8 Totally Unmissable Day Journeys From Dubai to Attempt in 2024

While we love the town of Dubai, we additionally like to discover past the highrises and purchasing malls. We extremely advocate including a number of day journeys—even in a single day journeys—to your Dubai itinerary.

Dubai may be very central within the United Arab Emirates by way of its geographic place. Instantly to the west of Dubai, you’ve gotten the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the biggest of the seven Emirates of the UAE. With a lot occurring, we even have one other website nearly Abu Dhabi!

To the northeast and past, you’ve gotten the opposite 5 Emirates, sometimes called the “northern Emirates,” to discover. It’s additionally doable to go to elements of Oman on a day journey—extra on that beneath!

On this web page, we share our favorite areas that may be simply reached inside a day from Dubai. Belief us, once you see how a lot there’s to do, you’ll want to keep a bit quite a bit longer!

Navigating Your Method Across the Emirates

We clarify your tour and public transportation choices beneath should you don’t have your individual automobile to self-explore the Emirates. For additional studying, we additionally counsel you pop over to our guides on:

Distances are calculated from Downtown Dubai, and timing is topic to visitors and kind of transportation.

1. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Abu Dhabi

Dubai to Abu Dhabi distance: roughly 160km / 1 hour 15 minutes

Dubai is commonly mistaken because the UAE’s capital, however, in actual fact, it’s neighbouring Abu Dhabi that holds this crown. Residence to the nation’s Federal Supreme Council and President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed al Nahyan, it’s additionally dwelling to among the nation’s most luxurious structure and cultural websites.

So many stops that it’s difficult to see all of them on a Dubai day journey, however listed here are a number of that we advocate you must attempt to match right into a single-day journey from Dubai:

• Qasr al Watan: The Presidential Palace: Residence of the Federal Supreme Council and UAE Cupboard conferences, the place international dignitaries are greeted and workplaces of the President, Vice President & Prime Minister, and the Crown Prince – an in depth information right here on what to anticipate inside.

• Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi: Tackle the Journey By way of Humanity everlasting show and lots of seasonal displays in one of many metropolis’s most interesting fashionable buildings (closed Mondays) – an in depth guests information could be discovered right here.

Prime Tip: the Grand Mosque could be fairly packed from mid-morning as that is when most coach excursions arrive from Dubai on day journeys. If you would like the Mosque to your self, aiming for very first thing within the morning (9:00 AM opening however you possibly can arrive earlier) or mid-afternoon might show a lot much less crowded, that is the large advantage of taking a non-public tour from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

Advisable Day Excursions to Abu Dhabi from Dubai

• This best-selling day tour possibility from Dubai features a full day journey to the Grand Mosque and the Presidential Palace, in addition to the famed Etihad Towers statement deck as a part of a shared coach group.

• Wanting time? This half-day Grand Mosque-only tour from Dubai contains simply your shared coach transfers to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with loads of time to go searching.

• In case you’d want to incorporate the Louvre in your itinerary, we’d advocate this Abu Dhabi day tour from Dubai which incorporates the Grand Mosque and Louvre with English talking information.

• Need to go it alone and avoid wasting money? Try this neat new service, the Cultural Specific, that may take you to the door of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan for FREE! The schedule lacks flexibility however it may be an amazing cost-saving (observe, it doesn’t embody a cease on the Grand Mosque).

2. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Musandam Peninsula, Oman

Dubai to Khasab distance: 196km / approx 2.5 hours

Transporting you to a complete completely different nation however inside cheap driving distance from Dubai, the “Norway of Arabia” awaits within the Omani exclave of Musandam. Sitting to the northeast of the northern Emirate Ras Al Khaimah, the regional capital of Khasab, Musandam could be simply reached by highway – an extremely picturesque and infrequently breathtaking coastal drive.

From Khasab, there’s a small harbour with a plentiful alternative of conventional dhow boats and extra fashionable cruising vessels. Sail out to the beautiful rocky fjords the place the Hajar Mountains that run by the size of Oman and the UAE dramatically finish on the Strait of Hormuz.

