Today’s “See You on Monday” features Dubai and Abu Dhabi. During the New Year, I personally visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and I really enjoyed these two luxurious cities. Therefore, I specifically focused on the products from these two cities.
Fortunately, the little dolphin (likely referring to a service or provider) is quite reliable.
I have to say, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are truly affluent. The current ruler of Dubai once said: “We will always strive to be first because no one remembers the second place!” That’s why Dubai boasts many world-firsts. For example, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, stands at 828 meters.
The largest shopping mall in the world, the Dubai Mall, spans 6 million square feet. Inside, it’s not just a large shopping mall; there’s also a massive aquarium.
The largest artificial island in the world is Dubai’s Palm Island, where Atlantis is located.
Abu Dhabi is also not to be outdone. The highest-rated hotel in the world is the seven-star Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Fortunately, it’s not overly expensive; you can stay for just over 2000 yuan a night. Recently, a celebrity stayed at the Emirates Palace and even filmed a promotional video for the Dubai Tourism Board. This seven-star hotel, known as the Mandarin Oriental, is a brand from the East.
My personal favorite mosque in the world is also in Abu Dhabi, which I believe is a widely acknowledged fact. I’ve visited many mosques in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Turkey, but the one in Abu Dhabi is the most breathtaking.
While Paris has the Louvre, Abu Dhabi boasts the Louvre Abu Dhabi. This is not a counterfeit but the only overseas branch of the Louvre.
Now, let’s talk about today’s offerings. Today I’m promoting something different! This is for a group tour to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where you can group together or join a package tour. All options are refundable without an appointment, refunds for expired options, and can be canceled anytime, so you can stock up with peace of mind.
Additionally, the group tour we’re promoting has no shopping involved, nor are there any compulsory expenses; the supplier is Ctrip’s own service. Therefore, you can rest assured while stocking up.
1) (Destination group tour with a Chinese guide) 5 days/4 nights in Dubai (stay 4 nights) + Abu Dhabi (1-day round trip tour without accommodation), small group tour (1 person can start a group, maximum of 9 people), 2888 yuan/person. Valid until September 15, 2024, no price increase for any dates.
Price includes:
– 4 nights in a local 5-star hotel in Dubai (including breakfast)
– Round trip airport transfer in Dubai
– Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Dubai one-day tour, including the ticket for the Louvre Abu Dhabi
– Dubai one-day tour: Al Fahidi Historical District-Dubai Mall-Jumeirah Beach-Palm Island-desert safari (including ticket and BBQ dinner)
– Total of 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner
– Requires a minimum of two people to book, the single traveler must pay a single room supplement. The destination group does not include airfare for round trips to Dubai.
The accommodation is chosen from these three hotels (not specified): Asiana Grand Hotel, Biblos Hotel – Emirates Mall, Dubai Al Bustan Rotana Hotel. All are local 5-star hotels.
We rarely promote group tours because there are just too many pitfalls. First, the supplier needs to be reliable. We’ve promoted hotel groups and airlines before but seldom travel agencies. To be honest, the most problematic ones are travel agencies. Their air tickets and hotel bookings are not managed internally, which means they have relatively low risk resistance. We worry a lot about issues arising post-promotion. This product is self-operated by Ctrip, meaning it is managed by Ctrip’s own travel agency, and customer service is handled by Ctrip itself, so in the case of any issues, Ctrip can cover it.
Secondly, there must be no shopping or compulsory expenses. It is well-known that group tour costs do not have a minimum, only lower prices exist. There’s a term called “negative tour fees.” Many itineraries may seem very cheap but will include shopping arrangements and forced self-paid items. These types of itineraries will end up being more expensive, which is something I wouldn’t dare to promote. This Dubai group tour has no shopping and no compulsory expenses. It’s a pure play experience.
Lastly, we cannot compromise on quality. This is a small group, with a maximum of 9 people, and it is promised to run daily. The fewer the people, the better the service. There’s a significant difference between a guide handling 30 people and one dealing with no more than 9. Moreover, the hotels promised are all local 5-star hotels, including breakfast. To be honest, there is a difference between local 5-star hotels and international 5-star hotels, but overall, the quality remains relatively controllable.
Room in Asiana Grand Hotel.
Most importantly, this tour is fully refundable without an appointment. This means you can stock up first, and once you find suitable flights, you can set off.
I will also detail the itinerary for this group tour:
Day 1: Pick up from Dubai Airport – Dubai Hotel.
Dubai is part of the UAE and allows Chinese passport holders to stay visa-free for 30 days. You can also pick up a free SIM card when you arrive at Dubai Airport.
Taking a taxi in Dubai is not cheap, so having an airport transfer can save quite a bit.
Most major cities in China also have direct flights to Dubai.
Day 2: Abu Dhabi one-day tour
Dubai Hotel – Abu Dhabi (Grand Mosque – Arabian cuisine – Capital Gate – Etihad Towers – exterior of the Presidential Palace – artificial island – Heritage Village – Louvre Abu Dhabi – Abraham’s House) – Dubai Hotel.
The main highlights are Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre.
Even though entry to the Grand Mosque is free, reservations must be made in advance, so traveling with a tour group is relatively easier as it saves the hassle of self-booking.
The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is stunning.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is included in the ticket, and it’s the UAE branch of the Louvre in Paris. The building itself is a work of art, and the collections inside are significant.
