How many days · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
How many days do you need in Dubai?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Member of the Expedition 22 crew., Public domain
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Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for Dubai, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers Downtown and the Burj Khalifa, old Dubai's creek and souks, a beach afternoon and a desert safari. Five days adds the Marina and Palm, museums and more beach time; with a week, add Abu Dhabi or the mountains at Hatta.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.6 h (Dec) to 13.7 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Burj Khalifa – At the Top, Dubai Fountain, Abra ride across Dubai Creek and Museum of the Future |
| 2 days | Rushed | Museum of the Future, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Mall |
| 3 days | Good | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Gold Souk and Spice Souk and Dubai Marina and JBR Walk |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Abu Dhabi |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Dubai add up to roughly 21–26 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Desert safari (6 hours), Dubai Mall (2–4 hours) and Dubai Marina and JBR Walk (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa – At the Top | 1.5–2 hours | Downtown Dubai |
| Dubai Fountain | 30 minutes | Downtown Dubai |
| Abra ride across Dubai Creek | 30 minutes | Dubai Creek |
| Museum of the Future | 2 hours | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Burj Al Arab | 1 hour | Umm Suqeim |
| Dubai Mall | 2–4 hours | Downtown Dubai |
| Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood | 1.5–2 hours | Bur Dubai |
| Gold Souk and Spice Souk | 1.5–2 hours | Deira |
| Dubai Marina and JBR Walk | 2–3 hours | Dubai Marina |
| The View at The Palm | 1 hour | Palm Jumeirah |
| Desert safari | 6 hours | Dubai desert |
| Dubai Frame | 1–1.5 hours | Zabeel Park |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Burj Khalifa – At the Top and Dubai Fountain |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Dubai Fountain |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Abu Dhabi and Sharjah |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.6 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.7 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Dubai with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Dubai?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three days covers Downtown and the Burj Khalifa, old Dubai's creek and souks, a beach afternoon and a desert safari. Five days adds the Marina and Palm, museums and more beach time; with a week, add Abu Dhabi or the mountains at Hatta.
+Is a week too long in Dubai?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.