The UAE packs a strange amount of variety into a small stretch of coastline. You can watch the sunset from the world’s tallest building, then drive two hours and be standing on a dune with nothing but sand around you. Or go the other way and end up kayaking through mangroves on the Gulf of Oman side, where almost nobody thinks to go.
Most guides to the UAE stop at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This one covers all seven emirates, with real prices, who each activity actually suits, and when to go. For more ideas once you’ve worked through this list, our fullthings to do hub has category picks by interest, from adventure activities to beaches and resorts.
A quick way to read this list: each entry has a rough budget level (Low is under AED 100 per person, Moderate is AED 100 to 350, High is AED 350 and up), who it’s best for, and the best time to book it. Prices move with season and demand, so treat these as a starting point and check the operator’s site before you pay.
Things to do in Dubai
Go up the Burj Khalifa
The observation deck is touristy, sure, but the view earns the hype. There are three tiers: Level 124/125, the standard experience, runs roughly AED 150 to 250 depending on the time slot. Level 148, “At the Top SKY,” runs about AED 370 to 520. The 152 to 154 Lounge tier starts around AED 650. Sunset slots sell out first, so book a few days ahead if that’s what you want. Visit Dubai’s attractions guide has the wider list of Downtown Dubai landmarks to pair it with.
- Budget: Moderate · Best for: everyone, first-time visitors · Best time: just before sunset · Getting there: Dubai Metro Red Line, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station · Booking: required, timed entry
Walk the Dubai Marina promenade
A relaxed, roughly 7km walk past yachts and restaurants. It’s at its best in the evening, once the heat drops and the skyline lights up.
- Budget: Low (free) · Best for: couples, evening walkers, joggers · Best time: October to April, after 5pm · Getting there: Dubai Metro Red Line, DMCC or Marina stations · Booking: none needed
Bargain at the Gold and Spice Souk, Deira
Deira’s souks feel like they belong to a different decade. Bargaining is expected here, so don’t take the first price you’re offered. Go in the late afternoon, before the crowds pick up.
- Budget: Low (free to browse) · Best for: shoppers, culture-curious travellers · Best time: late afternoon, November to March · Getting there: Dubai Metro Green Line, Al Ras or Baniyas Square · Booking: none
Wander Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Old Dubai’s wind-tower architecture, narrow lanes, and small museums, a short taxi ride from the Gold Souk. It pairs naturally with the souk visit above as a half-day out.
- Budget: Low (mostly free, Dubai Museum entry around AED 10) · Best for: solo travellers, history fans, families with older kids · Best time: morning, cooler months · Getting there: Al Fahidi Metro station · Booking: none
See the Museum of the Future
One of Dubai’s newer landmarks, a torus-shaped building with exhibits on future cities, health, and space. Tickets run around AED 149.
- Budget: Moderate · Best for: families, tech-curious visitors · Best time: any season, it’s fully indoors · Getting there: Dubai Metro Red Line, Emirates Towers station · Booking: recommended in advance, especially on weekends
Spend a day at a theme park
IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the largest indoor theme parks anywhere, at around AED 250 to 300 for a day pass. Ferrari World, on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, is a common day trip from Dubai and home to the world’s fastest roller coaster.
- Budget: High · Best for: families, thrill-seekers · Best time: any season, indoors and air-conditioned · Getting there: taxi or rental car, limited public transit · Booking: buy online for discounted rates
Do a desert safari
The classic combo is 4×4 dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, and a Bedouin-style camp dinner under the stars. Most operators include hotel pickup from Dubai. If you want to explore the desert independently first, Visit Dubai’s guide to Al Marmoom is a good primer on the conservation area many safaris run through.
- Budget: Moderate (roughly AED 150 to 350 per person depending on inclusions) · Best for: families, groups, first-time visitors · Best time: October to April, avoid midday in summer · Getting there: hotel pickup included with most operators · Booking: required, pick a licensed operator with solid reviews, see our adventure activities picks
Things to do in Abu Dhabi
Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Arguably the single best free thing to do in the whole country. White marble, the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, and enormous chandeliers. Entry is free, but dress modestly (robes are provided if you need one) and check prayer times on the official visitor page, since the mosque closes to visitors during prayers.
