Things to Do in Dubai: Old Souks, Desert Nights and Skyline Views

Maps, taxi apps and ticket bookings all run on mobile data, so set up a HelloRoam Dubai eSIM at home and you're online as you land.

We checked the hours, fees and rules below on each official site in October 2026. They can change, so confirm on the site before you book.

Plan around the heat. Visit Dubai, the city's official tourism site, says October to April is the best time to visit for many travellers. July averages 36°C and August 35°C, and its summer ideas lean on indoor attractions and water parks.

Skyline views from the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame and the Fountain

At the Top, on levels 124 and 125 of the Burj Khalifa, puts you 456 metres up, with an outdoor terrace on level 124. The official ticket site lists opening hours of 10am to 8pm, with last entry at 7pm. Children under 3 go free, and under-16s must stay with an adult.

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You book a time slot, and cancellations close 24 hours before your visit. At the Top SKY on level 148 is pitched as the way to avoid the crowds, and adds a guide, refreshments and its own outdoor terrace. The Lounge, on levels 152 to 154 at 585 metres, sits highest of all.

Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park is a 150-metre picture frame with a bridge across the top. Old Dubai lies to the north and the new city to the south, and the 50-metre glass floor on the Sky Deck turns clear only as you walk over it. Its official site lists adults at AED 50, children aged 3 to 12 at AED 20 and under-3s free, with hours of 8am to 9pm. Max Metro Station on the Red Line is a short walk away.

The Dubai Fountain, on Burj Lake below the Burj Khalifa, is free to watch from the promenade, according to Emaar, which developed it. Evening shows play every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm daily, with afternoon shows at 1pm and 1:30pm (2pm and 2:30pm on Fridays), so one fits easily around dinner in Downtown.

One landmark is shut this season. The Museum of the Future's website says it closed to visitors at the start of September 2026 to build a new experience and plans to reopen in the first quarter of 2027. You can still see the 77-metre building from outside, its facade covered in calligraphy of quotes by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Things to do in Old Dubai: abras, souks and Al Fahidi

Old Dubai sits on both banks of Dubai Creek, with Bur Dubai on one side and Deira on the other. Start at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Bur Dubai, where wind towers and narrow lanes keep the look of the old town. Visit Dubai counts more than 50 houses to explore, including the Coins Museum and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, which runs tours of the district.

Entry to Al Fahidi is free, with no booking, and it opens 7am to 8pm daily. Modest clothes are expected there, with skirts or shorts past the knee, says Visit Dubai. Next door, Al Seef is a waterfront strip of shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes along the creek.

Then cross the creek by abra, the traditional ferry boat. Boats run from Bur Dubai Abra Station to Deira Old Souk Abra Station, near the Spice Souk. You pay the driver AED 1, or AED 2 for an air-conditioned boat, and the crossing takes about five minutes. Boats start around 6am.

At the Spice Souk, spices are sold by weight or in packets, and vendors expect you to haggle. The Gold Souk is a three-minute walk away. It is free to visit, most shops open 10am to 10pm, and Visit Dubai says the gold on sale is regulated by the Dubai government. Bargaining works if your offer is fair.

Coming by Metro? Al Ras and Gold Souq stations on the Green Line are both about five minutes on foot from the Gold Souk.

Desert trips from Dubai: safaris, falconry and sunrise

The desert starts at the edge of the city. The Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve covers around 10 per cent of the emirate and is home to gazelles and Arabian oryx, according to Visit Dubai.

A desert safari is one of the most popular things to do for visitors, says Visit Dubai. On a typical shared trip, a 4x4 collects you from your hotel and drives over the dunes to a desert camp. The camp offers activities such as camel rides, falconry, henna and sandboarding, so check what your operator includes. Morning trips catch the sunrise, and evening trips the sunset and the stars. On an evening trip from October to March, pack a jacket and trousers, as the desert gets colder after dark.

A heritage trip such as the Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience includes a camel ride, photos with a falcon, a tour of a Bedouin village and an Arabian feast, in the morning or the evening. To stay the night, Al Marmoom Domes offers glamping with views of sunrise, sunset and the stars.

Falconry is part of many desert trips. The falcon is the UAE's national bird, and Visit Dubai notes that activities vary by provider: some show how falconers train a bird, some let you handle one under close supervision, and some watch falcons dive from a hot air balloon.

Pick your operator with care. The FCDO says desert trips can be dangerous without a properly equipped four-wheel drive, and advises a reputable company for desert driving or quad biking, plus a check that your travel insurance covers it.

Cyclists can ride the Al Qudra Cycle Track, which runs 86km through the dunes. Bikes can be hired at the track, and riders take 90 minutes to three hours depending on ability.

With a spare day, drive about 90 minutes to Hatta in the Hajar Mountains. You can kayak on Hatta Dam, ride the mountain bike trails at Hatta Wadi Hub and walk round Hatta Heritage Village, rebuilt to show centuries of mountain life.

Global Village and the Miracle Garden are seasonal

Global Village opens from 4pm with pavilions, rides, food and shows. Its 31st season runs from 14 October 2026 to May 2027. Gates close at midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and at 1am from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays. Tuesdays are kept for families, couples and ladies, except on public holidays.

Dubai Miracle Garden bills itself as the world's largest natural flower garden. Check its season dates on its site before you go; in season it usually opens 9am to 9pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Take the Red Line to Mall of the Emirates, then RTA bus 105, which runs straight to the garden.

Free things to do in Dubai: the Fountain, Al Fahidi and Kite Beach

Several sights above cost nothing: the Dubai Fountain shows, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and the Gold Souk. The Textile Souk next to Al Fahidi is free to enter too, but it closes from 2pm to 4pm and all day on Sunday.

