In December 2022, my girlfriend and I decided to embark on a grand trip spanning 5 countries and 1 city-state. In a series of posts, I’ll take you through our 28-days trip across Jordan, Egypt, The Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai.
Dubai is a modern, cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates known for its luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, vibrant nightlife, and best-in-class eats & drinks. It’s a destination where travelers can indulge in luxury and adventure, making it the perfect destination for a memorable vacation experience. With so many things to do, see, and eat, a fixed itinerary is an injustice to you, the traveler.
There are plenty of excellent itineraries out there for Dubai, you can find it all: Dubai for foodies, off the beaten path, and just the highlights, to name a few. Even ChatGPT can provide you an itinerary of Dubai (I read it but would not go on it). Of course, I’ll provide my exact itinerary. However, the bulk of this post will have you in mind – let me save you hours of research and arm you with the steps and information to craft your perfect itinerary.
Three-Steps
Three steps to curate your itinerary:
- Read through the list of activities and their details. In the table for each activity, I’ve included the time of day to do the activity, the relative location of the activity, and whether pre-booking or reservations are required. The activity cost, hours of operation, and supplemental notes are also listed.
- Copy the table into your own spreadsheet and fill out the “Interest Level” column from low (1) to medium (2) to high (3).
- Sort the table in your spreadsheet. Order by the “Time of Day”, “Interest Level”, then “Area” columns. Grouping these items by area will help cut down on travel time, and ordering by level of interest will make sure you get the most interesting items done first, rather than rushing through at the end of the day.
Voila! You have your itinerary. Re-order the areas if you desire, meaning if you wanted to explore downtown Dubai before North Dubai activities, you can. You can also combine multiple areas if the total durations for each area doesn’t fill up your whole day.
Pre-Book or Buy On-Site?
For many of the activities below, I recommend pre-booking at least 72 hours in advance. Many places, like the Burj Khalifa observation deck and the Museum of the Future will sell out of tickets the day of. To travel so far only to be rejected at the door seems like a bad way to travel. For our travels, I booked all my Dubai activities a month in advance; even that far out certain activities had no availability.
Table of Activities
Below is the table of activities I’ve collected during my research. In the sections following, I introduce each activity.
| Interest Level | Activity | Time. ofDay | Area | Cost AED | Cost USD | Duration | Hours of Operation | Pre-Book? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Day Tour | 2. Daytime | 7. Abu Dhabi | – | $142 | 8-9 hours | 8am – 5pm | Yes | |
| Burj Khalifa | 3. Both | 3. Downtown Dubai | 169 AED | $46 | 2-3 hours | 8am – midnight (last entry 11:15pm) | Yes | |
| Burj Khalifa: sunrise special | 1. Morning | 3. Downtown Dubai | 149 AED | $41 | 2 hours | 5am -7:30am entries Saturdays and Sundays | Yes | |
| Dubai Fountain Show | 4. Evening | 3. Downtown Dubai | Free | Free | 1 hour | 6pm-11pm Fountain Show 30 min intervals 7:45-10:45pm Light Show 30 min intervals | No | |
| Dubai Mall | 3. Both | 3. Downtown Dubai | Free | Free | 1+ hour | M-Th 10am-12am F-Su 10am-1am | No | |
| Dubai Mall Aquarium and Underwater Zoo | 3. Both | 3. Downtown Dubai | M-Th 199 AED F-Su 209 AED | M-Th $54 F-Sun $57 | 2 hours | Weekdays 10am – 11pm Weekends 10am – 12am | Recommended | |
| Diving with the Sharks at the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo | 2. Daytime | 3. Downtown Dubai | 632 AED | $172 | 2 hour | 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm dive times, daily | Yes | |
