7-Day Dubai Itinerary from India: Complete Package Guide

Seven days in Dubai gives you time to see the dazzling modern skyline, explore the historic old city, experience a desert safari, and enjoy world-class dining and shopping. Here is a day-by-day plan that covers it all.

Pre-Trip Checklist

• Visa: Apply 7–10 days before travel. Indian passport holders need a UAE tourist visa.
• Flights: Book IndiGo, Air India, Emirates, or Air Arabia. Flight time from India: 3–4 hours.
• Currency: UAE Dirham (AED). 1 AED ≈ ₹22. Carry AED 500–1,000 in cash for arrival.
• SIM Card: Buy an Etisalat or du SIM at the airport (~AED 50 for 10GB data).
• Apps: Dubai Now (official city app), Careem (Uber equivalent), Google Maps.

Day 1: Arrival + Dubai Creek & Old Dubai

Land at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Check into your hotel and freshen up.

Afternoon:

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Bastakiya): 19th-century wind-tower houses now converted into museums, art galleries, and cafes. Walk through the narrow alleys.
• Dubai Museum: Inside Al Fahidi Fort — the oldest building in Dubai (AED 3 entry, incredible value for what it covers).
• Dubai Creek Abra: Take a traditional wooden boat across the creek (AED 1 — cheapest experience in Dubai).

Evening:

• Gold Souk: Hundreds of shops selling 22–24 carat jewellery by weight. Even if you're not buying, the spectacle is extraordinary.
• Spice Souk: Just across the alley — saffron, cardamom, oud, rose water.
• Dinner at Al Seef promenade: Along the Creek, with waterfront views.

Day 2: Modern Dubai — Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall

Morning:

• Burj Khalifa "At the Top": Book the 124th-floor observation deck online at burjkhalifa.ae (AED 149 standard / AED 369 for 148th floor SKY deck). Go 1 hour before sunset for the best experience.
• Dubai Mall: The world's largest shopping mall by total area. Even if you don't shop:
  • Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo (AED 115): 33,000 aquatic animals, walk-through tunnel
  • VR Park: Virtual reality rides and gaming
  • KidZania (if travelling with children)

Evening:

• Dubai Fountain: The world's largest dancing fountain, free to watch from Dubai Mall promenade. Shows every 30 minutes from 6 PM.
• Dinner at Souk Al Bahar: Traditional-style mall right next to Dubai Mall — Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants with Burj Khalifa views.

Day 3: Palm Jumeirah & JBR Beach

Morning:

• Palm Jumeirah Monorail: AED 25 return — ride to Atlantis The Palm hotel.
• Aquaventure Waterpark (Atlantis): AED 295 — one of the world's best water parks. Includes private beach access. Or, if not into water parks: The View at The Palm observatory (AED 110) — panoramic views from the trunk of the Palm.

Afternoon:

• JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) Walk: 1.7km waterfront promenade. Swimming beach (public), cafes, The Ferris Wheel (Ain Dubai — world's largest, though check current operating status in 2025).

Evening:

• Dinner at Dubai Marina: The Marina promenade has dozens of restaurants. Seafood, Italian, Arabic, Indian all available. Dhow dinner cruise (~AED 150–250 per person) is romantic and scenic.

Day 4: Desert Safari

The unmissable Dubai experience. Book through your hotel or travel agent (AED 200–350 per person typically).

Afternoon (3:30 PM pickup):

• 4x4 dune bashing in the red sand dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
• Sandboarding down dunes
• Camel riding

Evening at the desert camp:

• Arabic welcome (qahwa coffee + dates)
• Henna painting
• Tanoura (whirling dervish) dance performance
• BBQ dinner under the stars (vegetarian options available)
• Optional: quad biking (extra charge), falconry display
• Drop back at hotel by 9:30–10 PM

Day 5: Abu Dhabi Day Trip

Abu Dhabi is 1.5 hours from Dubai by car/bus. Hire a taxi or join a day tour (AED 150–250 per person).

Must-see:

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: One of the world's most beautiful mosques. Free entry. Modest dress required (abayas provided free at entrance). Photography encouraged.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi: The first Louvre outside France (AED 63). The building itself — a floating dome over the sea — is an architectural masterpiece.
• Corniche: 8km seafront promenade for an evening walk.

Day 6: Shopping + Hidden Gems

Morning:

• Dubai Frame: AED 50 — a giant rectangular frame connecting old and new Dubai. Glass floor walkway at the top connects the two towers.
• Miracle Garden (October–April only): 150 million flowers in incredible formations. AED 60.

Afternoon:

• Ibn Battuta Mall: Themed around the 14th-century explorer's travels — Andalusia, Persia, India, China, Egypt, Tunisia courts. More manageable than Dubai Mall.
• City Walk: Upscale open-air district — good for coffee shops and boutiques.

Evening:

• Global Village (October–April): International pavilions, food from 90+ countries, entertainment. AED 25 entry. Indian pavilion always has great street food.
• Dinner at a rooftop restaurant: Zuma, Nobu, or Atmosphere (124th floor of Burj Khalifa) for a splurge.

Day 7: Relaxed Morning + Departure

Most flights to India depart in the morning or late evening.

If evening flight:

• La Mer: Beach complex on Jumeirah coast — boutique shops, casual dining, water sports
• Al Quoz Art District: Dubai's creative hub — independent galleries, Alserkal Avenue
• Last-minute shopping: Dubai Duty Free at DXB airport is excellent (electronics, perfumes, chocolates)

Package Cost Summary (per person, 7 nights)

Category	Cost
Return flights (India–Dubai)	₹15,000–30,000
Hotel (3* city hotel, 7 nights)	₹20,000–35,000
Hotel (4–5* hotel, 7 nights)	₹45,000–1,00,000
Visa (UAE 30-day tourist)	₹5,500–7,000
Activities (Dubai Frame, Burj, Aquaventure, Desert Safari)	₹15,000–25,000
Abu Dhabi day trip	₹3,000–5,000
Food (mid-range, 7 days)	₹10,000–18,000
Total (budget)	~₹70,000–80,000
Total (mid-range)	~₹1,10,000–1,40,000

Book your 7-day Dubai package with Unfold Maps — visa, hotel, all activities, and transfers arranged.