Best Things to Do in Dubai in 2026: Is a Desert Safari Worth Booking?

In 2026, the best things to do in Dubai from Singapore include the Burj Khalifa and Museum of the Future, and a desert safari is usually worth booking, so pick your tours, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Check Singapore's MFA travel advice first, then compare tours on Klook and GetYourGuide and go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Singapore is a free website and app that returns cash on eligible online bookings at stores including Klook and GetYourGuide. You start from ShopBack, book on the store's site or app as usual, and the cash lands in your ShopBack account once the booking is confirmed. Create a free ShopBack account before you book.

Before you book: check the MFA travel advice for the UAE

At the time of writing, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Singaporeans to defer all travel to the Middle East region, in an advisory dated 1 March 2026 on its UAE travel page. Advice like this can change, so read the MFA UAE travel page on the day you plan to book, not just once.

What the same MFA page says for anyone who does travel:

• eRegister with MFA so the ministry can contact you if needed.
• Check flight schedules with your airline, including any transit through the UAE.
• Buy travel insurance before the trip that covers medical emergencies and trip cancellations.
• Visa: Singapore passport holders can stay visa free in the UAE for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Travellers whose passports carry only a single name will not be allowed entry under UAE guidelines.

If you do plan a trip, favour tours and tickets with free cancellation, so a change in advice or flights does not cost you the booking.

What are the best things to do in Dubai?

The best things to do in Dubai on a first trip mix the new city and its tall towers with the older creek side and the desert. Here is a short list that covers both, with the key facts for each:

Thing to do	Why go	Key fact
Burj Khalifa observation decks	The view over the city, the coast and the desert	The tower is 828 metres tall; At the Top is on levels 124 and 125
The Dubai Fountain	A free evening show in Downtown Dubai	On a 12-hectare lake, shooting water up to about 152 metres
Dubai Frame	Views of old Dubai to the north and new Dubai to the south	150 metres tall, in Zabeel Park
Museum of the Future	Exhibits on science and technology in a landmark building	Opened on 22 February 2022, seven floors
Dubai Creek and Old Dubai	Abra boat crossings, souks and older neighbourhoods	The creek runs about 14 km inland
Desert safari	Dunes, sunset and a desert camp	The desert sits outside the city, so most people go with a tour

Figures are as summarised on each attraction's Wikipedia entry at the time of writing.

A simple way to plan three or four days: one day for Downtown (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall area and the fountain at night), one for Old Dubai and the creek, one for the Dubai Frame and the Museum of the Future, and an afternoon into evening for the desert.

Is a desert safari in Dubai worth booking?

A desert safari is usually worth booking if you want to see the desert, because the dunes are outside the city and a tour takes care of the transport, the off-road drive and the camp stop in one booking. For most first-time visitors from Singapore, it is the one half day that feels completely different from the rest of the trip.

It is worth it if:

• You want sunset over the dunes and have not been to a desert before.
• You would rather not hire a car and drive on sand yourself.
• You want a ready-made evening, since many listings run into dinner time.

It may not be worth it if:

• You get motion sick. The off-road part of many tours is bumpy by design.
• You have very young children. Check the minimum age on the listing.
• You only have one day in Dubai and would rather see the city.

Part of Dubai's desert is protected as the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, about 225 square kilometres set up in 2002, according to its Wikipedia entry. Ask the operator where the tour goes if that matters to you.

What to check before booking a desert safari

Before you book a Dubai desert safari, check pickup, length, inclusions, age limits and cancellation terms, because listings that look alike can differ a lot. A quick checklist:

1. Pickup and drop-off. Is hotel pickup included, and from which areas?
2. Length and timing. Morning, afternoon or evening, and how many hours in total.
3. What is included. Activities such as camel rides or sandboarding, drinks and meals, and what is charged on the day.
4. Minimum age and health notes. Some activities are not suitable for young children or for pregnant travellers.
5. Cancellation terms. Free cancellation up to a set time is the safer choice in 2026.
6. Recent reviews. Look for comments on the driver, the camp and the timing.

