Dubai is not only towers and malls. On our trip we also went out into the desert, out onto the water, and back into the older part of the city.
Here are those days, in pictures, with what you need to know to do the same.
Into the desert
For the desert safari, you head out of the city in a 4x4 and then the driver takes it straight over the dunes, up and down the sand. That is dune bashing.
Most evening safaris time it so you reach the open desert as the sun goes down.
Most safaris also add sandboarding, a short camel ride and an evening at a desert camp, with a barbecue dinner and shows. What is included changes from one operator to the next, so check before you book.
How an evening safari runs
The popular evening safaris run from about 3 pm to 9 pm. A driver picks you up from your hotel or a meeting point. From there it is roughly 45 minutes to the desert.
After the dunes, you stop to watch the sunset if time allows. The evening ends at the camp.
Morning safaris also exist, for those who would rather be back in the city by lunch.
The cooler months, from about November to March, are the best time for the desert. The days are mild and the evenings are cool.
Who should skip dune bashing
Dune bashing is a rough, bumpy ride. It is not recommended for pregnant women, babies, or anyone with back or heart problems.
That does not mean missing the desert. Most operators can take you straight to the camp instead.
Tell the operator about any health problem when you book, not on the day.
What to wear and bring
Wear comfortable, modest clothes. The desert gets cool after dark, so carry a shawl or a light jacket.
Sandals or open shoes are better than trainers. Sand gets into everything.
Take sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a camera, and some cash or a card for the camp.
Eat a light lunch, and eat it early. The dunes are no place for a full stomach.
The protected desert
Part of Dubai's desert is protected. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve covers about 225 square kilometres, some 5% of Dubai's land.
It is home to Arabian oryx, a white desert antelope, and to gazelles. The UAE's largest free-roaming herd of oryx lives here.
If wildlife matters to you, ask the operator where its safari goes.
Out on the water
Another day we went out by boat. Behind us was Ain Dubai, the giant observation wheel on Bluewaters Island. At 250 metres, it opened in 2021 as the tallest observation wheel in the world.
If you want to ride the wheel itself, check that it is open first. It was closed for more than two years before it reopened in December 2024.
Old Dubai
And then there is old Dubai, the city before the skyscrapers. Its sand-coloured walls, narrow lanes and shaded courtyards are very different from Downtown.
We stopped at a courtyard café, and walked the lanes in the sun.
Al Fahidi and the wind towers
The best-known part of old Dubai is the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also called Al Bastakiya. It sits on the Bur Dubai side of Dubai Creek.
Look up and you will see the wind towers. Before air conditioning, these tall towers caught the breeze and sent it down to cool the rooms below. Even today, they are seen as a symbol of the city.
The old houses have been restored. Today the area has a museum, a cultural centre, an art gallery and places to eat.
Across the Creek by abra
From the Bur Dubai side you can cross the Creek to Deira by abra. These small wooden boats are the oldest form of public transport in Dubai.
On the Bur Dubai side they leave from the Al Ghubaiba and Shindagha area, and land at Al Sabkha in Deira. Boats go every few minutes, and the ride is short. You pay the boatman on board.
Near the abra station on the Bur Dubai side is the Textile Souq, if you want to shop before you cross.
Deira is where most of the well-known souqs are. It is the easy way to add a market visit to a morning in old Dubai.
Putting it together
A good Dubai trip mixes all three: the towers, the desert and the old city. For the towers, see Visiting the Burj Khalifa. For the festive season, see Dubai in December.
One simple plan works well: a day for the Burj Khalifa and the mall, an afternoon and evening in the desert, and a morning in old Dubai with an abra ride across the Creek. Add the water if you have a spare day.
To plan your own, tell us your dates on Plan My Trip.
About the writer
Shrawani
Shrawani is an avid traveller. She writes about the trips she takes, in India and abroad.
