Six day trips are worth a day of a Dubai holiday, and two of them are worth it for everyone: Abu Dhabi, 140 km away and done in one organised 9-hour day, and the Lahbab desert, 45-60 minutes from most hotels and the trip guests rank highest afterwards. Behind them come Hatta in the Hajar Mountains, Sharjah next door, Jebel Jais with one of the longest ziplines in the world, and the Fujairah coast on a different sea. Our Abu Dhabi city tour and full-day desert safari both collect you at your hotel from $45 with no prepayment; the other four you organise yourself.
By SB Excursions · Published 15 September 2026 · Updated 23 October 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
What is the best day trip from Dubai?
Abu Dhabi, for a first visit: 140 km away, 1.5-2 hours each way, and its landmarks fit one organised 9-hour day. Our tour collects you at your hotel at 8:00 AM, covers the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village, Yas Island and the Dates Market, and costs $45 per person with no prepayment. The desert safari, 45-60 minutes away and 7 hours long, is the close second.
This guide also answers:
- How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai for a day trip?
- Is Hatta worth a day trip from Dubai?
- Can you do Abu Dhabi and the desert safari on the same day?
The six day trips, ranked
#1
Abu Dhabi
The capital in one organised loop: the Grand Mosque before the heat, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche and Emirates Palace, Heritage Village, a Ferrari World photo op with lunch at Yas Mall, and the Dates Market. Our shared tour is 9 hours from an 8:00 AM hotel pickup for $45 with no prepayment; a private car for up to 7 is $245.
#2
The desert: Lahbab Red Dunes
Closer than any other trip on this list and the one most visitors rank highest afterwards: 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Big Red dunes, sandboarding, a camel ride, sunset, then the BBQ dinner and shows at Al Khayma camp. The full-day safari is 7 hours door to door from $45, $65 with the 30-minute quad bike, no prepayment.
#3
Hatta
Dubai's enclave in the Hajar Mountains: kayaking on the turquoise Hatta Dam reservoir, the Heritage Village, the HATTA sign on the hill and the seasonal Wadi Hub. Winter days run roughly 8-10°C cooler than the coast. A taxi is about AED 300-400 one way, so a hire car or the E16 bus at about AED 10-15 is the sensible way to go.
#4
Sharjah
The emirate next door: the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Blue Souk, Al Noor Island with its Butterfly House, the Rain Room and the Al Majaz waterfront, all within a few kilometres of each other. It is dry, with no alcohol anywhere, and it is a half day rather than a full one; taxis run about AED 40-80 plus a small inter-emirate surcharge, buses about AED 10.
#5
Jebel Jais
The UAE's highest peak at 1,934 m, in Ras Al Khaimah, reached by a summit road that climbs to about 1,900 m through switchbacks worth the drive on their own. The Jais Flight zipline, about 2.8 km long, is one of the longest in the world, and the Jais Sledder runs down the mountainside. Self-drive or a driver for the day; about 2 hours each way.
#6
Fujairah and the east coast
The only day trip to a different sea: Snoopy Island off Al Aqah beach for snorkelling, Fujairah Fort, the small stone Al Bidyah mosque and the Khorfakkan amphitheatre, with the Masafi Friday Market on the road through the mountains. About 2 hours each way by car, and a hire car or a driver for the day is the only practical way to do it.
Which day trip first? The short answer
Abu Dhabi first, the desert second, and both on separate days. The capital is the one full-day excursion every first-time visitor should make: 140 km down the E11, the Grand Mosque before the midday heat, the Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village, Yas and the Dates Market, all in the 9-hour loop of our Abu Dhabi city tour from an 8:00 AM hotel pickup for $45. The desert is closer, 45-60 minutes to the Lahbab Red Dunes, and it is an afternoon-into-night trip rather than a full day, which is why the two fit into consecutive days without exhausting anyone.
The other four are for the second week, the return visit, or a particular interest: Hatta for mountains and kayaking, Sharjah for museums in half a day, Jebel Jais for the zipline and the switchbacks, and the Fujairah coast for snorkelling on the Gulf of Oman. None of the four is organised by us, so the transport, the timing and the cost are yours to arrange; the table below puts all six side by side.