Dolphin recognizing is a favorite exercise and within the hotter shoulder season, snorkelling and scuba diving are fashionable, albeit the higher diving is on the jap coast of the peninsula.

You will have an early begin to slot in a full day of enjoyable, and taking an organised day tour, they’ll make it easier to with the Omani visas and border crossing course of. It’s doable to rent a automobile and do it on their own, however first-timers will little question recognize a information to take you thru the Al Darah border crossing level and the formalities concerned.

Advisable Day Excursions from Dubai to Musandam

• Do that full-day tour from Dubai to Musandam should you’d like help all through your journey. It features a meet-and-greet border crossing, a dolphin cruise, lunch, and snorkelling gear.

• If you wish to make your individual option to Khasab, then be part of this half-day Dolphin-Watching Dhow Cruise, which features a boat tour, snorkeling kits, and snacks with an English-speaking information.

Your drive to Musandam will even take you on a scenic tour by 5 of the seven Emirates! You may see the altering landscapes as you exit the massive cities and lots of fascinating stops alongside the best way, equivalent to Al Rams and Dhayah Fort on the best way by Ras al Khaimah (extra on RAK beneath!)

Advisable Day Excursions from Dubai to Dibba

If you do not need the formality of crossing the border, it’s additionally doable to take a dhow cruise to a unique a part of the Musandam coast, coming through Fujairah and the east coast of the UAE to an space often called Dibba.

Your boats right here don’t must make a proper land crossing into Oman, so no border crossing is required. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless be richly rewarded with dramatic coastal views.

Musandam’s uncooked magnificence and isolation are merely breathtaking, making it considered one of our high picks for nature lovers visiting Dubai.

Prime Tip: You get much more guests to Musandam over the native weekend which begins Friday afternoon by to Sunday night time. If doable, time your journey for Monday by Thursday for fewer strains on the border.

3. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Al Ain

Dubai to Al Ain distance: roughly 130km / 1 hour 30 minutes

Sitting southwest of Dubai, you can see the Oasis Metropolis of Al Ain. With deep historic roots believed to this point again to the Neolithic interval, that is our top-pick day journey for historical past lovers. You will discover the UAE’s solely UNESCO World Heritage websites scattered in a number of areas throughout the town – a full information to those websites could be discovered right here.

A lot of the nation’s newer historical past additionally stems from the township of Al Ain, the hometown of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan, and the birthplace of the second ruler of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan.

Properly-worth visiting spots embody Al Jahili Fort, Qasr al Mawaji, Al Ain Nationwide Museum (closed indefinitely for renovations), and the Al Ain Palace Museum (the previous Royal homestead – closed from Summer season 2024 for renovations). 

You may additionally be fascinated by the supposedly therapeutic sizzling springs of Al Mubazzarah, on the foot of Abu Dhabi Emirate’s tallest peak, Jebel Hafeet.

These travelling with children will certainly need to try to squeeze in a visit to the Al Ain Zoo too. The perfect within the nation, the zoo is about on giant grounds with many new installations value a visit of its personal, together with the Sheikh Zayed Desert Studying Centre, which is ideal for historical past lovers of all ages with numerous interactive shows.

You can also make the journey to the historic middle of Al Ain, in roughly 1.5 hours from Dubai. Nonetheless, should you plan a visit up the winding highway to the highest of Jebel Hafeet, add one other 40 minutes. You can be rewarded with spectacular views over Al Ain and neighbouring Oman.

Advisable day excursions from Dubai to Al Ain

In case you are unfamiliar with the UAE roads, it’s endorsed that you simply be part of an organized group to get between the highlights, as the town is nicely unfold out.

• In case you’d want the intimacy of a small personal group with extra native experiences thrown in, strive this personal tour to Al Ain with all transfers included and a versatile itinerary.

4. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Ras Al Khaimah

Dubai to Ras al Khaimah distance: roughly 110kms / 1 hour quarter-hour

Ras al Khaimah – affectionately known as RAK, is greatest often called the UAE’s out of doors journey playground. The beautiful Hajar Mountains vary runs by the Emirate and is dwelling to the nation’s tallest peak, Jebel Jais.

