Dubai
+28%€77median tour
€44middle half of tours€132
- 31% under €50
- #37 cheapest of 50
Middle East · 4 cities
Things to Do in UAE
Four Emirati destinations in one place: the months outdoor touring effectively stops, which Burj Khalifa ticket is which, and what a day out costs in the most expensive Gulf city we measured.
8,705 tours listed by Viator 4 cities we cover Median tour €77–€77 Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of UAE
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under UAE.
What it costs
What tours cost in UAE
From our own price index — 2,400 tours across 50 cities, collected August 2026. Medians, not averages: a couple of multi-day packages drag an average into fiction.
Vertical line is the global median, €60. Full table for all 50 cities in the Tour Price Index.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
Summer shuts the outdoors
June to September regularly passes 45°C with high humidity on the coast. Desert safaris, boat trips and walking tours either stop or move to the edges of the day, and life moves into air conditioning. This is the single biggest factor in when to come.
The Burj Khalifa has two levels and three prices
The standard ticket goes to floors 124 and 125; the premium one adds 148, which is higher, quieter and considerably more expensive. Sunset slots cost the most and sell out first. All of them are timed — walk-up in season is not realistic.
Abu Dhabi is an easy day trip
About ninety minutes from Dubai by road, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi together make a full and worthwhile day. The mosque is free, enforces a dress code including headscarves for women, and lends abayas at the entrance.
Desert safaris come in two kinds
The standard evening trip is dune bashing in a convoy, then a camp with dinner and a show — energetic and busy. Conservation reserve alternatives use fewer vehicles, prohibit dune bashing and focus on wildlife. They cost more and are a completely different evening.
The rules are relaxed and they still exist
Modest dress in malls and public buildings, alcohol only in licensed venues and hotels, and no public displays of affection. Ramadan adds daytime restrictions on eating and drinking in public. None of it is onerous; all of it is enforced.
Dubai is above the world average
Its median tour is €77 against a global median of €60. The catalogue skews towards premium experiences — helicopter flights, yacht charters, fine-dining desert dinners — which lifts the figure well above what a straightforward city tour costs.
When to visit
UAE through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Winter
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Everything: the desert, the beaches, outdoor dining and every tour running.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season and peak hotel prices, especially around Christmas and New Year.
Spring
Apr–May
- Best for
- Warm rather than extreme, prices easing, the sea at a pleasant temperature.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- April is the last comfortable month for a full day outdoors.
Summer
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- The lowest hotel rates of the year, indoor attractions, shopping festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Over 45°C and humid — the outdoor catalogue largely pauses.
Autumn
Oct
- Best for
- The heat breaking, the season restarting, prices before the November jump.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- October is the value month at the front of the good weather.
Frequently asked
UAE: common questions
How many days do you need in the UAE?
Four days for Dubai, five with a day in Abu Dhabi. It is also one of the easiest places in the world to build a two or three-day stopover around, which is how a large share of visitors see it.
What does a tour in Dubai cost?
Dubai sits at a median of €77 in our index of 50 cities, against a global median of €60. The spread is unusually wide — a shared desert safari costs a fraction of that, while helicopter and yacht experiences run many times higher.
When is the best time to visit?
November to March, and February in particular. April and October are warm but workable. June to September is very hot and humid, which is exactly why hotel rates are at their lowest then.
What should I wear?
Ordinary summer clothing is fine in hotels, beaches and tourist areas. Shoulders and knees covered in malls, government buildings and mosques; the Sheikh Zayed mosque also requires a headscarf for women and lends robes at the door.
Is Dubai or Abu Dhabi better?
Dubai for scale, shopping, nightlife and the widest choice of tours. Abu Dhabi for the Grand Mosque, the Louvre and a calmer, more spacious city. They are ninety minutes apart and most trips base in Dubai and visit Abu Dhabi for a day.
