My Solo Trip To Dubai (Seven Days Itinerary)

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is vastly famous worldwide as a great shopping destination where the majority of the tourists started to shop from the airport due to the duty-free tag. But Dubai is more than a shopping hub. It is also common to enjoy a family trip to Dubai. I had a fun solo travel in Dubai and found a city like Dubai is not even boring to travel alone. Therefore, I’m sharing my Dubai travel tips and experiences so that you can also explore in a group or even solo. Visiting Dubai for the first time? My Dubai seven days itinerary will help you to explore almost all the top attractions in the city. Get all the details inside to travel to Dubai and entertain you the best.

For a fun vacation, there are many coolest things to do in Dubai. You can happily spend one day, even more than a week in the city. Dubai offers a lot to explore from many unique landmarks to desert safari, traditional old souks to luxury shopping malls, lovely beaches to beautiful water parks, and more. It was a relaxing solo trip to Dubai, even in the summertime, and had many indoor to outdoor activities. However, my Dubai tour seven days itinerary can be followed for any season.

I took the direct flights to Dubai from Dhaka. It was nice to fly for the first time with Emirates Airlines. I loved their service and delicious Asian dish ‘Kheema Mutter (Minced mutton with peas, served with Khichuri)’ for breakfast. The UAE tourist visa requirements are not the same for all countries. They offer On Arrival Visa for some countries, and UAE visa information will help you to know all the details to apply. I got a month’s visa and stayed a total of 11 days, including Abu Dhabi.

Best Time To Visit Dubai

November to March became the best time to visit Dubai. Also, during the peak season, most tourists travel to Dubai in the cold months. But during winter also the average temperature is 24°C – 26°C. Most of the hotels and flights are fully booked in the high season. During winter, it became more crowded for the biggest Dubai Shopping Festival, which is held every year in the city for one month (January-February). Furthermore, Dubai Miracle Garden is only possible to visit in this season. Global Village Dubai is open for all tourists from October to April.

Summer is the off-season in Dubai due to excess temperature but also the best time to visit if you want to avoid extra tour costs and overcrowding. April to October are the hot months in Dubai. The temperature between 33°C – 38°C is bearable unless it is humid. However, you can avoid the heat by enjoying all indoor trips, spending more time in the mall, swimming pools, and water parks. It is also possible to join the evening Dubai safari tours, Dubai city night tours, and cruise tours with dinner. So, it can be even fun to visit Dubai in the summertime, plus you can save some cash.

Is Dubai Safe For Solo Female Travel

The United Arab Emirates is a land of many expatriates. It is one of the safest countries in the world. English is widely spoken everywhere and follows strict rules and regulations. I didn’t feel insecure during my entire UAE trip. The second-largest emirate Dubai is also safe for a woman traveling alone. I found many South Asians, along with other citizens in Dubai. It is wise to respect and abide by the cultural and religious values when in Dubai and other emirates. Dubai is a smart and modern city, yet modest dress up always recommended.

It was all safe to even enjoy the night tours in the city. I didn’t face anything awkward besides some suddenly started to follow on the road and come up with more interest to talk. It’s better not to accept any offer even it sounds free and lucrative. Remember, no extra precaution required to travel alone in Dubai. It just needs to be smart to handle extra curiosity and motive around. Understanding body language is a must. Mostly guessed I work here, or I need a job, hehe.

There is also a Women-Only taxi service in Dubai. The first day I took the Ladies Limo service from Dubai International Airport to the hotel, and the driver was from Bangladesh. It was lovely to know about this standard transport facility where women only carry women and let you travel safely. But Ladies Limo is an expensive one compared to the RTA Taxi service. The meter started at 25 AED.

Places to Stay in Dubai

Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah are two of the famous places to stay in Dubai and best for the luxury traveler. Dubai Downtown is also a popular area to stay close to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. All beach lovers prefer to stay in the Jumeirah Beach Road areas, and you can book any accommodations from budget to mid-range and luxury. For the budget traveler, Old Dubai is the best and possible to get many standard budget hotels to stay in Bur Dubai and Deira. Overall, for long-time travelers, it is budget-friendly to remain in apartments, which is standard in Dubai. There are hostels as well but not an excellent idea in the city.

