7 days in dubai trip
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Perfect 7 Days Dubai Itinerary for first-time visitors

If you are looking for 7 days Dubai itinerary, you are reading at the right place. Dubai is one of the few places that cater to every type of traveler and is considered the most beautiful city in the Middle East. Dubai is a melting point of culture, history, food, and modern structures. It is an amalgamation of old and new. If you have one week holiday in Dubai, you can do so many amazing things in Dubai. You can read all about Dubai one week itinerary, and the best places to visit including Dubai travel tips in this dedicated guide. 

Dubai is a land for everyone! Whether you’re traveling for the outdoorsy thrill, theme park fun, inspiring culture, or fantastic shopping or entertainment options, Dubai has it all and beyond.

So if you‘re planning to spend a whole week in Dubai, the best thing is that you’ll have a reasonable amount of time to make the most of what this wonderful Arabian city has to offer.

But if you don’t know what to include in your travel program, come take a cue from our suggested Dubai program which we’ve put together with the assumption that you’ve got full seven nights in Dubai.

Is 7 Days Enough in Dubai?

If you want to cover major attractions of Dubai like Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Abu Dhabi day trip, etc, yes 7 days are enough in Dubai.

But if you want to cover more of the UAE and other destinations, I recommend at least 12-15 days to spend in UAE.

Before we dig more into 7 days Dubai itinerary, let me share some amazing and interesting facts about Dubai.

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Interesting Facts about Dubai

  • 20 years ago it was a desert and now it is a Global Business hub and one of the prime luxury travel destinations.
  • The Official religion is Islam and showing public affection including kissing etc is illegal.
  • United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is the Official currency of Dubai.
  • Dubai’s population is made up of foreigners making it over 88% of the total Dubai population.
  • The biggest airport terminal in the world is Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.
  • The city of Dubai is the capital of the Emirate, but the emirate also includes smaller communities and less-developed areas. 
  • Dubai’s official language is Arabic But being a multicultural city, English is spoken everywhere.
  • Dubai has the world’s highest building: the Burj Khalifa
  • Dubai is a city with a crime rate of almost 0%.
  • One of the facts about Dubai is that water costs only somewhat more than fuel because its economic boom is due to Oil!
  • The weekends in Dubai are on Friday and Saturday being Muslim countries.
  • Being a Muslim Country only non-Muslims can drink alcohol in Dubai.
  • There are no income or personal taxes in Dubai, so people can save more money!
  • As 40% of physical gold trades through Dubai, you can find ATMs that disperse the GOLD!

7 Days Dubai Itinerary: How To Plan 7 Days Trip to Dubai

Day 1 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Get To Know This City Of Contrasts – Discover Old And New Dubai

Your One Week in Dubai starts with visiting Old Dubai and I recommend you take a guided city sightseeing tour. You can consider a hop-on, hop-off Big Bus tour or opt for a tour arranged by a reputable tours service provider which mostly comes with hotel transfers and access to an experienced guide.

This not only lets you admire the sights that give the city a super edgy, contemporary status but also covers areas that are historic and beautifully preserved to their original majesty and modesty.

In fact, you can expect to see everything from Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, and structures across Sheik Zayed Road / Dubai Marina to Jumeirah Mosque, Al Bastakiya Quarter, and souks across Bur Dubai / Deira areas in a few hours.

But if you wish to explore it on your own at a relaxed pace, you can start with a stroll across the quaint Al Bastakiya Quarter (Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood) and then continue to Deira’s souks on an abra ride (which costs just AED 1.)

You can Visit the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, and the Perfume Souk in the Deira area.

Bur Dubai is the second district you should visit in Old Dubai. If you’re a culture buff, it’s worth visiting Dubai Museum and Sheik Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) where you can clear all your doubts about the region’s culture as well as religious beliefs.

The best way to discover Deira is to opt for a guided tour. The tour guide will tell you everything about old Dubai and the local way of life.

Book Old Dubai Guided Tour Online Now!

Follow this up by visiting the giant picture-frame like Dubai Frame and further Dubai Glow Garden (if you visit here during the winter months from November to May).  

Highlights of Day 1 of the Dubai itinerary:

  • Deira district
  • Bur Dubai
  • Dubai Museum
  • Dubai Frame
  • Dubai Garden Glow

Day 2 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Thrill Day – Hot Air Balloon Ride+Palm Jumeirah With Pointe Fountain Show+Dubai Marina

Today is all about rendezvous with untouched nature and the unlikeliest adventure. But make sure that you start early for this as a hot air balloon is a pre-dawn activity.  

