Dubai Stopover: What to See & Do in 6 Hours, 1, or 2 Days (+Planning Tips)
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Are you traveling via Dubai and have a few hours to spare at the airport and are considering a Dubai layover? Or are you thinking of a somewhat longer stopover in Dubai for one or two days… but are not sure if it’s worth it and what to see and do on Dubai stopover? This article should answer all your questions!
In this post, you can learn more about what to see and do on a short stopover in Dubai – from just 6 hours to 1 or 2 days. We also include some practical tips that will help you make the most of your Dubai stopover or a short layover. At the bottom of this article, you can also find a few hotel suggestions for a short visit to Dubai. Find out!
From just a couple of hours to one or two days in Dubai- this guide will help you make the most of your Dubai stopover, so that you can see the very best of this bustling metropole.
TIP: Don’t spend your long Dubai layover sitting at the airport. Even if you only have half a day, you can see some of the city. And if you still have to book your flights through Dubai, see if you can squeeze at least one night in Dubai into your itinerary. It will be worth it!
READ ALSO: Best Dubai Tours
Dubai stopover suggestions – overview
- 6-12 hours layover in Dubai
- One day stopover in Dubai
- Two days in Dubai
- Where to stay on Dubai stopover
Short layover in Dubai – see the best in just a few hours
Good to know: Keep in mind that immigration can sometimes take a long time in Dubai and getting back through security and leaving the country will also require at least an hour, not counting the time to get to the airport, etc. So if you have less than 6 hours in Dubai, I’d probably just book airport premium lounge access and stay at the airport. It’s not worth the stress.
But if you have at least 6 hours to spare for a stopover in Dubai and want to get the most out of your time, I have two suggestions for how you could spend your time. These tips are based on our experience and the places we found to be most worthy to see in Dubai. See options 1 and 2 below.
OPTION 1: Visit Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa
One of the best options for those with limited time to explore Dubai would be to head to Dubai Mall. You can take a taxi or a metro from the airport – here you can find more information about Dubai public transport. Alternatively, you can save time by booking a private airport transfer in advance.
Neither option is very expensive, but the metro might be faster, especially during rush hours. On the other hand, metro stations in Dubai (especially the one at the Dubai Mall) are often very far from the actual place, so you have to do lots of walking. Booking a private transfer might be the least stressful option.
Here’s what you can see and do at the Dubai Mall on a short stopover in Dubai:
Dubai Fountains
Try to catch a (free) Dubai fountains music and light show. In the evenings, there are shows daily every half an hour starting at around 5.30 – 6 PM and until 11 PM. There is also a show at 1 PM (Fridays at 2 PM) and at 1.30 PM.
The show itself is free of charge, but in the evenings, you can also opt for a traditional boat ride on Burj Lake. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai, so you have to get your tickets in advance. You can book the Burj Lake Ride by Traditional Boat tickets here. We recently did this and really enjoyed it.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world – is equally impressive from below as from the top. If you have time, I suggest you go to the top for the amazing views over Dubai.
Good to know: Burj Khalifa At the Top experience is very popular and often sold out. So if you want to visit it on a short Dubai stopover, you really have to book the Burj Khalifa tickets in advance. Also, keep in mind that even with timed entry slots, you will have long lines so count at least 1.5-2 hours for a visit here to be on the safe side.
PRO TIP: If your time is limited and you want to visit Burj Khalifa, get the tickets that include level 148. These tickets give you priority access to the elevators and security check (+ other benefits) and will save you a lot of time and stress.
Alternative tip: Instead of going to the top of Burj Khalifa, you can visit Dubai Sky Views Observatory, from where you can enjoy great views of Burj Khalifa. Sky Views is conveniently located very close to the metro exit at Dubai Mall station (just walk towards the Mall and you’ll see it), is cheaper, and takes less time to visit. Also here, be sure to get tickets in advance!
Dubai Aquarium
Dubai Aquarium is located inside the Dubai Mall. You can see the big aquarium from the mall itself (no need to purchase a ticket). If you decide to pay a visit to the aquarium itself, count at least an hour for the visit.
The same as with most other attractions in Dubai, it’s best to book your tickets in advance – the ticket queue at Dubai Aquarium can get extremely long at certain times. On top of that, it’s cheaper if booked in advance.
