Dubai Trip Plan — 5-Day Itinerary
United Arab Emirates🗓️ Best season: November to March — pleasant days; December–January is the New Year peak
🛂 Visa from Pakistan: Pre-arranged tourist visa required — apply through your airline, a licensed travel agent or your hotel, or the official ICP/GDRFA portals. No visa on arrival. Passport valid 6+ months; allow about 3–4 working days.
🌍 From other countries: Citizens of many countries receive a free visa on arrival (30 or 90 days) — check your country on the official UAE list before you fly.
Burj Khalifa, the old Creek, the Palm and desert safaris — the most-visited city break from Pakistan.
🌡️ Live weather: loading…
Route: Direct flights to Dubai (DXB) from Karachi (about 2h20), Lahore (about 3h15) and Islamabad (about 3h20) — Emirates, flydubai, PIA and Airblue. Air Arabia flies to Sharjah, about 30 minutes away by road.
- Day 1: Burj Khalifa (book the timed slot ahead) + Dubai Mall + the Fountain show in the evening
- Day 2: Old Dubai: Al Fahidi lanes, an abra across the Creek, the Gold and Spice Souks
- Day 3: Palm Jumeirah + the Marina walk + JBR beach
- Day 4: Desert safari — afternoon to evening with a licensed operator
- Day 5: Abu Dhabi day trip (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque) — or Museum of the Future + Dubai Frame, or Global Village (Oct–May)
What to carry & what you need:
- Printed visa copy with your passport — immigration may ask for a paper copy
- Return ticket and hotel booking that match your visa application
- Health insurance valid in the UAE — it is a condition of the visa
- Dirhams in cash for souks, abras and small shops — cards work almost everywhere else
- A Nol card for the metro and buses
- Light clothes, sun protection, and a layer for strong indoor air-conditioning
- Mosque visits: women cover hair, arms and legs; men wear long trousers
Official visa page: UAE tourist visa (u.ae) ↗
Note: New Year at the Burj Khalifa is world-famous — for late December, book flights, hotels and tower tickets weeks ahead; it is the most expensive week of the year. Alcohol is served only in licensed venues (21+).
Weather on this page is live at the moment it loads — always check it again on the day you travel, and follow official road and weather advisories. Photo: Imran Shahabuddin — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).