This wasn’t a personal trip — it was a company offsite. But when your company flies you to Dubai and puts you up in a suite with a Burj Khalifa view, you don’t just sit in a conference room. We made the most of it.
The stay and some activities were covered by the company, but I booked a bunch of things on my own through Klook. Here’s how the 5 days went.
Day 1 — Arrival, Dubai Frame & Global Village
February 26, 2025
Flight left at 9:35, landed in Dubai at 12:10 local time. After immigration and baggage, the hotel shuttle was already waiting. We reached Staybridge Suites by around 14:00.
The hotel was seriously impressive — a 2-bedroom suite for 4 people, with a view of the Burj Khalifa. We had 3 suites like this for the whole group.
After freshening up, we grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby McDonald’s (some things are universal) and headed out.
Dubai Frame
Pre-booked tickets from Klook — around ₹1,200. Having pre-booked tickets meant we could skip the ticket queue, which was long.
You take an escalator to the top. On one side you see old Dubai — the traditional neighbourhoods and creek area. On the other side, new Dubai — the marina, skyscrapers, and the Burj Khalifa in the distance. It’s a really cool contrast. Worth the visit.
Global Village
Took a Grab taxi to Global Village. Again, tickets booked from Klook — around ₹600.
Global Village is a massive open-air market where dozens of countries have their own stalls selling traditional food, clothes, crafts, and souvenirs. It’s like walking through a world fair. There’s live entertainment, rides, and a lot of street food. We spent a good few hours here — it’s worth the entry fee easily.
We ended the night at an Indian restaurant. When in Dubai and craving comfort food, there’s no shortage of Indian options.
Day 2 — Half-Day City Tour, Yacht Ride & Burj Khalifa
February 27, 2025
Morning — Half-Day City Tour
Booked a half-day Dubai city tour from Klook — around ₹2,200. The van picked us up at 8:00 from the hotel.
Here’s the itinerary:
- Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque — Beautiful mosque, and our first proper stop. Worth getting off the bus for.
- Then we hopped on a larger bus with other tourists for a drive-by tour:
- Burj Al Arab — The iconic sail-shaped hotel. We stopped for photos.
- Palm Jumeirah — A drive through the man-made island.
- Atlantis The Palm (drive-by)
- Burj Khalifa (drive-by)
- Museum of the Future (drive-by)
- Dubai Frame (drive-by — glad we’d already visited it up close)
- Al Seef — A heritage waterfront area. We got off and explored for a bit. Nice blend of old and new architecture.
- Al Fahidi Fort (drive-by)
- Abra Dubai — Stopped here for some photo ops.
- From a ferry point, we took a small boat ride across the creek to the Dubai Gold Souk and Spice Souk. We explored the market for about an hour — the gold souk is overwhelming but interesting to walk through.
- Bus dropped us back at the Museum of the Future.
Afternoon — Museum of the Future
The company had booked us tickets. I’ll be honest — I found it a total waste of money. It’s very aesthetic from the outside, but the inside experience didn’t justify the ticket price. Unless you’re really into futuristic installations, you can skip it.
Evening — Yacht Ride
The company arranged a yacht ride around Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Marina. Now this was fun — cruising past the skyline as the sun went down, with the city lighting up around you. One of the highlights of the trip.
Night — Burj Khalifa
The company also provided Burj Khalifa tickets. We reached there after the yacht, but had to wait nearly 2 hours just to get to the lift. It was extremely crowded. The view from the top is undeniably great — you can see the entire city laid out below you — but the overall experience was a bit underwhelming because of the crowd and wait time.
After coming down, we attended a musical fountain show right outside the Burj Khalifa. Honestly, I enjoyed the fountain show more than going to the top — it’s free, the choreography is incredible, and the setting with the Burj lit up behind it is something else. Don’t miss it.
We then walked around Dubai Mall for a bit. It’s enormous. Then dinner at the same Indian restaurant and called it a night.
Tip: If you’re buying Burj Khalifa tickets yourself, book the latest available slot. The sunset view is the best, and weekday evenings tend to be less crowded than weekends.
Day 3 — The View at Palm, Lost Aquarium & Desert Safari
February 28, 2025
The View at The Palm
Booked from Klook — around ₹2,000. It’s an observation deck on Palm Jumeirah. The view is nice, and it’s photogenic if you’re into skyscrapers and the Palm layout from above. But honestly, I didn’t feel ₹2,000 was worth it. If you’re on a budget, you can skip this one.
The Lost Chambers Aquarium (Atlantis)
Also booked from Klook — around ₹3,300. Trust me, it’s not worth the money. The aquarium is small, and ₹3,300 is steep for what you get. If you want an aquarium experience in Dubai, look for other options.
