Region
Dubai
The dazzling showpiece of the Gulf: the record-breaking Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, the yacht-lined Marina, the old gold and spice souks along the Creek, and a skyline that reinvents itself every year.
Destinations · Asia
United Arab Emirates.
Soaring skylines, golden dunes & grand mosques.
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The country
Few countries fold so much contrast into so short a drive as the United Arab Emirates. In the space of a few days you can ride to the top of the tallest building on earth in Dubai, watch the sun drop behind the dunes on a desert safari, and stand beneath the forty-five domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, all within an hour or two of one another on some of the smoothest roads in the world.
This is a young country with deep roots. Behind the glass towers and the headline attractions lies an older Gulf of pearl divers and Bedouin caravans, still alive in the wind-tower houses of the Sharjah heritage quarter, the gold and spice souks along the Dubai Creek, and the mountain villages of the rugged Hajar range. Half the pleasure here is moving between the two, from a rooftop infinity pool one morning to a falaj-fed oasis or a quiet east-coast beach the next.
We design Emirates itineraries that balance the marquee sights with the quieter moments in between: a private dune drive with a sundowner in the Liwa sands, an after-hours visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi beneath its floating dome, a slow morning in an old courtyard house with cardamom coffee and dates. However you want to travel it, we build the route so each stop has room to breathe.
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Currency
- UAE dirham (AED)
- Ideal trip
- 6–9 nights
- Best for
- Cities, desert & grand design
When to go
The best time to visit the United Arab Emirates.
In the Emirates the season is simple and worth being honest about: the cooler half of the year is glorious, and high summer is brutal. This is how we'd read the calendar across the desk — the winter prime when the country lives outdoors, and the months we'd only book for indoor pleasures and a discount.
November–March
Our favorite window by far: warm, sunny days in the high seventies and eighties, cool desert evenings and calm seas. This is when the beaches, the dunes and the open-air dining are all at their best, and when the cities feel most alive.
October & April
The shoulder months: still very warm and largely dry, with thinner crowds and softer rates before and after the peak season. Comfortable for sightseeing and the desert, if a touch hot in the middle of the day.
May
Hot and climbing, but still workable if you start early, lean on the indoor attractions and the hotel pools in the afternoon, and save the desert for sunrise and sunset. Rates are lower than in the prime season.
June–September
High summer is intensely hot and humid, often well above one hundred degrees, and outdoor time is limited to the early mornings and evenings. The trade-off is the lowest prices of the year and a city that lives indoors, in malls, museums and chilled lounges.
Where to go
The regions of the United Arab Emirates.
The Emirates is a federation of seven, and while Dubai and Abu Dhabi take the headlines, the smaller emirates and the wild edges of the country reward anyone who ventures out. These are the regions we weave together most often, from the glittering cities to the silent dunes and the mountains of the east.
Region
Abu Dhabi
The stately capital: the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi beneath its latticed dome, the Corniche waterfront and the Formula One thrills of Yas Island.
Region
Sharjah
The cultural heart of the Emirates: restored wind-tower houses and museums in the heritage quarter, the souks and the Blue Souk, and a quieter, more traditional pace just minutes from Dubai.
Region
The Desert
The vast inland sands, from the dunes on Dubai's doorstep to the towering Liwa crescent on the edge of the Empty Quarter: the setting for dune safaris, sundowners and nights under the stars in a luxury desert camp.
Region
The Hajar Mountains & East Coast
The rugged other side of the country: the craggy Hajar range, the dam and heritage village at Hatta, and the diving, beaches and old forts of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman.
A sample journey
One way to spend a week in the United Arab Emirates.
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1 Days 1–2Dubai
Begin in Dubai: the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa, the gold and spice souks and an abra ride across the Creek, the yacht-lined Marina and the dancing fountains by night, with time for the beach in between.
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2 Day 3Desert safari
Head out into the dunes for a private desert safari: a thrilling drive over the sands, a sundowner on a high crest, and dinner under the stars at a luxury camp, with the option to overnight in the desert.
