Day one
Do the 24-hour itinerary but skip our evening suggestions, saving them for day two. If you're going to be experiencing Dubai's scorching heat for a week you need to conserve your energy. Spend your first night enjoying drinks and dinner at a couple of the places on our
Wine & Dine list. Good combos include Bar 44 and Mezzanine, Cin Cin's and The Exchange Grill, or Vintage and Fire & Ice — Raffles Grill.
Day two
If it's sweltering outside, stay indoors and save your sweating til evening. Start the day with shopping and people watching at Deira City Centre.
Cafe Chic is close by for a superb lunch; book the day before. Indulge in a spa treatment or work on the tan before heading out around 4pm for sightseeing and souk-shopping.
Check out Al-Ahmadiya School and Heritage House, charming museums in historic buildings, before exploring the souks. Pick up our 24-hour itinerary where you left off yesterday.
Day three
Enjoy
Jumeirah, an affluent area stretching from Satwa all the way to New Dubai. With its low-rise white villas, verdant gardens and opulent Sheikh's palaces, it's easy on the eyes, although for eight months of the years it's too hot to stroll. Make do with an early morning dip in the Arabian Sea at Umm Suqeim, the public beach overlooking Burj Al Arab.
Do a Jumeirah Mosque tour; book through the SMCCU and don't forget to cover up. Afterwards, pop across the road to check out lively Open Beach (aka Russian Beach) then take a local bus to Madinat Jumeirah. Enjoy lunch overlooking the mythical Arabian architecture, Venetian-style canals, and Burj Al Arab (no escaping it) followed by an afternoon of shopping.
Hit Bahri Bar's verandah for sunset drinks before dinner at Pierchic, Tagine or Eauzone, followed by a nightcap at The Roof Top.
Day four
Art buffs should spend a morning appreciating contemporary art at
Dubai's galleries (see our
Luxuriate! list) or appreciate Dubai's rather creative urban development by
helicopter (
HeliDubai). The postmodern Moroccan space at
Almaz by Momo is perfect for lunch afterwards.
In the afternoon, you could hit the slopes at Ski Dubai, take a spin around the track at Dubai Autodrome or float over the desert in a hot air balloon. Get down to earth in a hurry by exploring real Dubai (see our "Near the Beaten Track" list) and tucking into a sloppy curry at Ravi or grilled kebabs on Al Mateena Road.
Day five and six
Spend a couple of days kicking back at a desert retreat such as
Al Maha Desert Resort or
Bab Al Shams, ticking off those kitschy Arabian experiences we love such as the camel ride and henna tattoos. At Bab Al Shams, you'll also get an Arabic feast with belly dancer. The desert scenery is sublime, and at Al Maha you'll have the chance to spot rare Arabian wildlife. Expats and locals love these dreamy escapes as much as tourists do.
Day seven
Seeing you've been so busy, you'd better spend your last day by the swimming pool working on that tan. But don't forget to pick up that gold and diamond ring you had made, take delivery of the painting you bought, and decide which carpet you want (don't forget to bargain). If you've got time, squeeze in another spa treatment or a walk in a park, and if you didn't get to one of the restaurants on our list, you'd better make a reservation now.
Next: Awesome links
Have you tried any of the places on this itinerary? Got any ideas we haven't thought of? Have your say using the comments form below:
