A week is the length at which Dubai stops being a checklist. The 5-day plan — Downtown, the sunrise balloon, Abu Dhabi, the desert safari, the coast — gains two things: real beach days, and a day out of the city in Hatta or Sharjah. It also gains the room to do the water twice: the 9 PM yacht party mid-week if you are 21+, and a private sunset charter with a swim stop off the Palm as the finale. Below is the day-by-day with timings, the Hatta-or-Sharjah decision, a budget table for the week and what to move around your flights.
By SB Excursions · Published 15 September 2026 · Updated 23 October 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Is 7 days too long for Dubai?
No, if two of them are beach days and one is out of the city. The week covers Downtown, Old Dubai, the sunrise balloon, the 9-hour Abu Dhabi day, a Jumeirah beach day with the 9 PM yacht party, the 7-hour desert safari, Hatta or Sharjah, and the Palm with a 3-hour private yacht at sunset — roughly $700 per person in tours, tickets and transport before the hotel.
This guide also answers:
- Should I do Hatta or Sharjah on a week in Dubai?
- Which night is best for the yacht party?
- How much does a week in Dubai cost per person?
The six days that need a decision
#1
Day 2: the sunrise balloon
A 40-70 minute flight at 2,000-4,000 feet over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, then a vintage Land Rover or SUV to a Bedouin camp for breakfast, a short camel ride and the falcon photo. Placed on day 2 so a wind cancellation — full refund or a new date — can be rebooked on day 4 or day 6 without losing anything.
#2
Day 3: Abu Dhabi
The Grand Mosque with a 40-minute stop before the heat, the BAPS Hindu Mandir, the Corniche and Emirates Palace, Heritage Village, a Ferrari World photo stop with lunch at Yas Mall and the Dates Market. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration help and water are included, no prepayment; a private car for up to 7 is $245.
#3
Day 4: Jumeirah beaches, then the yacht party
Burj Al Arab from Sunset Beach, kitesurfers at Kite Beach, the Jumeirah Mosque visit in the morning and Souk Madinat in the shade. Then a taxi to the Marina: boarding 8:30 PM at the pier behind Al Majara Tower for four hours with a live DJ, a live BBQ and unlimited soft drinks past the Palm and Burj Al Arab, back around 1 AM.
#4
Day 5: a slow morning, then the desert
The morning is for sleeping in after the party. From the afternoon the 4x4 collects you for the 45-60 minute drive to the Lahbab Red Dunes: 30-45 minutes of dune bashing, sandboarding, the camel ride at sunset, then Al Khayma camp with the BBQ buffet, fire show, Tanoura and belly dance in air-conditioned tents. $65 with the quad bike; no prepayment.
#5
Day 6: Hatta or Sharjah
Hatta is the turquoise dam with kayaks, the Heritage Village and the HATTA letters on the hill, 1.5-2 hours each way and 8-10°C cooler on winter days. Sharjah is the Blue Souk, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, Al Noor Island and the Rain Room, close enough for a half-day and dry — no alcohol anywhere in the emirate.
#6
Day 7: the Palm, then a private yacht at sunset
The Palm from The View at The Palm in the morning, JBR after lunch, then three hours on your own boat: the Marina canal, JBR, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai, a swim stop off the Palm in daylight and the sunset on the way back. The 31 ft Sealine takes 6 from AED 400 an hour; the 48 ft Orion takes 12 from AED 800. Or the shared hour from $32.
How the week fits together
Seven days is enough to see the city without rushing, and the trick is not to fill every one of them. The 5-day itinerary already covers Downtown, the balloon, Abu Dhabi, the desert and the coast; the week adds a full Jumeirah beach day, a day out of Dubai and a second, longer evening on the water. The same rules order it: the weather-dependent balloon early in the week, the two early starts (days 2 and 3) before the late nights, and the desert safari never on the night before a pre-dawn pickup or a flight.
One decision shapes the week: the day out. Hatta is a full day in the mountains, 130 km east on the E44; Sharjah is the next emirate, 15-25 km north, and can be a half-day. Both are covered on day 6, with a third option in season. The table is the whole week at a glance; the free SB AI planner puts it on a map for your dates.
