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Itineraries/Middle East/Dubai & Abu Dhabi

7 Days in Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Burj Khalifa at sunset, Atlantis Aquaventure, a desert safari with camels and dune bashing, and three days on Yas Island for Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld. A week of winter sun that lands exactly in Aussie summer school holidays — with kids-stay-free hotel deals and direct Emirates flights from Sydney.

7 nights
Family of 4
~A$13,260
2 stops
Dubai4n
Abu Dhabi3n
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Your stop-by-stop itinerary

2 stops across 7 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of Dubai & Abu Dhabi.

1

Dubai

4 nights
Fly into Dubai (DXB) from Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane on Emirates direct (14h nonstop) or Qantas codeshare. Airport Metro Red Line (AED 8 per adult, kids AED 4) reaches Downtown and Dubai Marina in 30-45 min. Taxi to Downtown is AED 80-120.

Highlights

  • Burj Khalifa At The Top — book a sunset slot 2-3 weeks ahead; Levels 124+125 at AED 175/adult, under-4s free
  • Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark — 105 slides, shark lagoon, free for hotel guests (paid day pass AED 299/adult for non-guests)
  • Desert safari with camel ride + dune bashing + BBQ dinner + traditional dance (AED 200-300/pp shared)
  • Dubai Mall + Dubai Fountain show (free, every 30 min from 6 pm) + Aquarium + Underwater Zoo
  • Old Dubai: abra crossing Dubai Creek (AED 1/pp) + Gold Souk + Spice Souk + Al Fahidi Historical District
  • Dubai Frame — panoramic photo op linking old and new Dubai (AED 50/adult)

Local tips

  • 💡Check kids-stay-and-eat-free deals at Hilton, Marriott, and Address properties — many run the promo through winter and it knocks AED 1,500-2,500 off a 4-night stay for a family of 4.
  • 💡Buy a 7-day Nol card (AED 50/adult) on arrival. Dubai Metro + tram covers most tourist areas and saves the AED 100-150/day a family burns on taxis between Downtown, Marina, and the Mall.
  • 💡Book Burj Khalifa sunset slots the moment you know your Dubai dates — they sell out 2-3 weeks ahead. The AED 375/adult SKY deck (Level 148) is worth it for the sunset slot; skip it at non-sunset times.
Suggested stay: 4-star family hotel in JBR, Downtown or Dubai Marina
2

Abu Dhabi

3 nights
Private transfer van Dubai → Abu Dhabi (AED 350-450, 1.5 hrs door to door, recommended with kids and luggage). Public E100/E101 bus from Ibn Battuta Metro to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station is AED 25/pp if travelling light. Return by private taxi to DXB departure (~AED 400).

Highlights

  • Ferrari World Abu Dhabi — Formula Rossa (world's fastest coaster), under-8 zones, combo tickets AED 345/adult
  • Yas Waterworld — Liwa Loop, Bandit Bomber rollercoaster, kids' area. AED 295/adult
  • Warner Bros. World OR SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (pick 1 of the remaining 2 Yas parks)
  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — free entry, dress code enforced (abayas/thobes available free at entrance), visit before 11 am to beat the crowds
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island — Islamic art, Gauguin, da Vinci's Salvator Mundi (AED 63/adult, free under 18)
  • Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace — stunning interior and gardens (AED 65/adult, AED 30/kid)

Local tips

  • 💡Check the Yas Island Kids Go Free promo at yasisland.com — two under-12s stay AND enter all Yas theme parks free with two paying adults. Valid through October 2026. This is the single biggest cost-saver on this template — AED 2,000-3,000 back.
  • 💡Grand Mosque visit: dress code is strict (long sleeves + long pants/skirts + women's hair covered). They provide abayas free at the entrance, but your kids need their own long sleeves and pants — pack ahead.
  • 💡Fly out of DXB not AUH on return — DXB has far more SYD/MEL/BNE connections. Private transfer Yas Island → DXB is AED 400-500 and takes 90 minutes; budget 4 hours total to terminal.
Suggested stay: 4-star family hotel on Yas Island (Hilton, Yas Plaza, Radisson Blu)

Good to know

Estimated cost

The ~A$13,260 estimate covers accommodation across all 2 stops. Flights, daily spending, activities, and transport are additional — use SaveToRoam’s savings planner to track it all.

What’s included

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