one day in Dubai.
Before You Land in Dubai
If you want the best value for your money, make those 24 hours in Dubai work for you. Plan and make the necessary bookings ahead of time. For example, if you plan on getting the view from the Burj Khalifa’s observation deck, be sure to book your tickets online in advance. Follow the guidelines we’ve laid out for you here in this article. Map your route beforehand, and be clear as to which sights you’ll manage to cover and which to leave out.
Dubai One Day Itinerary
Early Morning
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Hot Air Balloon Ride(06:00 hrs to 09:00 hrs)
Start your Dubai one-day adventure with a hello to the desert, the city skyline, and the coastlines via a hot air balloon Dubai. An early morning hot air balloon ride is the best way to get a bird’s-eye view of the spectacular desert, the oases, the Heritage Village, and the Dubai coastline. Arm yourself with a telephoto-lens-enabled camera, and you will enjoy the kind of views you’ve only dreamed of. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel after a delicious buffet breakfast. It’s time to get ready for the next item on your list of things to do in Dubai.
Read More: Hot Air Balloon Ride Dubai – All You Need to Know
Post-Breakfast Adventures
We’ve provided a list of fantastic attractions and things to do here. Based on where you’re staying in Dubai, you can choose to see the attractions nearest to your hotel.
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Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour (10:00 hrs to 11:30 hrs)
This is one of the best ways to see Dubai if you’re strapped for time. Sign up for a city bus tour in advance, so nothing’s left to the last minute. Dubai’s tour buses are spacious and fully air-conditioned, with commentary delivered in multiple languages. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour will take you through Dubai’s main neighborhoods, spending time at the most important landmarks. You’ll be able to view the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque, and Burj Al Arab, among others. If this is your first time in Dubai, you’ll find this tour very informative. The city tour takes about four hours to complete, which will put you towards lunchtime.
Read More: Discover Dubai with Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours
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The Burj Khalifa(11:30 hrs to 12:30 hrs)
If you don’t want to opt for a city bus tour, hire a taxi and visit selected landmarks. The Dubai Burj Khalifa stands at a height of 828 meters, dominating the Dubai skyline. Take the elevator up to the 124th floor or 148th floor, where the At the Top or Sky Level observation deck awaits you. This is the highlight of your entire trip, right here. Enjoy a scintillating view of the whole of Dubai, its coastlines, and its manmade marvels.
Suggested Read:
Tickets: At the Top experience with Rayna Tours! Book your ticket online to skip the line!
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The Dubai Fountain(13:00 hrs to 13:30 hrs)
Take a few minutes to enjoy the fabulous Dubai Dancing Fountain, constructed on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake. Stand in awe as every few minutes the fabulously choreographed music, light, and water show begins, and the water shoots up to 500 feet in time with the music. Classical music, pop songs, classic songs, Arabian music – everything gets a chance to make the water dance to its tune.
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The Dubai Mall(13:30 hrs to 15:00 hrs)
The Dubai Mall is right next to the Burj Khalifa, so you can get to it right away. The Dubai Mall has 1,200 stores and close to 200 dining venues. The piece-de-resistance is the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, where you can come nose-to-nose with a host of exotic marine creatures. The Dubai Mall is also home to the Dubai Ice Rink, Play DXB (formerly VR Park Dubai), and many entertainment venues. With Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain nearby, you can opt for a convenient combo pass that bundles access to the mall’s top attractions, plus a Dubai Fountain Lake Ride and value-packed Burj Khalifa ticket offers.
Lunch Break
Spend about two to three hours at the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Fountain, and take a break for lunch. Enjoy a great meal at one of the Dubai Mall’s many restaurants and eateries.
If you have reserved in advance a desert safari or a cruise, go right ahead. If not, check out these other attractions.
Post-Lunch Sightseeing
The other places you simply must check out in Dubai are the following:
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Helicopter Ride (15:30 hrs to 17:30 hrs)
A single day is just not enough to appreciate the magnificence of Dubai. We suggest finishing the city tour or the sights plan by evening and taking an aerial tour of Dubai. Obtain the best possible perspective of the city’s famous landmarks, especially the Palm Islands, World Islands, Burj Khalifa, and Ain Dubai, to name a few. Depending on the flight route, you’ll get luscious views of the amazing Arabian Desert that shimmer against the evening sky.
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Palm Jumeirah (17:30 to 18:00 hrs)
You can easily pair your helicopter sightseeing tour with a visit to the palm-tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah, as it is conducted at Atlantis, The Palm Resort, on Palm Jumeirah’s crescent part. The lovely man-made palm island is a visual treat and a miracle of construction. The shape of the islands is so distinct that it can be easily seen on an aerial tour. The most affordable way to catch the whole view of the island is to head to the View at the Palm.
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Museum of the Future (18:30 to 19:30 hrs)
It is touted, with good reason, as the world’s most futuristic museum. Located on the Sheikh Zayed Road, it offers access to the most groundbreaking displays that transport you 50 years forward. There is no doubt that you’ll savor every moment you spend here.
Also Read: Museum of the Future – All You Should Know about Dubai’s Latest Attraction
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Bluewaters Island (20:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs)
The Bluewaters Island is a visual marvel, making it one of the city’s most captivating waterfront neighborhoods. Beyond its eclectic settings, it hosts some record-breaking attractions, like the tallest-of-its-kind Ain Dubai (observation wheel) and the Middle East’s first Madame Tussauds Museum.
Conclusion
If you’re not an early sleeper, check out some of Dubai’s vibrant nightlife, or take a walk along the Jumeirah Beach Resorts Promenade. You can even go on a night dhow cruise, and enjoy the sights of the brilliantly-lit coastlines.