The six trips compared
Distances are from central Dubai; times assume no rush hour. The two trips with a price in dollars are ours, with hotel pickup included; everything else is what to budget on your own.
| Trip | Distance | Time each way | How to go | Budget | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | About 140 km | 1.5-2 hours | Our tour with pickup; taxi; bus E100 or E101 | $45 shared or $245 private car for 7; taxi about AED 250-350 each way; bus about AED 25 | First |
| Lahbab desert | 45-60 km | 45-60 minutes | Our safari with 4x4 pickup | From $45, $65 with the quad bike; no prepayment | Second, on a different day |
| Hatta | About 130 km | 1.5-2 hours | Hire car; bus E16; taxi | Bus about AED 10-15; taxi about AED 300-400 each way | Mountains and kayaking |
| Sharjah | 15-25 km | 30 minutes to an hour | Taxi; buses E303, E306, E307 | Taxi about AED 40-80 plus surcharge; bus about AED 10 | A half day of culture |
| Jebel Jais | 150-170 km | About 2 hours | Hire car or a driver | Fuel or a driver for the day; zipline and sledder tickets extra | Adrenaline and views |
| Fujairah east coast | About 130-150 km | About 2 hours | Hire car or a driver | About AED 2 per km on a meter; a car for the day is cheaper | A different sea |
Third-party fares and tickets change; check the official site or app before you go. Our tour prices are fixed and paid on the day.
Two things on the list are not day trips but are often confused with them. The sunrise balloon is a half day, 4-5 hours door to door with a pre-dawn pickup, and it pairs with the desert safari the same afternoon. And a private yacht from the Marina is a day out that never leaves Dubai: 4 hours to Burj Al Arab and Atlantis from the sea with a swim stop off the Palm, from AED 400 per hour for the boat. Both are covered further down.
Abu Dhabi: the day trip that is a product
Every other trip on this page you organise; this one has been organised for you. The shared tour collects you at your hotel in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman at 8:00 AM, earlier from Sharjah and the remote areas, in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed guide and bottled water on board. The Grand Mosque is the first stop, 40 minutes with registration assistance, before the heat and the crowds; then the BAPS Hindu Mandir, the Corniche and Emirates Palace, Heritage Village, the Ferrari World photo op with lunch at Yas Mall, and the Dates Market before the return. It is $45 per person, with no prepayment: you agree the date on WhatsApp and pay on the day.
On your own it costs more or takes longer. A taxi is about AED 250-350 each way; the E100 and E101 buses are about AED 25 with a Nol card but take about 2 hours to Abu Dhabi Central and leave the mosque, the Corniche and Yas as separate taxi rides. For a family of up to 7 the private car at $245 gives the same loop with a flexible schedule. The hour-by-hour version is in Abu Dhabi in one day from Dubai, the transport comparison in how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and if the theme parks are the point, Yas Island from Dubai explains why they need their own day.
The desert: safari by afternoon, balloon by dawn
The Lahbab Red Dunes are about 45-60 km east of the city on the E44, close enough that the full-day desert safari is 7 hours door to door rather than a dawn-to-dusk expedition. The 4x4 collects you at your hotel, the drive out takes 45-60 minutes, and the programme runs 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Big Red dunes, sandboarding, the optional quad bike or buggy, a camel ride and falcon photos at sunset, then the camp at Al Khayma: air-conditioned tents, unlimited water, soft drinks, tea and Arabic coffee, a BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, henna, shisha, and the fire, Tanoura and belly dance shows. From $45, or $65 with the 30-minute quad bike; no prepayment. It is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or infants under 3.
The sunrise hot air balloon is the desert's other face: a pre-dawn pickup, 40-70 minutes at 2,000-4,000 feet over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with gazelles and oryx below, then a Bedouin breakfast, a short camel ride and a falcon photo, back in the city by mid-morning. It is $275 with a 30% deposit, minimum age 7, and the baskets sell out one to two weeks ahead, so it is the one trip on this page to book from home. Fly at dawn, rest at the hotel, ride the dunes in the afternoon, and the desert is done in a single day.