TIP: If you are planning to visit several attractions, it’s often cheaper to get combo tickets. One of the most popular combinations in Dubai is the 2-in-1 ticket for Burj Khalifa and Dubai Aquarium. Quite frankly, the aquarium is way too expensive for what it is if you pay full price for it.
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is one of the biggest shopping malls in the world. You could easily spend a week there and still not see everything…
Depending on how long your Dubai stopover is and whether you still have some time left after you saw the fountains, the Burj Khalifa, and the Dubai Aquarium, you can do some shopping or explore further.
Don’t miss the impressive waterfall inside the mall! There is also an ice rink, dino museum, cinema, kids playground KidZania, games and attractions of SEGA Republic, The Emirates A380 Experience, and much more.
OPTION 2: Join an organized Dubai layover sightseeing tour
If you have a 5-9 hours layover in Dubai, probably the best you can do is book a highly-rated private layover sightseeing tour.
This private tour with airport transfers brings you to some of the most famous places in Dubai, such as Burj Khalifa and Burj Al-Arab. It also already includes the Burj Khalifa ticket.
That way you don’t have to worry about any practical details – your guide will pick you up at the airport and show you the very best of the Emirate in a limited time. Since this is a private tour, the route can be customized to suit your interests.
If your Dubai layover is shorter, then you may want to opt for this 3-hr private Dubai transit tour instead. This tour will pick you up and drop you off at the airport and show you some of the most iconic places in Dubai. Needless to say, you won’t have much time to visit any of the attractions, but it’s a good way to see what Dubai is about and a good alternative to sitting at the airport half a day…
Important to know: Traffic in Dubai can be really busy and unpredictable. So only book city tours if your layover is not in the middle of the day (afternoon traffic is the worst) and you have plenty of time. Otherwise, see our option 1 above – it will be more relaxing.
One full day stopover in Dubai
If you have at least one night or one full day on your Dubai stopover, you can combine the visit to the Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa with a short tour of the city.
I already mentioned all the best things to do in and around the Dubai Mall. Half a day is enough for the main highlights there. So in addition to that, I advise joining one of the short tours that show you a bit more of Dubai in a short time. Below you can find a selection of some of the best options to consider. Take a look!
Best half-day tours for your Dubai stopover
Here are some of the best short tours that you could do on your Dubai stopover:
- Old Dubai & Markets. This Dubai city half-day sightseeing tour brings you to Dubai’s famous traditional markets – Spice Souq and Deira Gold Souq. It also includes a visit to Al Khayma Heritage House and Blue Mosque.
- Dubai Marina. There are many companies offering Marina dinner cruises with traditional Tanouri dance performances and they are all pretty much the same. We took the Alexandra Dhow Cruise as it was the best price-quality tour, certainly for families with children, and we were not disappointed. If you prefer a less ‘traditional’ cruise, there are plenty of other Marina cruises – with or without food. And even if you don’t take the cruise, Dubai Marina is not to be missed. It’s especially lively in the evening.
- Dubai Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour allows you to see Dubai’s top attractions at your own pace. This is a great option if you have one full day for your Dubai stopover. This is the best-rated hop-on hop-off tour in Dubai.
- Morning or evening desert tour. The sunrise balloon flight is a nice option if you have a morning in Dubai and can’t find much interesting to do in the city early in the morning. This Camel riding tour is a wonderful way to experience the Dubai desert in the late afternoon/evening. We recently did this tour when we had a late-night flight out of Dubai and it was a great way to fill the evening, and a really enjoyable experience too!
Two-day Dubai stopover
If you have two days on your Dubai stopover, you should spend one day visiting the best of Dubai attractions mentioned above.
For your second day, I recommend choosing one of the three options mentioned below – that will make your short visit to Dubai even more memorable. Take a look!
OPTION 1: Spend a day at the water park in Dubai
If your Dubai stopover is in the summer when it’s very hot in the UAE, simply consider spending a day at a waterpark. It’s also a great option for families traveling via Dubai with children.
There are two major water parks in Dubai: Atlantis Aquaventure and Wild Wadi Water Park. Wild Wadi has more attractions for smaller kids, whereas Aquaventure has more for all ages.