| Dubai Mall Ski Dubai | 3. Both | 3. Downtown Dubai | Ski from 220 AED | $60 | 2+ hours | M-Th 10am-11pm F 10am-12am Sa-Su 9am-12am | Available but not necessary | |
| Museum of the Future | 3. Both | 3. Downtown Dubai | 149 AED | $41 | 2.5 hours | 10am – 9:30pm | Yes | |
| Burj Al Arab Hotel Tour | 2. Daytime | 4. Jumeirah Area | Starting at 249 AED | $68 | 2 hours | 10:30am – 7:30pm | Yes | |
| Dubai Frame | 3. Both | 2. North Dubai | 53 AED | $14 | 1.5 hours | 9am-9pm | Recommended | |
| Dubai Garden Glow | 4. Evening | 2. North Dubai | 70 AED | $19 | 1-2 hours | 5pm-12am | No | |
| QE2 Heritage Tour | 2. Daytime | 2. North Dubai | From 85 AED | $23 | 1.5+ hours | Tues-Sun 11am and 5pm | Yes | |
| QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea | 4. Evening | 2. North Dubai | From 175 AED | $48 | 1.5 hours | Friday and Sat 3pm-6:30pm | Yes | |
| Dubai Old Town Tour | 2. Daytime | 1. Old Dubai | – | $42 | 3 hours | 9:30am to 6pm | Yes | |
| Desert Safari | 2. Daytime | 6. Outside Dubai | From 120 AED | $33+ | 4+ hours depending on activity | 4am to 7pm | Yes | |
| Deep Dive Dubai | 2. Daytime | 6. Outside Dubai in the South | From 1200 AED | $327 | 2 hours | 9am-6pm | Yes | |
| Dubai Miracle Garden | 3. Both | 6. Outside Dubai in the South | 75 AED | $21 | 2 hours | 9am to 9pm | Recommended | |
| Global Village | 4. Evening | 6. Outside Dubai in the South | 23 AED | $6 | 4+ hours | Su-Wed 4pm-12am Th-Sat 4pm-1am | Recommended | |
| Atlantis Hotel | 3. Both | 5. Palm Jumeirah | Free | Free | 1 hour | No | ||
| Aura Skypool and Lounge | 3. Both | 5. Palm Jumeirah | From 250 AED | $68+ | 3+ hours | 10am – 7pm | Yes | |
| Dubai Marina | 3. Both | 5. Palm Jumeirah | Free | Free | 1-2 hours | Dubai Canyan Tower (twists 90) | No | |
| Lost Chambers Aquarium | 3. Both | 5. Palm Jumeirah | 135 AED | $37 | 2 hours | 10am-9pm | Recommended | |
| Riva Beach Club – SUP | 2. Daytime | 5. Palm Jumeirah | 75 AED | $20 | 1 hour | 6am-6pm | Recommended | |
| The Pointe | 3. Both | 5. Palm Jumeirah | Free | Free | 1-2 hours | 10am-12am | No |
Abu Dhabi Day Tour
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is a destination that offers a unique blend of modern luxury and traditional culture. OceanAir Travels organizes a fantastic full-day tour with pickup at many Dubai hotels. A small, air-conditioned bus showed up at our hotel at 8:15am and made two more stops before we had all the passengers – 11 guests in all. We visited three sights: the Etihad Towers Observation Deck, the Qasr Al Watan “Royal Palace”, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The Etihad Towers Observation Deck was a good stop to get a layout view of Abu Dhabi. Compared to the Burj Khalifa observation deck, there were much fewer skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi, which allowed uninterrupted views of the second Atlantis Hotel, the sprawling grounds and pearly white buildings of the Royal Palace, and the luxurious Emirates Palace Hotel with the shimmering blue backdrop of the Persian Gulf.
Oil is a major source of revenue for Abu Dhabi, depending less on than tourism than Dubai. This contrast played out at the next two stops, the Qasr Al Watan “Royal Palace” and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Both places are active sites, thus visitors are only allowed certain areas. In the Grand Mosque, there are paths for visitors and specific areas to take photos. Book this tour on TripAdvisor with OceanAir Travels.
If you are staying in Abu Dhabi or are visiting on your own, check out Ferrari World.
Burj Khalifa
As of Jan 2023, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. However, plans are in place to construct the future world’s tallest tower, also in Dubai, called the Dubai Creek Tower. Be awarded by panoramic views of Dubai – see all the way to the World Islands, the Dubai Frame, and the Palm Jumeirah.
