Dubai is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors each year with its stunning skyscrapers, luxurious lifestyle, world-class shopping, pristine beaches, and rich cultural experiences. It’s a city that beautifully blends modern innovation with Arabian traditions, making it appealing to families, solo travelers, honeymooners, and adventure seekers alike.
I finally planned my 7 days Dubai vacation in February 2025, and I couldn’t have picked a better time. February is one of the best months to visit Dubai because it marks the end of winter in the UAE. The weather is pleasantly cool compared to the scorching summer months, with average daytime temperatures hovering around 20–28°C—perfect for exploring both indoor attractions and outdoor experiences like desert safaris, cruises, and city walks.
Flying to Dubai : Air India
Being a Maharaja Gold member with Air India, I booked my Mumbai to Dubai non-stop return flight and enjoyed premium perks such as Adani East Wing lounge access, priority check-in, boarding, priority baggage tags, and free seat selection. I paid with my Amex Platinum Charge Card, which fetched me 10x reward points due to the ongoing Amex–Air India partnership, along with additional Flying Returns points from Air India—a great way to earn miles for future free flights.
Getting Dubai Visa via OneVasco
For my Dubai visa, I used OneVasco, which is a seamless, completely online platform. The process was extremely efficient—just upload the required documents and wait. I received my approved visa within 3 days of submission.
A great perk: UAE visas are free for kids under 18 if traveling with family, so you only need to pay OneVasco service charges. This made the visa process both economical and stress-free.
Smooth Arrival in Dubai
Immigration at Dubai Airport was very smooth, with a separate queue for families. Another pleasant surprise—Dubai provides a free physical SIM card to each adult traveler, valid for 1 day. After the free validity, I recharged it with a data pack for the rest of my stay, which worked perfectly.
Public Transport in Dubai
For transport, Dubai has one of the best public transport systems in the world. Right at the airport metro station, I purchased a travel card (NOL card) which can be used for both metro and buses. It's great option to save money and time as its fast and efficient with connectivity to most tourist spots.Travel is free for kids under 6 years, making it very family-friendly.
One important thing to note:
Ticket checks are performed regularly, and if caught traveling without a valid ticket or insufficient balance, the fines are extremely heavy. So it’s best to always ensure your card is tapped in and has enough balance.
However, compared to my experiences in Singapore, Doha, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, I found one major drawback with the Dubai Metro—its handling of peak-hour traffic. During evening rush hours, the trains were extremely packed, often to the point where there was literally no room to stand. We had to let multiple trains pass before we could even get in. Inside the stations, there was a lot of pushing, shoving, shouting, and frustration among commuters, which came as a surprise because in other countries, even during rush hours, crowd management felt more organized.
At one point, we even got caught in such a situation, which wasn’t the best experience. For a city as advanced as Dubai, this was unexpected and definitely something to keep in mind when planning your travel around the city. If possible, try to avoid the metro during evening peak hours and plan your sightseeing accordingly.
Klook.comStay at Ibis Styles Dubai Airport Hotel
For accommodation, I booked 6 nights at Ibis Styles Dubai Airport Hotel entirely on points, making my stay almost free. I used 24000 reward points to book this stay. This property is located very close to Dubai International Airport and just a 5-minute walk from GGICO Metro Station—a huge advantage for exploring the city via public transport.
Since my flight landed in the evening, by the time we cleared immigration, took the metro, and checked into the hotel, it was already 9 PM. Tired from travel, we decided to rest and begin exploring Dubai the next morning.
Day 2 – Miracle Garden, Mall of the Emirates & Dubai Mall
Our first full day in Dubai was exciting, as we planned to visit some of the most popular attractions:
Dubai Miracle Garden
In the morning, we visited the Dubai Miracle Garden—a must-visit attraction and a paradise for photography lovers. I booked my tickets online through Klook. The garden is massive, with spectacular flower arrangements, themed structures, and unique photo spots. Depending on your interest, you can easily spend 2–3 hours exploring the garden. It also has good food outlets to relax and recharge.
Mall of the Emirates & Ski Dubai
From Miracle Garden, we headed to Mall of the Emirates, famous for its luxury shopping and Ski Dubai—an indoor snow park in the middle of the desert! Tickets can be booked via Klook or purchased directly at the counter. Ski Dubai offers snow slides, ski slopes, and even penguin encounters, making it a fun activity for both kids and adults.
Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa & Fountain Show
By evening, we reached the iconic Dubai Mall, which is not only a shopping paradise but also home to world-class attractions like the Dubai Aquarium, Ice Rink, and KidZania. Our main highlight here was the Dubai Fountain Show, which takes place every 30 minutes in the evening at the foot of Burj Khalifa. Watching the fountains dance to music with the illuminated Burj Khalifa in the backdrop was simply magical—we were so mesmerized that we watched the show three times in a row.
This wrapped up our Day 2 in Dubai, filled with breathtaking experiences.
Day 3 – Dubai Frame & Desert Safari Adventure
We started Day 3 in Dubai a bit late in the morning and decided to first visit the iconic Dubai Frame, which is located quite close to our hotel. I had pre-booked the tickets via Klook, which saved time at the counter.
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is a massive golden structure shaped exactly like a picture frame and is visible from far across the city. Even though we arrived in the morning, there was already a long queue, and it took almost 30 minutes before we reached the top observation deck.
Once at the top, the 360-degree panoramic views were absolutely worth the wait—you can clearly see the contrast between Old Dubai on one side and the modern skyscrapers of New Dubai on the other. The glass walkway in the middle adds a thrilling touch for those who dare to look down. We spent about an hour soaking in the views and taking pictures before heading back.