I preferred to stay in Bur Dubai at the Gateway Hotel. The Dubai International Airport is just 7 km away from the hotel. The hotel area is very close to Meena Bazaar or Al Souk Al Kabir and is best for budget shopping and sightseeing attractions in Old Dubai. The walking tour is fun near the hotel area. The majorities of the people in Bur Dubai are from Kerala, India. There are many shops, Asian restaurants, and hotels in Bur Dubai. The communication system was the best. You can quickly get a taxi, and Dubai Metro GreenLine is very close to the hotel.

Gateway Hotel is the best choice for a luxury yet affordable stay in Dubai. I had my best six nights in the hotel at Deluxe Single Room with all comfort, modern amenities, and services. This family-friendly hotel was safe to stay. For booking desert safari, I took their tour desk service. The hotel offers all complimentary buffet breakfast and free access to Wi-Fi. There is also one fitness center, rooftop pool, and buffet dinner services for the guests. I loved their buffet breakfast for a lot of healthy and delicious food items from vegetarian to continental and halal. Moreover, the buffet dinner cost me little but had the best dinner time in Dubai.

By staying in Dubai, you can go for day tours in three other famous emirates Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Sharjah is just 28 km away from Dubai. It takes only one and half an hour to reach Abu Dhabi by taxi, and the distance is 139 km. But I’ve also stayed four nights in Abu Dhabi and had a fun three days city tour with Big Bus Tours.

Seven Days Dubai Tour Itinerary

This one-week Dubai itinerary will take you to explore the best, even not spending a lot. My solo travel in Dubai gave me a good impression of the city from the airport until the end of the day. I had the best time in the city. There are many things to do in Dubai alone. It was more interesting to enjoy adventurous new stuff for the first time during my trip to Dubai. Furthermore, here are 7 books to read before traveling UAE if you’re planning a trip to the Middle East for the first time.

Mostly I liked visiting Dubai’s iconic skyscrapers, walking tours in the famous tourist spots. Shopping was the real fun from the old souks to the local malls. In almost all photos, my various travel outfits and accessories were purchased from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I’ve loved all about Dubai Mall; it was like another world where possible to do many best things besides shopping.

I purchased a local SIM from the airport to use all smart facilities during my trip. Getting around Dubai is much easy and safe for cool apps and city services. Many smart travel apps will make your life easy in Dubai. For quick transportations, you can use Careem, Uber, Dubai Metro, and RTA apps. The Dubai Mall app is a must to use to explore this gorgeous and largest shopping mall in the perfect way. The Entertainer is one of the best coupon apps for getting all special offers. I even enjoyed using the VOX Cinemas app for the current update of all movies running in Dubai, cool right for movie lovers?

For moving around Dubai, I took the RTA taxi service and was lucky to get almost all tourist places completely for me for the low season. There were less traffic and fewer peoples on the road. All the popular public places were practically empty, and photography was fun facing the iconic Dubai landmarks. All the beaches were not overcrowded and booking any tours was comfortable, the price was reasonable.

My hearty thanks to Mohammed from Bangladesh, who guided me three days in Dubai with an RTA taxi. It was safe and great to explore all the best places in Dubai plus got to know all the good things about this most-visited emirate in the UAE.

Day 1

Bur Dubai, Dubai Creek, Deira, Al Souk Al Kabir, Dubai Mall

The first day I mainly kept for Old Dubai and took an abra ride across Dubai Creek, which connects Deira and Bur Dubai. The traditional boat is locally known as ‘abra’. It is convenient to travel from Bur Dubai to Deira or vice versa by boat. I had a walking tour around Bur Dubai, Meena Bazaar, and Deira. For authentic shopping, many old souks or traditional markets are Old Dubai’s best places. Roaming around old towns Deira and Bur Dubai will give you unique experiences. You’ll see all the old-styled buildings and souks.

 

Al Souk Al Kabir is also known as Meena Bazaar. The oldest area in Dubai but now more famous as a budget shopping destination where many shops sell products from 1$-10$, and bargaining is a must. A little fancy shopping is fun from the Meena Bazaar. You can taste the variety of Asian dishes from many South Asian restaurants in the area. Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort are two of the popular tourist attractions in Al Souk Al Kabir.

If you’re looking for traditional outfits, Textile Souk is best to explore in Bur Dubai. You’ll like to purchase various Pakistani and Indian salwar suits from those souks. There is also one beautiful Iranian Mosque in Bur Dubai and free to visit.

