The only short-haul-feeling long-haul city: seven hours, guaranteed winter sun, a beach, and a skyline that didn't exist thirty years ago. Four nights is the sweet spot.
Most visitors see the malls, the Burj and the beach, and go home thinking Dubai has no history.
It has, and it's a ten-minute abra ride away. Deira and Bur Dubai either side of the creek hold the gold and spice souks, the Al Fahidi historic district of wind-tower houses, and a working waterfront where wooden dhows still load cargo for Iran and East Africa. The crossing costs about twenty pence. Spend one morning there and Dubai stops being a shopping centre with a beach attached.
Four nights covers the icons, the old city, a desert evening and two days doing nothing.
828 metres, and still the tallest building on earth. Book the sunset slot months ahead — it's the one that sells out.
Dune drive, camels, dinner under the stars. Touristy and genuinely good. Choose a smaller operator over the big camps.
Gold and spice souks, the Al Fahidi wind-tower quarter, and an abra across the water for about twenty pence.
Skyscrapers around a man-made harbour, with a beach and a boardwalk. Best in the evening when it cools.
The aquarium, the fountains and 1,200 shops. The fountain show outside is free and runs every half hour after six.
Public beaches at JBR and Kite Beach are free, clean and well equipped. This is what makes Dubai work in January.
Beach or Downtown. The choice is between swimming and walking to the Burj.
Beachfront with restaurants and a boardwalk. Best if you want pool and sea time. Metro connected.
Walk to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. No beach, but the most central for sightseeing.
The big beach resorts on the fronds. Self-contained and lovely, and you'll taxi for everything else.
Either side of the creek. The souks, the history, and much cheaper hotels.
November to March is the season. Everything else is a compromise with the heat.
December to February are the most comfortable months and the busiest, with Christmas and February half term at peak rates. November and March are nearly as good and noticeably cheaper. April and October are warm but manageable at 33–35°C. May to September regularly exceeds 40°C with high humidity — prices halve for a reason.
7 hours direct to Dubai (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC), from most UK airports.
The metro runs from DXB to Downtown and the Marina, cheap and quick. Taxis are metered and inexpensive.
UAE dirham, pegged to the US dollar. Cards accepted everywhere.
UK passports get a free visa on arrival. We'll confirm the current validity before you travel.
We'll come back with hotels in the right area, the Burj slot flagged, and a beach extension priced alongside if you want one.
Four. Three is enough for the icons but not for the old city and a desert evening as well. Beyond five, most people want a beach elsewhere.
Hotels vary enormously and alcohol is costly. Food, taxis and the metro are reasonable, and the beaches and fountains are free.
Very. Waterparks, aquariums, indoor attractions for the heat, and it's extremely safe. Deira is the budget-friendly base.
Yes — the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka are all short onward flights, and the stopover version often costs less than flying direct.
Flights, a central hotel and transfers as one package. We book the museum and gallery slots that sell out, and tell you which ones to book yourself.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, central accommodation and airport transfers. They indicate what a break of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
14 nights · Apr–May, Sep–Nov · from £1,999pp
11 nights · Apr–May, Oct–Nov · from £2,449pp
14 nights · Dec–Mar · from £1,899pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
12 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,849pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