Desert Safari Experience
For the evening, we had booked a Desert Safari package through Klook, which included pickup and drop-off directly from our hotel. Our SUV pickup was scheduled at 3 PM, and we shared the ride with four other guests, making it a fun group experience.
The adventure began with a stop for quad biking, which is an optional activity and not included in the main package. It was thrilling to see so many people riding across the desert, but since it came at an additional cost, we just watched for a bit before moving on.
The real excitement began when we switched vehicles for dune bashing—an adrenaline-filled ride across the desert sand dunes. The driver’s skills, sharp turns, and sudden drops made it a thrilling roller-coaster-like experience in the heart of the desert.
After dune bashing, we got to experience a short camel ride, which was fun though very brief. There was also a falconry activity, where you could hold a falcon for a few seconds and take pictures. However, this felt more like a mini scam, as they charged 20 AED for just a quick photo, and the handlers were quick to swipe cards with portable machines.
By sunset, we reached the desert camp area, where the atmosphere completely changed. Watching the sunset over the golden dunes was magical. The evening continued with traditional entertainment shows including mesmerizing belly dancing, tanoura performance, and a fire show, which were the highlights of the safari. A buffet dinner with barbecue was also included, offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
By the time the performances ended and we were dropped back at our hotel, it was almost 10 PM—a long but exciting day filled with some of the most unforgettable Dubai experiences.
Day 4 – Yacht Tour & Jumeirah Beach
After an adventurous Day 3, we planned something a little more relaxed yet luxurious for Day 4 in Dubai. We had booked a 2-hour yacht breakfast tour through Klook, scheduled from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Luxury Yacht Tour in Dubai Marina
This was our first-ever yacht experience, and it truly lived up to expectations. The yacht was stunning, spacious, and very well maintained, giving a sense of pure luxury the moment we stepped on board. We were welcomed with a delicious breakfast spread, and as the yacht sailed out, we enjoyed breathtaking views of Dubai Marina.
The route took us past some of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks including the Burj Al Arab, the world’s only 7-star hotel, and the spectacular Atlantis, The Palm. Watching these architectural marvels from the water gave us a completely different perspective than seeing them from land. The morning timing was perfect—calm waters, pleasant weather, and fewer crowds. Overall, the yacht tour turned out to be one of the most memorable highlights of our Dubai trip.
Relaxing at Jumeirah Beach
Post the yacht tour, we headed to Jumeirah Beach, which is one of the most famous beaches in Dubai. The beach has soft white sand, crystal-clear waters, and plenty of space to relax. We spent a few hours soaking in the sun, enjoying the refreshing breeze, and just relaxing by the water.
Walking around the Jumeirah area was equally fun, as it is lined with modern skyscrapers, stylish cafés, and plenty of shops. It’s a vibrant neighborhood where you can easily spend half a day just exploring, shopping, and enjoying the beachfront vibes.
By late afternoon, we returned to the hotel to rest, as the day was both refreshing and slightly tiring after all the walking and beach time.
Day 5 – Al Mamzar Area, Dubai Parks & Global Village
We started Day 5 in Dubai with the plan to visit Al Mamzar Beach, as it was the closest beach from our hotel. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found out that the beach was closed due to renovation work in the area.
Instead of being disappointed, we decided to walk around the Al Mamzar neighborhood, and it turned out to be a pleasant experience. The area is beautifully maintained with wide pedestrian footpaths and landscaped gardens on both sides of the road. It gave us a glimpse of Dubai’s quieter residential side, away from the typical tourist crowds. Since we had traveled by public transport, the entire journey to and from Al Mamzar took a fair bit of time, and by the time we returned, it was already afternoon.
Later, we visited a park near Dubai Frame to relax and unwind before heading back to the hotel.
Global Village
In the evening, we set off for Global Village, which was one of the highlights of our trip. Global Village is massive—almost like a world fair, with country-themed pavilions, shopping stalls, live shows, and endless food options. It’s an amazing place to experience global cultures in one location. We spent a couple of hours exploring, shopping, and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Day 6 – La Mer Beach & Dubai Mall
On Day 6, we discovered that our hotel offered a complimentary shuttle service to La Mer Beach, so we decided to take advantage of it.
La Mer Beach
La Mer turned out to be one of the best beaches we visited during our trip. It’s clean, beautiful, and less crowded compared to other popular beaches in Dubai. The beach has a relaxed vibe, with plenty of seating spots, trendy cafés, and Instagram-worthy street art scattered around the area. We spent a few hours just relaxing by the water, enjoying the peace and calm.
Dubai Mall & Dubai Fountain Show
In the evening, we went back to Dubai Mall one last time. Our main goal was to watch the Dubai Fountain Show again and enjoy the dazzling view of the Burj Khalifa at night. No matter how many times you see the fountain show, it always feels magical. It was the perfect way to spend our last full evening in Dubai.
Day 7 – Departure from Dubai
Our final day in Dubai came quickly. Since we had a morning flight back to Mumbai, we checked out of the hotel early and headed straight to the airport.
Being a Maharaja Gold member with Air India, I had access to the Ahlan Business Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport, which was a wonderful perk to end the trip on a high note. The lounge offered comfortable seating, excellent food and beverages, and a relaxing environment before boarding.
With that, our 7 days in Dubai came to an end—an unforgettable trip filled with luxury experiences, sightseeing, beaches, shopping, and cultural adventures.
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