TIP: Entrance tickets for the Dubai water parks are much cheaper if booked online and at least a week in advance.
LEARN MORE: Tips & Tricks for Atlantis Aquaventure
OPTION 2: Take a day tour to Abu Dhabi
If you rather go sightseeing and want to get the very most out of your short Dubai stopover, visit Abu Dhabi. It has so much to offer!
With a full day to spare, don’t look any further and take this highly-rated full-day tour. It brings you to the top landmarks and is a wonderful way to see the best of Abu Dhabi in a day. We did this tour recently and I can highly recommend it (but only if you have a full day for it!).
If you are short on time and only want to see the famous Sheikh Zayed Mosque, then consider this popular half-day tour instead. It takes about 5-6 hours.
LEARN MORE: Best Abu Dhabi Tour from Dubai
OPTION 3: Go on a Dubai desert safari
There are many companies that organize Dubai desert tours. Below are two of the best options.
We did both of these tours – on different trips to Dubai – and really enjoyed them both. Since I get car sick rather quickly, I preferred the camel tour a bit more than dune bashing in a 4×4, but the rest of the family found both tours equally fun.
1. 4×4 Dubai Desert Safari. This 4-7-hour tour is a short introduction to all things Emirati: dune bashing, sandboarding, camel riding (5 minutes max), and BBQ dinner.
2. Sunset Camel Trek with Shows & BBQ. This tour is a bit longer and is a bit more luxurious. It also includes a longer (30-45min) camel ride in the desert.
Where to stay on your Dubai stopover
Now that you know that Dubai stopover is well worth it and you won’t get bored in the city, you need a place to stay for 1 or 2 nights. Below is a small selection of Dubai hotels that are well located for a short stopover in Dubai.
TIP: I really recommend you stay in Dubai at least one night instead of just doing a quick Dubai layover. Immigration can be hectic and it will be very stressful if you only have a couple of hours between the flights.
If you are visiting Dubai for just a night or two, it’s best to stay close to the airport or close to the Dubai Mall as this is one part of the city you really don’t want to miss on a short stopover in Dubai.
TIP: Staying close to the airport is cheaper than staying in the center, but staying close to the Dubai Mall gives you more flexibility and more time to explore.
Here are some of the best-rated hotels at Dubai Airport:
- $$$ Le Méridien Dubai Hotel
- $$ Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
- $ Flora Inn Hotel Dubai Airport (the most lower-budget popular choice).
Here are some of the best choices close to Dubai Mall:
- $$$$$ Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai (rooms with a view of Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain are possible).
- $$$ Sofitel Dubai Downtown (conveniently located close to the Dubai Mall metro station).
- $$ Rove Downtown Dubai (great price for the location).
So, this is our guide for a short stopover in Dubai. I hope you found some ideas for the best things to do for Dubai stopover or a short layover.
There is just so much to see and do in the city that it’s difficult to suggest one stopover itinerary that fits everyone. But I’m confident that any of the options listed above will be a great choice for your Dubai stopover. Enjoy your trip!
READ ALSO: What to wear in Dubai
More tips for visiting Dubai:
- Practical info:
- Things to do:
- Interesting to know:
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Hi , i have 9 hour transit in Dubai this coming Jan 2024. Can you help to recommend something for me to do? Perhaps a tour in Dubai. I never been to Dubai before. Please help. Thanks
Hi Shahid, all our recommendations are already in the article above.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga
Found your ideas very helpful.
I’ve got 5.5 hr transit and I read you don’t suggest leaving the airport for less than 6. In your opinion is 5.5 still doable? I’ll have my 18yo daughter with me and would love to show her a quick glimpse of Dubai given its so spectacular. We arrive at 5.30am so is there anything we could do other than stay in the airport for all that time (even if I got a premium lounge access pass)? I was thinking about catching a cab into town to do a brief sightseeing tour and maybe stop at the Burj K? I’m interested in your thoughts/ideas.
Many thanks.
Michael.
Hi Michael, if your flight arrives on time and you can get through the immigration fast enough, you might be able to quickly see the city. It’s hard for me to say, only you can decide if it’s worth the stress. But yes, I guess it could work.
Otherwise, you can just wait to decide until you get there and if everything goes smooth, go and see Burj Khalifa. Whether you can actually visit it inside, that’s another story (also because of the early hours of your layover), but it’s impressive enough to just walk around the Dubai Mall area.
