WHERE?
DUBAI
WHEN?
21 MAR 2025
HOW LONG?
16 DAYS
TRIP FORMAT?
FLEXIBLE TRIP
Embark on a group adventure in Dubai, where modern cityscapes meet thrilling desert activities. Enjoy the diverse food culture, from street food to fine dining. Explore iconic landmarks and historic sites by day, then venture into the desert for dune bashing and star gazing by night. Connect with your group and create lasting memories in this vibrant, dynamic city. Dubai offers the perfect blend of urban luxury and desert excitement for an unforgettable trip.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
#URBAN
#DESERT
#FOOD
#CULTURE
#SOCIAL
HOW FLEXIBLE TRIPS WORK?
SAFAROTO flexible trips provide you with the benefits of choice and the freedom of solo travel enabling you to set your own trip schedule and make decisions based on your budget. You also get the benefits of being part of a group of like minded people who you can join on a regular basis for meals and activities – which are coordinated by an experienced traveler who is familiar with that destination based on the input and the preferences of the group.
Stay as long or as little
as your would like
Reserve your own
transportation & accommodations
Opt in or opt out of any
group activity or meal
Each person is responsible
for their own expenses.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO BUDGET FOR THIS TRIP?
Swipe left and right to view the STANDARD or the ECONOMICAL budget option:
CONFIRMED TRIP ATTENDEES:
Oto 🇺🇸🇲🇦
Diana 🇧🇷
TIPS & ADVICE TO HELP YOU PLAN THIS TRIP:
Here are some important facts and details to help you prepare for this trip:
- 📍The city: Cosmopolitan metropolis, top 10 most popular tourist destinations in the world, mixture of old and new
- 🕑 Timezone: GMT + 4h | When it is 5pm in Dubai, it is 8am in NYC, 1pm in London and 11pm in Sydney
- 🗣️ Language: Arabic is the official language but English is the default language as foreigners outnumber Emiratis 4 to 1
- ☀️ Climate/weather: March is one of the best months to visit Dubai with 18-28°C (64-82°F) with very low chance of rain, moderate humidity at 55% and sea temperature at 22-23°C (72-73°F).
- 🌅 sunset/sunrise: about 12h of daylight with sunrise around 6:30am and sunset around 6:30pm.
- ⛰ Landscape: futuristic style of skyscrapers along the coastline surrounded by desert
- 💱 Currency: 1 USD = 3.67aed (Emirati Dirham)
- 💰 Tipping: 10-15% at restaurants. Some add a service charge automatically.
- 🔌: Electrical outlet: Type G with 3 rectangular pins (British type)
- 📱Getting a local sim card: can be obtained at the airport or at a phone retail store with the 3 main companies being Etisalat, Virgin Mobile and Du. Prices for data are relatively expensive($3-$5/GB)
- ⛑️ Safety: considered safe place. Be mindful of strict laws when it comes to fighting, PDA… Be careful with common scams targeting tourists.
- 👘 Culture: be there during the last week of ramadan and eid
- 🚰 Food safety & drinking water: the water is safe to drink and food safety standards are relatively high.
It depends on the countries but Gulf countries do no tneed one and US, UK, EU countries can get one on arrival for visits for up to 90 days.
Dubai’s main airport is the largest hub in the middle east, Sharjah’s airport which is practically in the city has many cheap flights with AirArabia. The Abu Dhabi airport could also be an option for you if you find a good flight option to/from there ($10 2h bus to Dubai)
Flights to Asia are ~$100-$300 each way to most countries, to Europe ~$100-$200, to Australia ~$300-$400 and to North America ~$500-$700 each way.
The Metro is the best option with a cost of $1-$3 while Uber/Careem should cost $20-$60 depending on distance.
Dubai is very car oriented and the best ride sharing apps are Careem and Uber.
There are is a good metro system with 2 lines (red and green) which costs $1-$2 depending on distance traveled which can also be complemented by buses and tram/monorail in certain spots.
One may also rent a car for $200-$300/week
Most people stay in Jumeirah or Jebel Ali area with the Dubai marina being a popular spot. Being close to a metro station is a big plus.
Here are some recommendations:
| 📸 | Accommodations | Weekly price | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
WeStay Capsule hotel | $129/week | Near old town, good access to public transport |
 |
Dreams Beach Hostel | $204/week | Dubai Marina, well rated |
 |
Lunar Hostel JBR | $205/week | Dubai Marina, well rated |
 |
Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf | $340/week | Near Creek park & metro station |
 |
Premier Inn Dubai Ibn Battuta Mall | $374/week | |
 |
Barcelo Al Jaddaf Dubai | $445/week | has pool & gym |
 |
Premier Inn Dubai Barsha Heights | $484/week | has pool |
 |
Airbnb room near Jumeirah beach | $488/week |
Dubai has a lot of options to offer for all kind of cuisine preferences and dietary restrictions. The local specialty is shawarma and falafels with many variations from Lebanese, Syrian, turkish…. restaurants. Traditional Emirati food consists of rice with meat or chciken with different spices. if you are looking for affordable food options, food courts at malls provide a good variety for an affordable price.
Here are some restaurant recommendations for you:
| 📸 | Restaurant | Meal Cost | Cuisine | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mezban Darbar Restaurant | $15/p | Pakistani | |
 |
3Fils | $15/p | Japanese | Stylish casual, waterfront |
 |
OSH Del Mar | $30/p | Uzbek | |
 |
Bosporus Turkish Cuisine | $30/p | Turkish | |
 |
Yo Sushi | $35/p | Japanese | |
 |
Habib Beirut, Dubai Marina | $20/p | Lebanese | |
It is hard to get bored in Dubai with a long list of things one can do, here are some recommendations:
| 📸 | Activity | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Explore the old town | Free |
|
 |
Go to the beach | Free |
|
 |
Attend a camel or horse race | Free |
|
 |
Desert outing | Free |
|
 |
Visit skyscrappers | $45 |
|
 |
Visit Dubai’s Megamalls | Free |
|
 |
Attend a Polo Game | Free |
|
 |
Visit museums | Varies | |
 |
Visit Art Galleries | Free |
|
 |
Get on a boat | $3-$13/p |
|
 |
Attend a performance | $75+/p |
|
 |
Do other activities | Varies |
|
 |
Sports & Hobbies | Varies |
|
 |
Do a day trip | Varies | Hatta: 1.5h drive away for some hiking and kayaking ($16/p) on a dam and mountains |
Dubai is known for its nighlife with world class DJs regularly playing in Dubai clubs – most of the nightlife is in the beaches of Jumeirah or the Dubai Marina
Note that it is illegal to drink in public spaces and alcohol is only available in licensed restaurant and bars/clubs.