Tours and activities in Dubai

How to choose a tour in Dubai

Most visitors fit two to four tours into a trip. A little planning helps you avoid paying for things you will not use, and missing the things you came for.

Start with the time you have

Half-day tours of three to four hours, such as a morning desert safari or an Old Dubai walk, are easy to combine with a beach afternoon or a mall visit. Evening desert safaris take six to seven hours including hotel pickup, and an overnight safari takes most of two days. Put the longest tour on a day with nothing else planned.

Check what the price includes

Two tours with the same name can be very different. Compare the time actually spent on the activity, whether meals and drinks are included, whether hotel pickup is included for your area, and which extras are paid on the spot. A very low price often means a shorter programme or more paid extras.

Shared or private

Shared tours are the cheapest way to see the desert or the Marina, and are usually priced per person. Private tours and yachts are priced per vehicle or per group, so they can work out close to a shared tour for a family or a group of friends, with a flexible start time.

Think about the season and the time of day

From October to April, days are mild and most outdoor tours run at any time. In the summer months, choose early morning or evening departures, and prefer air-conditioned attractions around midday. Sunset slots are popular all year and sell out first.

Travelling with children or reduced mobility

Look for the minimum age on each listing: dune driving, quad bikes and some water activities have age or height limits. Each listing also says whether it is wheelchair accessible, partly accessible or not suitable, so you can ask the operator before you book.

Read the cancellation terms

Weather, flight changes or tiredness can change your plans. Many tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; the exact deadline is shown on each listing when the operator publishes it.