Dubai is an Arabian city that is all about its feel-good attractions and experiences. If you are considering a short trip here, 4 days in Dubai offers a decent amount of time to take in your favorites in the region at a relaxed pace. And the following suggested itinerary will give you some amazing ideas to make the most of your Dubai holiday.
Four Days in Dubai Itinerary Overview
We have crafted this Dubai itinerary in such a way that you get the best of both worlds. In four full days in one of the top 10 places to visit in the world. Yes, it includes both traditional and the newest attractions, sprinkled with some enticing activities to complement your much-awaited Dubai holiday. Let’s get started!
DAY 1: GET TO KNOW THE CITY
Highlights of the Day: Dubai City Tour and Desert Safari
Morning: With a very limited amount of time in Dubai, don’t waste your time; book a fully guided, preferably a half-day city tour to get yourself acquainted with the city’s both unmissable landmarks and hidden gems. So, get ready after breakfast as your guide / driver comes to pick you up from your location. Dependent on your chosen tour, it mostly covers a drive through the region’s hotspots including Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah, besides a stop at Old Dubai’s must-sees including the vibrant Dubai Creek, the painstakingly preserved Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, and Dubai Museum which sheds light on the region’s humble past.
Afternoon: Once your city tour comes to an end, head to a café or a restaurant of your choice for lunch. Following this, prepare yourself to spend the rest of the day with a desert safari. As with the city tour, we suggest you opt for an all-encompassing desert safari.
Evening: Starting with a pick up from your location, it will straight lead you to Dubai’s isolated desert landscape which is completely surrounded by nothing but oceans of sands. Feel the real charm and serenity of the desert on an action-and-adventure 4X4 dune bash ride. Continue the thrill with a session of camel ride as well as optional activities such as quad biking, dune buggy ride, and sandboarding. A vast array of cultural activities such as henna tattooing, falconry and Shisha smoking complete your desert tour. Add to this a scrumptious BBQ dining and traditional entertainment (Belly Dance and Tanura performance.)
DAY 2: CHECK OFF DUBAI’S NEWEST TOURS AND RECORD-BREAKING ATTRACTIONS
Highlights of the Day: The View at the Palm, Inside Burj Al Arab Tour, Bluewaters Island, and Dhow Cruise at Dubai Marina
Dedicate the second day of your Dubai trip to discover the city’s most iconic sights in detail.
The View at the Palm: You haven’t seen the stunning man-made, palm-shaped Palm Jumeirah Island until you see it from an aerial perspective. And this brand-new vantage point on 52nd level of Palm Towers is exclusively created for the purpose. Yes, it allows you to see the whole of Palm Jumeirah and beyond without any risk or danger involved. Don’t miss it; it is a cost-effective alternative over a helicopter ride or a skydiving session.
Inside Burj Al Arab Tour: The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab that is placed on its own island is famed all over for its regal comforts and astonishing settings. The good news is that you can catch a glimpse of all without booking a stay here. Simply sign up for the butler guided Burj Al Arab Tour which introduces you to its expensive ever Royal Suite and other premium sections including the largest of its kind atrium and the recently launched UMA Lounge.
Bluewaters Island: This waterfront community in Dubai will blow you away with its jaw-dropping highlights. One of the must-dos here is a ride on Ain Dubai, which is the tallest and highest observation deck in the world. Be sure to enjoy this ride that lasts for about 40 minutes aboard an air-conditioned cabin. It feasts you with the full display of the island, apart from the views that stretch across Dubai Marina, JBR and Palm Jumeirah.
Another attraction that you should not miss here is Madame Tussauds Museum. The name says it all – it allows you to capture endless snaps with the life-size wax images of your most beloved personalities.
Dhow Cruise at Dubai Marina: Culminate your day with a leisurely cruise down the magnificent Dubai Marina. The key draw of the cruise is the vessel itself which is striking for its rustic allure and historical significance, being once used for fishing and pearl farming during the region’s pre-oil phase. It now serves as a floating restaurant which lets you absorb unmatched modern Dubai views and relish a lavish buffet dining with unlimited refreshments onboard.