It’s conducted at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve which is the UAE’s largest protected area. In fact, a hot air balloon ride across DDCR will envelop you with the most stunning desert views and gives you an incredible look at the region’s marvelous flora and fauna and desert sunrise from a high-altitude vantage point.

This also includes flight certificates plus a traditional breakfast. To make it as hassle-free as possible, pre-book this adventure through an experienced desert safari Dubai company.

After this, head straight to spend some time in the snow. Yes, Ski is Possible in Dubai!

Head inside the Mall of the Emirates. This is an absolute must-do especially if you’re traveling to Dubai for the first time.

It’s the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort and is open in all seasons. Not to mention, it’s one of the coolest spots to visit in Dubai; of course, a staple during your summer trip to Dubai.

At the Mall of the Emirates, there is Ski Dubai, an indoor artificial snow slope featuring a chairlift and small wooden chalets to recreate a mountain atmosphere. You can easily spend 3-4 hrs here.

Book your 2-hour Ski Session at Ski Dubai here.

Upon spending your good time at the Mall of Emirates, drive out to the iconic man-made island of Palm Jumeirah. Palm Jumeirah Beach is an extremely popular beach. It’s full of people and restaurants. If you are a beach person, just stay there for a while or head for some adventure!

Here, you’ll find the famous Atlantis Hotel and Aquaventure Park, Dubai’s largest water Park with marine animals in the Lost Chambers Aquarium.

You can take a monorail ride, visit Atlantis, The Palm Hotel, walk into Aquaventure Water Park, swim with dolphins, and discover the remnants of the Lost City of Atlantis at Lost Chamber Aquarium, among others.

Book your tickets for Dubai Aquaventure Waterpark online here.

dubai 7 days itinerary

Also, take a stroll around Dubai Marina which is a 7 km long walkway along the canal. it’s an excellent place for trying international cafes, food outlets, and restaurants. You can spend time for dinner here while admiring the famous skylines of Dubai!

It is perfect for your family and kids to spend a good time at the adventure park while vacationing for one week in Dubai.

Wind up your day by watching Dubai’s recently launched Palm Fountain Show at the Pointe. Don’t miss this; it’s the world’s largest fountain show!

Day 3 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Experience Dubai’s Unmatched Modernity at Its Best – Visit Downtown Dubai

The 500–acre Downtown Dubai is so massive that it’s easily worth spending an entire day at Downtown Dubai.

Start at Dubai Mall- This is one of the major attractions in the city, so you really need to go there during your one week in Dubai! The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world!

You can find so many fantastic and unique cafés, restaurants with super delicious food, stores, etc.

one week Dubai itinerary

There are over 1200 outlets, so shoppers would definitely require quite a good amount of time to wander around and pick their style! but my strong advice is to pre-plan if you wish to shop here or drop into its uber-exciting leisure attractions.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with your family or friends, try to visit some of the mall’s incredible highlights such as Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, Hysteria Dubai Mall, and VR Park with the best in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

As always in Dubai, in order to avoid waiting at the ticket office and to save money, you should buy your tickets online in advance. Book Your tickets online and Save time:

Nevertheless, don’t miss the Aquarium and underwater zoo. Walking through its 48-meter-long underwater tunnel is an absolutely magical experience.

Continue to Burj Khalifa – No Dubai trip is complete without catching this Dubai icon which is also the world’s tallest building with a total height of 829.8 meters. Its elevator is not the fastest in the world but one of the fastest ones.

It is one of the most famous things to do in the city, you can’t miss it if you spend a week in Dubai. You can admire the Burj Khalifa building from many areas for free like Burj Lake or many cafes around the Burj Khalifa.

You can go inside the Burj Khalifa and you can reach top levels 124,125 and 148th. So take the elevator and reach the 124th floor and the 125th floor of the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Check out these tour options and make a reservation in advance to secure your spot. There are different ticket options depending on how high you want to go up.

But my top suggestion is to see it up close by ascending to one of its observation decks on the 124th or 148th level.

With floor-to-ceiling transparent glasses and high-precision telescopes, it leaves you awestruck with unparalleled views over the Dubai skyline and beyond. In the evening, when all the skyscrapers are lit up, the view is simply breathtaking. So, I would suggest staying here till the sunset and you will get both the day and night views of Dubai.

Final Treat of the Day with Dubai Fountain Show: You can further take a free Dubai trolley ride, watch stunning shows at Dubai Opera, and wander around the atmospheric Souk Al Bahar.