Where can I get Burj Khalifa tickets cheaper?

Burj Khalifa tickets are usually cheaper when you book the lower observation deck at a less busy time slot, compare the same slot on two booking sites, and go through ShopBack before you pay. The level and the time set most of the price.

According to Wikipedia's entries on the tower and its decks, there are three public levels:

• At the Top, levels 124 and 125. The main deck, opened on 5 January 2010, at about 452 metres. This is the usual first-visit choice and the cheaper one.
• At the Top Sky, level 148. Higher up, and usually priced higher.
• The Lounge, levels 152 to 154. The highest public level, usually the priciest.

Habits that help:

1. Choose the level first. If you want the view, the lower deck usually does the job.
2. Compare time slots. Prices can differ by time of day, so check a few slots on the same date before you pick one.
3. Compare the same slot. Put the same date, level and time into Klook and GetYourGuide and compare the final amount on the payment page.
4. Look at combos. Some listings pair the Burj Khalifa with other Downtown attractions. Only buy a combo if you would visit both anyway.
5. Go through ShopBack before you pay. Whichever site wins, start from ShopBack Singapore and tap through to it.

Things to do in Dubai: Singapore 2026 planning notes

For a 2026 Dubai trip from Singapore, the ticketed attractions and the desert tour are the parts you can book ahead and save on. Practical points:

• Book timed tickets early for weekends and holidays. Popular slots sell out first.
• Group bookings by day. Downtown attractions are close together, so one day there saves on taxis.
• Keep the advisory in view. Re-check the MFA page shortly before you travel.
• Make ShopBack part of every booking. Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose.

Things to do in Dubai best deals in Singapore 2026

The best Dubai deals in 2026 usually come from flexible dates, off-peak time slots, booking-site promotions for the same tour, and ShopBack before you pay. Where to look:

• Booking-site sales. Klook and GetYourGuide run their own promotions and promo codes. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.
• Card offers. Some Singapore cards run travel promotions with booking sites. Check the minimum spend and the eligible booking types.
• ShopBack before every booking. Whatever deal you land on, going through ShopBack Singapore first lowers what you actually pay once the cash comes back.

We do not list this week's codes or prices here, because they change too often. The live codes and the current rate for each store are on its ShopBack page.

Klook vs GetYourGuide for things to do in Dubai: price comparison 2026

Klook and GetYourGuide are two booking sites Singapore travellers check for Dubai attraction tickets and tours, and which one is cheaper changes by date, operator and promotion, so compare them for your exact booking. The number that matters is the final payable amount for the same tour, date and group size, minus what comes back through ShopBack.

A five-minute comparison:

1. Search your tour or ticket on Klook through ShopBack and note the final amount.
2. Do the same on GetYourGuide through ShopBack.
3. Check that the two listings include the same things: pickup, meals, time on site and cancellation terms.
4. For each, take the final price and subtract the cash you expect back at the rate shown on its ShopBack page. The effective price is what you pay minus what ShopBack returns, and the lowest one wins.

Other travel stores Singapore travellers use for a Dubai trip include Pelago and Headout for tours, and Trip.com, Agoda and Expedia for flights and hotels, all on ShopBack Singapore.

Why ShopBack is a step before you book

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Before you book your Burj Khalifa ticket or desert safari on Klook or GetYourGuide, go through ShopBack Singapore first. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

The effective price is what you pay minus what ShopBack returns. Rates differ by store, so check the live rate on the Klook page or the GetYourGuide page on ShopBack Singapore on the day you book. Eligible categories can differ by store, so check whether tours and attraction tickets qualify on each store page.

Card rewards and ShopBack on the same booking

Card rewards and ShopBack usually both apply on the same Dubai booking, because they come from different places. Your bank pays the card rewards, and ShopBack pays its cash separately. Bookings charged in a foreign currency can carry a fee on some cards, and some card promotions depend on a minimum spend or a promo code. Go through ShopBack before you pay.