Spice Souk and Gold Souk are must-visit in Deira. Tax-free jewelry shopping is fun from the famous Gold Souk or Gold Souq in Dubai. Whatever you’ll buy will get back the tax amount from the Dubai Airport before leaving Dubai. I purchased one dainty gold chain from one gold souk, also exchanged one of my old earrings. Najmat Taiba, the world’s most massive gold ring, is one of the top attractions in Deira, which has showcased in one souk for everyone to see.

In the evening, I visited the world’s second-largest Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai. Fashion Avenue Dubai Mall is 12 km away from Bur Dubai and was surprised to see how vast is this mall. It is not possible to explore all things in a few hours. The interior is so gorgeous and one of the best entertainment destinations in Dubai. You can also get many exclusive offers from different outlets in the mall.

Every year many tourists visit Dubai Mall for the world’s tallest iconic landmark Burj Khalifa. You can also get the top view of Bur Al Khalifa from the beautiful Promenade of the Dubai Mall. No entry ticket is required to explore all the free things in the mall. I spent some of best hours and also enjoyed the fantastic Dubai Fountain Show on the Promenade, and it is free for all.

Day 2

Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

On the second day you can explore Dubai Marina and the artificial Palm Jumeirah Island on foot or by taxi. A walking tour is best here to visit many popular tourists spot, and the entrance is free. Dubai Marina Walk will give you the best view of Dubai’s iconic 90 degrees twisted building Cayan Tower or Infinity Tower. And then walk along the Palm Jumeirah Promenade, this area popular among tourists for long boardwalk with the skyline view and the sea breeze.

The roadside beauty of Bluewaters Island and Palm Jumeirah Island is the best in Dubai. You’ll get a close view of the big wheel of Ain Dubai in Bluewaters Island. Car driving is also fun while enjoying the remote view of the blue sea waters, and these are all Dubai’s artificial islands.

I enjoyed a 1.5-hour speedboat tour around Dubai Marina, Atlantis The Palm, and Burj Al Arab. It was an excellent experience and booked this tour online with GetYourGuide. Such kind of yacht tour starts from Dubai Marina Pier 7, and you can also directly buy the ticket from the counter. Waitrose Supermarket Chain is also located here and is best to visit for fresh produce and other shopping or to spend the fun time.

You’ll get some fantastic close photos facing the world’s luxurious, iconic hotel Atlantis The Palm and Burj Al Arab from Palm Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim 3 Area. By taxi, I took a quick entry to visit the famous Golden Horses of the Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah, the luxury resort in Dubai. On the way, you’ll also find Dubai Zabeel Palace, the ruler of Dubai Palace, but tourists are only allowed to take photos from the outside.

Many public beaches are there on Jumeirah Beach Road. Jumeirah Beach is the popular one for watching the sunset and swimming even at night. The best part is to enjoy the best view of the famous Jumeirah Beach and Burj Al Arab Hotel. However, I kept another day visiting all the calm beaches in Dubai.

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai is best to visit in winter for watching many pink flamingos and other migrating birds. The entrance is free for all.

Day 3

Fashion Avenue Dubai Mall, Dubai Mall Promenade, Dubai Mall Waterfall, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, At The Top of Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain Boardwalk

The third day had the ultimate fun in Downtown Dubai. It was astonishing to do many exciting things inside the massive Dubai Mall. Dubai Mall Waterfall is free for all, and it is so creatively beautiful. You can directly get a ticket for the entrance of the world’s most massive Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. All aged people will be surprised to explore 48 meters long Dubai Aquarium Tunnel, which is the home to more than 300 different species.

Dubai is too gorgeous at night and was excited to see the best Dubai panoramic view at the top of Burj Khalifa. Moreover, a tour in Dubai is incomplete without exploring the tallest Burj Al Khalifa. The iconic Burj Khalifa is one of the best places to visit in Dubai, and you’ve to take the entrance from the Fashion Avenue Dubai Mall.

At the Top tickets, counters are located on the lower ground level of the Dubai Mall, but you’ve to get tickets online. I purchased At the Top SKY, Burj Khalifa & Dubai Fountain Boardwalk ticket, and explored during the sunset and night hour. Burj Khalifa SKY is the world’s highest outdoor observatory deck including 125 and 148 levels of Burj Khalifa.