At the end of the day, head to the man-made lake outside the mall to watch the Dubai Fountain Show – the superbly choreographed water performance in immaculate sync with music and lights.

There is a show every 30 minutes, from 6 PM to 11 PM. As the show is super touristy, try to get there early, else with all the crowd, you won’t see much!

You can watch the show directly from the lake or from the boat across the lake(abra). But there are so many nearby buildings from where you can watch the show uninterrupted!

Check the rates and book a Boat Tour

Finally, end your day with the delicious food at Dubai Mall. You can find so many varieties of food from India, Chinese, Japan, etc.

Food in Dubai is just next level. It’s literally impossible to find the food you will not like. Just embrace all the delicacies from different cultures and surely you won’t regret it.

Day 4 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

It’s All About Fantastic Rides – Visit Dubai Parks And Resorts

Theme park lovers – you’ll never regret setting aside a whole day for Dubai Parks and Resort. The region’s first integrated resort comes with four theme parks such as Hollywood-themed Motiongate Dubai, Hindi-cinema-inspired Bollywood Parks Dubai, and LEGO-themed LEGOLAND Dubai and LEGOLAND Water Park.

If you don’t want to miss it all, go for an all-park access pass which allows you to hop from one park to another in a day and that too unlimited time. Book your tickets here:

With a dedicated retail and dining section (Riverland Dubai), you can look forward to fantastic shopping and dining options, along with its mix of heart-racing rides, kid-friendly games, and super lively shows. So, your 7 days Dubai itinerary is incomplete without having water adventures!

Apart from those at Dubai Parks and Resorts, you can consider visiting Dubai theme parks such as IMG Worlds of Adventure with four thrilling and distinctly created zones.

Option :

If you don’t want to spend your day at Dubai Themeparks, you can consider visiting Al Khayma desert for an exciting desert safari across the red sand dunes of Dubai along with lunch and dinner.

Book your Premium Red Dunes tour with a 3-course dinner now!

Day 5 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Stretch Your Horizon – Travel To Abu Dhabi

With a whole week in Dubai, be sure to add Abu Dhabi to your travel program. It’s the UAE’s capital as well as the largest city and is just two hours drive away from Dubai.

The combination of stylish architecture, authentic cultural landmarks, enlightening museums, pristine islands, unspoiled mangroves, and rip-roaring theme parks make it perfect for a refreshing escape from Dubai.

Whether you go for a guided excursion or choose to discover on your own, here are some of the attractions that you can choose to add to your Abu Dhabi sightseeing program.

  • Sheikh Zayed Mosque (also known as Grand Mosque): It’s probably the UAE’s most fantastic religious landmark. Beyond its sheer white architecture, striking minarets, and imposing features like massive of its kind chandeliers, it’s also one of the few mosques open for non-Muslims in the country. Entry is free here, so all are welcome to soak in its tranquility and cool ambiance.
  • Observation Deck at 300: This may not be as high as Burj Khalifa in Dubai, but this observation deck at level 74 of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers offers a majestic perspective over Abu Dhabi’s imposing skyline.
  • Qasr Al Hosn: For a step-back moment, head down to this historical landmark which gives you a greater slice of the Emirati’s ancient lifestyle, rich heritage, and inspiring traditions.
  • Abu Dhabi Corniche: This is one of the capital city’s most scenic spots. With a spotless beach, relaxed waterfront promenade, and several kid-exclusive attractions and playgrounds, this is a favorite hangout place for locals, residents, and tourists alike.
  • Eastern Mangroves: The mangrove forest, just a few minutes away from the city center, is one of Abu Dhabi’s best-kept secrets. This should be best experienced on a relaxed yet thrilling mangrove kayaking tour.
  • Emirates Palace: This palatial style accommodation amidst lush surroundings is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular photo ops. In fact, a visit here is a part of most guided excursions. Relish aromatic cappuccino sprinkled with 24-carat gold flakes, get a 24-karat gold facial, and take in its impressive elements such as over 1000 chandeliers, beautiful water fountains, and mesmeric golden exteriors.
  • Qasr Al Watan: It’s more than a part of the presidential palace; it’s a real stunner and a true masterpiece of Emirati art and architecture. It boasts several inspiring sections such as the Qasr Al Watan Library, the House of Knowledge, and the Great Hall. One of the unmissable attractions here is the 15-minute light and sound show of the Palace in Motion.
  • Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital: It’s not your ordinary vet or pet clinic; it’s the world’s largest hospital with the most advanced treatment facilities for falcons as well as other bird species. So take a tour of this hospital; it allows you an in-depth look at the UAE’s national bird.
  • Heritage Village: This is another spot in Abu Dhabi where you can glance into the Emirati culture, traditions, and historic past. Reminiscent of a traditional oasis village, it also conducts workshops on the region’s traditional occupations including pottery, metal works, and weaving.
  • Yas Island with Ferrari World  Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, and more: Whether you’re an aficionado of fast-paced action or not, an Abu Dhabi trip is incomplete without a visit to Yas Island. Ferrari World is the world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park, while Yas Waterworld is the region’s biggest water park. For the fans of cartoon characters and superheroes, there is Warner Bros Abu Dhabi.
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum: Beyond its legendary name, it’s the Arab World’s first universal museum. Located in the Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District, it’s not only renowned for its classic displays on view, but also for its astonishing architectural design that results in the rain of light effect.

