Dubai

Arrive at Dubai International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai's most authentic old district with wind-tower houses and the Dubai Museum inside a 200-year-old fort. Take a traditional abra wooden boat for one dirham across Dubai Creek to explore the Gold Souk with its extraordinary concentration of gold jewellery and the Spice Souk with its sacks of frankincense, saffron, and dried limes. Dinner at an Emirati restaurant for machboos rice and luqaimat fritters. Overnight Dubai.

💡 The best time to visit Dubai is November to March when temperatures are pleasant at 20 to 28 degrees. Summer months reach 45 degrees with extreme humidity making outdoor sightseeing extremely uncomfortable.

Morning at leisure by the pool or at the Dubai Mall. Afternoon visit to the Dubai Frame, the 150-metre picture frame structure with a glass-floored sky bridge connecting its two towers, for an excellent perspective on old and new Dubai. Buy Burj Khalifa sunset tickets online and ascend to the 148th-floor observation deck as the city shifts from gold to glittering lights below. Watch the Dubai Fountain show from the boardwalk, free every 30 minutes after 6 PM. Overnight Dubai.

💡 The Burj Khalifa sunset slot sells out days in advance. Book your preferred time well ahead and note that the 148th floor At The Top Sky is significantly better than the standard 124th floor.

Drive 90 minutes to Abu Dhabi for a full day in the UAE capital. Begin at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world's largest and most beautiful mosques with 82 domes, the world's largest hand-knotted carpet, and extraordinary white marble inlay work. Free entry but abaya provided at entrance for women. Visit the remarkable Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel's island museum under a perforated dome, with a superb collection spanning civilisations. Evening on the Corniche waterfront. Drive back to Dubai. Overnight Dubai.

💡 The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is most beautiful at the start and end of day when the white marble glows in soft light. The mosque is lit beautifully at night as well and worth visiting after dark.

Afternoon 4x4 pickup for the Dubai desert safari in the Hajar Mountains foothills. Thrilling dune bashing over red sand dunes followed by a camel ride and sandboarding at sunset. Traditional Bedouin camp dinner with Arabic buffet, shisha, belly dancing, and tanoura spin dance under the desert stars. Return to hotel by 10 PM for late departure or transfer directly to the airport. End of tour.

💡 Afternoon desert safaris pick up between 3 and 4 PM and return around 10 PM. If you have a late-night flight it fits perfectly and no hotel night is wasted.