How about enjoying the ultimate fun time at the Waterfront Promenade of Dubai Mall? You’ll love the entire area for the Burj Al Khalifa and Dubai Fountain. The big heart-shaped Love Me sculpture has also been placed at the Dubai Mall Promenade. Souk Al Bahar Bridge is the top spot among tourists where you can get the best view of the Waterfront Promenade.

I enjoyed the fountain show at night from the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk, a 272 meters long floating bridge located on the Fountain Lake or Burj Al Khalifa Lake. A traditional abra ride is another fun activity on the lake.

Day 4

City Centre Al Shindagha, Al Awir Desert Safari Camp Site

The fourth day was for the desert safari tour in Al Awir Desert Safari Camp Site. In the morning hour had some shopping from local stores in the Al Souk Al Kabir neighborhood and at the City Centre Al Shindagha. It’s a famous local shopping center beside Carrefour supermarket in Bur Dubai, where you can enjoy quality shopping at a reasonable price. I liked to shop from Brands For Less at Shindagha and took one Lee LaCroix Handbag. Later that stylish handbag (in the photo) became one of the best travel bags to carry the rest of my Dubai and Abu Dhabi tours.

A Desert safari tour in Dubai is best for dune bashing and Arabian hospitality in the desert camp. I went for a group tour with Unique Tours, and they picked me in the afternoon from the hotel. We enjoyed an adventurous desert safari in a Land Cruiser before the sunset hour. The entire desert safari was exciting and one of the top things to do in Dubai.

The highlighted activities were camel ride, henna for women, smoking shisha, snacks with cold drinks, live performances of Belly Dance, Fire Dance, and Tanoura Dance. The tour ends up at night after the BBQ dinner. The whole atmosphere of the camp was very relaxing and pleasant.

Day 5

Palm Jumeirah Monorail, JBR Beach, Kite Beach, Al Mamzar Beach Park, Last Exit Al Khawaneej, Quranic Park, VOX Cinemas

On the fifth day just from curiosity, I wanted to enjoy a scenic Palm Jumeirah Monorail ride, which runs down the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah Island. The 3 miles long journey to the Aquaventure Waterpark of the Atlantis The Palm was relaxing. A round trip will cost you 30 AED. I loved the coastline view from the monorail. For visiting the watermark, you have to prebook tickets.

You can have the ultimate fun in the Dubai beaches. All white sandy beaches are very nicely maintained by the beach authorities and safe to visit. They have all the standard facilities and are also family-friendly. Almost all beaches are best for swimming and have a changing room.

Kite Beach is best for kitesurfing and located in Umm Al Sheif Area. The Jumeirah Beach Residence or JBR Beach is open for all to visit and one of the popular ones in the residential area.

Sharjah skyline view from Al Mamzar Beach, which is located close to the border of Dubai Sharjah, is fascinating. Al Mamzar Beach Park is not free to visit. On the way to Al Mamzar Beach Residential Area, you’ll find some of the beautiful spots to photograph facing Burj Al Khalifa.

Al Khawaneej is just 29 km away from Dubai city and best to explore Last Exit Dubai, the popular Street food truck park. The entire rustic theme park has become famous for the Love Locks or Promise Bridge, which is free to visit.

The newly opened educational Quranic Park is also worth visiting in Al Khawaneej for a better understanding of the Islamic heritage based on the Holy Quran. You can get free entry here.

You may also watch movies in VOX Cinemas at the City Centre Al Shindagha. After a long, I watched one Bollywood movie from VOX Cinemas, and it was safe to go for a night show even alone. I found Bur Dubai is secure and so moving around the nearby area at night was not risky.

Day 6

Queen Elizabeth 2, Jumeirah Mosque, La Mer Beach, Atlantis The Palm Helipad, Dubai Frame, Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe 

On the sixth day, my solo trip to Dubai started knowing about Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel for the first time. It is an iconic floating hotel on the docks of Port Rashid Marina in Dubai. Like other iconic hotels in Dubai, Elizabeth 2 has become a popular attraction for taking photos.

A culture trip to the iconic Jumeirah Mosque will give you the chance to learn Islam and the custom and culture of the Emirate.