Hatta: the mountains, 130 km east
Hatta is Dubai's own enclave in the Hajar Mountains, about 130 km via the E44 and 1.5-2 hours by car. The reservoir behind Hatta Dam is the reason to go: turquoise water ringed by bare rock, with kayaks and pedal boats for hire from the pontoon. Add the Heritage Village with its restored mud-brick houses and watchtower, the HATTA sign on the ridge for the photo, and in season, roughly October to April, the Wadi Hub with its outdoor activities. On winter days it runs roughly 8-10°C cooler than the coast, which is the point.
Getting there is the decision. A taxi is about AED 300-400 one way, which makes a hire car for the day the obvious answer for two or more people; the E16 bus from the Deira side takes around 2 hours and costs about AED 10-15 with a Nol card, but leaves you on foot at the other end. Compared with the desert safari, Hatta is a daytime, self-drive, do-it-yourself day with no dunes, no dinner and no pickup; the safari is an organised afternoon and evening with everything included. Do the safari first; do Hatta if you have a car and a spare day in the cool months. The route options are in how to get from Dubai to Hatta.
Sharjah: half a day next door
Sharjah begins where Dubai ends, 15-25 km from the centre, and it rewards a half day rather than a full one. The Museum of Islamic Civilization on the Creek, the Blue Souk with its wind towers and tilework, Al Noor Island in Khalid Lagoon with the Butterfly House, the Rain Room and the Al Majaz waterfront with its fountains sit within a few kilometres of each other, and Al Noor Mosque on the corniche is the postcard. The emirate is dry: no alcohol anywhere, and the dress standard is more conservative than Dubai's malls.
The trap is traffic. The Dubai-Sharjah rush hour, 7-9 AM into Dubai and 5-8 PM out, can turn a 30-minute run into an hour, so go against the flow: leave Dubai mid-morning, come back after lunch. A taxi is about AED 40-80 plus a small inter-emirate surcharge; the E303, E306 and E307 buses from Union, Al Ghubaiba and Deira City Centre cost about AED 10. If you are staying in Sharjah or Ajman rather than visiting, both our desert safari and the Abu Dhabi day collect from hotels there too, with an earlier pickup because you are first on the route. Times, buses and what to see are in how to get from Dubai to Sharjah.
Jebel Jais and the Fujairah east coast: the long ones
Jebel Jais is the UAE's highest peak, 1,934 m, in Ras Al Khaimah, 150-170 km from Dubai and about 2 hours from the Marina, a little less from Deira. The summit road climbs to about 1,900 m through a series of switchbacks with viewpoints, and at the top are the Jais Flight zipline, about 2.8 km and one of the longest in the world, and the Jais Sledder mountain coaster. It is a self-drive or driver-for-the-day trip: go early, because the zipline sells fixed slots and the mountain is cold in winter mornings, and budget the tickets on the official site, which prices by date. Route and timings are in how to get from Dubai to Jebel Jais.
The Fujairah east coast is the only day trip that reaches a different sea. The road crosses the Hajar Mountains past the Masafi Friday Market to the Gulf of Oman, about 2 hours each way: Snoopy Island off Al Aqah beach for snorkelling from the sand, the small mud-and-stone Al Bidyah mosque, Fujairah Fort above the old town, and the amphitheatre and beach at Khorfakkan on the way back. At about AED 2 per km on a taxi meter it is a AED 300 ride each way, so a hire car or a driver for the day is the only sensible way. Bring snorkels for Snoopy Island, water shoes and a full tank.
Fitting the day trips into a week, and the one that never leaves Dubai
A first week has room for Abu Dhabi and the desert and nothing else, and that is the right call: two full days out of seven, spaced apart, with the rest for the Burj, the Marina, the beaches and Old Dubai. A second week, or a second visit, adds Hatta or Jebel Jais in the cool months and Sharjah as a half day. Book the two organised days first, because they are the ones with pickups to schedule: the Abu Dhabi tour and the safari are agreed on WhatsApp with no prepayment, the balloon needs its 30% deposit one to two weeks ahead. Our free AI trip planner lays the days out on the map with the tours in the right slots.