DAY 3: IMG WORLDS OF ADVENTURE AND DOWNTOWN DUBAI
Highlights of the Day: Rendezvous with thrilling rides and the up-close encounter of Dubai’s legendary attractions
Morning till Afternoon / Evening: Today, after your breakfast in the morning, you will proceed to one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world with your IMG World tickets. Discover its four zones as you immerse yourself in its rides and games inspired by Marvel superheroes, all-time-adored Cartoon characters, and timeless dinosaurs.
Evening: Head to Downtown Dubai – the 500-acre neighborhood that hosts the major chunk of Dubai’s main attractions. Foremost of the things to see here is Burj Khalifa, which is renowned as the world’s tallest building. Enjoy an access to the building by getting tickets to its observation deck on 124th level or 148th level or both. Before or after your Burj Khalifa visit, stroll around the Dubai Mall where you can shop at its 1200 malls, grab a bite at its over 200 dining outlets, and check out its leisure attractions like Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Ekart Zabeel, Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania etc.
Night: As the night falls, step outside of the mall to watch the classic Dubai Fountain show – the astonishing aquatic performance that is displayed against the backdrop of Burj Khalifa and the bustling Souk Al Bahar. For an exclusive look at this show, you can take an abra ride along Burj Lake (where the fountain is set) or choose to dine at one of the many restaurants that sit facing the fountain.
DAY 4: SKI DUBAI AND SHOPPING TOUR
Highlights of the Day: Snow themed experiences, spa treatment, and unequaled shopping sessions
Make the last day in Dubai with some unforgettable experiences.
Morning: Start with a trip to Ski Dubai inside Mall of the Emirates. It warrants a visit, especially for first-timers in Dubai. The snow covered indoor park is the ultimate place to try snow activities not only in the UAE but also in the Middle East. Enjoy skiing, zorbing, exciting winter rides, and penguin encounters, on your visit here.
Afternoon: After all action and thrill, relax and sooth your tired muscles with a fantastic spa treatment. Luckily, you will find no dearth of spa facilities in Dubai. In fact, you get to take advantage of the award-winning service providers such as ShuiQi Spa (at Atlantis, The Palm), Talise Ottomon Spa (at Zabeel Saray Hotel) etc.
Evening: Whether you are an avid shopper or not, you can’t imagine winding up your Dubai holiday without a session of retail therapy. You can shop at its malls or make your way to the traditional Arabian souks (markets) at Deira or Bur Dubai for bargain shopping. Now if you are a serious shopper, you can take the advice of experts with a guided shopping tour, where a stylist will lead you to the region’s shopping destinations while helping you to shop as per your unique personal tastes and preferences.
TOP TIPS TO SPEND FOUR DAYS IN DUBAI
- Pre-arrange every element of your Dubai holiday.
- Book your accommodation, airport transfers etc in advance and the same applies to entry tickets to the region’s popular landmarks such as Burj Khalifa, Inside Burj Al Arab Tour, the View at the Palm, and Ain Dubai.
- If you are looking for a more refined sailing experience in Dubai, you can consider luxury yacht rental Dubai.
- For activities like dhow cruise and desert safari, it is recommended to opt for packages inclusive of roundtrip hotel transfers, so that a vehicle will be ready to pick you up from the hotel and drop you off at the hotel after the activity.
- For utmost savings, choose an all-in-one tour or a combo pass that offers two or more activities or experiences for a single price.
Conclusion
Dubai has such a dynamic mix of activities and sights that it can be sometimes overwhelming, particularly, for a newbie to systematize a fail-safe Dubai program. But, the above 4 days in Dubai itinerary ensures that you will not only see Dubai’s famous attractions and indulge in an array of cool activities, but also learn some interesting things about the Emirati culture and history.