Dubai stopover for Australians: what to do in a day

A Dubai stopover for Australians is, in our view, worth trying from eight hours between flights. Australians are eligible for a free 30 day visa on arrival. The Metro runs from the airport into the city, though it starts late on Fridays. Emirates lists Dubai flights from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Sources for this section: Smartraveller, United Arab Emirates; Dubai Airports, By metro; Emirates, Flights to Dubai.

Visa and rules for Australians

Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice site, says Australians are eligible for a free 30 day visitor visa on arrival. It says your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you plan to return to Australia.

Smartraveller advises normal safety precautions. It says UAE law applies even if you only transit, and that breaking it, even unknowingly, may bring severe punishment. Four of its warnings suit a short visit:

• Dress modestly. Women should cover their shoulders and knees.
• Do not photograph people without permission. It is also illegal to photograph airports and related transport infrastructure, bridges, government buildings (including embassies) and palaces.
• In public, do not drink alcohol or be drunk. Foreigners have been arrested on arrival after becoming intoxicated on incoming flights or in transit.
• Check your medicines. Some sold in Australia, including medicines containing codeine, are illegal or controlled in the UAE, even with a prescription and even in transit.

Sources for this section: Smartraveller, United Arab Emirates.

How much time you need

In our view, eight hours is the least that makes the trip worth it. Emirates uses a similar cut-off for its Dubai Connect service. In some cases it covers a hotel, meals, transfers and visa costs. This is mainly for layovers of more than eight and under 24 hours in economy, or more than six and under 24 in First and Business. Conditions apply, including that no shorter connection is available and the trip is on one ticket. Book at least 24 hours before your flight to Dubai leaves.

Emirates asks you to reach its check-in counters at least 90 minutes before your next flight and to be through security 60 minutes before. We would leave the city about three hours ahead. The Burj Khalifa says its At the Top tour typically takes 1.5 hours.

Terminals 1 and 3 have bag storage, open 24 hours a day. It costs 20 or 25 dirhams (AED) per 12 hours or part of it, depending on bag size.

Sources for this section: Emirates, Dubai Connect and Don't miss your flight; Burj Khalifa, Observation Decks; Dubai Airports, Baggage services; Wikipedia, United Arab Emirates dirham.

From the airport by Metro

Dubai Airports says Metro trains run from Terminals 1 and 3 about every 10 minutes. Lonely Planet says the Red Line starts near the airport. RTA, Dubai's transport authority, says you can change between the Red and Green lines at Union or BurJuman.

Buy a paper Nol Red Ticket from a station machine, which takes cash or credit cards. The ticket fee is AED 6, including AED 4 for a one-zone first trip. Nol lists Red Ticket fares by zones crossed: AED 4 within one zone, AED 6 across two neighbouring zones and AED 8.5 across more than two.

RTA lists hours of 5:30 am to midnight from Saturday to Wednesday, 5:30 am to 1 am on Thursday, and 10 am to 1 am on Friday. It says they might change for holidays and special events. Dubai Airports and Lonely Planet both say Friday trains start at 1 pm, so we would take a taxi on a Friday morning.

Sources for this section: Dubai Airports, By metro; Lonely Planet, Metro; RTA, Using Dubai Metro and Purchasing NOL Red Ticket; Nol, Zone Fares.

Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall

Ride the Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station. A glass, temperature-controlled walkway, the Metro Link Bridge, leads into The Dubai Mall. It follows the mall's hours: 10 am to 11 pm Sunday to Wednesday, and 10 am to midnight Thursday to Saturday.

The Burj Khalifa's site says it is the world's tallest building, at over 828 m. In late June 2017, its booking page listed adult tickets for the At the Top decks, on levels 124 and 125. They cost AED 125 in non-prime hours and AED 200 in prime hours, roughly 5 pm to 7 pm. At the Top SKY, which adds level 148, cost AED 350 and AED 500. Prime hours differ by ticket and can change. Book online up to 30 days ahead. For a visit within 24 hours, use the counter on the mall's lower ground level, if tickets remain.

The Dubai Mall lists fountain shows every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm each day. Afternoon shows are at 1 pm and 1:30 pm, or 1:30 pm and 2 pm on Fridays.

Sources for this section: The Dubai Mall, Getting here and The Dubai Fountain; Burj Khalifa, Facts & Figures and Book Tickets; Wikipedia, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Dubai Metro).

The Creek and the souqs

Lonely Planet describes the Deira Gold Souq as a covered arcade with hundreds of jewellery stores, best in the evening. Its listed hours are 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 10 pm. Lonely Planet calls the Spice Souq a small covered market, steps from the Deira Old Souq abra station. Wikipedia says Al Ras, a Green Line station, is near both souqs.

Bargaining is expected, Lonely Planet says: start by halving the price. Carry cash, because cards are often not accepted.

Abras are motorised wooden boats that cross the Creek between Bur Dubai and Deira. Lonely Planet says they leave when full, with about 20 passengers, and charge AED 1, paid to the driver. RTA lists AED 2 a trip for its scheduled motorised abras, paid with any Nol card except a Red Ticket or Personal card. Check the fare at the station.

Sources for this section: Lonely Planet, Souqs of Dubai, Deira Gold Souq and Boat; RTA, Transport Using Abra; Wikipedia, Al Ras (Dubai Metro).

A simple plan for the day

Plan around the heat. Emirates says June to September can be oppressively hot, with humidity sometimes topping 90 percent.

1. Get your visa on arrival, then ride the Metro (or a taxi on Friday mornings) to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall.
2. Go up the At the Top decks in the morning, outside prime hours, then stay inside the mall through the hottest hours.
3. After 3 pm, ride to Al Ras for the souqs and an abra ride.
4. See a fountain show if time allows, but check the last train and walkway times first. Leave for the airport about three hours before your flight.

Sources for this section: Emirates, Plan My Visit. The steps use the sources cited above.