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Day 1: Trip to Dubai Creek Harbour
On the first day of your adventure in the city of gold, make your way to Dubai Creek Harbour. Ensconced between the older parts of the city and the modern landmarks, Dubai Creek Harbour is an ideal spot to feel the tides of time pass you by.
Let the gorgeous cityscape, views from the marina and the neon art installations inspire your inner artist to etch a sketch in your notebook or click pictures of the sky playing the perfect background character to the silhouette of the skyscrapers.
Before calling it a day, make your way to the North Promenade to this quaint café called Next Door Kitchen for lip-smacking flatbreads starting from USD 10.89 or AED 40, along with fresh fruit juice starting from USD 8.71 or AED 32.
Day 2: Birding at Ras Al Khor
One of the places with an intrinsic value in Dubai that often gets lost amidst the glamour is Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. A haven for avid birders, the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is open from 6 am to 6 pm during summer and 7:30 am to 5:30 pm during winter. Just a heads up: Friday opening hours may vary, so it’s a good idea to double-check before you head to the sanctuary!
If you are not a birder, you can start a new hobby and a list on your visit to the sanctuary. Let the different species of birds housed within the mudflats, lagoons, mangroves and salt flats of the wetland inspire you to click pictures or draw the birds from your memory. Some top birds to look out for include greater flamingoes, ospreys, and western reef herons.
A cab ride from Dubai Creek Harbour to the sanctuary is estimated to cost around AED 27, and an abra (traditional wooden boat) ride from the closest marine station to the sanctuary from Dubai Creek Harbor costs AED 2.
If you can save on transportation, then minimalist cafés serving delectable food like Alayla Creek await you at Dubai Creek Harbour, where you can get burgers starting from USD 11 or AED 43, along with coffee starting from USD 6 or AED 20. However, if you opt for smooth transportation, fret not—there are tons of small local eateries at Dubai Creek Harbour where you are sure to get delicious shawarma under USD 10 or AED 30.
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Day 3: Exploring Dubai Mall & Souk Al Bahar
Dubai Mall
With more than 48 hours in Dubai, it’s time to visit one of the world’s largest shopping complexes and the biggest shopping mall in the UAE—the Dubai Mall. As you glance your way around the glass window stores housing a plethora of brands, you will find many familiar eateries and cafés to try, like the famous Five Guys or Shake Shack, where a burger and plate of fries would cost approximately USD 16 or AED 60.
Burj Khalifa
Dubai Mall is the gateway to an elemental Dubai experience—admiring the Burj Khalifa from up close! The tallest building in the world, it is the talk of the town anywhere grandeur is being discussed. Even if this trip does not allow you to experience the city from the top, you can surely look up the twinkling lights as you stand outside the mall and salute the building as you adjust your eyes to the height. Also, seize the chance to look into the day of adorable marine life inside from the glass windows of the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
Souk Al Bahar
Souk Al Bahar, which translates to ‘Market of the Sailor’ in Arabic, is a nearby marketplace. Feel the zest in the air as you promenade your way next to the Souk Al Bahar by walking over the Souk Al Bahar bridge. Experience the modern twist on traditional Arab marketplaces as you window shop or take photos of Burj Khalifa in the background.
Day 4: Exploring Old Dubai
Amidst the skyscrapers and the plazas, it can be easy to forget the real reason why Dubai has been considered a melting pot of cultures for a very long time.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Start the day with a promenade around the heart of Old Dubai at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also known as the Al Bastakiya. Follow the corners and the cobblestone streets to feel the essence of life in Dubai in the mid-19th century. Take a peak at Dubai’s oldest building—Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum. Learn about over 470 rare coins from significant eras at the Dubai Coin Museum or about the history and culture of coffee at Coffee Museum Dubai—for free.
For lunch, head over to the iconic Persian kebab eatery in the historical neighborhood called Al Ustad for kebabs with rice or bread that you think about on rainy days starting from USD 8 or AED 28.
Deira Creekside
The Deira Creekside is a stone’s throw away from Al Bastakiya. Perched alongside Dubai Creek, the Deira Creekside is sure to give you a rose-tinted experience of the sunset during the golden hour.
Experience an authentic Middle Eastern shopping experience as you saunter around the old souk (market). Find your way to the Perfume Souk filled with ouds, perfumes and body oils. Cement the time in Dubai in your memory lane with a perfume oil from the Ajmal Collection starting approximately from AED 27 or USD 8.
Day 5: Slumbering at the Sunset Beach
Spend the penultimate day slumbering around one of the free public beaches in Dubai—Sunset Beach. Catch up on the beach read that you downloaded on your Kindle or create a new room in your memory lane for rainy days. Purchase a new book before leaving for Dubai and read the book at Sunset Beach.
Let the sound of the waves and the twittering of the birds be your soundtrack for the day as you soak up Vitamin D while on a literary adventure with the main character of your beach read.
If you are not carrying dry snacks, you can grab drinks and sandwiches from a friendly café called Arabian Tea House Montenegro, which is just a stone’s throw away for USD 19 or AED 70.
Day 6: Savoring the last few moments in Dubai
Water taxi ride
If you have another day left in your week in Dubai, book a water taxi ride for some last-moment tranquility. Catch the reflection from plush seats in an air-conditioned water taxi and enjoy the soft, sparkly ripples of the Persian Gulf as the Sun prepares to say goodbye for the day.
Every weekday from 03:55 pm to 9:35 pm (until 10:10 pm on Saturday), Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) offers water taxi services connecting Marina Promenade to Marina Terrace for AED 21 or USD 5. Tickets for the service can be booked from the official RTA website.
Dubai Marina Promenade
The Marina Promenade becomes even more stunning in the evening. Be an observer and watch the man-made stars twinkle in the distance as city lights. Feel the rose-golden glow of the setting sun and click a Polaroid with the city as the background as you relish your last few moments around Marina Promenade.
We hope our six-day itinerary motivates you to book that ticket to Dubai this year and experience the glamorous city from a brand-new perspective.
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