Dubai
Desert evenings, a short flight away.
- From Delhi
- ≈3.5 hrs, direct
- Ideal length
- 4–6 days
- Best time
- Nov–Mar
- Good for
- Families · Celebrations · Corporate offsites
Why Dubai
Three and a half hours from Delhi, Dubai is ideal for a long weekend, a family winter break, a milestone celebration or a company offsite. We add Abu Dhabi or a desert resort for contrast.
Plan a journey to DubaiMost visited places in Dubai
The placesworth the journey.
Burj Khalifa & Downtown
The world's tallest building rises above Downtown Dubai, with observation decks on the 124th, 125th and 148th floors looking out over the desert, the Gulf and the man-made islands offshore. At its foot, the Dubai Fountain sends jets of water some 140 metres high in choreographed shows on the lake each evening.
Our tip Book a time slot just before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and lit up, all in one visit.
Al Fahidi & Dubai Creek
The restored Al Fahidi neighbourhood preserves the coral-stone houses and wind towers of old Dubai, with small galleries, cafés and the Dubai Museum nearby. From the creek, wooden abras carry passengers across the water to Deira, as they have for generations.
Our tip Visit in the late afternoon, then cross the creek by abra as the light turns golden.
Gold & Spice Souks, Deira
In Deira's shaded lanes, window after window is hung with gold necklaces and bridal sets, while the spice souk next door is heaped with saffron, frankincense, dried limes, rose buds and dates. Bargaining is part of the ritual, and gold is sold by weight against a rate fixed each day.
Our tip Go with a guide who knows reputable traders, and compare prices before committing to larger purchases.
Desert conservation reserve
Less than an hour from the city, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve protects red dunes, ghaf trees and herds of Arabian oryx and gazelles. Vintage Land Rover drives, falconry displays and dinners under the stars offer a quieter experience than the busier dune-bashing camps.
Our tip Choose an early morning or sunset session within the conservation reserve for cooler air and the best light.
Museum of the Future
A torus-shaped building of stainless steel, its facade cut with Arabic calligraphy from poetry by the ruler of Dubai, the museum stages immersive exhibitions on space travel, ecology and wellbeing set in an imagined future. The building itself is as much a reason to visit as the displays within.
Our tip Tickets are released for specific time slots and sell out, so book well ahead and choose a morning visit.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
About ninety minutes from Dubai, Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque is a vast composition of white marble domes, gilded columns and inlaid floral motifs, sheltering one of the world's largest hand-knotted carpets. Its reflecting pools, lit in shifting tones after dark, are especially serene in the evening.
Our tip Visit in the late afternoon and stay as the lights come on, dressing modestly with arms and legs covered.
Dubai itinerary
Five days in Dubai
Old Dubai and the skyline, a desert evening and a day in Abu Dhabi, balanced with time at the beach.
A starting point, not a package: we reshape the days around your dates, pace and who is travelling.
Shape this itinerary- Day01
Downtown · Arrival
Your driver meets you on arrival at DXB, and in around twenty minutes you reach Downtown. After a rest through the warmest part of the day, take a terrace table facing the lake for the evening fountain shows.
- Day02
Old Dubai · Creek and souks
Explore Al Fahidi with a guide in the morning, then cross the creek by abra to the gold and spice souks. Spend the afternoon by the pool, and visit Burj Khalifa at sunset.
- Day03
Museum of the Future · The desert
Visit the Museum of the Future in the morning. In the late afternoon, a private drive into the desert conservation reserve ends with dinner under the stars.
- Day04
Abu Dhabi · The Grand Mosque
A private car covers the ninety minutes to Abu Dhabi, where the morning is spent beneath the latticed dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Reach the Grand Mosque by late afternoon to see the marble shift from white to gold, then return to Dubai for a late dinner.
- Day05
Palm Jumeirah · Departure
Spend a slow final morning on the sand or in a hammam before a leisurely lunch. Allow forty minutes or so for the drive from the Palm to the airport.
Things to do in Dubai
What we'd planfor you.
A night in the desert
Dune drive, dinner under the stars.
Old Dubai
The Creek by abra, spice and gold souks.
Abu Dhabi
The Grand Mosque and the Louvre.
Beach resorts
Pools and calm sea for children.
Best time to visit Dubai
November to March is warm and pleasant. Summer is very hot, but hotel rates fall and indoor attractions are open.