If you want to cover all the best things to see in Abu Dhabi in one day, I highly recommend reaching Abu Dhabi via taxi. It’s 1 hour away from Dubai and best to go by taxi to tour around or you can opt for guided tours to Abu Dhabi from Dubai.

Best Tour From Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi full-day sightseeing tour from Dubai

This tour covers all major attractions of Abu Dhabi and it’s perfect for your whole day trip to Abu Dhabi. It covers Sheikh Zayed Mosque, The Corniche, in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Watan, and Marina Mall.

Book your Abu Dhabi Day Trip from Dubai

Day 6 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Enjoy Water Thrill And Beach Retreat Like No Other – Escape To La Mer

La Mer is known as a waterfront promenade, a place with plenty of restaurants and cafes. It’s a great place to have a drink or lunch!

You can also go to one of the beaches or beach clubs with a swimming pool. It’s perfect for families!

If you’re a water sports enthusiast, it’s unimaginable to create one week in Dubai itinerary without devoting a whole day to water activities.  After all, Dubai is a haven for water sports and water parks.

Thrill-seekers can’t go wrong with a session of jet skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, and fly biking. Accompanied by family and kids?

Activities like banana boat rides, donut rides, etc promise you quality family time with lots of fun and laughter. But for a dose of beach fun in a hip environment, you should surely spend some time in Dubai’s newest neighborhood, La Mer.  

Found in Dubai’s Jumeirah 1 District, it has a wide array of cool restaurants, cafes, etc, and is most famed for its Laguna Water Park.

This is an all-age water park with some amazing rides and attractions including WaveOz which is the region’s ultimate surfing attraction and just three of its kind in the whole world.

From La Mer, you will have a great view of the entire skyline of Dubai and its landmark, the Burj Khalifa.

Day 7 of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

Do Shopping And Enjoy Dhow Cruise

Let the final day of your Dubai vacation be as fun-filled and relaxed as possible. Bask in the comforts of hotel rooms or facilities; get out for shopping at one of its malls or souks, or revisit your favorite Dubai attractions.

7 Days Dubai Itinerary

No matter what you wish to do in the daytime, keep your evening free for a mindblowing dhow cruise Dubai experience at Dubai Creek or Dubai Marina. This allows you to wrap up your Dubai holiday in a leisurely manner with the most exquisite views, the finest food, and mind-boggling entertainment shows like Tanura onboard.

How to avoid waiting in line and save a lot of time at Dubai’s Prime tourist attractions

Dubai is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and it attracts more than 15 million tourists every year! Also, thanks to Instagram and now everyone wants to have perfect pictures!

Dubai offers amazing sightseeing attractions and activities, but being a prime tourist destination, you can expect huge lines at all the attractions!

Sometimes, it may take 1-2 hrs to get your tickets on the window! So, here I am sharing the solutions to save your precious time in Dubai during your 7 days Dubai itinerary guide.

1. You can buy Dubai Explorer Pass

In order to save time and money, you should buy the Dubai Explorer Pass. This Pass gives you access to the city’s 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions.

Also unlike other city Passes, it works according to the number of activities you choose instead of no’s of hrs (24h/48h, etc) depending on your interests.

Book your Dubai Explorer Pass here!

2. Skip-the-line tickets for Dubai’s tourist attractions

If you don’t want to buy the Dubai Explorer Pass to visit Dubai in 1 week, you can also buy skip-the-line tickets for each attraction separately.

You can purchase skip-the-line tickets for all the best places to visit and activities.it’s cheaper to buy your tickets online than to buy them at the ticket office!

