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Plan your days in Dubai
What to Do in Dubaiwith theMX-Academy
What to do in Dubai depends on how long you stay and when you travel. Here are plans for one day and for three days, ideas for hot summer days and the cooler winter months, and what works after dark.
Seasonal parks: open in the cooler monthsSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: pre-book onlineDesert ride on a date of your choiceAround six hours' flight from Switzerland
What to do in Dubai in one day
With a single day, start early in the old town and save the air-conditioned sights for the hottest hours. Dubai's tourism board recommends outdoor plans in the early morning or late evening during the hot months, and the same rhythm keeps one busy day comfortable.
Distances in Dubai are larger than they look on a map, so take the metro or a taxi between the old town and Downtown rather than walking in the heat. In winter you can stay outside longer; in summer, swap the morning walk and the museum if the sun is already strong. One possible order:
- Morning: the lanes of Al Fahidi, then an abra across the Creek to the Deira souks
- Late morning: Al Shindagha Museum on the Creek for the story of the city
- Afternoon: the aquarium in The Dubai Mall or the Dubai Frame
- Sunset: the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa
- Evening: a fountain show on the lake in Downtown
MX-Academy Dubai
Ride the dunes yourself
In a 4x4, on a quad or in a buggy you see the desert – on a motocross bike you ride it. MX-Academy Dubai, the school of Chris Möckli and Mohammed Al Balooshi, takes you into the dunes on a guided desert ride in Dubai.
- On the handlebars yourself instead of in the passenger seat
- First the basics on the training track: riding standing up and in sand
- Bike and a full set of protective gear for hire
- Experienced desert riders as your guides, on a date of your choice
A three-day Dubai itinerary
Three days let you add the coast and the desert. Use the first day for the plan above. On day two, head for the sea: walk along Dubai Marina, spend a few hours on the beach in front of JBR and look down on Palm Jumeirah from The View at The Palm.
Day three is a choice between sand and culture. Spend it on a desert safari or on a motorbike in the dunes, or travel to Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, where visitors pre-book their visit online and follow the mosque's dress code. Our top Dubai tours guide compares desert trips and day trips.
- Day 1: Al Fahidi, the Creek and the souks in the morning, Downtown from the afternoon
- Day 2: Dubai Marina, the beach at JBR and the views over Palm Jumeirah
- Day 3: the desert by 4x4 or motorbike, or a day trip to Abu Dhabi
What to do in Dubai in summer
Summer in Dubai is hot, and the city adapts. The official tourism guides suggest indoor adventures during the day, outdoor excursions in the early morning or late evening, and a desert safari in the late afternoon. Several outdoor parks, such as Global Village and Dubai Miracle Garden, close for the summer and reopen in autumn.
Good indoor choices include Ski Dubai, where the snow stays all year, the Dubai Aquarium, the indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Butterfly Garden, which remains open through the summer. Our Dubai activities guide adds indoor diving and ice skating.
Dubai itinerary for winter: the outdoor months
November to February is Dubai's high season, and the days are made for being outside. In autumn the seasonal attractions open their gates again, among them Global Village, Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Safari Park, so check each official website for the dates of the current season. Winter is also the time of the Dubai Shopping Festival: first held in 1996, it has run in recent editions from early December into January, with promotions in shops across the city, raffles, concerts and evening drone and fireworks shows.
Cooler days also suit hiking or kayaking in Hatta and long afternoons at the beach. If engines are your thing, read about Dubai racing for the circuits and about karting in Dubai for tracks where you drive yourself.
Check the calendar as well: Dubai's tourism board points out that the dates of Ramadan shift by about 11 days each year, and the holy month affects dining and daytime routines. Plan your days with that in mind and respect local customs in public.
What to do in Dubai in the evening
After sunset the city is busy. In Downtown the fountain shows continue through the evening, and on Dubai Creek and in Dubai Marina you can board a dinner cruise on a traditional wooden dhow.
The Walk at JBR offers cafés, shops and restaurants with views of the beach, and in the cooler months Global Village, with pavilions representing more than 90 cultures, makes a lively night out. For karaoke, cinema and evenings with friends, see our Dubai fun page.
Planning a desert day with the MX-Academy
If motorbikes are part of your trip, MX-Academy Dubai organises motocross and enduro rides through the dunes on the dates you pick, so a ride fits into any of the plans above. Riders with motocross and rally experience who know the terrain show you the way.
Coming from Switzerland, you spend roughly six hours on the plane. You can leave the whole trip to the MX-Academy with its MX package, or arrange flight and hotel on your own and get in touch only for the desert ride. Passengers who prefer to sit back can go dune bashing in a 4x4 instead.
FAQ: What to Do in Dubai
Is one day enough for Dubai?
One day is enough for the old town by the Creek and for Downtown with the Burj Khalifa. For the coast, Palm Jumeirah and the desert, plan at least two more days.
Which Dubai parks close in summer?
Seasonal outdoor parks such as Global Village, Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Safari Park close for the summer and open again in autumn. Their official websites list the exact dates of each season.
When is high season in Dubai?
Dubai's tourism board names November to February as high season. March is still comfortable for outdoor plans and less crowded.
Can you visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from Dubai?
Yes, the mosque is in Abu Dhabi. Visitors book their visit online in advance and must follow the mosque's dress code.
Can a desert ride fit into a short trip?
Yes. With MX-Academy Dubai you choose the date yourself, so the ride can be added to a long weekend or to the last day of a three-day plan.
When is the Dubai Shopping Festival?
In winter. Recent editions have run from early December into January, and the organisers announce the exact dates of each edition in advance.
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