There are 3 observation deck experiences at the Burj Khalifa:
- Sunrise at the Burj Khalifa – make your way up to the observatory before the rest of Dubai to witness a sunrise like no other. Available on Saturdays and Sundays only and tickets are cheaper tickets than standard entry. Comes with a morning treat.
- Floors 124 and 125 – lower observatory decks. These floors are crowded during the peak hours, so a lot of time is spent waiting on other visitors to finish taking photos so you can have your turn. Don’t miss the angel wings painted on the wall. There is a a cafe and gift store.
- Floors 148 and 149 – upper observatory decks. Spend more money to avoid the crowds on the upper observatory deck. The ticket policy states a 30 min time limit but sources indicate that there’s no enforcement of this rule. Afterward, visitors join the crowd on floors 124 and 125.
The Burj Khalifa is a must-do. I secured sunrise tickets but the management had other plans and refunded my tickets (such a disappointment). Regardless, pre-order tickets online. I passed by the entrance to the Burj Khalifa twice and saw signs indicating that same-day tickets were sold out. Plan for a longer queue at the entrance during the peak hours (afternoon and evening). The queue is much shorter in the mornings; we spent a little over two hours starting from getting to the mall and ending with coming down the elevator. Past the entrance, you’ll first walk through a museum showing the construction of the Burj Khalifa, then ascend the elevator.
Dubai Fountain Show
The fountains come alive every night from 6 to midnight, with shows every 15 minutes. An audio-visual mix of lights, music, lasers, and booming cannons spraying water 500 feet high or 36 stories. The Dubai Fountain blasted other water fountain shows out of the water. While the Dubai Fountain is free to all, we paid the extra 20AED (~$5.5) for the floating platform. I recommend skipping the floating platform and saving the money for ice cream. For the best (and free) view, mosey over to the Time Out Market’s second floor patio at the Souk Al Bahar – directly across the fountain from the Dubai Mall.
Dubai Mall
Shopaholics celebrate. Even if you’re not doing any shopping, a stop here is inevitable because you walk through it to get to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountains, and the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. For foodies, check out the several food courts and restaurants in the area. There’s also an indoor ski park where all gear is included in the price if you’re into that.
Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
Aquarium inside a mall…where else but in Dubai. Glimpse one of their shark tank from the mall. For the full experience, get tickets to see all the wildlife – including alligators and night creatures.
There are several unique add-on experiences: different wildlife encounters, caged snorkeling with sharks, and diving with the sharks. For $168 USD per person, we dove in the shark tank as children waved to us from the other side of the plexiglass. The biggest sharks I’ve seen…ever… just drifted right past us.
The experience was very safe and I would recommend it as a must-do. Avid divers may find the experience lacking because we followed a set route and could not explore. At the command of the dive master, we stopped on a rock or kneeled in the sandy bottom before moving onto the next spot. Our dive time was 30 minutes. Secondly, from the mall, we saw clearly what animals are in the tank. After the dive, we cleaned up in their locker-room style showers and the staff provided us towels, however there was no soap nor shampoo.
Museum of the Future
Probably the most beautiful building on this list, the Museum of the Future is a new attraction that explores the latest advancements in technology, science, and design. The museum’s exhibits focus on the themes of innovation, sustainability, and the future of cities, featuring a wide range of interactive displays, virtual reality experiences, and Instagrammable displays.
We started on the top floor in space and were led by an AI-guide through to the lower floors. While interactive, most exhibits didn’t hold attention for long. I put my face inside a space suit, hummed into a microphone and joined voices with other visitors, and interacted with projections that reacted to my movements. Make sure not to miss the outdoor patio that puts guests in the middle of the O-shaped building, offering spectacular views up Sheikh Zayed Road.
Burj Al Arab Tour
The sail-shaped and 7 star hotel Burj Al Arab is one of the most recognizable and iconic buildings in the world. Experience the opulence without breaking the bank with the Burj Al Arab tour. We went inside the Burj Al Arab, stretched our necks for the tallest lobby in the world, and entered the butler-guided Royal Suites. A two-level, multi-room suite, the walls and ceilings are adorned in gold, the rugs are hand-spun, and there’s opulence everywhere. Looking out the window, we were presented with stunning views of the city and the Arabian Gulf. The ticket lounge is near the Jumeirah Beach hotel and can be found using Google Maps by searching “Inside the Burj Al Arab”.