Jebel Jais is an adrenaline junkie’s dream, with loads of new points of interest being added yearly. The world’s longest zipline lets you velocity as much as 150km/hr 1680m above sea stage for practically 3kms. You can even expertise By way of Ferrata and the most recent additions, the Jebel Jais Sky Tour – 7 completely different programs over 5kms by the mountains (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Advisable Day excursions from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

• You may do that tour, which can choose you up from Dubai and prepare all the things on your ziplining expertise.

• In case you are in search of one thing just a little extra sedate, do that 5-hour personal cultural highlights tour across the metropolis of Ras Al Khaimah, together with the Museum, Heritage Village, Fish Market, and ghost city (departs from areas in RAK).

• One other favorite for a really distinctive cultural expertise is heading to the tiny village of Al Rams and taking a tour of the lively pearl farm Al Suwaidi Pearls – find out about this treasured a part of native tradition and see a reside pearl diving demonstration.

6. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Yas Island Theme Parks

Dubai to Yas Island distance: roughly 115km / 1 hour

Arguably, the UAE’s greatest theme parks could be discovered on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, solely round 45 minutes from Dubai Marina or an hour from Downtown Dubai down the E11 Freeway, you possibly can simply spend a complete day – or ideally two if you will take pleasure in all the things on provide.

The 4 huge theme parks on Yas Island are:

• Yas Waterworld (out of doors water park)
• Ferrari World (indoor adrenaline and Italian-themed park)
• Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi (indoor theme park based mostly on DC Comedian characters and Looney Toon favourites)
• SeaWorld Yas Island (Indoor marine park)

Every is a top-rated attraction with loads of thrill rides and leisure, and there are restricted strains for giant elements of the 12 months.

Advisable Day Excursions from Dubai to Yas Island

• Need some tradition alongside along with your thrills? Attempt this Abu Dhabi day tour which incorporates the Grand Mosque, a drive by Abu Dhabi’s many highlights then end your day at Ferrari World, Yas Island.

• CLYMB Abu Dhabi can also be nicely value a cease. It has the world’s largest indoor climbing wall and the biggest indoor skydiving centre. It’s situated inside Yas Mall, instantly adjoining to Ferrari World.

7. Greatest Dubai Day Journey: Hatta

Dubai to Hatta distance: roughly 105km / 1 hour 20 minutes

One of the crucial thrilling locations within the Dubai Emirate is the world of Hatta and Hatta Dam. Sitting south of Dubai close to the Omani border, a considerable amount of tourism growth has been poured into this rugged space of the Emirate to create a model new nature playground.

This vacation spot presents a lot, particularly for out of doors fans. After exploring the Heritage Village, strive kayaking or mountain biking, and benefit from the journey sports activities at Hatta Wadi Hub and the Hatta Leap water park.

For an unforgettable expertise, prolong your keep in a single day to remain on the Hatta Damani Lodges or keep in an Eco Dome Tent at Hatta Wadi Hub. They’re restricted in quantity, although, so ebook nicely prematurely should you’re taking a look at a winter weekend. They’re out there solely within the winter season.

Advisable Day Excursions from Dubai to Hatta

• See this full-day tour from Dubai, which incorporates transfers out of your Dubai resort and takes you thru all the main highlights of Hatta.

• This Hatta safari day tour gives not only a desert tour away from the town crowds, however you’ll additionally cease at Hatta Dam and one of many extra distinctive native points of interest, the Hatta Honey Bee Backyard.

We all the time advocate guests to Dubai to go away loads of time to soak up the highlights within the different Emirates as nicely.  A lot of the pure magnificence and tradition of the nation and area lies far past the town. 

In case you’d want to make your individual means across the Emirates to expertise a few of these highlights, we advocate you head over to our information to driving in Dubai. There, you possibly can study extra about driving circumstances, automobile rental choices, and whether or not self-driving is the higher possibility for you.

In case you’re inquisitive about hiring a driver for a set variety of hours, strive a service equivalent to GetTransfer. Drivers can bid in your journey, making it extremely aggressive and at a hard and fast worth for all-day comfort, which you will not discover with a gaggle tour.