Where to Stay in Dubai

Dubai has five main areas in terms of accommodation where you can find amazing hotels for your stay in Dubai.

Downtown Dubai, The Palm, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence, Bur Dubai, and Deira are the best places to stay in Dubai. Here are my recommendations for the Hotels in Dubai.

Apartments & Studios with Views:

Best Time to Visit Dubai

Dubai is considered a kind of desert area and so the best time to visit Dubai is the Winter season from December to February. March.

The most ideal time to travel to Dubai is anytime from November to April. This is the tourist season in Dubai when it’s sunny and pleasantly warm but not too hot.

In winter, you can do everything in Dubai. The winter activities in Dubai are limitless.

Of course, this is also when Dubai is pretty crowded and hotel rates skyrocket. Hotel prices are 3 or 5 times more than in summer.

But if want to beat the crowd, you can visit Dubai in November or March when there is little crowd just before and after the peak season. The weather is consistently pleasant at this time and you’ll get a bit lower prices for hotels during your one-week Dubai to stay.

The worst time to travel to Dubai is summertime: June, July, and August as temperatures are as high as 41 °C, it remains hot and humid. Your outdoor activities will be limited during the summer months in Dubai.

How to Get Around Dubai

By Car

The best way to get around Dubai, in general, is by car. If you are on holiday in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, don’t waste your time with the public transport during your 7 days in Dubai. The cost of Gas is affordable as well.

Dubai Metro

One of the best experiences to visit Dubai is riding Dubai Metro. It’s one of the most fantastic metro lines in the world which is super clean and modern, and runs without a driver!

To use the Metro in Dubai, you need to buy an NOL card and you’ll need to recharge it for your usage. You can use the Nol Card on the metros, buses, taxis, and trams in Dubai.

You can buy NOL Cards at Dubai Metro stations, at certain Dubai Bus stations, RTA authorized sales points, and from ticket vending machines.

Read and Book tickets for NOL Card.

Dubai Tram

More recently, Dubai opened its Tram, and it’s a super nice option to get around Dubai. The tram travels on a specially constructed street-level track to connect the highly populated residential and commercial areas of Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Media City.

Dubai Taxis

Taxi is cheap in Dubai. You can use apps like Careem or Uber to get a taxi.

All taxis run on a metered service with the fee charged by distance, so be sure to ask your driver to turn on their meter if they have not automatically done so. Licensed taxis are tan with red or pink roofs; taxis with pink roofs are driven by women and intended for women and families only.

The Palm Monorail

If you’re planning on spending the day on Palm Jumeirah Island (which we highly recommend!) or visiting Atlantis The Palm, hop on the Palm Monorail. The Palm Monorail connects Dubai’s mainland with the Palm Jumeirah Island station.

How to Get to Dubai City Center from Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport is only 5km away from the city center. You can reach Downtown Dubai by taking a Red Line metro from the airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) or Terminal 1 (T1).

If your wanted destination is near Dubai Creek, then you should catch a Green Line metro at the Airport Free Zone.

Taxi is the best option for traveling from Dubai International Airport to the central city if you arrive at odd hours. All the taxis serving in the airport area are registered under the government-operated Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC). It takes only 13-15 minutes to reach via taxi.

Dubai Travel Tips

  • Dubai is one of the safest cities to travel and you will find people very disciplined here to follow the rules. So, Dubai is safe to visit even as a solo female traveler.
  • UAE Being an Islamic country you need to wear modest clothing as a female. One should respect the local culture.
  • You can wear shorts and Bikini etc at certain places like Dubai Marina, JBR, beach, and beaches for tourists and ex-pats but avoid wearing such clothing at the touristy places.
  • Wear light and cotton clothes that cover your body as it’s a prime requirement to enter religious places in Dubai.
  • Officially, drinking alcohol is only allowed for non-Muslims and you can drink it at your hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs. By law, you must be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol in Dubai. You can buy alcohol in Dubai duty-free and have your own drink every day

Conclusion of 7 Days Dubai Itinerary

I hope you may have got an idea about how to spend a week in Dubai. Moreover, depending on the time or season of your visit, you can swap the above experiences with a visit to Global Village, Dubai Miracle Garden, and several attractions as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Hope you find my 7 days Dubai Itinerary helpful to plan your next Dubai trip! Dubai is simply shimmering, a cosmopolitan maze of glass and metal towers and landmarks plopped down in the middle of the desert and it will amaze you with all your senses!

Pin this Dubai Itinerary to read it later!

7 days dubai itinerary

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