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is an architectural landmark resembling, you guessed it, a giant picture frame. The Dubai Frame is nestled in between Old and New Dubai, a Dubai came from to where it’s going. This is an attraction that can be skipped. The view of the frame is more impactful afar than it is up close. In addition, we waited an hour in line to spend 20 minutes at the top of the frame looking at the Dubai creek, the historic district, and the Dubai skyline. Advance bookings are not needed but recommended.
Dubai Garden Glow
The park is home to a variety of themed gardens that feature millions of colorful LED lights, creating a mesmerizing and enchanting atmosphere. The Dubai Garden Glow offers four different themed sections: the Dinosaur Park, the Glow Park, the Art Park, and the Magic Park. The Dinosaur Park is the most popular part of Dubai Garden Glow and features over 150 life-size models of different types of dinosaurs. We skipped this and opted for the Dubai Miracle Garden instead.
Queen Elizabeth II Ship
The QE2, or Queen Elizabeth 2, is a retired ocean liner now docked in Dubai as a floating hotel and tourist attraction. The ship was originally built for the Cunard Line and launched in 1969, and was in service for over 40 years before being retired in 2008. Queen Elizabeth II ended up naming the ship after herself; the original name was in the envelope she was holding and lost forever. The QE2 also offers a number of events and activities throughout the year, such as live music performances, comedy shows, and themed dinners. Onboard, there are two regular experiences:
- Heritage Tour – learn about the history of the ship and tour different parts of the ship. Our guide was both informative and entertaining.
- Royal Afternoon Tea – be delighted with afternoon tea in the Queen’s Grill every Saturday and Sunday. Pre-bookings are required.
Dubai Old Town
Discover the charm and history of Old Dubai on a journey through the winding streets and bustling souks of the city’s traditional neighborhoods. The 3-hour long day tour by Aladdin Tour is perfect for exploring this area. The tour took us through the textile ‘souk’, or market, the spice souk, and finally the not-to-be-missed gold souk. We rode on a traditional abra boat across the Dubai Creek and nibbled on several food items: samosas, vegetable fritters, and falafel shawarma washed down with sugarcane juice and mango juice.
It was such a pleasant tour! Highly informative – our guide entertained all sorts of questions. For example, we learned about UAE citizenship laws and being homeless is a crime. We learned that Dubai is always constructing so that visitors will always have something new to see or do. At each of the markets, we received prices of items so we had a target when haggling with vendors. I would definitely recommend doing Old Dubai with a tour – it’s a hectic place with so much to see and do – our tour guide kept us on track and pointed out the top things.
Desert Safari
Get your heart racing with a desert safari. Several tour companies provide these treks so make sure you shop around. These adventures include pick-up at most hotels in Dubai, sand bashing or off-roading on sand dunes, a falconry show, and optional items like a camel ride, ATV-ing, and sand boarding.
Deep Dive Dubai
Explore a sunken city in the world’s deepest pool at Deep Dive Dubai. At 60-meters deep, this pool offers free-diving, snorkeling, and scuba diving packages. They’ve been all over my Instagram. Classes are available but packages seem pricey.
Dubai Miracle Garden
Experience the beauty and wonder of the Dubai Miracle Garden, a floral paradise located 18 min from Dubai downtown. At 72,000 square meters, the garden boasts over 150 million flowers during full bloom, arranged into arches, ballerina statues, and a double-decker Emirates Airbus A380. While the garden is contained within a giant circle, we lost ourselves through the winding paths and found our way using the towering flower sculptures as markers. Food stalls and shopping stands line the outer ring of the garden. Note that the garden opens in the winter and closes in the summer, from October or November to April.
