Dubai weekend: What to do in Dubai in 48 hours
Spoiler alert: you can't do everything (that's why you need to plan a return trip), however, you can pack a hefty amount into 48 hours.
Don't know where to start? Don't worry, we're here to help – we've mapped out your dream Dubai weekend (or couple of weekdays), giving you a flavour of everything the city has to offer.
It's going to be jam-packed, filled with the best things to do in Dubai.
Let's go.
Day 1: Morning
Experience UAE culture
Credit:Canva
First stop – breakfast.
Getting straight into the culture, head for a traditional Emirati breakfast at the Arabian Tea House in Bur Dubai and enjoy one of their breakfast trays, filled with dates, molasses, Balaleet, watermelon jam and baked beans.
Then it's time to walk off that breakfast around Old Dubai. Take in the sights on either side of Dubai Creek before it gets too hot and you can even use an abra – a traditional boat – to ferry you over for just Dhs1. Enjoy a stroll through the Gold Souk to hunt out a bargain (haggling is expected!), or the traditional boutiques around Al Seef to get a feel of Dubai in years gone by.
Arabian Tea House, open daily 7am-11pm, Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, arabianteahouse.net (04 353 5071).
Day 1: Afternoon
Explore Dubai Mall
(Credit: CanvaPro)
You'll be getting your steps in today that's for sure, as next on the itinerary is an adventure around the world's biggest shopping mall.
With over 1,500 shops and restaurants, there is everything at Dubai Mall that you could ever need.
If you like this: Your ultimate guide to Dubai Mall
It's not just about shopping though – you'll also find Dubai Ice Rink, an enormous Reel Cinema, an immersive hype experience, a quirky soft play and an e-karting track.
Open daily 10am-11pm. Downtown Dubai, thedubaimall.com.
Day 1: Evening
Enjoy Downtown Dubai
Credit: CÉ LA VI
For your evening activities, make sure to catch the sunset at Burj Khalifa. At The Top you'll find a viewing deck on floor 125. Want to go even higher? There are other packages available that will whistle you all the way up to level 148, just be sure to book ahead.
When you get hungry, head to Time Out Market and grab something from the huge selection of food vendors – keep an eye out for Pitfire Pizza, Pickl and Mattar.
Your last destination of the day is Cé La Vi for a few drinks overlooking Downtown Dubai. You'll be served some incredible views of glittering Burj Khalifa, which looks even more impressive from this 54th-floor restaurant.
If the weather isn't too hot, head out to the terrace to make the most of those stellar panoramas.
Prices vary. At The Top, open daily 5am-midnight, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, burjkhalifa.ae (04 888 8124).
Time Out Market, open Mon-Thu noon-midnight; Fri noon-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 10am-midnight. Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai timeoutdubai.com (054 375 2421).
Open Sun-Fri noon-3am, Sat 12.30pm-3am. Level 54, Tower 2, Address Sky View Hotel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, celavi.com, (04 582 6111).
Day 2, Morning
Yoga and breakfast at Aura Skypool
Is there a better way to start the day than cooling off at one of the hottest spots in town? Aura Skypool is the world's highest infinity pool, with 360-degree vistas and incredible views over Atlantis The Palm.
Spend the morning tucking into breakfast – with dishes like an Asian brunch bowl or miso eggs benedict – and taking a dip. The pool is an ideal spot to pose for pics or, if you're the active type, you can do a yoga class three mornings a week for the ultimate flex (literally).
Prices vary. Opening times vary.The Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah, auraskypool.com (04 566 2121).
Day 2: Afternoon
Take on Atlantis Aquaventure
While the summer temperatures are in full force, a trip to the waterpark is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon.
Keeping you cool as you splash between slides or float along the lazy river, there's plenty to do in the world's largest waterpark (try Poseidon's Revenge if you dare…).
Plus, once you're all dried off, you can take a wander through the iconic Atlantis The Palm hotel or even take a visit to the Lost Chambers Aquarium, where you'll meet over 65,000 marine animals.
Atlantis Aquaventure: From Dhs235. Open daily 10am-6.30pm. Palm Jumeirah, aquaventureworld.com (04 426 0000).
The Lost Chambers Aquarium: From Dhs125 (adult), Dhs100 (child). Open daily 10am-9pm. Palm Jumeirah, aquaventureworld.com (04 426 0000).
Day 2: Evening
Dine, sip and party
KIRA (Credit: Supplied)
It wouldn't be a trip to Dubai without witnessing Burj Al Arab in all its gilded glory. If you want a spectacular view of the 'seven-star' hotel, book a terrace table at KIRA inside the new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel. Complete with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and gorgeous views, this is a perfect choice for your final dinner.
