Itineraries for Your Trip to Dubai
2 Days in Dubai for First Timers
Since my family was based in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring Oman, I spent much of my twenties living and working in Dubai. While I visit less regularly now, each trip rekindles my affinity with the city, despite it having changed unrecognizably since I first landed here, blinking and bowled over by the blazing light and heat.
On each visit I scope out the new sights—there are always architectural showstoppers to see—before getting a hit of old Dubai by exploring the souks, restaurants, and creeksides of Deira and Bur Dubai. Even then, I always find something new that captures my interest. Here are my itinerary tips for first timers wanting to get the best from two days in Dubai.
f you only have time for one thing, get a flavor of old Dubai in Deira’s souks and along Dubai Creek.
Even during the “winter” months, Dubai is baking, so plan your outdoor activities for the cooler temps of morning and evening.
Dive into sightseeing on a guided tour that corrals old and new Dubai highlights into a time-efficient morning. View must-see Dubai attractions, such as the soaring Burj Khalifa and surreal Palm Jumeirah, at your own pace on a hop-on hop-off bus. Or, check out showpieces like the Burj Al-Arab with the extra insight of a guide’s commentary on an organized private or group tour. Finish by sipping authentic Emirati coffee in the charming Al Fahidi Historical District.
Your first time in Dubai isn’t complete without a desert expedition: Its monumental dunes feel like a parallel universe to the city skyscrapers. Board a chauffeured 4WD and throw yourself into an all-action Dubai safari. Go dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel riding before settling at a desert camp for a dose of Bedouin culture. Alternatively, stay urban and absorb Dubai’s cityscape from the At The Top Burj Khalifa observatories—the sunset views are incredible.
If you’re on an afternoon desert safari, your trip will end at dusk with a buffet-barbecue, belly dance show, and perhaps a spell of stargazing. If you’re in the city, however, catch a laser-colored Dubai Fountain show or tasting tour of Dubai’s multicultural cuisine. Alternatively, soak up some glitz with dinner and bird’s-eye views aboard the aerial Dinner in the Sky or take a luxury yacht cruise on the Persian Gulf complete with a starlit barbecue on deck.
Day two is ideal for your own personal steer on the best things to do in Dubai for first timers. For outdoor adventure in the early-hours cool, float above the desert on a sunrise hot air balloon or crush the dunes by all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Otherwise, roam Deira’s Gold Souk and Spice Souk on a shopping tour, or discover what late-21st-century Dubai might look like at the stunning Museum of the Future.
Now’s the time to enjoy Dubai’s blockbuster leisure attractions. Tackle the slides at Aquaventure Waterpark, brave the coasters at Dubai Parks and Resorts, or join the comic-inspired capers of IMG Worlds of Adventure—prebooking online and adding return transfers makes visiting simple. Alternatively, race off on a high-speed RIB tour or meet marine life at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
End your 2-day Dubai itinerary in relaxed style with dinner on the water. Choose from a sightseeing cruise on glittering Dubai Marina and the open Gulf seas, or strike a traditional note on a wooden dhow trip along vibrant Dubai Creek. Watch the floodlit sights slip by over a generous dinner buffet and live entertainments—it’s the perfect finale to your stay.