Global Village
A premier cultural and entertainment destination, and a foodie heaven, Dubai Global Village brings together 93 cultures from around the world in one destination. In this unique outdoor attraction, visitors have a chance to explore pavilions built to resemble each country’s architecture, purchase crafts, taste cuisines, and watch cultural performances. The Global village is open from November to April.
We strolled through the shopping avenues and browsed traditional souvenirs to high-end fashion. The Global Village also features rides and games that we skipped, because 4 hours wasn’t enough to go through the pavilions and eat at the top eateries. My favorite dish was the Bosnian kebabs and Grace preferred the Thai curry. Another memorable item was the baklava with ice cream. And, while popular, skip the overcooked grilled mussels from the Floating Market – opt for the grilled shrimp.
Atlantis Hotel
The Atlantis Hotel at the top of the Palm Jumeirah pays homage to the famous Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas, with distinct Arabian features. Visitors not staying at the hotel are limited to the main entrance, the Avenues shopping area, restaurants, the Lost Chambers Aquarium, and the Aquaventure Waterpark – be sure to have reservations or tickets pre-booked. Swim with bottlenose dolphins at the Aquaventure Waterpark and scuba dive at the Lost Chambers Aquarium. It’s more expensive to scuba dive at the Lost Chambers than at the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in the Dubai Mall. I’ve read that you’d see a larger variety of wildlife but fewer sharks. For those reasons we opted for the scuba diving at the Dubai Mall aquarium.
Aura Skypool and Lounge
Take a dip in yet another record holder, Aura Skypool and Lounge, the world’s highest infinity pool. Sip on craft beverages, nibble on international bites, and take a lap in the 360° pool overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, the Dubai Marina, and the Dubai city skyline. Book this months in advance.
Dubai Marina
Discover the vibrant and bustling Dubai Marina, a man-made waterfront development located one neighborhood over from the Palm Jumeirah. Stroll the along the promenade lined with restaurants and shops, admire the views of the marina, and stare longingly at the super yachts.
The Marina offers a wide variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options, including some of the city’s most popular restaurants, cafes and bars. Take a walk around the Marina Walk, which stretches over 7km and offers plenty of options for dining and shopping. The Dubai Canyan Tower is in the Dubai Marina, an architectural rarity that twists 90°.
Riva Beach Club
Kick your feet up and escape to a beach paradise at Riva Beach Club. Located on the Palm Jumeirah island, this luxurious beach club offers day passes, happy hour deals, ladies’ day discount, and other weekly deals. Rent a paddle board or jet ski and take to the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah
See the spectacular Atlantis Hotel from this relaxing hangout spot with full of dining, shopping, and entertainment. This new development is located at the tip of the iconic Palm Jumeirah island and offers visitors a chance to experience a vibrant and lively atmosphere, surrounded by stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. See the laser light and fountain show, rent a motor-powered water vehicle, and see live performances throughout the year.
Dubai Follow-Along Itinerary
Day 1:
- 10am-12:30pm: Museum of the Future
- 1:30pm-3:30pm: Burj Al Arab Tour
- 4pm-6pm: Dubai Miracle Garden
- 7pm-11pm: Global Village
Day 2:
- 9am-11am: Burj Khalifa At the Top
- 12pm-2pm: Dubai Aquarium Shark Diving
- 2-3pm: Quick lunch at Dubai Mall
- 3pm-5pm: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater zoo
- 7pm: Dubai Fountain Show
Day 3:
- 9am-4pm: Abu Dhabi full day tour
- 7pm: Dinner at Aamara Restaurant
- 10pm: Level 43 Skybar
Day 4:
- 10am: Palm Monorail to Atlantis
- 11am-3pm: Hangout at the Pointe
- 4pm-whenever: Dubai Marina
- Book the Aura Skypool and Lounge for this day if available instead of the Dubai Marina
Day 5:
- 11am-12pm: QE2 Heritage Tour
- 2:30pm-5:30pm: Old Dubai tour
- 6:30pm-8pm: Dubai Frame
- Midnight: Depart DXB
With so many things to do and see, a trip to Dubai is not to be missed. Stay tuned for a review of our accommodations and where we recommend you eat and drink!
Yummy Treks 