Sightseeing tours to UAE from Almaty: prices

Sightseeing tours to the UAE are trips across seven emirates with visits to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern territories. The best time for such routes is from November to March, when daytime temperatures are around +25…+28 °C and you can walk on foot. From Almaty, direct flights take 4–5 hours, so the first day should be left free. Allow at least a full day to explore each destination.

When is the best time to plan a sightseeing trip to the Emirates?

The season in the Emirates determines almost everything: from the pace of walks to the choice of emirate. Such trips are more convenient to plan for the cooler months, when city routes do not turn into a test of heat.

Weather by season: from comfortable winter to extreme summer

Tours to the Emirates are most comfortable from November to March. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, daytime temperatures stay around +25…+28 °C, and routes can be done on foot. In Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, these months are cooler on the coast, while the Hajar Mountains offer pleasant freshness. From April the heat grows, and from June to August the UAE has +40…+45 °C with high humidity. In summer, sightseeing programs are moved to museums, shopping malls and evening hours. For trips around the region, choose the period from November to March if you want to walk rather than run from air conditioner to air conditioner.

Ramadan and Friday: how the religious calendar changes the excursion schedule

Ramadan shifts the schedule of tours in the UAE by almost a month forward. During daylight hours in Sharjah and Ajman, cafes and restaurants are closed, while in Dubai and Abu Dhabi they operate with restrictions. Friday in the Emirates is a short working day and a time for prayer, so some museums and government institutions may be closed. Programs on Friday are often moved to the morning or evening. When planning trips to the Emirates, check the dates of Ramadan and leave Friday for the beach or the desert.

What should a tourist from Kazakhstan consider when preparing for a trip

Preparation for such trips begins long before the suitcase. For a tourist from Almaty, it is important to resolve everyday issues in advance so as not to waste time on formalities on the spot.

Insurance, first aid kit and documents for the road

Medical insurance for such trips to the UAE will be inexpensive, but treatment in the Emirates is expensive. Take out a policy for the entire duration of the trip, including desert safaris and diving in Fujairah. For programs with flights between the emirates, insurance also covers the journey. Before departure, check your first aid kit: some medicines, for example those with codeine, cannot be imported into the Emirates. When collecting documents for tours to the UAE, keep scans on your phone and in the cloud. Such a set of habits makes a trip around the region calm.

Currency, cards and cash for markets and taxis

The basis of payments on such trips around the Emirates is the dirham, whose exchange rate is pegged to the dollar. Exchanging tenge directly in the UAE is difficult, so bring dollars or withdraw dirhams from ATMs. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, including hotels and large stores. For markets, taxis and small shops in Sharjah and Ajman, cash is needed. On tours, part of the expenses goes to souvenirs and entrance tickets, so keep a small amount at hand. Small notes will be useful for tips to the driver and guide.

Dress code, photo restrictions and rules of behavior

In mosques and traditional areas of the Emirates, covered shoulders and knees are required, and women need a headscarf. In Sharjah the rules are stricter than in Dubai, and this is noticeable already in the streets. On such tours, the guide usually warns about such details in advance. Photographing military sites, government institutions and some people without permission is prohibited. Alcohol is sold only in licensed places, and in Sharjah it is almost universally prohibited. Following these rules makes trips to the Emirates calm and predictable.

How to choose a program and route around the emirates?

The Emirates are seven different characters in a small territory. The choice of route for such trips depends on what is closer to you: skyscrapers, desert or sea.

City excursions: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah

It is logical to build city sightseeing tours of the UAE around Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, it is worth seeing the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future and the old Deira district with spice markets. In Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Yas Island with amusement parks are interesting. Sharjah adds museums and cultural quarters to tours to the Emirates, where old buildings have been preserved. Between Dubai and Abu Dhabi it is convenient to travel by bus or minibus as part of a group. Allow at least a full day for each destination, otherwise the trip will turn into a race. City programs in the Emirates combine well with evening outings to the desert.

Natural and historical destinations: Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain

Natural trips in the UAE begin north of Dubai. In Ras Al Khaimah, Dhayah Fort, hot springs and the Hajar Mountains with views of the valleys are interesting. Fujairah attracts with its eastern coast, beaches and diving in the Indian Ocean. Ajman and Umm Al Quwain are compact and good for a calm day: old forts, fishing harbors, quiet beaches. Programs around the Emirates here are shorter, but without city bustle. The road from Dubai takes from one to two hours, so such tours are convenient to take as one-day trips. The northern emirates offer what you will not find in megacities: silence and mountain air.

Visa and entry rules change: check the primary source — the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, https://icp.gov.ae/en/. The information on this page was checked on 14.09.2026.

How does a sightseeing day go and what is included in the tour

A day on such trips is scheduled by the hour, but without haste. Understanding the logistics helps you choose a program that suits your energy and interests.

Transfers between the emirates and program logistics

Public transport between the emirates is poorly developed, so such trips usually include a transfer by bus or minibus. Group pickup in Dubai often starts early in the morning to make it to the opening of the sites. The road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi takes about an hour and a half, to Ras Al Khaimah — about two. In the programs, time for travel is factored in advance, but rush-hour traffic jams can shift the schedule. Check the meeting point and time with the guide the evening before. If an early departure is stated, plan breakfast at the hotel in advance.

Meals, tips and evening entertainment in the desert

Meals on such tours in the UAE depend on the program: somewhere it is lunch at a restaurant, somewhere — a snack on the way. Local cuisine is worth getting to know: hummus, falafel, shawarma, al machboos with rice and meat, camel milk. In the tourist areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi there are many restaurants serving European and Asian cuisine, so there is no problem with choice. Tips in the Emirates are not mandatory, but are welcomed, and restaurants often already include a 10% service charge. Evening excursions most often lead to the desert: jeep safaris, camel riding, dinner and a show. Take water and light long-sleeved clothing with you — it gets cool in the dunes at night.

How to book and pay for a tour

It is better to start booking such tours in the UAE a few weeks before departure. In high season, places on popular programs go quickly, especially for weekends.

Booking and payment terms

The booking and payment terms for such tours in the UAE depend on the specific program and season. Check what is included in the price: transfers, entrance tickets, meals and guide services. Compare programs by what they include, not just by price. For trips in high season, book in advance to choose convenient dates and hotels. That way you will not be left without places on the dates you need.

What to check before departure from Almaty

Before departure from Almaty, check the group gathering time and meeting point in Dubai. Find out what items you will need on excursions around the Emirates: comfortable shoes, a head covering, clothing with covered shoulders. Ask about the language of the excursions and whether a Russian-speaking guide is available. Check whether such tours include travel between the emirates and return transfer to the hotel. Save the guide's contacts and the booking number in your phone. Direct flights from Almaty take about 4–5 hours, so it is better to leave the first day in the Emirates free.

In brief

• Routes across the seven emirates are most comfortable from November to March.
• In summer, sightseeing is moved to museums, malls and evening hours.
• Ramadan and Friday shift the schedule of some programs in the Emirates.
• Without a policy, medical care in the Emirates will be expensive, arrange it in advance.
• It is more convenient to get dirhams from dollars or withdraw them from ATMs.