And the day trip that never leaves the city: a private yacht from the marina pier behind Al Majara Tower, Dubai Marina. Two hours covers the Marina canal, JBR, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai; three adds the Palm Jumeirah lagoon with a swim stop in daylight; four reaches Burj Al Arab and Atlantis from the sea. Boats run from 31 to 150 ft and from AED 400 per hour with captain, crew, fuel, water and ice included, and the yacht is confirmed with the marina on WhatsApp before you pay anything. On a hot day it is the excursion that beats all six above.
FAQ
What is the best day trip from Dubai?
Abu Dhabi, for a first visit: 140 km away, 1.5-2 hours each way, and its landmarks fit one organised 9-hour day. Our tour collects you at your hotel at 8:00 AM, covers the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village, Yas Island and the Dates Market, and costs $45 per person with no prepayment. The desert safari, 45-60 minutes away and 7 hours long, is the close second.
How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai for a day trip?
About 140 km on the E11, 1.5-2 hours by car; the Grand Mosque is on the near side, about 1.5 hours from Dubai Marina. A taxi is about AED 250-350 one way, the E100 and E101 buses about AED 25 with a Nol card and about 2 hours, and our tour includes the transport both ways with a guide, so 9 hours door to door is enough for the full loop.
Is Hatta worth a day trip from Dubai?
Yes, in the cool months and with a car. It is about 130 km and 1.5-2 hours via the E44, with kayaking on the Hatta Dam reservoir, the Heritage Village, the HATTA sign and the seasonal Wadi Hub, and winter days are roughly 8-10°C cooler than the coast. A taxi is about AED 300-400 one way, so hire a car or take the E16 bus at about AED 10-15. Do the desert safari first.
Can you do Abu Dhabi and the desert safari on the same day?
No. The Abu Dhabi tour is 9 hours from an 8:00 AM pickup and the full-day safari is 7 hours ending late in the evening; together they do not fit. Put them on consecutive days, or a day apart. The sunrise balloon and the desert safari do share a day comfortably: fly at dawn, rest at the hotel, ride the dunes from the afternoon.
Which day trips from Dubai include hotel pickup?
Our Abu Dhabi day and the full-day desert safari collect from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, and the sunrise balloon collects anywhere in Dubai city before dawn; all three drop you back at the door. Hatta, Sharjah, Jebel Jais and the Fujairah coast are self-organised: a hire car, a taxi or the public buses. The Marina yacht cruises have no pickup but are a short taxi from most hotels.
Is Sharjah worth visiting from Dubai?
For half a day, yes: the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Blue Souk, Al Noor Island, the Rain Room and the Al Majaz waterfront are all close together, 15-25 km from central Dubai. Go against the rush hour, which runs 7-9 AM into Dubai and 5-8 PM out; a taxi is about AED 40-80 plus a small surcharge, the buses about AED 10. No alcohol anywhere in the emirate.
How do I get to Jebel Jais from Dubai?
By car or with a driver for the day: 150-170 km, about 2 hours from Dubai Marina and a little less from Deira, then the summit road climbing to about 1,900 m. There is no practical public transport to the top. Book the Jais Flight zipline, about 2.8 km long, in advance on the official site for a morning slot, and bring a layer for the summit, which is cold on winter mornings.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Dubai
It is the desert from above at first light: gazelles, oryx and camels in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the Hajar Mountains on the horizon and the dunes turning gold. After landing a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast (veg and non-veg options), a short camel ride and a falcon photo, and every guest gets an electronic flight certificate signed by the pilot.
- Duration
- 4-5 hours
- Area
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Format
- Shared sunrise balloon flight with breakfast
- Best for
- couples, photographers and anyone who wants the desert at sunrise from above
From $275 per person 30% deposit
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: Hatta — Tms2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, Jebel Jais — Joshlxd, CC BY-SA 4.0, Fujairah and the east coast — Wongleejean, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).