4 Days in Dubai: Itinerary With a Desert Safari and Abu Dhabi Day Trip

Four days lets you add Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital and home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, to the classic Dubai sights. This plan keeps the pace comfortable and puts the long day trip on a day when you have nothing else booked.

The short answer

• Day 1: Downtown Dubai: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, fountain show.
• Day 2: Old Dubai, the souks and an evening dhow cruise.
• Day 3: Palm Jumeirah and Marina in the morning, desert safari in the evening.
• Day 4: Abu Dhabi full-day trip.

Day 1: Downtown Dubai

Morning. Visit the Burj Khalifa area and book the observation deck in advance if you want to go up.

Afternoon. Explore the Dubai Mall, including the aquarium, and have lunch inside, out of the midday heat.

Evening. Watch the Dubai Fountain show from the lakeside walkway, then have dinner with a view of the tower.

Day 2: Old Dubai and the creek

Morning. Walk through the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and take an abra boat across Dubai Creek.

Afternoon. Wander the Gold Souk and Spice Souk, and stop at Al Seef for a waterfront walk.

Evening. Board a dhow for dinner. Our two-hour dhow cruise includes a buffet and live entertainment, from AED 85 per person.

If you would rather have a guide and a driver, take the Old and New Dubai city tour instead, from AED 110 per person, with hotel pickup.

Day 3: Palm, Marina and the desert

Morning. Visit Palm Jumeirah for a photo of the Atlantis area, then walk Dubai Marina and The Walk at JBR.

Evening. Go on your desert safari. The evening safari with BBQ dinner starts from AED 130 per person and includes dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, dinner and live shows, with round-trip hotel pickup. Want it just for your group? Choose the private option at AED 780 per car, up to 6 guests.

Day 4: Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is about 90 minutes by road from Dubai. A guided day trip removes the planning and the driving.

Our Abu Dhabi full-day tour lasts 8 to 9 hours and visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche, Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers for photos, Heritage Village and the Dates Market, from AED 190 per person with hotel pickup. If you only want the mosque, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque guided tour takes about 4 hours, from AED 140 per person.

Dress code for the mosque: cover your arms and legs, and women cover their hair. Loose, light clothing is best.

Packing and timing tips

• Visit from November to March for mild weather.
• Wear light cotton in the day and bring a layer for air-conditioned places.
• Carry water and sun protection every day.
• Keep your desert safari and Abu Dhabi on different days.

Why book your Dubai tours with Lead Adventure Tour

• Dubai-based and independently reviewed. Lead Adventure Tour LLC is a Dubai tour operator, rated 5.0 on Google from more than 2,600 reviews, with 4.9 on Tripadvisor and Trustpilot.
• Free cancellation. Cancel at least 24 hours before and you get a full refund; see the cancellation policy.
• Instant confirmation by email and hotel pickup on most tours; check the pickup areas.
• Clear prices. Shared options are per person, private options are per car, and booking on our website takes 5% off.

Frequently asked questions

Is 4 days enough for Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Three days covers Dubai, and the fourth day gives you a full day in Abu Dhabi.

Should I book the Abu Dhabi trip as a tour?

A tour is simplest, because it includes the driver, the guide, the mosque entry and hotel pickup, so you do not need to arrange the transport yourself.

What is the best order for the days?

Start with Downtown, then Old Dubai, then the desert, and keep Abu Dhabi for the last day or the day after the safari.

Can I change or cancel a booking?

Yes. You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before; see the cancellation policy.

For a shorter or longer stay, see our 3-day Dubai itinerary and 5-day Dubai itinerary.