Tours

City tours
Boat cruises
Desert safaris

Dubai has dozens of identikit tour operators who pull in a regular supply of punters in search of the instant “Arabian” experience. The emphasis is firmly on stereotypical desert safaris and touristy dhow dinner cruises, although a few operators offer more unusual activities ranging from falconry displays to helicopter rides. Prices can vary quite considerably from operator to operator, so it’s worth shopping around.

City tours

Generic city tours are offered by all our recommended general tour operators, but for more original insights you might contact the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Bastakiya (RG04 353 6666, RGcultures.ae) which runs interesting tours of Jumeirah Mosque and Bastakiya, along with other cultural events. Wonder Bus Tours in the BurJuman Centre (RG04 359 5656, RGwonderbustours.net) also run innovative city tours, aboard the bizarre-looking Wonder Bus – half bus and half boat – starting off by road and then taking to the Creek. Trips last about 1 hour 30 minutes (including 1hr on the Creek) and cost 140dh (95dh for children aged 3–11; family ticket 440dh).

  If you’ve got the cash you might consider an airborne tour of the city, offering peerless views of the Creek and coast. Seaplane tours are offered by Seawings (RGseawings.ae), while helicopter rides around the city can be arranged by several of the operators listed below, including Arabian Adventures. Both start from around 1250dh per person.

Tour operators

Boat cruises

A more leisurely alternative to the standard Creek crossing by abra is to charter your own boat (120dh/hr per boat). Starting from the city centre, in an hour you can probably get down to the Dubai Creek Golf Club and back. To find an abra for rent, head to the nearest abra station and ask around.

  Alternatively you could go on one of the ever-popular after-dark Creek dinner cruises, which can be booked through any tour operator, as well as many of the city’s hotels. Most of these use traditional old wooden dhows, offering the chance to wine and dine on the water as your boat sails sedately up and down the Creek. A number of operators now also offer similar dinner cruises sailing between skyscrapers at Dubai Marina. Standard cruises last two hours and cost anything from around 60dh up to 350dh, depending on which operator you go with, inclusive of a buffet dinner and on-board entertainment.

  Classy cruises, using a state-of-the-art, modern boat, are run by Bateaux Dubai (RG04 814 5553, RGbateauxdubai.com; 350dh), while other cheaper but reliable operators include Al Mansour Dhow (RG04 205 7033; 185dh), Rikks Cruises (RG04 357 2200, RGrikks.net; around 150dh) and the bargain-basement Cruises Dubai (RG05 871 7200, RGcruisesdubai.net; from 55dh).

Desert safaris

One thing that virtually every visitor to Dubai does at some point is go on a safari to see some of the desert scenery surrounding Dubai. Although virtually all tours put the emphasis firmly on cheap thrills and touristy gimmicks, most people find the experience enjoyable, in a rather cheesy sort of way.

  The vast majority of visitors opt for one of the endlessly popular half-day safaris (also known as “sunset safaris”). These are offered by every tour operator, and though the cost ranges from around 150dh up to 350dh – the more expensive tours generally offering superior service, better-quality food and a wider range of entertainment – the basic ingredients remain the same. Tours are in large 4WDs holding around eight passengers. You’ll be picked up from your hotel between 3 and 4pm and then driven out into the desert. The usual destination is an area 45 minutes’ drive out of town, opposite the massive dune popularly known as Big Red where you’ll enjoy a spot of dune-bashing – driving at high speed up and down increasingly precipitous dunes amid great sprays of sand. You might also be given the chance to try your hand at a brief bit of sand-skiing. As dusk falls, you’ll be driven off to one of the dozens of optimistically named desert “Bedouin camps” where attractions will typically include (very short) camel rides, henna painting, dressing up in Gulf national costume, and having your photo taken with an Emirati falcon perched on your arm. A passable international buffet dinner is then served, after which a belly dancer performs for another half hour or so. The whole thing winds up at around 9.30pm, after which you’ll be driven back to Dubai.

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