Revel in the incredible contrasts of one diverse country.
As the wealthiest country in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates is often associated with glamour and opulence, and the centers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi live up to the reputation. Be dazzled by these cosmopolitan cities, both meccas of culture, finance, and innovation. Then, set off into the desert to discover how civilizations lived for centuries, long before skyscrapers rose to reach the clouds.
Your tour package includes
7 nights in handpicked hotels
7 breakfasts
1 lunch
3 dinners, select meals with beer or wine
1 tasting
5 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
Dubai Creek cruise
Sheikh Mohammed Centre
The Burj Khalifa
Sharjah Heritage Museum
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Al Ain Oasis
Itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Dubai today.
Dubai4 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Dubai
Welcome to the United Arab Emirates! Take tonight to get settled in to your hotel.
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This modern hotel is located in the Deira neighborhood of Dubai. Guests enjoy the outdoor pool, fitness center, and spa. Nearby you’ll find the Deira Clocktower, Dubai Old City, and the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood.
Southern Sun Abu Dhabi
This luxurious, modern hotel is located in the business district. Guests enjoy a spa, sauna, and laundry services. Nearby, you'll find the Abu Dhabi Mall, Heritage Park, and the Capital Garden.
Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel
This modern hotel is located in Al Ain. Guests enjoy a sauna, outdoor pool, and free internet access. Nearby, you'll find Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain Zoo, and Al Ain Oasis.
Levatio Hotel
This elegant hotel is located in the Al Badi neighborhood. Guests enjoy an outdoor pool, fitness center, and restaurant options. Nearby you’ll find the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Natural History Museum, and Museum Of Illusions.
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
This tour visits the United Arab Emirates (plus Oman on the tour extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. (On the tour extension, an Omani visa is not required for stays less than 14 days.)
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code UAE.
You will walk for about 2 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including unpaved roads and desert paths, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own luggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats and small vehicles.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
You will have a different Tour Director in Oman on the tour extension.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Dubai (or Muscat, Oman for the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
While Dubai and Abu Dhabi are considered to be more liberal than some neighboring cities, local customs concerning dress are strict and should be respected. Bare shoulders and knees are considered inappropriate in public places, though swimwear at beaches and pools is acceptable.
Loose-fitting, breathable clothing can help keep you cooler in desert heat. Cotton, linen, or a quick-dry material is best for hot days outside, though a light scarf or extra layer may be needed for chillier evenings and early mornings.
You may want supportive walking sandals to keep cool on city sightseeing. Comfortable closed-toes shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for activities in the desert.
Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit mosques or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis). In addition, we recommend women bring a light scarf as they may have to cover their heads and hair to order to enter mosques.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered. Additionally, travelers must check to see if they need to apply for approval to travel with certain medications while in the United Arab Emirates with the Ministry of Health.
Temperatures in this region often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), especially during the summer months. Drinking plenty of water, limiting your alcohol intake and using proper sun protection is extremely important in order to prevent the effects of dehydration and heat stroke.
Be sure to take proper care for sun exposure by regularly applying sunscreen or covering up with long, loose-fitting layers.
There are inherent risks associated with water activities, particularly for those with preexisting medical conditions. Discuss your planned activities with your doctor or healthcare provider for the best advice on participation.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code UAE.
The United Arab Emirates (and Oman on the tour extension) is an Islamic country that follows Sharia law. While both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are considered more liberal than some neighboring cities, it’s important to note that very conservative laws governing public behavior are strictly enforced.
Among these laws are prohibitions against public displays of affection. Hand-holding is permissible, but kissing and other affectionate displays are expressly forbidden, even between married couples.
Obscenity laws are also upheld throughout the country. Offenses for using foul language and making indecent gestures are punishable by jail time.
The United Arab Emirates reflects its diverse history in its cuisine. Asian, Moroccan, and Levantine influences feature heavily, as do spices brought through the country by trade routes. Saffron, cardamom, and turmeric flavor many meals.
Fresh seafood and one-pot dishes, like fareeth, a stew made with vegetables and bread, and al harees, a porridge of barley and meat, are popular recipes.
In Oman (on the tour extension), you’ll find African and Indian cuisine reflected in many traditional recipes. Coconut, berries, and nutmeg are ingredients not often found in Middle Eastern dishes, but which play a big role in Omani kitchens. Don’t miss madrouba , a slow-cooked dish made with rice, chicken, and dried Persian limes.
At very traditional meals, diners eat with their hands, sometimes using pieces of flatbread to scoop up portions of food. Don’t be afraid to dig in!
Consumption of alcohol is strictly regulated throughout the country. Alcoholic beverages may only be served to non-Muslim visitors at certain licensed hotels and restaurants.
The United Arab Emirates operates on the European standard 220–240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three pins.
Oman (on the tour extension) operates on the European standard 220–240 volts and uses a Type C or G plug with two or three pins, respectively.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
Air conditioning in Emirati hotels may be much cooler than what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
The United Arab Emirates is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and eight hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York City, it’s 8pm on tour.
You will use the United Arab Emirates dirham in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (plus the Omani rial in Oman on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks, as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
I love everything about this trip will be going back soon Brooks thanks
The Experience of a Lifetime!
5 out of 5 stars
3rd-time traveler Nettie, travelled in Dec 2024
Having traveled with EF Tours to South Africa, London, Paris, and Rome, I had high expectations for my trip to Dubai. I’m happy to report that this trip exceeded my expectations! Our tour director, Siraj, set the tone for the whole trip by creating a connection with all...
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We are thrilled to hear that your trip to Dubai exceeded your expectations. It...
Awesome!!!!
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Elnoria, travelled in Dec 2024
It was a great trip, stress-free. No, worries ready for my next one.
Happy traveler
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Anonymous, travelled in Dec 2024
The tour was awesome! The tour guide was phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this tour with EF tours with everyone. Thank you so much for making this a great experience for me!
A Life Experience Not Just a Trip
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Pamela, travelled in Oct 2024
This was an incredible experience from day one to the return trip home.
The combination of guests on the tour, the tour guide/director and the tour coordinator all worked together to make this an extraordinary lifetime trip with sites and tours we had not imagined would be so ...
Go Ahead Tours
Hi Pamela,
Thank you for your kind words! It’s fantastic to hear that your experience was so extraordinary, from the beginning to the end....
Skyscraper skylines to mountain landscapes
5 out of 5 stars
20th-time traveler Davara, travelled in Oct 2024
This amazing itinerary and extension took us from Dubai’s skyscraper skyline to the rugged mountains of Oman. Our fellow tour members constituted a friendly, fun group with which to share our adventures. Both of our Tour Directors (one in each country) were wonderful! We...
Go Ahead Tours
Hi Davara,
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful feedback of your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed both...