As the evening continues, head to SUSHISAMBA for a show-stopping after-dark drink. With sprawling views over Palm Jumeirah, coupled with an iconic menu of 'Samba Serves' mixed drinks, it's definitely worth sipping one last digestif here.
If you want to keep the party going, end your trip on a high at FIVE Palm Jumeirah hotel. Packed with entertainment, the venue never sleeps. Don't miss out on sipping something refreshing on the Maiden Shanghai terrace, or a dance at Bling nightclub – where you can drive your supercar onto the dancefloor – for one last 48-hour fling.
KIRA Dubai: Open Sun-Wed noon-1am,Thu-Sun noon-2am. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Umm Suqeim, kira-restaurant.com (04 328 1665).
SUSHISAMBA: Open Mon-Fri noon-3pm, 6pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1-3.30pm, 6pm-2am. The St. Regis Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, sushisamba.com (04 278 4888).
Maiden Shanghai: Open Sun-Thu 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-1am; Fri 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-2am; Sat 1pm-7pm, 8pm-2am. FIVE Palm Jumeirah, maiden-shanghai.com (04 455 9989).
Bling: Open Tue10pm-4am,Thu-Fri 10pm-4am, Sat 11pm-4am, Sun 10pm-4am. FIVE Palm Jumeirah, blingdxb.com (058 869 8996).
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Time Out Dubai
14 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai weekend: What to do in Dubai in 48 hours
You've landed in Dubai. The clock is ticking and you have 48 hours to discover how incredible this city is. Spoiler alert: you can't do everything (that's why you need to plan a return trip), however, you can pack a hefty amount into 48 hours. Don't know where to start? Don't worry, we're here to help – we've mapped out your dream Dubai weekend (or couple of weekdays), giving you a flavour of everything the city has to offer. It's going to be jam-packed, filled with the best things to do in Dubai. Let's go. Day 1: Morning Experience UAE culture Credit:Canva First stop – breakfast. Getting straight into the culture, head for a traditional Emirati breakfast at the Arabian Tea House in Bur Dubai and enjoy one of their breakfast trays, filled with dates, molasses, Balaleet, watermelon jam and baked beans. Then it's time to walk off that breakfast around Old Dubai. Take in the sights on either side of Dubai Creek before it gets too hot and you can even use an abra – a traditional boat – to ferry you over for just Dhs1. Enjoy a stroll through the Gold Souk to hunt out a bargain (haggling is expected!), or the traditional boutiques around Al Seef to get a feel of Dubai in years gone by. Arabian Tea House, open daily 7am-11pm, Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, (04 353 5071). Day 1: Afternoon Explore Dubai Mall (Credit: CanvaPro) You'll be getting your steps in today that's for sure, as next on the itinerary is an adventure around the world's biggest shopping mall. With over 1,500 shops and restaurants, there is everything at Dubai Mall that you could ever need. If you like this: Your ultimate guide to Dubai Mall It's not just about shopping though – you'll also find Dubai Ice Rink, an enormous Reel Cinema, an immersive hype experience, a quirky soft play and an e-karting track. Open daily 10am-11pm. Downtown Dubai, Day 1: Evening Enjoy Downtown Dubai Credit: CÉ LA VI For your evening activities, make sure to catch the sunset at Burj Khalifa. At The Top you'll find a viewing deck on floor 125. Want to go even higher? There are other packages available that will whistle you all the way up to level 148, just be sure to book ahead. When you get hungry, head to Time Out Market and grab something from the huge selection of food vendors – keep an eye out for Pitfire Pizza, Pickl and Mattar. Your last destination of the day is Cé La Vi for a few drinks overlooking Downtown Dubai. You'll be served some incredible views of glittering Burj Khalifa, which looks even more impressive from this 54th-floor restaurant. If the weather isn't too hot, head out to the terrace to make the most of those stellar panoramas. Prices vary. At The Top, open daily 5am-midnight, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, (04 888 8124). Time Out Market, open Mon-Thu noon-midnight; Fri noon-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 10am-midnight. Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai (054 375 2421). Open Sun-Fri noon-3am, Sat 12.30pm-3am. Level 54, Tower 2, Address Sky View Hotel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, (04 582 6111). Day 2, Morning Yoga and breakfast at Aura Skypool Is there a better way to start the day than cooling off at one of the hottest spots in town? Aura Skypool is the world's highest infinity pool, with 360-degree vistas and incredible views over Atlantis The Palm. Spend the morning tucking into breakfast – with dishes like an Asian brunch bowl or miso eggs benedict – and taking a dip. The pool is an ideal spot to pose for pics or, if you're the active type, you can do a yoga class three mornings a week for the ultimate flex (literally). Prices vary. Opening times Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah, (04 566 2121). Day 2: Afternoon Take on Atlantis Aquaventure While the summer temperatures are in full force, a trip to the waterpark is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. Keeping you cool as you splash between slides or float along the lazy river, there's plenty to do in the world's largest waterpark (try Poseidon's Revenge if you dare…). Plus, once you're all dried off, you can take a wander through the iconic Atlantis The Palm hotel or even take a visit to the Lost Chambers Aquarium, where you'll meet over 65,000 marine animals. Atlantis Aquaventure: From Dhs235. Open daily 10am-6.30pm. Palm Jumeirah, (04 426 0000). The Lost Chambers Aquarium: From Dhs125 (adult), Dhs100 (child). Open daily 10am-9pm. Palm Jumeirah, (04 426 0000). Day 2: Evening Dine, sip and party KIRA (Credit: Supplied) It wouldn't be a trip to Dubai without witnessing Burj Al Arab in all its gilded glory. If you want a spectacular view of the 'seven-star' hotel, book a terrace table at KIRA inside the new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab hotel. Complete with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and gorgeous views, this is a perfect choice for your final dinner. As the evening continues, head to SUSHISAMBA for a show-stopping after-dark drink. With sprawling views over Palm Jumeirah, coupled with an iconic menu of 'Samba Serves' mixed drinks, it's definitely worth sipping one last digestif here. If you want to keep the party going, end your trip on a high at FIVE Palm Jumeirah hotel. Packed with entertainment, the venue never sleeps. Don't miss out on sipping something refreshing on the Maiden Shanghai terrace, or a dance at Bling nightclub – where you can drive your supercar onto the dancefloor – for one last 48-hour fling. KIRA Dubai: Open Sun-Wed noon-1am,Thu-Sun noon-2am. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Umm Suqeim, (04 328 1665). SUSHISAMBA: Open Mon-Fri noon-3pm, 6pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1-3.30pm, 6pm-2am. The St. Regis Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, (04 278 4888). Maiden Shanghai: Open Sun-Thu 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-1am; Fri 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-2am; Sat 1pm-7pm, 8pm-2am. FIVE Palm Jumeirah, (04 455 9989). Bling: Open Tue10pm-4am,Thu-Fri 10pm-4am, Sat 11pm-4am, Sun 10pm-4am. FIVE Palm Jumeirah, (058 869 8996). Staying in Dubai? Check out what's happening It's official: The 86 best restaurants in Dubai Tried and tested by us 9 gorgeous reformer Pilates studios to try in Dubai this week Come for the workout, stay for the interiors 6 incredible UAE resorts that feel like you're abroad How to holiday in Greece, Ibiza and the Maldives without leaving the UAE
Time Out Dubai
19 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
8 luxe-looking Dubai experiences that are secretly affordable
Let's be honest, who doesn't crave a bit of luxury now and then? Unfortunately, luxury often comes with a price tag that's enough to make your eyes water. But don't worry, you don't have to spend big to feel fancy—Dubai's packed with affordable spots that feel five-star. If you want to get a slice of the luxe life for a smidge of the price, check out some of our top recommendations below. Sail on an abra to your waterside restaurant (Credit: Supplied) Wind through Madinat Jumeirah on a traditional abra boat and look up at the views of the eternally swanky Burj Al Arab before arriving at Pai Thai. If arriving at a fancy restaurant on your own boat didn't feel expensive enough, you can dine on a budget by making the most of the lunch deal. Offering two courses for only Dhs150, sample some of the best Thai food in the city for less. Lunch deal Dhs150 (two courses), Dhs165 (three courses). Mon-Fri 12.30pm-2.30pm, Sun 12.30pm-5.30pm. Madinat Jumeirah, (800 323 232). Wander through Fashion Avenue (Credit: Supplied) You might not be able to buy anything, but you can still dress to impress and take a stroll through the most high-end stretch of Dubai Mall. Costing nothing at all, you can window shop at over 150 designer brands from Cartier and Dior to Gucci and Van Cleef & Arpels. If you want to soak up the smell of expensive designer wear, pull up a chair at Ladurée and sip on mocktails, special teas or Arabic coffee whilst nibbling on some rather pretty pastel-hued macarons, with flavours like cotton candy, salted caramel and honey pine tree. You might not be leaving laden with shopping bags, but you will leave with the feeling of being immersed in a designer lifestyle for an hour or two. Mon-Thurs 10am-midnight, Fri-Sun 10am-1am. