Excursions & Activities in Dubai

Dubai is the most famous resort in the UAE. It strikingly combines unshakable oriental traditions and modern infrastructure, ancient historical monuments and futuristic high-rise buildings.

«Arabian wonder in the sands» annually attracts millions of travelers from all over the world. They all want to enjoy a first-class holiday and spend time with benefit. The best way to do this is to book a tour using our website.

The best tours and activities in Dubai

There are plenty of activities to suit all tastes and budgets in this city. Of course, you can walk the streets of Dubai on your own and explore the local attractions from articles on the internet. But if you want your holiday to be full of unforgettable experiences, we recommend going on one of the excursions. We'll tell you about the best of them in a moment.

Desert safari

A desert safari is the perfect choice for those who love extreme sports. This tour takes you to the Rub Al-Khali Desert, the largest desert in the Arabian Peninsula, where you can ride camels, jeeps or quad bikes and take beautiful pictures against a sunset backdrop.

In the evening, the tour group will stay in a real Bedouin village. Shisha, Arabic and European food, alcoholic drinks, and a fascinating insight into local culture and traditions will await you there. All this is accompanied by a colourful show programme with songs, belly dancing and other colourful entertainment.

Rides are driven by experienced drivers. You can choose a difficult or easy route. Children are welcome to take along.

Climbing up to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the best place for a bird's eye view of the city. A separate high-speed lift takes you up to the top floor 148. This is where the famous observation deck and panoramic windows are located.

You can enjoy half an hour on this level for an incredible view. On a clear day the visibility reaches several kilometres. Then you can go back down to the 124th and 125th floor and walk around without any time limit.

It is worth visiting the Burj Khalifa observation deck at least twice. The first time is during the day when the streets and the main attractions of Dubai are clearly visible. The second time is at sunset, when the Singing Fountains show begins at the foot of the building and the entire city glistens with billions of coloured lights.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque Tour

After a tour around Dubai and seeing all the sites, head to Abu Dhabi. This is where one of the 6 largest mosques in the world is located in the UAE capital.

The construction of this shrine lasted almost 10 years and ended only in 2007. The mosque takes its name from Sheikh Zayd ibn Sultan Al Nahyan, the local emir and the first president of the country. Today his body is buried near the mosque.

A guided tour will take you to just a few rooms accessible to tourists, but the experience will last you a long time. The interior of the mosque is stunning in its luxury and beauty. The main prayer hall has the world's largest hand-woven (5,627 square metres) carpet. More than a thousand weavers from Iran Carpets Company worked on it. Seven chandeliers, each weighing from 2 to 12 tons, are no less delightful. They are distinguished by their beautiful design and abundance of gold leaf and Swarovski crystals.

Sheikh Zayd Mosque has a lot of other luxurious objects with an interesting history. Your guide will tell you about them. While you're at the Shrine, make sure you're properly dressed. Dress should be as loose and close-fitting as possible. Women need to cover their heads with a headscarf.

Dubai Marina Cruise

The boat cruise around the bay is a great way to see the major sights of the city from a totally different perspective. This tour operates from comfortable boats complete with swimming pool, open kitchen on deck, live music and all the trappings of luxury living. There is also a buffet dinner and entertainment with tanoora dancing.

Beautiful panoramic views of the bay, the coastline, the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residences, the Singing Fountains, the Ferris Wheel and the Palm Islands can all be seen from the boat. The tour itinerary is designed to take the tour group to all the main sites. The tour lasts about 2 hours. Children are welcome to take along.

Historic Dubai Sightseeing Tour

History buffs will likely be tempted by the individually guided car and walking tour of the ancient part of Dubai. The professional guide will show you the Old City and take you on a guided walk through the land where the very first settlement began.

There are many fascinating sites along the way. One of them is the palace of Sheikh Mohammed. You'll find a picturesque palace square, a huge garden and a triumphal arch. Further stops are planned in Al Sif district that has an authentic oriental atmosphere. You can also stroll through the narrow streets of Al Bastakia and take pictures in front of the old Al Fahidi Fort, stop by the National Museum and stroll along the Al Seef promenade.

The promenade ends in the heart of Dubai Creek, a navigable canal with boat docks and traditional oriental markets. You can buy everything from clothes, coffee, spices, sweets, textiles, household goods and even gold jewellery.

Must-see sights in Dubai

Tours of one of the most famous cities in the UAE take a variety of itineraries, but most include visits to the 6 most famous sites.

Burj Khalifa

The famous 828m tall skyscraper can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. In its short history it has managed to break two dozen world records and become the tallest building in the world.

To appreciate the grandeur of the building you need to go inside. Its 163 floors contain numerous offices, residential flats, hotels, and other institutions. The Burj Khalifa boasts a panoramic restaurant, Atmosphere, and an observation deck.

The building is served by 57 high-speed lifts, and the area around it has been decorated in keeping with the tower, with a singing fountain next to it, and illuminated at night.

Jumeirah Palm

This is a huge rocky island and also a symbol of Dubai. It is shaped like a palm tree and is considered one of the best places to hike. It also has a scenic view of the city, the Arabian Gulf and the iconic "Sail". The island is also home to the Atlantis Hotel and Waterpark.

The Palm Jumeirah can only be accessed via the bridge. Communication between the branches and the crescent is provided by an underwater tunnel.