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive or sleep in; metro to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | At the Top or Sky Views, Dubai Mall | Burj Park, the Fountain from 6 PM, Souk Al Bahar |
| Day 2 | Pre-dawn pickup, sunrise balloon, Bedouin breakfast | Rest; Green Line to Sharaf DG station (formerly Al Fahidi) from about 4 PM | Abra across the Creek, Gold and Spice Souks, Al Seef |
| Day 3 | 8:00 AM pickup, Grand Mosque, BAPS Mandir | Corniche, Heritage Village, Yas Island, Dates Market | Back in Dubai, early night |
| Day 4 | Jumeirah Mosque visit, Kite Beach | Sunset Beach with Burj Al Arab, Souk Madinat | Yacht party, boarding 8:30 PM at the Marina pier (21+) |
| Day 5 | Sleep in; pool or Museum of the Future | Hotel pickup for the 7-hour desert safari | Al Khayma camp: BBQ, fire show, Tanoura; back late |
| Day 6 | Hatta (leave by 8 AM) or Sharjah (leave at 10 AM) | Hatta Dam kayaking and Heritage Village, or the Blue Souk and museums | Back in Dubai; Marina Walk or the Dubai Canal waterfall |
| Day 7 | Palm Jumeirah: The View at The Palm or Aquaventure | JBR, then a 3-hour private charter from mid-afternoon | Sunset from the water; dinner on Marina Walk |
If the flight home is early on day 8, swap days 6 and 7 so the yacht afternoon falls on day 6 and the Sharjah half-day, which ends whenever you like, on the last day.
Days 1 to 3: Downtown, the balloon, Abu Dhabi
The first three days are the 5-day plan's opening and are described stop by stop there; here is what matters for the week's pacing. Day 1 is unbooked and central: the Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, the view from At the Top (from $55 per person with us) or the cheaper Sky Views, the mall, then Burj Park and the Fountain shows every 30 minutes from 6 PM. Buy a Silver Nol card (about AED 25 including AED 19 of credit) at the first station; you will use it all week.
Day 2 is the sunrise hot air balloon: pickup before dawn, 40-70 minutes over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve at 2,000-4,000 feet, breakfast at a Bedouin camp and back by mid-morning, 4-5 hours in all, $275 with a 30% deposit, minimum age 7. Sleep through the middle of the day, then Old Dubai from about 4 PM: Al Fahidi, the abra for AED 1-2, the souks in Deira and dinner at Al Seef. On a week's trip the flight sits on day 2 so a weather cancellation has three spare mornings to move to.
Day 3 is the Abu Dhabi city tour: 8:00 AM pickup, 1.5-2 hours down the E11, the Grand Mosque first, then the BAPS Mandir, the Corniche, Heritage Village, Yas Island and the Dates Market, from $45 with a guide and water included and no prepayment; $245 for a private car for up to 7. Dress for the mosque — ankles, wrists and hair covered for women, shoulders and knees for men — and carry a copy of your passport. It is a long day, which is why day 4 has no alarm clock.
Day 4: the Jumeirah beach day, and the yacht party at 9 PM
Jumeirah is the coast between Old Dubai and the Burj Al Arab: public beaches, the sail-shaped hotel and the low villa neighbourhoods behind them. Start early if you want the Jumeirah Mosque, which runs guided visits for non-Muslims in the mornings (about AED 40; check the current schedule), then Kite Beach for the morning — kitesurfers, a long sandy strip, cafés along the back. After lunch move to Sunset Beach, the public beach next to the Burj Al Arab with the best free photo of it, and finish at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where the canals and wind towers give shade and the hotel fills the frame across the water. Swim at flagged beaches only; rip currents exist on the open coast.