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, (800 3822 46255). Have breakfast at Tiffany's (Credit: Tiffany and Co.) The diamonds in here are pretty expensive, but thankfully, a latte is not. Have your own Holly Golightly moment at the Blue Box Café in Dubai Mall and let art imitate life amidst Tiffany & Co.'s iconic turquoise décor while you sip on a macchiato or Passion de Fleurs white tea. Inspired by the brand's illustrious rich heritage, you can dive into your own Breakfast at Tiffany's movie and tuck into French toast, Blue Box Benedict with truffle, or avocado toast. You might end up spending more if you opt in for the whole breakfast menu — or even afternoon tea — but a quick caffeine fix can cost as little as Dhs23, and a small pastry won't dip into your savings too much, either. Open daily 10am-midnight. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, (04 250 4935). Use the 'Press for bubbly' button at Josette (Credit: Supplied) Book a table at the stunning, pink-infused restaurant to feel like you've been transported to Paris. This is one venue that is high on immersive feels. Enjoy the grand décor and get your finger on that 'Press for bubbly' button as soon as possible. That's because despite the ultra-luxe vibes at Josette, it actually has one of the cheapest glasses of bubbly in the city, priced at Dhs78. Oh, and did you know, Josette has its own custom-brand Brut Reserve NV, so you'll be sipping on something even more exclusive for under Dhs100. Mon-Fri 9am-1am, Sat-Sun 9am-3am. ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC, (04 275 2522). Eat breakfast in your own private pod (Credit:Supplied) For an ultra-private experience, book one of these stunning pods for the ultimate in experiential dining. While this kind of experience usually comes with a hefty price tag, not so here. These pods come with their own pretty tables, stunning views over JBR and Dubai Marina and, the best part, air-conditioning. Now launching an all-new breakfast menu, you can enjoy this private dining experience over your morning eggs for as little as Dhs49. Sit back and admire your pod alongside American style pancakes, chocolate fondant, avo on toast or even The Pods Breakfast Platter for under Dhs50. Breakfast available daily 8am-noon. The Pods, Bluewaters Island, (04 453 8994). Have a bubbly breakfast at Time Out Market (Credit: Time Out Market) There aren't many places that will give you this kind of view for this kind of price. Every Saturday and Sunday, start your day early with a weekend breakfast and a glass of bubbles at Time Out Market, where your fizz will only set you back Dhs45. Get a good seat on the terrace overlooking The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa, and tuck into the likes of a Morning Glory Pizza from Pitfire or a Morning Sanger from Pickl. Sip and nibble for next to nothing as you enjoy the atmosphere in one of the most iconic spots in the city. Take a moonlight swim at Cloud 22 (Credit: Supplied) Sure, it's not exactly a bargain, but here's how to do it for less. A normal non-redeemable lounger at the Atlantis The Royal Cloud 22 pool would cost you Dhs650 on a weekend. But, if you take the evening pool and lounge pass, you can linger for three whole hours on this incredible rooftop overlooking Palm Jumeirah for just Dhs300. It might not be the cheapest bargain out there, but if you want an expensive-for-less-experience, then really is the way to do it. From Dhs300. From Thurs Apr 25, open every Thurs-Sat, 7-11pm. Cloud 22, Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah, (04 426 2700). Dine on a pier next to the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Onda by Pierchic) Pier Chic is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Dubai, with its tables stretching out into the sea and offering uninterrupted views of the Burj Al Arab. Serving up a range of Italian-inspired dishes, you can dress up and dine for a great deal on weekdays, when its lunch menu costs only Dhs150 for two courses. Think burrata, panzanella, pesto with fusilli and ricotta, homemade meatballs and tiramisu or panna cotta. It's not often you get to clink glasses at a restaurant-over-the-sea for so little. So savour the dishes, bespoke services and great prices. Sun-Thurs 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr (800 323 232). Looking for things to do in Dubai? 56 things to do this May in Dubai May is hot on things to do in Dubai Before it gets too hot: 10 best outdoor restaurants in Dubai 2024 Hit up these incredible outdoor dining spots while the weather is still great 19 fully redeemable pool and beach days in Dubai Pool days don't have to break the bank, especially with this list
Time Out Dubai
21 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
5 cheap flights from Dubai to book for summer
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