- Budget: Low (free) · Best for: everyone · Best time: early morning or late afternoon for photos · Getting there: taxi from central Abu Dhabi, about 20 minutes · Booking: not required, modest dress is
Spend an afternoon at Louvre Abu Dhabi
The dome itself, letting light “rain” through in shifting patterns, is almost more interesting than the art inside. Standard admission is around AED 63, and under-18s go free. Closed Mondays, and you can book directly through the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s official ticket page.
- Budget: Moderate · Best for: art and architecture fans, couples · Best time: late afternoon, when the dome light is at its best · Getting there: taxi or rental car, Saadiyat Island · Booking: online in advance recommended
Tour Qasr Al Watan
A working presidential palace that’s open to visitors, with a huge domed Great Hall and exhibits on the UAE’s governance and heritage. Ticket prices vary by package, generally AED 60 to 95.
- Budget: Moderate · Best for: culture and architecture fans · Best time: late afternoon into the evening light show · Getting there: taxi, near Emirates Palace · Booking: recommended in advance
Ride the coasters at Ferrari World
Home to Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster. Full-day tickets run roughly AED 345 to 370.
- Budget: High · Best for: thrill-seekers, families with teens · Best time: any season, largely indoors · Getting there: taxi or rental car, Yas Island · Booking: buy online for better rates
Walk the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes
A protected desert area east of Abu Dhabi with cemented dune formations and turquoise salt-lake pools that have become a favourite with photographers. Free to enter, no facilities on site.
- Budget: Low (free) · Best for: photographers, solo travellers, early risers · Best time: sunrise, October to March · Getting there: rental car only, no public transit · Booking: none
General Abu Dhabi trip planning, including current opening hours and seasonal events, is covered on Visit Abu Dhabi’s official site.
Things to do in Sharjah
Explore Sharjah's Old Town and museums
Sharjah holds the country’s UNESCO World Heritage recognition for its heritage area and museum cluster, including the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. Museum entry is typically AED 5 to 10, and the heritage area itself is free to walk. Visit Sharjah lists current museum hours and combined-entry passes.
- Budget: Low · Best for: history-focused travellers, day-trippers from Dubai · Best time: cooler months, morning · Getting there: taxi or bus from Dubai, about 45 minutes · Booking: none for the district, museum tickets on site
Browse the Blue Souk and Al Noor Island
The Central Souk, known locally as the Blue Souk, is where to go for carpets and jewellery. Al Noor Island nearby has a butterfly house and skyline views over Khalid Lagoon. Island entry is roughly AED 25 to 35.
- Budget: Low · Best for: shoppers, families · Best time: late afternoon · Getting there: taxi within Sharjah · Booking: none
Hike and kayak in Kalba
Sharjah’s east-coast enclave mixes hiking trails, mangrove kayaking, and sea views, and it rarely shows up on standard Dubai or Abu Dhabi itineraries. Kayak tours run roughly AED 100 to 150 per person.
- Budget: Moderate · Best for: solo travellers, nature lovers, couples wanting quiet · Best time: October to April, morning · Getting there: rental car, about 1.5 hours from Dubai · Booking: recommended for kayak tours
Things to do in Ras Al Khaimah
Zipline at Jebel Jais
The Jais Flight is the world’s longest zipline, reaching speeds of around 160 km/h across the Hajar Mountains. Prices run roughly AED 325 to 400 per person, with the gentler Jais Sky Tour and Sledder sold as separate add-ons. One thing to know: the zipline typically pauses for a few months during peak summer heat and usually reopens around October, so check current operating status on Visit Ras Al Khaimah before planning a summer trip.
- Budget: High · Best for: adventure travellers, solo thrill-seekers · Best time: November to April · Getting there: rental car, about 2 hours from Dubai, some operators offer transfers · Booking: required, bring ID for check-in
Relax on Al Marjan Island
RAK’s man-made island has some of the country’s quieter beach resorts, and prices tend to run lower than Dubai’s coastline. See our beaches and resorts roundup for more low-key coastal picks.