La Mer Beach in Jumeirah 1 is one of the coolest decorated ones in Dubai. Moving around the beach area in the evening is more popular among tourists. It has all the modern facilities with cute cafes and a waterpark.

I enjoyed 12 minutes helicopter tour in Dubai from the Helipad of Atlantis The Palm. It was one of the thrilling experiences to admire the extreme beauty of the Palm Islands from the sky. The cost was 649 AED per person with Alpha Tours and maintained all safety regulations.

Skydive from the Burj Al Khalifa will also give you the chance to see the Palm Islands. First, I wanted to go for afternoon tea at Burj Al Arab for the view of the Palm but later changed my mind and instead enjoyed a helicopter flight.

The entrance ticket is a must to visit the most substantial frame in the world, Dubai Frame. It is 150 meters long and located in Zabeel Park. The new and old Dubai landmarks are possible to view from the top of the Dubai Frame.

Arabian Tea House is Dubai’s first authentic Emirati restaurant to try various Arabian food in a traditional atmosphere. I had the delicious BBQ dish Samak Mashwi and Moroccan Iced Tea with Mint from Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe located in Al Bastakiya historian neighborhood. This beautifully decorated oldest restaurant was built in 1997 and still provides the best service and carries Dubai’s old heritage values.

Day 7

Global Village Dubai, Dubai Miracle Garden

On the seventh day, I left Dubai in the morning by taxi for four days city tour in Abu Dhabi. On the way to Abu Dhabi, we were passing by the Global Village Dubai and Dubai Miracle Garden. These two top places in Dubai remained close in the summer for rejuvenation if you’re traveling between October to April worth visiting during your Dubai trip.

You can see now there are many best places to visit in Dubai. Besides all the mentioned activities you can do many other things during your visit. You’ll love to roam in Dubai and have things to do on your own. Dubai is the fastest-growing city in the world, and every time you travel will find something new to explore. Next, I wish to visit Dubai during the winter. Isn’t it worth revisiting?

Are you traveling to other cities in the United Arab Emirates? Check out a complete guide to travel UAE along with all travel tips.

Some Money-Saving Tips For Dubai Trip

Interestingly Dubai is not all about luxury; you’ll find many top free things to do in Dubai. So, it is possible to visit Dubai even on a budget. The following money-saving tips will help you to do so.

• Renting apartments is the best option to stay for a long time in Dubai. Otherwise better to stay in the Old Dubai around Bur Dubai and Deira areas. You’ll find many standard budget hotels also safe.
• Moving around by public transports like bus and metro and they provide all the standard services and fully air-conditioned. In Old Dubai, you can take an abra ride (1 AED per person) and enjoy travel like a local.
• Fly with low-cost carrier Fly Dubai and save a significant amount in flight booking.
• Need a pre-booking at least three months prior to the flights and hotels if you’re traveling to Dubai in the peak season to avoid the rush and extra costs.
• Visit Dubai in the low season to save at least half the cost from all reservations (flights, hotel bookings, and even tour packages).
• If you’re more comfortable traveling by taxi instead of using Careem and Uber transport apps, go with RTA Taxi Service. It is safe to travel anywhere in the city by Dubai Government Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and the meter starts from only 5 AED. By that, you can save a lot of money on transportation. Careem taxicab service is more prevalent in Dubai than Uber.
• Enjoy Dubai day tours with Big Bus Tours, it is budget-friendly, and you’ll be able to visit many places within a short time. But such type of tour is more prevalent in Abu Dhabi for less traffic and wide roads.
• Enjoy a lot of cheap eats yet the yummy Asian food ever from the various Bur Dubai restaurants.
• Have all the fun in the Dubai public beaches; all are free for the tourists.
• Luxurious Dubai Mall is not all about shopping you can be able to do plenty of free things inside the mall and the famous Promenade of the Mall.
• Keep an eye on special offers while shopping from the big malls. You can get exclusive deals from many brand outlets during the festive time. Summer sales are best to enjoy a lot of shopping, even in the low season.
• Use The Entertainer money-saving app and get many discounts offers on restaurants, hotels, travel, beauty center, and shopping in Dubai.
• Furthermore, visit Dubai between January and February if shopping is all you want to enjoy during your stay. You can have great fun shopping with great deals from the biggest Dubai Shopping Festival event.

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