A first Dubai trip for an Indian family is usually 4 nights: the Burj Khalifa, a desert safari, a dhow dinner cruise and one long day in Abu Dhabi for the BAPS Hindu Mandir and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Add two nights on Yas Island or at Atlantis The Palm and it becomes a week built around theme parks. There are direct flights from most Indian metros, and most Indians need a visa arranged before they fly, which we apply for along with the hotels, transfers and tickets.
Dubai packages at a glance
| Package | Nights | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai short break | 3N / 4D | City tour, Burj Khalifa, desert safari, dhow cruise | A long weekend, couples |
| Dubai with Abu Dhabi | 4N / 5D | All of the above plus a day trip to the BAPS Mandir, the Grand Mosque and Yas Island | First-timers, families, senior citizens |
| Dubai with Palm Atlantis | 5N / 6D | Three nights in the city, two at Atlantis The Palm with Aquaventure | Families with children, honeymooners |
| Dubai and Yas Island family trip | 6N / 7D | Four nights in Dubai, two on Yas Island for Ferrari World and the other parks | Families with teenagers, theme-park fans |
The full day-wise plan for Dubai with Abu Dhabi 4N/5D is on its own page. The other formats are built from it, adding or dropping days, and any of them can be changed to suit you.
UAE visa for Indians: which one you need
Most Indian passport holders need a tourist visa issued before departure. If you already hold a US visa or green card, or a UK or EU visa or residence permit, you qualify for a cheaper 14-day visa instead.
Standard tourist visa (most travellers)
- Who applies: it must be sponsored by a UAE hotel, licensed tour operator or airline, not by you as an individual. We arrange the application when you book.
- Length: single entry for 30 or 60 days.
- Government fee: AED 200 (about ₹5,100) for 30 days or AED 300 (about ₹7,700) for 60 days, plus 5% VAT, as listed by Dubai’s GDRFA. Agents and airlines add a service charge on top, so the price you pay will be higher.
- Processing: about 48 hours once the papers are complete. Apply a week ahead in December and school holidays.
- Documents: a passport valid for at least six months, a photo on a white background, a return ticket and medical insurance valid in the UAE.
14-day visa for Indians holding US, UK or EU visas
- Who qualifies: Indian ordinary passport holders with a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. Family members are covered on the same basis.
- Apply first: it is called visa on arrival, but you get it pre-approved online through ICP or GDRFA before you fly. It takes about two days, and you must enter within 30 days of issue.
- Fee: AED 100 issuance plus AED 100 smart service fee on the ICP portal, so AED 200 in all (about ₹5,100). It can be extended once for another 14 days inside the UAE.
- Validity rule: your passport, and the US, UK or EU visa or permit it rests on, must each have at least six months left.
Good to know: overstaying is fined at AED 50 a day under ICP rules.
What to see in Dubai, and what to skip
- Burj Khalifa, At the Top. The tower is 828 m tall. Standard tickets take you to the decks on levels 124 and 125; the dearer ticket adds level 148. Tickets are sold by time slot and sunset costs the most. Levels 124 and 125 are enough for most families.
- Desert safari. An afternoon drive into the dunes, then a camp with camel rides, a buffet dinner and a show. The dune bashing part is a rough ride. Operators advise against it in pregnancy and for anyone with back, neck or heart problems. For grandparents, ask for a safari without dune bashing; the camp evening is the same.
- Dhow dinner cruise. The Creek cruise passes old Dubai, the souks and Deira. The Marina cruise sails between the towers and is usually more polished. Both are about two hours with a buffet that includes vegetarian food.
- Museum of the Future. Closed since 1 September 2026 while its exhibitions are replaced. It is due to reopen in early 2027, date not yet announced. Until then, see the building from Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Old Dubai. An abra across the Creek and the gold and spice souks. Cheap and worth a morning.
A day in Abu Dhabi: the Mandir, the Grand Mosque and Yas Island
Abu Dhabi is an easy day trip from Dubai, and the BAPS Hindu Mandir sits on the way, at Abu Mureikhah off the Dubai to Abu Dhabi highway. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 February 2024 and opened to the public on 1 March 2024. For many Indian families it is now the main reason to go.
- BAPS Mandir timings: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 8 pm. Closed on Mondays. The Ganga Aarti is at 7:30 pm on weekdays.
- Registration is compulsory. Each visitor books a free pass with a QR code, which is checked against your passport at the gate. The temple says to book only after you have arrived in the UAE.
- Dress and rules: no shorts, skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops, or tight or see-through clothes. Sarongs are sold at the front desk if needed. Food, drinks (even water), fruit and flowers can’t be taken in, nor can professional cameras. Phone photos are allowed.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: open 9 am to 8:30 pm Saturday to Thursday. On Fridays it opens 9 to 11:30 am, then 2:30 to 8:30 pm. Visitors from outside the UAE pay AED 10 and must book an online pass. Men and women wear long, loose, ankle-length clothes, and women cover their hair.
- Yas Island: Ferrari World and the other theme parks. One park fits in the day trip; more need an overnight stay.
Good to know: plan the Abu Dhabi day for any day except Monday, so you don’t reach the Mandir to find it shut. Friday also works if you go to the Mosque in the afternoon.
Best time to go, Dubai Shopping Festival and the summer heat
November to March is the season: warm days, cool evenings and outdoor dinners. Prices peak over Christmas and New Year. The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, with mall sales, fireworks and concerts, so hotels fill early in those weeks.
June to August is very hot, with average daytime highs of about 40 to 42°C and humid nights. Hotels are cheaper and the malls and indoor parks still work, but safaris and walking tours are hard going for elderly travellers and small children. If summer is your only window, keep outdoor plans for the evening.
Food, money and practical points
- Vegetarian and Jain food: easy. Bur Dubai and Karama are full of Indian restaurants, and most hotels serve Indian vegetarian breakfasts. Tell us about Jain requirements and we pass them on to the safari camp and the cruise.
- Senior citizens: Dubai is easy to get around, with lifts and step-free access in the malls and hotels. The long walks are inside the malls, so pace them.
Questions families ask before booking
How many days are enough for Dubai?
Four nights covers Dubai’s main sights and a day in Abu Dhabi. Three nights is tight but works for couples. With children who want theme parks, plan six.
Can we get the UAE visa on arrival?
Only if you hold a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from one of the other listed countries. Even then, apply online for the pre-approved 14-day visa before you fly. Everyone else needs a tourist visa before departure, which we apply for.
Is the BAPS Mandir open to everyone?
Yes, visitors of all faiths are welcome and entry is free, but every person needs a pre-booked pass and modest clothes. It is closed on Mondays.
Before you book, read the official GDRFA Dubai tourist visa page and the BAPS Hindu Mandir visitor guidelines.
Checked November 2026. Visa types, fees, documents and processing times are from the GDRFA Dubai and ICP service pages. Mandir timings, registration and dress rules are from mandir.ae, and Grand Mosque timings and fees from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre. Festival dates are from the organiser’s October 2026 announcement, the Museum of the Future closure from Khaleej Times, and summer temperatures from published climate averages. Rupee figures use about ₹25.6 to the dirham. Fees and rules change, and we confirm them when we send your quote.