Don’t forget to get back to the airport on time!
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, thanks for getting back to me…much appreciated. 😉
Very simple , detailed and informative to the common traveller.Thanks.
Glad you found it useful, Rudolph. Enjoy Dubai!
Will i need to be tested for Covid-19 during my brief 12 hour stop over in Dubai, will i be allowed to board my next flight without a PCR test, and if PCR is necessary then how to make sure the test results be available in time for boarding ?
Sorry, but I really cannot help you with the advice in regards to this. The rules and requirements can change rapidly anywhere in the world these days. The last thing I heard of Dubai is that you had to do the test at home, before you leave, and be able to show a negative test upon arrival. But I don’t know if it’s still the case today and probably nobody can tell you how it will be in a month or two. So you have to check the official sources for the most up to date information in time for your trip.
Good luck!
@Jurga, I was wondering the same thing. I’m travelling from USA to Cairo and I have a layover for 7 hours in Dubai and wanted to visit Downtown Area. I was wondering if my PCR test taken in the USA will be good to get back in my Dubai to Cairo flight?
Hi Carlos, unfortunately, I really cannot help you with this. The rules and regulations change all the time, so it’s essential to check the official sources of the countries you are visiting. Good luck!
I m going to karachi ,from Bahrain and stop in Dubai is for 2 hrs can I change and take stop over for a day without any penalty?and can i have a free hotel
Hi, I’m afraid this is not something I can help you with. You have to ask your airline if you can change your ticket. As for the hotel, you can only get free accommodation when there are flight cancelations or significant delays and it’s not something that you should count on. 🙂
Hi, i will be having 1 free day at Dubai on January (Saturday), already booked the afternon desert safari tour (need to be at the hotel at 3pm).
We will be staying in Al Barsha, can you please reccomend what can we do with the kids from morning until 2pm.
At first we were thinking to go to Motiongate but it wouldn’t be possible to go to any amusement park with the limited time that we have.
Thank you!
Hi Dewi, my first idea was to tell you to go to a waterpark, but it’s quite expensive and probably not worth the hassle for just half a day. I think I have a better idea.
Why don’t you take a taxi (it’s quite cheap – metro will take too much time because you have to walk far) and go to the Mall of Dubai and visit Burj Khalifa? Our kids loved it, we loved it too, and it doesn’t require much time (just make sure to book tickets in advance).
If you have some time left after that, you can see the fountains and maybe also take a look at the big wall of the Dubai Aquarium inside the mall (you don’t have to get tickets or stand in line to just see it from the outside).
Enjoy your trip!
We are flying to Australia next week and our travel agent convinced us to do a stopover in Dubai. We have less than 24 hours (1 night) in the city and were wondering what to see, so this is very helpful. I now regret we didn’t book 2 nights.
Don’t worry about it, just make the best of the time you have in Dubai, Dierdre. The city really comes to life in the evening so it’s nice to spend a night there. Lots to see and do and everything stays open very late as well.
I’ve spent long hours in layovers at Dubai airport – I didn’t know that you could do so much in such a short space of time. Do you not need a visa though?
That’s a good question, Sara! Citizens of most European countries (and quite some others including the United States and Australia) can obtain a free visa upon arrival, so no need to do anything in advance. I found this website with more information about visa requirements for UAE.
I live in Dubai and have done for over a year now! There is so so much to do here i love it. People certainly should get out of the airport if they have chance to, i think sometimes people worry about Dubai and there really is no need to, it’s a beautiful place!
Indeed, there’s so much to do in Dubai that everyone can definitely find something for them! The difficulty is to choose where to go if you only have very little time. 🙂
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much. Truly informative and relevant information that I will definitely use. A lot of the flights I’ve been looking at do stop over in Dubai – and I’m all about making the most of a trip! So thanks again!
Glad you found this post useful, Suzannah. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – appreciate it!
Valuable suggestions and a comprehensive list of sights! Specially interesting are the desert trip and the old town.
Indeed, Punita – the Old Town of Dubai is worth a visit and we truly enjoyed the desert trip as well. But I also think that no visit to Dubai would be complete without seeing Burj Khalifa, wouldn’t you agree?