The night is the Dubai Marina yacht party, and it belongs mid-week rather than on the last night because it finishes around 1 AM. Take a taxi to the Marina (from Jumeirah budget 20-30 minutes outside rush hour) and be at the pier behind Al Majara Tower by 8:30 PM; the yacht leaves at 9 PM sharp and does not wait. Four hours follow: Bluewaters and Ain Dubai, JBR, Dubai Harbour, the Palm lagoon and the Burj Al Arab photo stop, with a live DJ, a live BBQ of sliders, chicken and salads and unlimited soft drinks. It is $99 per person, strictly 21+ with an original ID, smart casual, paid in advance because the slots sell out. Under 21 or not in the mood for a nightclub on water? Dinner on Marina Walk and the shared hour on day 7 instead.
Day 5: a slow morning, then the desert
Sleep in. The morning after the party is the hotel pool, or the Museum of the Future (about AED 150, book ahead for weekends) if you want the air-conditioned version of a lie-in. Eat a light lunch — the safari asks you to avoid a heavy meal 2-3 hours before pickup, and the dune bashing is the reason.
The full-day desert safari collects you at the hotel in the afternoon in an air-conditioned 4x4, drives 45-60 minutes to the Lahbab desert and starts with 30-45 minutes of dune bashing on the Big Red dunes, the driver adjusting the intensity to the group. Then sandboarding, the optional quad bike or buggy, the camel ride and falcon photos as the light turns gold, and after sunset Al Khayma camp: henna, the shisha station, the BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, unlimited water, soft drinks, tea and Arabic coffee, and the fire show, Tanoura and belly dance in air-conditioned tents before the drive back late in the evening.
From $45 per person, $65 with the 30-minute quad bike, no prepayment: the date is agreed on WhatsApp and paid on the day. Sandals or shoes you can empty of sand, sunglasses, a hat, and a light jacket between December and February. Not for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems or infants under 3. On a week's trip the safari has a bonus: the E44 out to Lahbab is the Hatta road, so by day 6 you already know the first 45-60 km of it.
Day 6: Hatta or Sharjah — the day out of the city
This is the day the 5-day plan cannot afford. Pick by appetite: mountains and water, or souks and museums.
| Hatta | Sharjah | Global Village and Miracle Garden (in season) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Hajar Mountains, about 130 km east via the E44 | The next emirate north, 15-25 km from Dubai | Dubailand, 25-35 minutes from Downtown or the Marina |
| Getting there | Hire car or taxi (budget AED 300-400 one way), or bus E16 from the Deira side, around 2 hours, about AED 10-15 with Nol | Buses E303/E306/E307 from Union, Al Ghubaiba or Deira City Centre, about AED 10; taxi AED 40-80 plus a small inter-emirate surcharge | Taxi about AED 60-90 from Downtown |
| Time needed | A full day; leave by 8 AM | Half a day to a day; leave at 10 AM, come back in the evening against the rush | An afternoon and evening |
| What you do | Hatta Dam kayaking on the turquoise reservoir, Hatta Heritage Village, the HATTA sign on the hill, Wadi Hub roughly October-April | Al Noor Island, the Blue Souk, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Rain Room, Al Majaz Waterfront | Global Village roughly late October to late April, Miracle Garden roughly November to May — check the current dates |
| Good to know | 8-10°C cooler than the coast on winter days; take water and a jacket | No alcohol anywhere in the emirate; dress conservatively | Evenings only in the hot months; combine with a lie-in |
Third-party fares and opening dates change: check the RTA app for buses and the official sites for season dates before you go.
Our lean: Hatta in the cooler months if you have a car or a group to split a taxi, because the dam and the mountain air are unlike anything else on the trip; Sharjah if you would rather not spend 3-4 hours on the road, or if the day falls in summer. The Sharjah rush runs into Dubai 7-9 AM and out of Dubai 5-8 PM, so a 10 AM start and an evening return travel against the traffic. Step by step for each: Dubai to Hatta and Dubai to Sharjah. If you are staying in Sharjah itself, note that the desert safari and the Abu Dhabi day pick up there too, at an earlier hour.
Day 7: the Palm, JBR and a private yacht at sunset
The finale is the coast again, but with the boat to yourselves. In the morning take a taxi to Palm Jumeirah — 12-15 km and 20-30 minutes from the Marina (about AED 35-50) — for The View at The Palm on the 52nd floor (about AED 70-100) or a shorter version of Aquaventure, and the monorail down the trunk (about AED 20-30 return). After lunch, JBR: the beach, The Walk, the footbridge to Bluewaters for the Ain Dubai photo from the island.
