Dubai Holidays & City Breaks 2026

Thrill-seekers: From vertical drops at action-packed waterparks to desert jeep safaris and skydiving adventures over the Palm, if you want your adrenaline-fix, you’ve come to the right place. And did you know you can zipline above high-risers at Dubai marina? 

Shopaholics: Whether you’re after Gucci or Dior, Zara or H&M, you won’t be hard-pressed to find your favourite brands with over 1,200 retailers in Dubai mall alone. But when you really want a bargain, the souks contain some of the best gold jewellery, tailor-made clothing and personalised perfumes. 

Night owls: When you want to party from dusk until dawn, there’s no shortage of music-pumping venues. Paros rooftop bar is famed for its panoramic city vistas, while Masti is a laid-back beach shack with live DJ performances. And ladies night at Miss Lily’s combines dance classics with sizable sharing platters - the ultimate combo. 

Language: The official language spoken in Dubai is Arabic, but English is the most commonly spoken language. 

Currency: The currency used in Dubai is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

Local time: Dubai is 4 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+4). As the United Arab Emirates doesn’t observe daylight saving time, the time difference reduces to 3 hours in the summer.

Fly to: Dubai International Airport  (DXB) is located about 6 kilometres from the city centre

Flight time from UK: 7 hours

Tourist Information: Further tourist information can be found on the Visit Dubai website.

Visa / Health:  Before you travel, check the latest advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

By car: Drive around the city at your own pace by renting a car. Rates can vary, but are usually cheaper when booked in advance. Remember that an international driver’s licence is required.

By taxi: There are taxis available all over the city, and they’re easy to find outside of malls, major attractions and hotels. It’s also a relatively inexpensive way to get around. Family and ladies only taxis are also available, just look out for the pink rooftop! 

By water taxi: Try a traditional way of seeing the city by hopping on a water taxi, which operates between 5am and midnight - think of the views!

Dubai Summer Surprises: This bright and bold festival takes place from July to September. It combines a shopping bonanza in thousands of stores with a wide range of fun family events. Watch acrobats soar through the air, pick up free tickets to cool spots such as VR Park and Dubai Aquarium and don’t forget to immerse yourself in some of its fitness classes mid-retail therapy. 

Middle East Film and Comic Con: The biggest pop culture festival in the Middle East rolls into the city each April - a must for film, comics, music and theatre buffs. Think fancy dress, superheroes and celeb-spotting! 

Camel Racing Season: In April, the free Al Marmoom Heritage Festival brings the winter sports season to a close with traditional camel racing. But that’s not all that’s on offer, expect live music, stalls full of handmade treasures and tasty local cuisine. 

For up-to-date advice on travelling to Dubai, please visit the FCDO website.