Why go to Dubai
Dubai works for almost everyone. Families come for the theme parks and beaches. Friends come for a long weekend of shopping and food. Couples come for a night at a desert camp. And Indian food is never far away.
The big sights fit into a few days: the view from Burj Khalifa, the evening fountain show at Dubai Mall, a ride across Dubai Creek on an abra (the small wooden boats), the old lanes of Al Fahidi, and an evening in the desert. In winter, Global Village and the Miracle Garden are open too.
Best time to visit Dubai
November to March is the time to go. Days are around 25°C and evenings are cool enough to sit outside. October and April are warm but fine.
From June to September it is often above 40°C, so you stay indoors by day and go out after dark. Hotel rates drop a lot in summer, which can make a cheap fare even better value if you can handle the heat.
- January: best time
- February: best time
- March: best time
- April: good time
- May: off season
- June: off season
- July: off season
- August: off season
- September: off season
- October: good time
- November: best time
- December: best time
Dubai visa for Indians
Visa before you flyLast checked October 2026
Indian passport holders need a UAE visit visa before they fly. Most people apply online through their airline, a travel agent or the UAE government’s visa portals. It usually takes a few working days.
If you hold a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU visa or residence permit, you may be able to get a visa on arrival instead. The list of accepted visas changes, so check it before you book.
Apply only through official government channels or a trusted agent. Look-alike sites charge extra. Rules change, so check again before you book.
Flight time and fares from Delhi
Many nonstop flights leave Delhi for Dubai every day, and the flight takes about 3½ to 4 hours. Leave Delhi at 8 pm and you land at around 10 pm Dubai time, so a Friday night flight gives you a full weekend.
With so much choice, fares move a lot. They rise around Diwali, Christmas and New Year, and from mid-May to June when Indian schools close. The weeks just after these holidays are often much cheaper. It also pays to compare fares to Abu Dhabi (about 1½ hours from Dubai by road) and Sharjah (30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic).
Getting from the airport
The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 and runs through the city to Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. Taxis wait outside every terminal and run on the meter. If you land late with family and bags, a taxi is easier.
How many days you need
Four or five days covers the main sights, a desert evening and a day of shopping. Add a day for Abu Dhabi if you want to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the theme parks on Yas Island.
Food for Indian travellers
Dubai is one of the easiest places abroad for Indian food. Karama and Bur Dubai are full of vegetarian restaurants, from South Indian to Gujarati thalis, and many Indian chains have branches here. Jain food is easy to find if you ask.