- Budget: Moderate (day passes vary by resort) · Best for: families, budget beach trips · Best time: November to March · Getting there: rental car or taxi from RAK city · Booking: check each resort’s day-pass policy
Things to do in Fujairah
Dive or snorkel off Fujairah's coast
Fujairah sits on the Gulf of Oman side, with calmer, clearer water than the Gulf coast and some of the UAE’s best diving, including the Snoopy Island area near Al Aqah. Beginner dive packages run roughly AED 300 to 450. Visit Fujairah lists licensed dive operators.
- Budget: High · Best for: divers, snorkelers, couples · Best time: year-round, best visibility October to April · Getting there: rental car, about 2 hours from Dubai · Booking: required for dive trips, certification may be needed
Things to do in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain
Stroll the Ajman Corniche
The smallest emirate has a relaxed public beach and Corniche walk, with lower prices than Dubai and a slower pace overall.
- Budget: Low (free) · Best for: budget travellers, families, evening walks · Best time: evening, year-round · Getting there: taxi from Ajman or Sharjah · Booking: none
Kayak the Umm Al Quwain mangroves
Quiet mangrove channels that are good for kayaking and birdwatching, plus a handful of watersports operators along the lagoon. Kayak rentals run roughly AED 50 to 100 an hour.
- Budget: Low · Best for: solo travellers, nature lovers, budget trips · Best time: early morning, October to April · Getting there: rental car · Booking: recommended for guided tours, walk-in rentals are often available
Best time of year to visit
November through March is the sweet spot, with daytime temperatures sitting in the pleasant 20s (°C). Summer, from June to September, regularly climbs past 45°C, so outdoor activities like desert safaris, Jebel Jais, and hiking in Kalba are best done early morning or after sunset. Or just swap them for indoor options like the Museum of the Future, Louvre Abu Dhabi, or the theme parks. Some outdoor operators, including the Jebel Jais zipline, pause entirely during peak summer heat. More seasonal planning tips are in our travel tips section.
Getting around between emirates
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have metro systems, but most of the country doesn’t. A rental car is really the easiest way to string together attractions in Sharjah, RAK, Fujairah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Distances between emirates are short, under two hours between any two, but public transit connecting them is limited to intercity buses. If you’d rather not drive, several tour operators run day trips from Dubai to RAK for Jebel Jais and to Fujairah for diving, transfers included. For getting around Dubai itself, Visit Dubai’s transport guide covers the metro, taxis, and ride-hailing options, and our own local transport and airport information section has UAE-wide advice.
Why the UAE keeps investing in this
The variety on this list isn’t an accident. Tourism is one of the pillars the UAE has been building up as part of its push to diversify away from oil and gas revenue. New museums, adventure infrastructure like Jebel Jais, and heritage preservation in Sharjah and Al Fahidi are all part of that broader strategy. It’s a big reason a country this compact has this much genuinely different stuff to do within a two-hour drive of anywhere else in it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
December and January have the most comfortable weather for outdoor activities, with daytime highs in the low-to-mid 20s°C. November, February, and March are also good and slightly cheaper.
Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina put you closest to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Marina walk, with the easiest metro access. If Abu Dhabi’s attractions matter more to your trip, staying near the Corniche cuts travel time to the Grand Mosque and Louvre.
It can be, especially in Dubai, but costs vary a lot by emirate. Free attractions like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Al Wathba Fossil Dunes, plus lower-cost stays in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, or Fujairah, keep a UAE trip affordable if you plan around them.
Is the UAE safe for tourists, including solo travellers?
Yes, the UAE has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and is commonly ranked among the safer destinations for solo and female travellers. Normal city-travel precautions still apply.
Summer, from June through September, regularly passes 45°C, which limits outdoor activities like desert safaris and Jebel Jais to early morning or evening. If your trip is built around outdoor sightseeing, November through March is the better window.
The Burj Khalifa observation deck is the most-booked paid attraction in the country. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque draws comparable visitor numbers and is free to enter.
Yes, it’s one of the most distinctly “UAE” experiences available and fits into a single evening, typically 5 to 6 hours including hotel pickup, dune bashing, and a BBQ dinner camp.