- : Best
- : Best
- : Best
- : Good
- : Quieter
- : Not ideal
- : Not ideal
- : Not ideal
- : Quieter
- : Good
- : Best
- : Best
Where to stay in Dubai
Downtown Dubai
Steps from the Burj Khalifa, the fountain and the city's largest mall, with the business districts of DIFC and Sheikh Zayed Road minutes away. First-time visitors and corporate travellers find everything within reach.
Palm Jumeirah
A palm-shaped island of resorts with private beaches, generous pools and long views back to the Marina skyline. Families, milestone birthdays and wedding parties are well served by the space and facilities.
Jumeirah Beach
A gentler stretch of shoreline between the old fishing village of Umm Suqeim and the city, with long public beaches and low-rise villas. Honeymooners and longer stays settle in easily here.
What to eat in Dubai
Emirati cuisine
Machboos, rice slow-cooked with loomi and spiced meat or fish, is the national dish, often followed by luqaimat, crisp dumplings drizzled with date syrup. A courtyard restaurant in Al Fahidi is the right setting, and vegetable versions of several dishes can be prepared.
Indian vegetarian in Karama and Bur Dubai
Dubai's long-established Indian community sustains vegetarian kitchens of real quality, from unlimited Gujarati and Rajasthani thalis to South Indian breakfasts near the old Hindu temple lanes. Jain food is prepared routinely rather than as a special request.
Levantine mezze
A spread of hummus, smoky mutabbal, fattoush, warm bread and falafel is the city's everyday luxury, served late into the evening. Most mezze is naturally vegetarian, which makes it an easy choice for mixed family tables.
Dinner in the desert
After the heat goes out of the sand, a table is laid in the dunes with lanterns, grilled dishes and cardamom-scented Arabic coffee poured from a dallah. The menu can be entirely vegetarian, and the silence is the real luxury.
Travel tips for Dubai
Getting there from India
Direct flights from Delhi take around three and a half hours.
For travellers from India
Direct flights from Delhi to Dubai take around three and a half hours. Indian passport holders apply for an e-visa in advance, though those holding a valid US visa or a UK or EU residence permit may be eligible for a visa on arrival. During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public in daylight should be avoided, and modest dress is expected in older parts of the city and at religious sites.
Visas & entry
Indian passport holders need a visa for the UAE. Rules and processing times change, so we confirm the current requirements when you book, prepare the document checklist with you, and help schedule any appointments.
Good to know
Weekends in the UAE fall on Saturday and Sunday; Friday afternoons are quieter at mosques.
Dubai tour packages from Delhi
Every Dubai holiday package we plan is private, and built around your dates, your pace and the people travelling with you.
Our Dubai tour packages from Delhi and across India include return flights, hand-picked hotels with partner privileges where available, private transfers, guided sightseeing where it adds something, visa assistance and 24×7 support while you travel. A typical first visit takes in Burj Khalifa & Downtown, Al Fahidi & Dubai Creek, Gold & Spice Souks, Deira, Desert conservation reserve, over 4–6 days.
We plan Dubai honeymoon packages, family holidays for children and grandparents, milestone celebrations and corporate or incentive trips, with vegetarian and Jain meals arranged in advance. Tell us what you have in mind and a travel designer will shape the itinerary with you.
Enquire about a Dubai package · Dubai family holidays · Corporate offsites in Dubai
Is Dubai good for a corporate offsite?
Excellent — short flights, strong venues, and easy group logistics. See our corporate travel page.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
November to March, when days are warm rather than hot. Diwali and Christmas weeks book early.
Is Dubai good for a short family holiday?
It's the easiest international family break from Delhi: a short flight and plenty for every age.
What is included in your Dubai tour packages from Delhi?
Every Dubai package is private and planned around you. It usually includes return flights from Delhi, hand-picked hotels, private airport transfers, sightseeing with private guides where it matters, visa guidance and 24×7 support while you travel. Vegetarian and Jain meals can be arranged in advance.
How many days are enough for Dubai?
4–6 days is ideal for a first visit. Our starting itinerary, five days in dubai, covers Burj Khalifa & Downtown, Al Fahidi & Dubai Creek, Gold & Spice Souks, Deira without rushing.
How do I book a Dubai holiday package with TRIPPLANNERS?
Share your dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel through our enquiry form, call 011 4550 0000 or WhatsApp +91 98116 16005. A travel designer will come back with a private proposal and refine it with you until it is right.