Kite Beach, off Jumeirah, is free and open around the clock, with views of the Burj Al Arab. A 14km track runs along the coast, and kitesurfing, wakeboarding and paddleboard kit can be hired on the sand. Shops open 10am to 10pm, food spots stay open until midnight from Thursday to Saturday, and floodlit parts of the beach have lifeguards for swimming after dark.

Rip currents can occur at any beach, the FCDO warns, so swim only where there are lifeguards and flags.

Dubai with children: water parks, theme parks and cool indoor days

Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm, which Atlantis bills as the world's largest waterpark, has more than 105 attractions, a beach and four kids' zones. It opens daily from 10am to sunset.

IMG Worlds of Adventure is an indoor theme park covering more than 28 football pitches. Its six zones include ones themed on Marvel, Cartoon Network and the dinosaurs of The Lost Valley. Dubai Parks and Resorts puts Legoland Dubai, the Legoland Water Park, Motiongate and Real Madrid World side by side.

On the hottest days, head indoors. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall has a 10-million-litre tank and a 48-metre walk-through tunnel. Ski Dubai, inside Mall of the Emirates, keeps real snow at minus 4°C all year and has a colony of king and gentoo penguins. The Green Planet is an indoor rainforest where you can meet its animals up close.

Parents heading to Global Village can register a free wristband for each child, so staff can reunite you if you get separated.

Things to do in Dubai at night and for couples

After dark, start at the Dubai Fountain. To get closer, walk the 272-metre Dubai Fountain Boardwalk floating on Burj Lake, or take the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride onto the water in an abra. Both run from 5:45pm to 10:45pm, with tickets sold at the fountain or online through the At the Top ticket site.

A dhow dinner cruise suits couples. Visit Dubai lists the Ramee Dhow Cruise on Dubai Creek, which leaves daily at 8pm with an Arabian buffet and passes the souks and the Heritage and Diving Village in Al Shindagha. Tourist boats may not meet UK safety standards, says the FCDO, so check there are life jackets for every passenger.

Other evenings: Global Village, a floodlit swim at Kite Beach, or a night under the stars at Al Marmoom Domes. By day, couples can kayak on Hatta Dam or test their nerve on the glass floor at Dubai Frame.

Two rules shape a night out. Showing affection in public is frowned upon, according to the FCDO, and you can be arrested for kissing in public. Licensed hotels, restaurants and bars serve alcohol to over-21s, but drinking or being drunk in a public place is illegal, and Sharjah, 30km north of Dubai, bans alcohol altogether.

Entry rules and local laws for UK visitors

The FCDO's travel advice for the UAE, still current on 13 October 2026, says British citizens get a free visitor visa stamped on arrival, valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period from first entry. Your passport needs at least six months' validity from the day you arrive. These rules are set by the UAE authorities, so check the FCDO page before you travel.

Medicines need planning. The FCDO says you must get approval in advance from the UAE Ministry of Health to bring medication, and you apply online. Some UK prescription and over-the-counter medicines count as controlled substances there. CBD oil is illegal in the UAE too. The FCDO warns that some skincare products and e-cigarette refills can contain it, and you could face criminal charges if you carry them.

The same page warns of regional tensions. Since 8 July 2026 there have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran at locations across the region, and the FCDO tells British nationals to be ready for flight cancellations and airspace closures at short notice. Sign up for its email alerts before you go.

Dress modestly in malls and other public places: the FCDO asks women to cover shoulders and knees, and swimwear is for beaches and pools only. Pack for it with our summer and winter packing list. Do not photograph people without their permission. Taking photos of some government buildings and military sites is illegal, as are swearing and rude gestures, including online.

Ramadan moves each year. During it, eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public in the daytime may cause offence, and hotels and restaurants serving food in fasting hours may screen diners off.

To get around, use licensed taxis or apps such as Careem and Uber. Dubai's taxis are cream with coloured roofs, and pink-roofed taxis have female drivers. A UK photocard driving licence is valid for driving in the UAE, and crossing the road away from a designated crossing is illegal.

Arabic and English are both spoken across the city. Tipping has no fixed rules: Visit Dubai says a little extra is customary in most cases but never compulsory.

Mobile data in Dubai: free Wi-Fi, tourist SIMs, eSIMs and app calls

Free Wi-Fi covers a lot of a short stay. According to the UAE government portal, most hotels offer it free to guests, as do most malls and many other public places. Away from Wi-Fi, maps, ride apps and your bookings need mobile data, so estimate how much data you need before you pick a plan.

You have three ways to get it. The first is a local SIM: Dubai Airports says du hands out free tourist SIMs at the immigration counters at DXB, and e& sells Visitor Line bundles in the terminals. To get a local SIM, you need a copy of your passport and UAE visa, the portal adds. Our guide to Dubai SIM cards for tourists compares du, e& and Virgin Mobile prices.

An eSIM is the second way and skips the counter. Confirm your phone supports eSIM, then follow our step-by-step install guide on Wi-Fi at home before you fly. If the trip goes on to Riyadh or Jeddah, add a Saudi Arabia eSIM for that leg, because a UAE plan covers the UAE only.

For a clear explanation of how travel eSIMs work, What Is an eSIM? is worth reading before you pack.

Roaming on your UK SIM is the third, at your own network's rates, so check them before you fly. Our guide to how data roaming charges work explains what to look for.

Calls home need a check too. The UAE regulator TDRA says internet voice and video calls are legal only through a licensed operator or an app on its approved list, and operators can block the rest. Check the list before you count on WhatsApp or FaceTime calls; the rule covers calls, not text messages.

If setup stalls, HelloRoam's support team answers 24/7. Our UAE data plans page lists each plan and the network it connects to.