A weekend in Dubai can be short, but with careful planning, you can experience the city’s best adventures, cultural highlights, and relaxation spots. 

Start by prioritizing what interests you most, whether it’s city tours, shopping, desert safaris, or beach time.

This guide will show you how to organize your Dubai weekend to experience the city’s highlights while placing the desert safari at the center of your adventure, with tips, timings, and Trawey’s expert guidance to ensure every moment is memorable.

Sample Itineraries – Mix Morning Safaris, City Tours, Beach, and Dhow Cruises

If you only have a weekend in Dubai, planning smartly will help you enjoy both the thrill of the desert and the charm of the city. 

Here are two example itineraries to inspire your trip:

Itinerary 1 – Adventure First, Relax Later

  • Morning: Start your day with a thrilling morning desert safari with Trawey. Experience dune bashing, quad biking, camel rides, and sandboarding while the desert is still cool and quiet.
  • Afternoon: Return to the city for a guided Dubai city tour. Visit iconic landmarks such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the historic souks.
  • Evening: Unwind at JBR Beach for a sunset walk or a quick swim, followed by dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants.

Itinerary 2 – Culture and Desert in Perfect Balance

  • Friday: Begin with a city tour to cover Dubai’s highlights – from Dubai Marina to Palm Jumeirah and the old souks near Dubai Creek. Enjoy some shopping or a local food stop.
  • Saturday Morning: Join Trawey’s desert adventure. Try quad biking, sandboarding, and capture the beauty of the dunes in the early hours.
  • Saturday Evening: End your weekend with a dhow cruise dinner along Dubai Creek. Relax under the night sky, enjoy live entertainment, and admire Dubai’s skyline from the water.

Tips for Fitting the Quad Bike Safari into Your Vacation Schedule

If quad biking is at the top of your list, the morning safari is the best choice. The desert is cooler, the dunes are less crowded, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy riding without rushing. Morning light also makes the desert look stunning, which adds to the thrill of your adventure.

A quad bike ride usually takes place at the start of the safari, so you still get to try sandboarding and camel rides after. With Trawey’s 4–5 hour morning safaris, you’ll finish before noon and still have the rest of the day free for city tours or beach time.

If you want a full desert experience with quad biking, cultural shows, and BBQ dinner under the stars, then the evening safari is the perfect pick. 

Trawey offers flexible packages, so you can choose what works best for your schedule.

Dubai Transportation Hacks for First-Time Visitors

Getting around Dubai can feel overwhelming if you’re visiting for the first time. The city is big, busy, and full of options, from metros and taxis to ride-hailing apps and private transfers. 

Knowing which one to use at the right time can save you hours and make your trip much smoother.

 Know your main options — quick overview

  1. Metro & Tram: Fast, cheap, and reliable for many city sights. Great for the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall area, Marina, and Mall of the Emirates.
  2. Taxis: Door-to-door, metered, and available 24/7. Good when you have luggage or a tight schedule.
  3. Ride-hailing apps: Careem and Uber work well in Dubai. They give fare estimates and driver details.
  4. Private transfers: Best for airport rides, city-to-city, or safari pick-ups. Trawey offers door-to-door transfers linked to bookings.
  5. Hotel concierge: Use it. They can arrange transfers, save time, and confirm pick-up windows.

2. Use the metro smartly 

When to use it: During daytime for city sightseeing and avoiding surface traffic. Metro is usually faster than road travel on busy routes.

  1. How to pay: Get a reusable transit card (Nol card) at stations and top it up. It’s used for metro, tram, and some buses.
  2. Quick tips:
    1. Check first/last train times for your travel day.
    2. Ride the metro for Burj Khalifa area, Dubai Marina, and Mall of the Emirates stops.
    3. Keep small change ready or top up your Nol card to avoid delays.
    4. Avoid heavy luggage on the metro – taxis are easier for airport transfers.

3. Taxis vs. ride-hailing – choose by your need

  1. Taxis
    1. Pros: immediate, metered, regulated. Good from the airport and late at night.
    2. Tip: Ask driver to use the meter if it isn’t switched on.
  2. Ride-hailing (Careem/Uber)
    1. Pros: fare estimate, driver info, cashless payment, easier for groups or long trips.
    2. Tip: Compare the app fare to a taxi estimate to pick the cheaper option.

Practical habits that save time and hassle

  • Pre-installed apps: Nol app, Careem, Uber, and Trawey contact numbers.
  • Keep digital copies: Booking confirmations, transfer vouchers, and driver contact info in your phone.
  • Communicate flight changes: If your flight is delayed, tell Trawey so pick-up is adjusted.
  • Pack light when possible: Easier to hop into taxis or onto the metro.

Trawey City Tours – Culture, Landmarks, and Local Insight

A trip to Dubai is not complete without exploring both its modern icons and cultural treasures. With Trawey’s guided city tours, you can see the best of both worlds in one seamless journey.

  • Modern Landmarks: Visit Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and enjoy the stunning views from above. Walk through Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping destinations with endless attractions.
  • Cultural Experiences: Discover Old Dubai with its traditional souks, narrow lanes, and museums. Cross Dubai Creek on a wooden abra and step into the city’s rich past.
  • Local Insight: Our expert guides share stories and facts that bring each place to life, giving you a deeper understanding of Dubai’s culture and history.
  • Seamless Adventure: Trawey makes it easy to combine city tours with desert safaris. Spend your morning on a city tour and your evening in the desert, creating a full-day adventure without worrying about logistics.

With Trawey, your city tour is a well-planned experience that connects Dubai’s glittering present with its cultural roots.

Guest Stories

Nothing explains the Trawey experience better than the voices of our guests. Many travelers share how our safaris and tours turned their short Dubai weekend into lasting memories.

Booking Your Dubai Adventure Weekend with Trawey

Planning your perfect Dubai weekend is easy with Trawey.Reserve Multi-Activity Packages: Book desert safaris, city tours, and more directly through our website. Everything is in one place for a seamless experience.