International · Dubai
Dubai (UAE)
Dubai · UAE · sea level
From a gold souk on a creek to the world's tallest tower and a Bedouin camp under desert stars — Dubai delivers a decade of "firsts" inside four days.
Dubai is the ultimate first-international-trip destination for Indian travellers — walkable visa process, Hindi widely understood, and a skyline that fuses Blade Runner with Arabian Nights. It layers serious luxury alongside surprisingly affordable street food and free beaches, meaning it works for both budget-extenders and big spenders on the same tour.
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Go in
In season, days sit around 26° and nights near 16°.
What you'll see & do
The sights worth the trip, and how to spend the days around them.
To see
- Burj Khalifa (At the Top SKY, 148F)
- Dubai Frame — framed views of old and new city
- Al Fahidi Historic District + Dubai Museum
- Gold Souk and Spice Souk, Deira
To do
- Desert safari — dune bashing, sandboarding, camel ride, falconry, Bedouin camp dinner
- Dhow dinner cruise on Dubai Creek or Marina
- Burj Khalifa observation deck at sunset or sunrise
- Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark (Palm Jumeirah)
Before you go
- June–September temperatures reach 42°C+ with 90%+ humidity, pushing nearly all activity indoors to air-conditioned malls — warn leisure clients explicitly before booking summer fares.
- Ramadan (dates shift each year): eating or drinking in public during daylight hours is a fineable offence, restaurants are closed until sunset, and entertainment is significantly muted — not suited to leisure-first itineraries.
- Covered shoulders and knees are mandatory in malls, souks, museums, and on public transport; beachwear is confined to beaches and pools — a common stumbling point for Indian tourists at mall entrances.
Days, already shaped
3-day plan
- Day 1: Dubai Mall on arrival, Burj Khalifa At the Top at sunset (book online 48 hr ahead), Dubai Fountain show dinner at Souk Al Bahar
- Day 2: Al Fahidi Historic District, Dubai Museum, abra to Gold Souk and Spice Souk, evening dhow dinner cruise on Creek
- Day 3: Morning desert safari (departs 14:00) — dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding, Bedouin camp BBQ dinner under stars
5-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive, Dubai Marina walk, JBR beachfront dinner
- Day 2: Burj Khalifa At the Top SKY (148F), Dubai Mall, Fountain show
- Day 3: Al Fahidi, Dubai Museum, Creek abra, Gold + Spice Souks, evening dhow cruise
- Day 4: Palm Jumeirah monorail, The View at The Palm, Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark
- Day 5: Evening desert safari with dune bashing and Bedouin camp; late-night depart or next-day flight
7-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive; JBR beach sunset walk, Dubai Marina dinner cruise
- Day 2: Burj Khalifa At the Top SKY, Dubai Mall, Aquarium, Dubai Fountain
- Day 3: Al Fahidi Historic District, Dubai Museum, Creek abra, Gold + Spice Souks, Deira street food
- Day 4: Palm Jumeirah — The View at The Palm, Atlantis Aquaventure, beachfront sundowner
- Day 5: Desert safari — dune bashing, quad biking, falconry, Bedouin camp with live music
- Day 6: Day trip Abu Dhabi — Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi or Ferrari World (140 km, 1.5 hr drive)
- Day 7: Dubai Frame, Miracle Garden (seasonal Oct–Apr), Global Village if running; depart
Getting there, permits & day trips
By air — Direct daily flights from Mumbai (3 hr), Delhi (3.5 hr), Bengaluru/Chennai/Hyderabad/Kochi (~3–3.5 hr), Ahmedabad (3 hr) on Emirates, IndiGo, Air Arabia, SpiceJet, Air India; return fares ₹12,000–30,000 depending on season and airline; Nov–Jan fares peak, May–Sep cheapest
By rail — No rail link — not applicable for international travel
By road — No direct overland route from India; not applicable
On a Driftibo trip we handle the transfers.
Permits & entry — Indian passport holders require a UAE Tourist Visa; apply online via the UAE ICP portal (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or through Emirates, Air Arabia, or a licensed travel agent. The 30-day single-entry visa costs AED 350–550 (~₹7,700–12,100) — the government fee is AED 200 + 5% VAT, but service, insurance, and typing-centre charges push the real total higher; applying directly through ICP is the cheapest route. The 60-day visa costs AED 580–900 (~₹12,700–19,800). Standard processing is 3–4 working days; 48-hour express processing is available. Indians holding a valid visa or residence permit from any of nine qualifying countries — US, UK, any EU/Schengen state, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, or South Korea — may instead obtain a Visa on Arrival at UAE airports (AED 100; expanded 13 February 2025); this grants 14 days, extendable once for a further 14 days at AED 250. For the VOA, both the Indian passport and the qualifying third-country document must each be valid for at least 6 months from the UAE entry date, and a physical copy of the third-country document is mandatory at immigration — digital or app-based versions are not accepted at e-gates.
Day trips nearby
- Abu Dhabi (140 km, 1.5 hr): Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque + Louvre Abu Dhabi — easy full-day add-on
- Sharjah (25 km, 30 min): Blue Souk, Heritage Area, Sharjah Art Museum — strict dry emirate, dress conservatively
- Hatta (100 km, 1 hr): Hatta Dam kayaking, mountain bike trails, Hatta Heritage Village — cooler in winters
- Fujairah/Khor Fakkan (150 km, 1.5 hr): East coast snorkelling, Al Hajar mountains, Snoopy Island diving
Seasons and access shift — we reconfirm every detail before we quote.