Evening — Desert Safari
This was the highlight of the day. Booked from Klook — around ₹2,400. Here’s what’s included:
- Round-trip hotel pickup in a 4×4
- Dune bashing — the driver sends it through the sand dunes
- Quad biking (paid separately)
- Camel ride — free, short but fun
- Sand boarding — free
- Belly dance show (not available during Ramadan), Tanoura dance & fire show
- BBQ dinner buffet with complimentary soft drinks (veg and non-veg options)
For ₹2,400, you get a lot packed into one evening.
We were dropped off near our hotel after the dinner. Good end to a long day.
Day 4 — Abu Dhabi: Ferrari World & Sheikh Zayed Mosque
March 1, 2025
This day was planned by the company — a day trip to Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari World
The highlight here is the Formula Rossa — the world’s fastest roller coaster. It goes from 0 to 240 km/h in under 5 seconds. It’s insane.
Pro tip: Reach Ferrari World early and do the big rides first. We got there early and walked straight onto Formula Rossa. A couple of hours later when we wanted to go again, the queue was massive. If you don’t want to wait, there’s a fast pass option, but arriving early is the free hack.
Other than the roller coaster, there are a bunch of smaller rides and simulators. It’s a fun theme park if you’re into cars and speed.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
This mosque is absolutely massive. The interior is grand — intricate marble work, gold detailing, and one of the world’s largest chandeliers. Even if you’re not into architecture, this place will leave you speechless. It’s free to visit and easily one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.
BAPS Hindu Mandir
On our way back, we stopped at the newly built temple. Unfortunately, the crowd was huge and we were running short on time, so we couldn’t get inside. If you’re visiting Abu Dhabi, plan enough time for it.
Day 5 — Departure
March 2, 2025
Had the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, packed up, and left for the airport. Flight was at 13:10, and we reached Delhi at 18:05 IST.
What I Spent (Out of Pocket)
Since the hotel and some activities were covered by the company, here’s only what I personally spent:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dubai Frame (Klook) | ~₹1,200 |
| Global Village (Klook) | ~₹600 |
| Half-Day City Tour (Klook) | ~₹2,200 |
| The View at Palm (Klook) | ~₹2,000 |
| Lost Chambers Aquarium (Klook) | ~₹3,300 |
| Desert Safari (Klook) | ~₹2,400 |
| eSIM for last 2 days (Klook) | Varies |
| Grab taxis | Varies |
| Food (outside hotel meals) | Varies |
Roughly ₹12,000–15,000 out of pocket for activities alone. Add food, taxis, and shopping on top.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Free SIM at the airport — When you go through immigration at Dubai airport, they give you a free SIM with 3 days validity and 10 GB data. That’s enough for a short trip. I needed mine for 2 extra days, so I bought an eSIM from Klook.
- Grab is your go-to app — Use it for taxis and even food delivery. Works just like Uber.
- Pre-book everything on Klook — Almost every attraction has a ticket queue. Klook lets you skip it and sometimes gets you a better price. I booked every single thing from there.
- Desert safari is the best value — For ₹2,400 you get dune bashing, camel ride, sand boarding, dinner, and shows. Don’t skip it.
- Lost Chambers Aquarium is overpriced — ₹3,300 for a small aquarium. Not worth it.
- Museum of the Future looks better from outside — The building is iconic, but the interior experience is underwhelming for the price.
- Reach Ferrari World early — The Formula Rossa queue gets insanely long by mid-morning. Get there when it opens and hit the big rides first.
- Burj Khalifa: book late slots — The sunset/evening view is the best. Go on a weekday if you can. Expect long waits regardless.
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque is free and stunning — Easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited. Don’t skip it if you’re in Abu Dhabi.
Final Thoughts
Dubai is flashy, expensive, and over-the-top — and honestly, that’s part of the charm. The desert safari was the standout experience, the mosque in Abu Dhabi was breathtaking, and Formula Rossa gave me an adrenaline rush I won’t forget.
But not everything is worth the hype. The Lost Chambers Aquarium and Museum of the Future were disappointing for the price. The View at Palm was fine but skippable. And Burj Khalifa, while the view is great, feels more like a crowd management exercise than a magical experience.
Having the company cover the stay and some tickets definitely made this trip easier on the wallet. If you’re planning Dubai on your own budget, be selective about what you pay for — the free SIM, Grab, and Klook pre-booking go a long way.
Would I go back? Maybe. But next time I’d spend more time in Abu Dhabi and less time in queues.
