What to Do in Dubai in One Day

Long-haul flights to Asia often route through Dubai, which makes it easy to turn a transit stop into a full day of sightseeing. Dubai is compact in the right places and has enough icons to fill 12 hours without feeling rushed. Here is a realistic one-day plan.

Morning — Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall

Start at the Burj Khalifa observation deck. Book the first slot of the day (8.30am) to avoid both the heat and the crowds, and to catch the desert haze burning off. Tickets are around £35 for levels 124-125 and worth booking online in advance.

Walk straight into Dubai Mall afterwards for breakfast. The mall is directly connected to the Burj and you will also find the Dubai Aquarium and the waterfall sculpture here.

Late morning — Dubai Fountain and Souk Al Bahar

The Dubai Fountain show runs every 30 minutes from late morning. Grab a coffee at Souk Al Bahar, sit outside with a view of the Burj Khalifa reflecting in the lake, and watch one or two rounds of the fountain.

Lunch — Al Seef or Old Dubai

Taxi over to Al Seef on Dubai Creek for a more traditional setting. Sit waterside at a local restaurant and try machboos (spiced rice with chicken or fish), a fresh juice and Arabic coffee. Budget around £20 for a full lunch.

Afternoon — Al Fahidi and the abra crossing

Walk through the Al Fahidi historic district, which is the old Dubai of wind towers and sandstone alleys. Then take an abra (traditional wooden boat) across Dubai Creek for less than £0.25. On the other side are the Gold Souk and the Spice Souk, both worth 30-45 minutes.

Evening — Marina walk or desert sunset

You have two good options. Option one: taxi to Dubai Marina, walk the promenade and have dinner at a waterfront restaurant. Option two, if you booked ahead: a desert safari with dune bashing, camel ride and a BBQ dinner under the stars. Both options get you back to the airport in time for a late connection.

Where to stay if you need a hotel

If you have an overnight layover, stay close to the airport. Dubai International Hotel is inside Terminal 3 and runs from around £150 per night. For a view, Palace Downtown puts you right next to the Burj Khalifa. For budget travellers, Rove hotels are clean, well-located and start around £60.

Getting around

Dubai is a big city and taxis are the fastest way to cover ground. The metro works well between the airport, Downtown and Marina. Uber and Careem both operate and are usually cheaper than street taxis for longer runs.