Destinations · United Arab Emirates
Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The easiest long-haul luxury in the world, and a very good stopover.
Dubai does service at a level few places match, and it is unusually easy: English everywhere, extremely safe, excellent airport, and reachable non-stop from most of the United States. Beach resorts on the Jumeirah strip, the old creek and the gold and spice souks in Deira, desert camps forty minutes out, and Abu Dhabi an hour and a half away with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre. It also works beautifully as a four-night stop on the way to the Maldives, the Seychelles or Asia, which is often the smartest way to use it.
What a week actually costs
Indicative shapes, not quotes — an advisor verifies real prices for your exact dates before anything is offered.
Under $3,000 for four nights
Two people in a good beach hotel in summer rate or a strong city hotel in shoulder season, a desert evening, the souks, the observation deck, and a lot of very good food.
$12,000–28,000
A family in a suite or two at a Palm or Jumeirah resort in high season, a private desert camp dinner, a yacht afternoon, Abu Dhabi with a guide, and the waterparks handled.
$70,000+
A villa or royal suite, a chartered yacht, private terminal arrival, helicopter transfers, and a wedding or milestone event with full production.
What to watch for
- Summer heat is not an exaggeration. July outdoors is a few minutes at a time. Summer is for indoor luxury at half price, and we will say so rather than sell you a beach week.
- It is a Muslim country with real laws about public behaviour, alcohol outside licensed venues, and public affection. Nothing that troubles a normal traveller, but worth knowing rather than guessing.
- Ramadan changes daytime dining and the whole mood of the city. Some travellers love it. We tell you it is happening.
- Friday is the main prayer day and the working week is Monday to Friday. Mosque visiting hours and some business hours follow that, not the Western weekend.