Dubai travel guide: what to plan and what to skip

Four nights is enough for a first Dubai trip if you plan by area. Keep one day for Downtown (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the fountain show), one for Old Dubai and the creek, one for the desert and one flexible day for the beach or a theme park.

November to March is the comfortable window. Summer months are extremely hot but hotel rates drop sharply, which works if your plan is mostly indoors.

Book the desert safari and observation-deck slots in advance; walk-in prices are consistently higher.

Visa timelines change frequently. Travessy can advise on current documentation before you commit to non-refundable dates.