Dubai in 3 days: what to see, transport and rules for tourists
Mykyta Dzhus · Updated 2026-10-20 · 4 min read · Where to go
Dubai mixes skyscrapers and old souks, beaches and desert. In three days you can see the city from the top of the Burj Khalifa, cross the Creek on a wooden abra and watch the sunset in the dunes. Here's the itinerary and the rules worth knowing in advance.
Contents
In short
- Day 1: Downtown. Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain.
- Day 2: old Dubai. Al Fahidi, an abra across the Creek, the Gold and Spice souks.
- Day 3: the Marina, JBR beach and Palm Jumeirah, with a desert safari in the evening.
- With an extra day: Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
From the airport and getting around
Terminals 1 and 3 of Dubai Airport (DXB) are on the metro Red Line, so you can reach Downtown and the Marina without a taxi. You pay with a Nol card, sold at metro ticket offices and machines and also valid on buses and the tram. Taxis are plentiful, and the Careem and Uber apps work too. In summer walking around during the day is hard, so plan walks for the evening. Arrival tips: “Dubai Airport in 2026: visa, taxi, metro and mobile data after landing”.
Day 1: Downtown and the Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building. The At the Top observation decks are on floors 124–125, and the premium one is higher still, on floor 148. Tickets are cheaper online in advance, and sunset slots sell out fastest.
Next door is the Dubai Mall with its huge aquarium and ice rink, and in the evening the Dubai Fountain show plays at its foot every half hour; the best view is from the Souk Al Bahar promenade.
Day 2: old Dubai
Start in the Al Fahidi district: narrow lanes, houses with wind towers, galleries and cafés. From there head to Dubai Creek: wooden abras ferry passengers across for a few dirhams, one of the most atmospheric rides in the city. On the other bank, in Deira, are the Gold and Spice souks. In the evening you can go up the Dubai Frame, a giant “frame” with views of the old and new city.
Day 3: the Marina, beaches and the Palm
Dubai Marina is a waterfront among skyscrapers, with cafés and yachts. Nearby is the public JBR beach with clean sand and free entry. A monorail runs out along the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah to the Atlantis hotel. The classic shot of the Burj Al Arab sail is taken from Jumeirah Beach (Sunset Beach).
The desert and Abu Dhabi
A desert safari usually starts in the afternoon and ends with dinner at a camp: dune bashing in 4x4s, camels, sunset and a show. Pick tours with reviews and a sensible length; the drive to the dunes takes about an hour.
Abu Dhabi is about an hour and a half by car. The highlight is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: entry is free, but you need to register online in advance and wear covered clothing (a headscarf for women). Next to it is the Louvre Abu Dhabi under its lace-like dome.
Rules and etiquette
- Dress modestly in malls and mosques: shoulders and knees covered.
- Alcohol is sold only in licensed venues, restaurants and hotel bars; drinking in the street is banned.
- The weekend in the UAE is Saturday and Sunday.
- During Ramadan, respect those who are fasting: don't eat or drink conspicuously in public during the day.
- Don't photograph people without permission, especially women.
When to go
The best season is November to March: warm days and comfortable evenings. From June to September the heat goes above 40 °C and life moves into air-conditioned malls. April, May and October are shoulder months: hot but bearable.
What to book ahead
- Burj Khalifa tickets: sunset slots sell out days ahead.
- Desert safari with dinner and hotel pickup.
- Dubai attractions on Klook: Museum of the Future, water parks, Abu Dhabi.
Links to 12Go, GetYourGuide and Klook are partner links: the price for you is the same, and a small commission helps us run this blog.
Internet and calls in the UAE
An important detail: in the UAE, WhatsApp and FaceTime Audio voice and video calls are officially restricted, though messages work fine. Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams video calls are available, and for calls tourists use apps licensed in the UAE. There's free Wi-Fi in malls and the metro, but for maps, taxis and tickets you need mobile data: UAE starts at $3.49, 5 GB for 30 days is $10.99, a week of unlimited is $27.99.
FAQ
Do WhatsApp calls work in Dubai?
WhatsApp and FaceTime Audio voice and video calls are restricted in the UAE; messages work. Zoom, Google Meet and Teams are available.
How do I get from Dubai Airport to the centre?
On the metro Red Line from Terminals 1 and 3, or by taxi; pay for the metro with a Nol card.
When is the best time to go to Dubai?
November to March. In summer the heat goes above 40 °C.
What should I wear in Dubai?
Shoulders and knees covered in malls and mosques; a normal swimsuit on the beach.
How much is an eSIM for the UAE?
From $3.49; 5 GB for 30 days is $10.99, a week of unlimited is $27.99.
I got tired of overpaying for SIM cards that didn't work and of searching for where to go next. So I built this site: travel guides and an eSIM that just works.
Need data on your trip?
An eSIM for 198 countries in a minute — no roaming, no paperwork.
Pick a countryPopular destinations
More articles
What to do after landing in Hurghada: the $30 visa in 2026 and where to buy it, taxi prices to your hotel, Uber, Careem or inDrive, money, tipping and common scams.
5 min read · Read →
Getting from Dubai Airport (DXB) in 2026: taxis from AED 25, the metro from Terminals 1 and 3, the Nol card, Uber and Careem, Salik, visa rules and what to know about data and WhatsApp calls.
4 min read · Read →
Where to go in Thailand from November to March: Phuket, Krabi, the Trang islands and Lipe, Samui, Chiang Mai. Weather by month, the 30-day visa exemption from 15 September 2026, TDAC, money, and our data test on Ko Muk.
4 min read · Read →
A full passenger guide: what to do at the airport, when you are owed €250–600 under EU261, the rules in Turkey, Thailand, the UAE and the US, what the 2026 EU261 reform changes, how to claim yourself and whether paying AirHelp or Compensair 30–35% is worth it.
12 min read · Read →
A big guide to Thailand's islands: Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, the Trang islands, Koh Lipe, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Ferry and speedboat prices in baht, when boats stop running, where to buy tickets, monkeys and jellyfish, scams, food and mobile data. With our own experience on Koh Muk.
10 min read · Read →
Getting from Istanbul and Antalya airports: 2026 taxi tariff, BiTaksi, Uber or iTaksi (no Bolt rides), Havaist and the metro, card or cash, bridge tolls and common scams.
5 min read · Read →