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3 Day 4Abu Dhabi & the Grand Mosque
Drive to the capital for the dazzling white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche and the palace of Qasr Al Watan, an easy and unforgettable introduction to the stately side of the Emirates.
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4 Day 5Louvre Abu Dhabi & Saadiyat
Give a slow morning to the Louvre Abu Dhabi beneath its floating, light-filtering dome, then the beaches and emerging museums of Saadiyat Island, with the thrills of Yas Island close by if you want them.
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5 Day 6Hatta & the Hajar Mountains
Finish with the rugged other side of the country: the turquoise reservoir and heritage village of Hatta, kayaking beneath the peaks and the mountain switchbacks of the Hajar range, a world away from the towers.
Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.
Getting around
- By private driver-guide
- The cities sit barely an hour or two apart on wide, modern highways, and we usually pair a private driver-guide with the itinerary so the transfers double as a chance to see the country and hear its stories, with no parking to worry about.
- By four-wheel drive
- For the desert, the mountains and the east coast, a 4x4 with an experienced guide is the way to go, both for the dune driving and the mountain roads around Hatta and Jebel Jais.
- In the cities
- Dubai's driverless Metro is clean, quick and cheap along the main spine, with plentiful taxis everywhere. The old quarters and the Creek are a pleasure on foot and by traditional abra.
Where to stay
- Downtown Dubai
- We favor stays around the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall for travelers who want to be in the thick of it, with the fountains, the dining and the high-rise bars on your doorstep and the Metro a short walk away.
- Dubai Marina & the beach
- For a resort feel, the Marina, Jumeirah Beach and Palm Jumeirah offer big beach hotels, infinity pools and waterfront promenades, an easy choice for a first trip or a family that wants sand and sea alongside the sights.
- Abu Dhabi
- We love a stay on Saadiyat Island for its beaches and museums, or along the Corniche for the city itself; the grand hotels here are some of the most impressive in the country, and the pace is calmer than Dubai.
- The desert
- A night or two at a desert resort in the dunes outside the cities is the highlight of many trips, with private pools, dawn falconry, dune drives and silence broken only by the wind. We build one in wherever the route allows.
Drivers, transfers, Metro passes and any desert, mountain or east-coast excursions are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.
Good to know
United Arab Emirates travel questions.
How many days do you need in the United Arab Emirates?+
Six to nine nights is the sweet spot. Around six comfortably covers Dubai, a desert safari and Abu Dhabi at a good pace; closer to nine lets you add Sharjah, the Hatta mountains and the east coast, or simply slow down with more beach and pool time between the sights.
When is the best time to visit the UAE?+
The cooler season from November to March is by far the best time, with warm, sunny days, comfortable evenings and calm seas perfect for the beaches, the desert and outdoor dining. October and April are good shoulder months, while the summer from June to September is intensely hot and humid and best spent largely indoors.
Should I visit Dubai or Abu Dhabi?+
If you can, both; they are only about ninety minutes apart and complement each other well. Dubai is the dazzling, fast-moving showpiece of skylines, shopping and nightlife, while Abu Dhabi is grander and calmer, home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the museums of Saadiyat Island. We often build an itinerary that takes in both.
Is a desert safari worth doing, and is it suitable for everyone?+
Absolutely; a desert safari is a highlight of almost every UAE trip and a memorable contrast to the cities. We arrange private safaris that can be as gentle or as thrilling as you like, from a calm sunset drive with a camel ride and dinner under the stars to faster dune bashing, so they suit families, couples and older travelers alike.
Do I need to dress conservatively or follow particular customs?+
The UAE is relaxed and welcoming to visitors, but it is a Muslim country and a little awareness goes a long way. Modest dress is appreciated in public, and covering shoulders and knees is required at mosques, where the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque provides robes. Drinking is fine in licensed hotels and restaurants. We brief you on the simple etiquette before you travel so everything feels easy.
Ways to Explore
How to travel the United Arab Emirates.
Tailormade Trips
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Escorted Tours
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All-Inclusive
Effortless resort escapes; we cut through the haze to the right one.
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