Dubai travel: the complete 2026 guide

November-March: the only real window. 20-28C by day, 15-20C at night, blue sky, sea 24C. Also the most expensive period (hotels x2) and Dubai Shopping Festival in January.

April and October: fair compromise at 30-35C, mid-range prices.

May-September: 40-48C, suffocating humidity in August. Many outdoor attractions close 12-17h. 5* hotels at EUR 80/night - unbeatable if you accept living indoors (malls, early beach).

Avoid Ramadan (mid-Feb to mid-March 2026) if unprepared: no restaurants open during the day outside tourist hotels.

Day 1 - Downtown & Burj Khalifa: Burj Khalifa (sunset ticket 189 AED = EUR 47), Dubai Mall, fountains show every 30 min from 18h.

Day 2 - Old Dubai: Al Fahidi historic district, coffee museum, gold souk and spice souk in Deira, abra crossing on Dubai Creek (1 AED / EUR 0.25).

Day 3 - Palm Jumeirah: monorail to Atlantis, Aquaventure Waterpark (EUR 60) OR The View at The Palm (100 AED).

Day 4 - Desert: late-afternoon 4x4 safari with Bedouin dinner and tanoura dance (EUR 60-90). Use a known operator (Platinum Heritage, Arabian Adventures).

Day 5 - Marina & JBR Beach: morning beach Kite Beach or JBR, brunch (Emirati institution, EUR 90-180), Ain Dubai, Bluewaters.

Add 1 day for Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World).

Hotels: 5* from EUR 90/night off-peak, EUR 220-500 peak. Clean 3* from EUR 55 (Al Barsha, Bur Dubai). Palm Jumeirah resorts from EUR 350.

Food: VIP brunch a must EUR 90-180 drinks included, mid-range restaurant EUR 25-45/pers, mall street food EUR 4-8, mall coffee EUR 4-6.

Transport: red/green metro 3-7 AED (EUR 0.75-1.75), 24h unlimited 20 AED (EUR 5). Rechargeable Nol card 25 AED. Careem/Uber: 20-50 AED in town. DXB to Downtown taxi: 60-85 AED (EUR 15-21).

Activities: Burj Khalifa level 148 = EUR 138, desert safari = EUR 60-90, Aquaventure = EUR 60, Atlantis Lost Chambers = EUR 25.

Alcohol: heavily taxed, beer = EUR 12-18 in licensed hotels. No alcohol outside hotel bars.

From Paris CDG: Emirates (3 flights/day, A380), Air France (2/day). 6h30 out, 7h30 back. EUR 380-750 return.

From Lyon LYS: Emirates 1 daily non-stop from EUR 289.

From Nice NCE: Emirates 1 daily, from EUR 320.

From Marseille MRS and Toulouse TLS: connections only (Turkish via Istanbul, Lufthansa via Frankfurt). From EUR 279 with 10-12h total.

Cheapest window: May-June and late Aug to mid-Oct.

Visa: free for EU citizens on arrival, 90 days (extendable 30 days). Passport valid 6 months.

Safety: Dubai is one of the safest cities globally. Standard common sense applies.

Dress code: cover shoulders and knees outside beaches/hotels. Modest dress required in malls. Bikini only on authorised beaches.

Photos: do not photograph Emirati women in abaya without permission, nor military/government sites.

Alcohol: only in licensed hotel bars/restaurants. No public drinking. Zero tolerance for drink-driving.