and no preconceptions and certainly no expectations of it being in any way similar to Dubai. I think it would be better if you said what makes Dubai your favourite destination as everyone else has their own.