Dubai Museum

Dubai National Museum is located in the ancient fortress of Al Fahidi. Despite its small size, it is a very accurate representation of life in Dubai from ancient times to when oil was discovered here. The museum collection includes local antiques, jewellery, crockery and luxury fabrics.

There are some larger items too, such as shasha and dhow boats, merchant ships and the tools used by pearl fishermen in ancient times. The tour around Dubai's oldest functioning building lasts less than an hour and children can even be taken on the tour.

Burj Al Arab Hotel

The Burj Al Arab Hotel is located on an island in Dubai. Due to its unusual shape it is referred to as the 'Sail'. As one of the most significant landmarks of the city it is world famous for its luxurious rooms and the highest level of service. It is also the only 7-star hotel in the world.

You can reach the Sail by a pedestrian bridge that is only 200 metres long. The place itself is designed for the more affluent. It has a huge beach, chic restaurants, helicopter flights and Rolls-Royce rides.

Jumeirah Mosque

The snow-white mosque looks more like a fairy-tale castle. This resemblance is especially evident in the late evening when its facade is beautifully illuminated by numerous lights.

Tourists are normally not allowed in such places, but Jumeirah is an exception. An hour and a half tour is offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and everyone can join in.

Dubai Aquarium

The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is a long tunnel of glass that gives you the sensation of walking through an enormous living organism. The aquarium itself is home to over 30 thousand fish and other sea creatures.

On the first floor there is a zoo and a small "Discovery Centre". There you can see penguins, parrots, crocodiles, bats and listen to interesting stories about their lives.

Tips for travellers

There are many things to consider when visiting a foreign country. Here are some of the key ones.

When is the best time to visit Dubai?

The UAE's swimming season is almost year-round, but the best times to visit are October, December and April. During this time the air temperature drops below +30°C and the water in the Persian Gulf stays at +26-28°C.

January and February are the coldest months - not everyone can safely swim.

With the onset of summer, the country gets a real scorcher: it's +43 outside, the temperature of sea water is about +35, the air is dusty and sandy after frequent storms in the desert and the humidity is high.

Of course, the cost of tours drops several times, but it's not worth it. Anyway, if you want warm sea and adequate prices, come in the off-season.

What's the best way to get around Dubai?

Dubai is divided into 7 zones connected by a well-developed transport network. There are several comfortable and totally safe ways to get around the city.

Taxi

Pros: cheap, fast, convenient. There are private taxi drivers and well-known companies. Most taxi drivers can speak at least a little English.

Cons: during rush hour (15:30 to 17:30), you'll have to wait a long time for a taxi. Some drivers cheat tourists by not resetting the meter or driving in circles.

Underground

Pros: cheap, runs from 05:50 to midnight. The underground itself is very beautiful, and the futuristic view from the window and the driverless ride will not leave you indifferent.

Cons: the platforms are not centrally located, but sideways. If you miss the right station, you will have to cross the platform through the crossings and pay the fare all over again. It can be very cold in the carriages, and some of them are for women only. It is also forbidden to eat, drink, smoke, carry bicycles, pets or alcohol in the stations and on the trains themselves.

Trams and buses

Pros: get you to places that aren't on the underground. The cabins are air-conditioned, have comfortable seats and interactive maps. Wi-Fi is also available.

Cons: buses have the same prohibitions as the underground. If you break the rules, you get a hefty fine. You may even go to jail.

Tourist buses (double-decker buses)

Pros: go past major city attractions. They operate on a hop on/hop off system - meaning you can get off at any stop and then take another bus on the same route. All double-decker coaches are air-conditioned and have audio-guides in 12 languages.

Cons: they are suitable for guided tours only.

Car hire

Pros: you don't depend on transport timetables and you can go wherever you want. There's plenty of parking, good roads and unbelievably cheap fuel.

Cons: there is an age limit of 21 years old. An international driving licence is required. High fines for traffic violations. A $2 toll is charged at the crossing gate.

Walking

Pros: no need to buy a card to pay the fare. There is a well-developed network of footpaths with handy signposts. Different parts of the town are connected by bridges.

Cons: you can hardly do without a map of the city. In the hot months, long walks can cause discomfort. There are few pedestrian crossings on the roads.

How to be safe in Dubai?

The United Arab Emirates is the quietest and safest Arab country, so it is safe to walk around at night even in dark alleys.

The reason for that is strict mores and strict laws. They apply not only to locals, but also to tourists. You may be fined or sent to prison in the Emirates, even for seemingly harmless things.

To get out of trouble, here's a list of Dubai's major taboos:

• Smoking and drinking alcohol on the street, as well as showing up drunk in public places;
• Putting a girl on your lap on public transport;
• Hugging and kissing in public places;
• Wearing swimming costumes outside beaches;
• Sunbathing topless;
• Wearing revealing swimming costumes on public beaches;
• Showing you are a member of a sexual minority;
• Showing disrespect to local residents;
• Driving without a transport card is strictly enforced by ticket inspectors;
• Showing attention to people praying;
• Taking pictures of mosques and people;
• Talking loudly on the phone;
• Fighting, swearing, using obscene gestures;
• Eating and drinking outdoors during Ramadan;
• Use and distribute drugs.

If you get into trouble, don't be afraid to ask for help. The police perform their duties well and emergency operators speak different languages.

If you are in trouble, remember to call the emergency numbers:

• 998 - ambulance;
• 996 - Coast Guard;
• 999 - police;
• 997 - fire station.

How many days is it worth going to Dubai?

One week is enough for a good holiday and to explore the city's main attractions.