From mid-afternoon, a private charter from the marina lounge on the marina level of Al Majara Tower; arrive 20-30 minutes before departure with a copy of your passport or Emirates ID on your phone, and expect a security pre-authorisation of AED 2,000-15,000 held on a card and released after the trip. Three hours is the right length for the last day: the Marina canal, JBR, Bluewaters and Ain Dubai in the first hour, the Palm Jumeirah lagoon with a swim stop in daylight — the Coast Guard closes swimming around 5 PM in winter and 7 PM in summer, within three metres of the boat, life jackets for children under ten — and the sunset on the way back. Bring your own drinks (21+ for alcohol) and dry snacks; captain, crew, fuel, water, ice and soft drinks are included, and catering can be added in advance.
For two to six people the 31 ft Sealine is from AED 400 per hour with a 3-hour minimum — AED 1,200 for the boat, AED 200 each for six. For a family or a group of up to 12 the 48 ft Orion is from AED 800 per hour, AED 2,400 for the three hours, about AED 200 each for twelve. Sunset is the most requested slot, so send the date, hours and guests on WhatsApp early; the yacht is confirmed with the marina before any payment, and a Coast Guard weather warning means a new route, a new date or a full refund. How many hours to rent a yacht sets out the 2-, 3- and 4-hour routes. If a private boat is more than the trip needs, the shared yacht hour from $32 runs the same first hour of the route from the same pier, check-in 20 minutes before departure, and the party on day 4 already covered the Palm and Burj Al Arab by night.
Budget for the week (per person, without hotel and meals)
Everything in the plan, added up for one person. Third-party tickets and fares are budgets — check the official sites before you go; our tour prices are the ones on the tour pages. The yacht line assumes six people sharing the 31 ft boat for three hours.
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nol card and metro rides | About AED 25 plus AED 3-7.5 per ride | Downtown, Old Dubai, the Marina; roughly 8-10 rides in a week |
| Taxis | About AED 200-250 in total | Jumeirah to the Marina, Marina to the Palm, the airport run |
| Burj Khalifa At the Top | From $55 | Or Sky Views, cheaper |
| The View at The Palm, monorail, Jumeirah Mosque, abra | About AED 130-170 | All the small tickets of the week |
| Sunrise hot air balloon | $275 | 30% deposit; sells out 1-2 weeks ahead |
| Abu Dhabi city tour | $45 | $245 for a private car for up to 7; no prepayment |
| Yacht party | $99 | 21+, full prepayment |
| Full-day desert safari | $45 ($65 with the quad bike) | No prepayment |
| Day 6: Sharjah by bus | About AED 20 return | Hatta by taxi: budget AED 600-800 return for the car, shared by the group |
| Private yacht, 3 hours on the Sealine | AED 1,200 for the boat, AED 200 each for six | Or the shared hour from $32 |
| Museum of the Future | About AED 150 | Optional |
The core week comes to roughly $700 per person in tours, tickets and transport with Sharjah on day 6 and six people sharing the Sealine; Hatta by taxi, the quad bike upgrade and the Museum of the Future add to it. Hotel and food by area are in how much a Dubai trip costs.
Swaps, cuts and the arrival and departure days
A week has slack, so use it. Flights into DXB usually land at odd hours: if you arrive late on day 1, Downtown moves to the morning of day 5 in place of the lie-in, and the party can move to day 6 if the lie-in is needed after all. If day 3 falls on a Friday or a Monday, when the Grand Mosque prayer halls or the Mandir can be closed to visitors, swap Abu Dhabi with the beach day. If the balloon is cancelled for wind, it moves to day 4 or day 6, and the Jumeirah beaches shift to the afternoon.
- Short on money: drop the private yacht for the shared hour (from $32 instead of AED 200 each), keep Sharjah by bus instead of Hatta by taxi, skip At the Top for Burj Park and the Fountain, and keep all four of our tours; they are the days the week is built around.
- Travelling with children: the balloon has a minimum age of 7 and the party is 21+; replace them with Aquaventure and a family charter, where children under ten wear life jackets on deck and in the water, and keep the safari, where children over 5 enjoy it most.
- Summer weeks: from May to September the beach days become early mornings, the Palm becomes The View at sunset rather than a walk, Hatta gives way to Sharjah's museums, and the desert, the yacht party and the yacht afternoon carry the week — see best time to visit Dubai for what each month changes.
- A second week: stay in Abu Dhabi for two nights at the end rather than day-tripping it, or add Jebel Jais and the east coast; both are beyond this plan and belong to a longer stay.
FAQ
Is 7 days too long for Dubai?
No, if two of them are beach days and one is out of the city. The week covers Downtown, Old Dubai, the sunrise balloon, the 9-hour Abu Dhabi day, a Jumeirah beach day with the 9 PM yacht party, the 7-hour desert safari, Hatta or Sharjah, and the Palm with a 3-hour private yacht at sunset — roughly $700 per person in tours, tickets and transport before the hotel.
Should I do Hatta or Sharjah on a week in Dubai?
Hatta in the cooler months if you have a car or a group to split a taxi (budget AED 300-400 each way): 130 km, 1.5-2 hours, the dam, the Heritage Village and mountain air 8-10°C cooler than the coast. Sharjah if you want a half-day, a bus for about AED 10 or if it is summer: the Blue Souk, the museums and Al Noor Island, 15-25 km from Dubai and dry.
Which night is best for the yacht party?
Mid-week, on day 4, after the beach day and before the safari's slow morning. It boards at 8:30 PM at the pier behind Al Majara Tower, leaves at 9 PM sharp and returns around 1 AM, so it should not be the night before a pre-dawn balloon pickup, an 8:00 AM Abu Dhabi pickup or an early flight. It is $99, strictly 21+, and paid in advance.
How much does a week in Dubai cost per person?
About $700 per person in tours, tickets and transport for the plan above: the balloon $275, the yacht party $99, Abu Dhabi $45, the desert safari from $45, a share of a 3-hour private yacht (AED 200 each for six on the 31 ft Sealine), Burj Khalifa from $55, the small tickets, a Nol card and taxis. Hatta by taxi, the quad bike and the Museum of the Future add to it; hotel and meals are on top.
Do I need to rent a car for a week in Dubai?
No. The Red Line and the tram cover Downtown, the Marina and JBR for AED 3-7.5 a ride, taxis are metered at about AED 2 per km, and the balloon, the Abu Dhabi day and the desert safari all include hotel pickup. The only day a car helps is Hatta, 130 km each way; without one, take the E16 bus or share a taxi, or choose Sharjah by bus.
How many beach days should I plan in a week?
Two: the Jumeirah day with Kite Beach and Sunset Beach, and the Palm and JBR day that ends on the yacht with a swim stop. From November to March the sea is 20-24°C and the beaches work all day; in April and October it is 26-30°C with mornings best; in summer it reaches 33°C and the beach is an early-morning place, with the swim stop off the yacht the better hour in the water.
When should I book the tours for a 7-day trip?
The balloon first — a 30% deposit and 1-2 weeks of notice, more around Eid and late December. Then the yacht party and the private sunset charter, both confirmed on WhatsApp; the party is paid in advance and the charter is confirmed with the marina before any payment, with sunset the most requested slot. The desert safari and the Abu Dhabi day need no prepayment and can move if plans change.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
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
Dubai Marina Yacht Party
It is a floating nightclub rather than a boat trip: an international crowd of 25-45 guests, a live DJ playing house, R&B and chart hits, a live BBQ from the grill and the city lights of the Palm and Burj Al Arab in the background. No assigned seats — you move between the decks — and the whole night is included in one ticket.
- Duration
- 4 hours (9 PM-1 AM)
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 21+ party cruise
- Best for
- solo travellers, couples and groups aged 21+ who want a night out on the water
$99 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: The Dubai Marina and JBR skyline at sunset across the water from Palm Jumeirah — Gokul Venugopal, CC BY-SA 4.0, Day 6: Hatta or Sharjah — Tms2007, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).