Explore Dubai with Transit Visa: A Detailed Guide

Known for its skyscrapers and luxury shopping, Dubai is a bustling metropolis and a famous transit spot for international travellers. However, due to limited time, many people fail to plan their stay properly, which leads them to miss out on some of the must-visit attractions in Dubai. To help international travellers like you, we have curated the perfect itinerary for a limited transit time. In this article, we will be discussing two separate itineraries, one for the people who have a transit visa of 48 hours, and another one for the people who have a transit visa of 96 hours. 

Itinerary for 48 hours Transit Visa

Dubai is a place where you can spend 48 hours easily, as there are a lot of places to visit. So, here is a detailed itinerary when you have a 48 Hours Transit Visa: 

Day 1: Check into the hotel and Dhow Cruise

• On the day of your arrival, make sure that you check into your hotel or an Airbnb, and spend your time relaxing in the hotel after a long day of travelling. 
• In the evening, treat yourself to the beautiful views of Dubai Creek and the marina with a ride on Dhow Cruise Dubai for 90 minutes.
• During your time on the Dhow cruise, you will be welcomed by the crew with beverages like Tea/Coffee/Water. 
• Treat yourself to the dinner buffet with a large variety of Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options including BBQ. 
• Enjoy your dinner with a live Tanoura show with soft background music. 

Day 2: Half day city tour with Burj Khalifa 

• Start your morning with a beautiful view of the city of Dubai, and an amazing breakfast in the hotel/airbnb. 
• You can begin exploring the city with a half city tour which would be four hours long and would cover the maximum locations. 
• During this tour, you will be visiting the following places:

1. Visit to spice souq & gold souq
2. Abra ride
3. Jumeirah Mosque (picture stop only)
4. Jumeirah Beach
5. Burj al arab picture stop
6. Souk Madinat Jumeirah
7. Palm Jumeirah
8. Atlantis Picture stop at The Pointe

• In this tour, you will be going to Burj Khalifa additionally, where you will be able to click pictures of the tallest building in the world. 
• After the tour, you can return back to your hotel, and prepare for the long day of travel the next day. 

Itinerary for 96 hours Transit Visa

Spending 96 hours or 4 days in Dubai will give you enough time to rest and explore the city with ease. So, here is an activity-filled itinerary for people who are on a 96 Hours Transit Visa:  

Day 1: Arrival at the hotel, Dhow cruise in the evening 

• Check into the hotel on the first day. You can stay back, relax and restore some energy after a long day of travelling. 
• In the evening, you can go on a Dhow Cruise. 
• With beautiful views of Dubai Creek/Marina, you can treat your eyes to stunning views of the glimmering city of Dubai. 
• When you get onboard on the cruise, you will be served beverages like Tea/Coffee/ Water. 
• Enjoy a delectable dinner buffet with a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. 
• Along with the dinner, you will be entertained with a live Tanoura show and soft background music. 

Day 2: Explore the beaches of Dubai. With Desert safari in the evening

• Wake up in the morning with a beautiful view of the city, along with a delicious breakfast at your hotel or Airbnb. 
• Start your day by exploring the beaches of Dubai. 
• Dubai as a coastal city has a large variety of beaches like the Jumeirah beach, Kite beach, and Al Sufouh beach. 
• After getting a perfect sun tan on the beach, you can head for an Evening Desert safari. 
• Evening Desert Safari can be the best way to spend your evenings in the desert, as you will get to embark on activities like Dune bashing, Quad biking, and dune buggies. 
• Spam your Instagram feed with beautiful pictures of you in traditional Arabian costumes. 
• End your night, with an amazing BBQ dinner buffet, available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. 
• You will be dropped off at your hotel/Airbnb by car. 

Day 3: Shop at Dubai Mall, and end your day with dinner in the sky

• Wake up in the wee hours of the morning, and enjoy the beautiful sunrise from your room with a cup of Tea or Coffee in your hotel room. 
• Shopping is a must when you come to Dubai. For that you can explore various places, Dubai Mall being the most famous of them. 
• Go shopping at Fashion Avenue, where you will get to shop from more than 200 luxury brands like Maybach, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, etc. 
• There are a lot of other activities as well, like 

1. Ice skating at the Ice Rink 
2. Look at beautiful water creatures at the Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
3. Experience VR Gaming at the VR Park 
4. Enjoy the stunning views of the fountain show at Burj Khalifa Lake and many more 

• After a whole day of exploring the Mall, enjoy a 3 course gourmet meal at the height of 50 meters above the dazzling city of Dubai. 

Conclusion

With a wide range of activities available for transit visa travellers, Dubai has everything for everyone. Whether you have 48 hours or 96 hours to spare, you can make the most out of this city by following the above mentioned guide. Other than these activities, you will be marvelling at the major landmarks of the city. Whether it is retail therapy or visiting touristy places, Dubai actively fulfils its promise of the unforgettable adventure of a lifetime.