L'Heure du Voyage
🇦🇪 Itinerary · UAE · 7 days

1-week UAE itinerary 2026: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the desert

7 well-paced days: Dubai, a night in the Liwa desert, then Abu Dhabi and its Grand Mosque. The essential format, with detailed budget and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€1,300-2,200

Total distance

~600 km

Profile

First time

Season

Nov-Mar

Dubai 3d · Liwa desert 1d · Abu Dhabi 3d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

1-week UAE itinerary map: Dubai, Liwa desert, Abu Dhabi

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€90/pers

Dubai · Arrival and first skyscrapers

  • Morning Arrival at Dubai International (DXB). Red metro line to the center (€3, air-conditioned).
  • Afternoon Rest for the time difference, then Dubai Marina and the JBR waterfront walk.
  • Evening Dinner at La Mer or City Walk, first taste of the city's scale.
🛌 🛌 Downtown · e.g. Rove Downtown (3 nights)·🚇 Metro and taxis (Careem)·Dubai guide →
2

~€80

Dubai · Burj Khalifa and Old Dubai

  • 9am Burj Khalifa, floors 124-125 (book online, ~€40 off-peak).
  • 12pm Dubai Mall, aquarium and fountains, lunch at the food court.
  • 3pm Abra crossing (€0.25) to Deira, gold souk and spice souk.
  • 7pm Dubai Fountain show at the foot of the tower, free every 30 min.
3

~€70

Dubai · Desert at sunset

  • Morning Beach morning at Kite Beach, or Museum of the Future if rain threatens (rare).
  • 3pm Desert safari departure: 4×4 dune bashing, sandboarding, camel ride.
  • 7pm Barbecue dinner under a Bedouin tent, starry sky, back around 10pm (€50-70).
4

~€120

Dubai → Liwa · A night in the great dunes

  • 9am Drive to the Liwa desert, on the edge of the Rub al-Khali (2h30, rental car or transfer).
  • 3pm Moreeb Dune, one of the tallest in the world, and a sunset climb.
  • 8pm Night in a lodge among the dunes, total silence far from the cities.
🛌 🛌 Liwa · e.g. Qasr Al Sarab (1 night)·🚗 Car essential
5

~€90

Liwa → Abu Dhabi · The capital

  • Morning Drive to Abu Dhabi (2h30). Check-in on the corniche.
  • 3pm Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, free, modest dress required (abaya loaned on site).
  • 7pm Dinner on the corniche, long seafront stroll.
🛌 🛌 Corniche · e.g. Bab Al Qasr (2 nights)·🚗 Car or intercity bus
6

~€85

Abu Dhabi · Saadiyat Island and culture

  • 10am Louvre Abu Dhabi, latticed dome and collections from across the world (€16).
  • 2pm Saadiyat beach, white sand and calm water, or Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace.
  • 7pm Dinner on Yas Island, near Yas Marina.
7

Flight

Abu Dhabi → Return

  • Morning A last swim or Ferrari World for thrill-seekers (theme park).
  • 2pm Transfer to Abu Dhabi (AUH) or back to Dubai (DXB) for the flight.
  • Evening Return flight to Paris direct (~7 h) or via a Gulf hub.

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,300

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €450
  • 🏨 Hostel or 2★: €35/night
  • 🍜 Canteens and food courts: €18/day
  • 🚇 Metro + bus + abra: €40
  • 🎫 Activities: €200
Recommended

Comfort

€1,800

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €550
  • 🏨 4★ hotel: €80/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed restos: €35/day
  • 🚗 Rental car 4 d: €180
  • 🎫 Burj Khalifa + safari + Louvre: €250

Premium

€3,800

per person

  • ✈️ Upper-cabin flight: €1,400
  • 🏨 5★ and desert lodge: €250/night
  • 🍽️ Fine dining: €70/day
  • 🚖 Private driver
  • 🎫 Private tours and At The Top SKY: €500

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Dubai, the desert and Abu Dhabi. The essential format.

2 weeks

2 weeks

All seven emirates, from malls to the Hajar Mountains.

1 month

1 month

The Emirates then Oman, from the Gulf to the Musandam fjords.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

A short week: metro in Dubai, then a rental car for the Liwa desert and Abu Dhabi. Distances are long and public transport is limited outside the city centers.

🚇

Dubai metro

€0.80-2/trip · air-conditioned · ideal in the city

🚗

Rental car

€40-50/day · essential for Liwa · excellent highways

🚌

Bus Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi

€8 · 2 h · frequent departures from Ibn Battuta

🚕

Taxi and Careem

honest meter · handy app for short hops

Adapt by season

Avoid summer at all costs

The UAE calendar is simple: from November to March, 24 to 28°C by day, this is the time to come. From April to October the thermometer climbs to 40-45°C and a night in the desert loses all its appeal. If summer is your only option, shift the desert leg to the east coast (Fujairah), slightly less stifling, and stick to air-conditioned indoor sights (museums, malls) before 10am and after 6pm.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In January 2025 I booked the desert safari at sunset rather than in the morning: the light on the dunes at 5pm was well worth the wait, and it was 26°C instead of 35°C.
  • • Save the Grand Mosque for late afternoon: the white marble turns gold at sunset and the midday crowd has thinned.
  • • Book the Burj Khalifa online off-peak: €20 saved and no queue.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Sleep one more night in Liwa and skip Ferrari World if the desert won you over.
  • • Take the Dubai-Abu Dhabi bus rather than a car if you skip Liwa.
  • • Avoid Friday for the Grand Mosque (prayers, limited afternoon access).

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week in the UAE enough? +
Yes for the essentials: Dubai, a night in the desert and Abu Dhabi. Seven days are enough to see both big cities without rushing, while keeping a real break in the dunes.
Do French citizens need a visa? +
No. French nationals receive a free visa on arrival for 90 days. Passport valid 6 months after return.
Do you need to rent a car? +
For Dubai alone, no: the metro and taxis are enough. As soon as you add the Liwa desert or want to reach Abu Dhabi freely, a car (€40-50/day) changes everything. The roads are excellent.
What should you wear to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque? +
Shoulders and knees covered, a headscarf for women. An abaya is loaned free at the entrance if needed. Entry is free, outside prayer times.
What's the best period? +
From November to March: 24 to 28°C by day, ideal for the desert and the cities alike. Avoid June to September, when the thermometer tops 40°C and humidity is high on the coast.
How much does one week cost all in? +
Count around €1,300 backpacking, €1,800 in comfort and €3,800 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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