Step by step: booking Dubai tours and tickets

1. Read the MFA UAE travel page and decide whether to go.
2. Fix your dates and group the attractions by area.
3. Pick the Burj Khalifa level and time slot, and the desert safari type.
4. Compare the same booking on Klook and GetYourGuide, including cancellation terms.
5. Go through ShopBack Singapore to the site with the best final price, and book.

FAQ

What are the best things to do in Dubai?

For a first trip from Singapore, most people build their days around the Burj Khalifa observation decks, the Dubai Fountain show on Burj Khalifa Lake, the Dubai Frame, the Museum of the Future, an abra ride across Dubai Creek in Old Dubai, and one half day in the desert. Check the MFA travel page first, then go through ShopBack Singapore before you book tickets or tours.

Is a desert safari in Dubai worth booking?

Usually yes, if you want to see the desert, because it sits outside the city and a tour handles the transport, the off-road drive and the camp stop for you. It is less worth it if you get motion sick, are travelling with very young children, or only have one day. Compare what each listing includes and its cancellation terms before you pay.

Where can I get Burj Khalifa tickets cheaper?

Pick the lower observation deck level and a less busy time slot first, because those set the base price. Then compare the same date, level and time on booking sites such as Klook and GetYourGuide, check the final payable amount, and go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay so the effective price drops.

Which Burj Khalifa observation deck should I book?

The main At the Top deck is on levels 124 and 125, according to Wikipedia's entry on the tower, and is the usual first-visit choice. At the Top Sky on level 148 and The Lounge on levels 152 to 154 go higher and usually cost more. If the view is what you want, the lower deck is the cheaper pick.

Do Singaporeans need a visa for Dubai?

According to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time of writing, Singapore passport holders can stay visa free in the UAE for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Travellers whose passports carry only a single name may be refused entry, so check with the nearest UAE embassy if that applies to you.

Is it safe to travel to Dubai from Singapore right now?

Check the latest advice before you book. At the time of writing, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Singaporeans to defer all travel to the Middle East region, and asks anyone who does travel to eRegister, monitor local news and buy travel insurance. Read the MFA UAE travel page on the day you plan to book.

Is the Dubai Fountain free to watch?

Watching from the public promenade around Burj Khalifa Lake is generally free. The fountain sits on a 12-hectare lake in Downtown Dubai and shoots water up to about 152 metres, according to its Wikipedia entry. Paid options such as boat rides and lakeside restaurants are sold separately.

Is Klook or GetYourGuide cheaper for Dubai tours?

It changes by date, tour operator and promotion, so there is no fixed answer. Put the same tour, date and number of guests into Klook and GetYourGuide, compare the final payable amount and what is included, then work out the effective price after ShopBack for each one.

What should I check before booking a Dubai desert safari?

Check whether hotel pickup and drop-off are included, how long the tour runs, which activities and meals are included and which cost extra on the day, the minimum age, and the cancellation terms. Reviews that mention the driver and the camp are usually the most useful.

How does ShopBack help when I book Dubai tours and tickets?

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Open ShopBack Singapore, tap through to Klook or GetYourGuide, and book. The cash comes back to your ShopBack account once the booking is confirmed, and the live rate for each store is on its ShopBack page.

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Ready to plan Dubai?

Read the MFA travel page first, then go through ShopBack before you book on Klook or compare the same tour on GetYourGuide and check the live rate on each page.

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Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute travel, safety or purchase advice. Travel advisories, entry rules, ticket levels, tour inclusions and terms are set by the relevant authorities, attractions and booking sites, are quoted from public pages at the time of writing, and can change without notice. Always check the MFA travel page, the official attraction or booking site and the relevant ShopBack store page before you book. Brand mentions are for editorial reference only and do not imply endorsement by those brands.