The other stops mainly consist of exterior visits, such as Abraham’s House, the Capital Gate, Etihad Towers, and the Presidential Palace. These are primarily for sightseeing and taking photos. The drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Day 3: Dubai one-day tour
Dubai Hotel – Al Fahidi Historical District – Dubai Mall – outside Burj Khalifa – Jumeirah Beach – Palm Island – desert driving experience – hotel.
Al Fahidi Historical District is located by the Dubai Creek, presenting an early representation of Dubai with a very local Middle Eastern ambiance.
Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are adjacent to each other. This is the largest shopping center in Dubai and even the world, providing free time to shop.
There’s also a gigantic aquarium here.
Palm Island is a landmark of Dubai, a must-visit location. Atlantis is located here.
This itinerary includes desert driving, one of the most thrilling activities in Dubai. Riding in a 4×4 vehicle over the sand dunes is exhilarating, with angles sometimes exceeding 30-40 degrees. It’s exhilarating.
This activity includes a meal, usually a local specialty dinner in the desert.
Day 4: Free activity in Dubai (no vehicle use)
On this day, you can completely enjoy your freedom, engage in self-paid recommended activities, or sign up for a one-day tour on Ctrip.
This is all yours to plan, but I recommend choosing the hop-on-hop-off travel bus in Dubai, which provides Chinese audio introductions. The stops are all tourist attractions, which makes independent travel stress-free.
I personally enjoy packages that allow for one day of free activity, providing time for personal arrangements.
Day 5: Dubai Hotel – Drop off at Dubai Airport
You can also connect to other itineraries, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, or Oman, as these are not far from the UAE.
Refundable without appointment, refundable for expired options, and can be canceled anytime. Feel free to stock up.
Currently available for purchase (Ctrip vacation packages do not have a scheduled release function).
One point to note, we cannot guarantee this package represents the lowest price. Group tours do not have a minimum price. If there’s shopping or compulsory expenses, the prices will be considerably lower than those for purely leisure-oriented tours. Or hotels may be downgraded, so in terms of pricing, there’s only lower, not the lowest. What we can guarantee is this is a pure leisure group with no shopping or compulsory expenses, and since the supplier is Ctrip’s own operation, it’s unlikely that they will go bankrupt.
I know some people may feel that 5 days and 4 nights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi may not be enough, especially if they think they haven’t spent enough time in Abu Dhabi. Below is a 6-day, 5-night option. Therefore, I recommend this one more because it includes 2 nights in Abu Dhabi.
2) (Destination group tour with a Chinese guide) 6 days/5 nights in Dubai (stay 3 nights) + Abu Dhabi (stay 2 nights), small group tour (1 person can start a group, maximum of 9 people), 3888 yuan/person. Valid until September 15, 2024, no price increase for any dates.
Price includes:
– 3 nights in a local 5-star hotel in Dubai (including breakfast), 2 nights in a local 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi (including breakfast)
– Airport transfer in Dubai
– Abu Dhabi one-day tour, including the ticket to the Louvre Abu Dhabi;
– Abu Dhabi Yas Island theme park, choose one ticket from Ferrari World/SeaWorld/Warner Bros/Water World; this ticket can be costly.
– Round trip transportation between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
– Dubai one-day tour: Al Fahidi Historical District-Jumeirah Beach-Palm Island
– Total of 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch (on the day of the Abu Dhabi one-day tour)
– Requires a minimum of two people to book, and the single traveler must pay a single room supplement.
The difference mainly lies in the extra day, making it 6 days and 5 nights. It has 3 nights in Dubai and 2 nights in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, there is an extra day for the Yas Island itinerary, and there’s also the option to choose from one of the four theme park tickets.
Yas Island deserves special mention. I’ll attach a map; there are four parks: Ferrari World, SeaWorld, Warner Bros World™, and Water World. It’s also the site for the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
I highly recommend Ferrari World theme park and Warner Bros World™. The Formula Rossa roller coaster at Ferrari World holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest roller coaster in the world, while the Flying Ace features the highest roller coaster loop.
Warner Bros World™ is the largest indoor theme park globally, covering over 150,000 square meters and featuring 6 immersive zones encompassing 29 rides, allowing you to meet over 35 DC and Warner characters (like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, etc.).
There’s also Yas Island’s SeaWorld park, which houses the world’s largest aquarium with 25 million liters of water across 8 immersive themed areas, housing over 100,000 marine animals. The tickets for the theme parks on Yas Island can be quite pricey; the adult ticket for Ferrari World is 650 yuan/person, and for Warner Bros World™, it’s 656 yuan/person.
The hotel options in Abu Dhabi include: Rotana Park Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, and Millennium Al Whada. These are all 5-star hotels. Personally, I believe that the hotels in Abu Dhabi are better than those in Dubai, with Radisson Blu and Millennium being international brands.
The specific itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Pick up from Dubai Airport – Dubai Hotel
Day 2: Dubai Hotel – Abu Dhabi (Grand Mosque – Arabian cuisine – Capital Gate – Etihad Towers – exterior of the Presidential Palace – artificial island – Heritage Village – Louvre Abu Dhabi – Abraham’s House – hotel)
Day 3: Abu Dhabi Hotel – Yas Island – choose 1 park from 4 options – Yas Mall – hotel (park shuttle or self-return taxi back to the hotel with reimbursement from customer service)
Day 4: Abu Dhabi Hotel – Dubai (Al Fahidi Historical District – Jumeirah Beach – Palm Island – hotel – desert safari (optional paid upgrade))
Day 5: Free day in Dubai (no vehicle use)
Day 6: Dubai Hotel – Drop off at Dubai Airport
If theme parks aren’t to your liking, you can swap the park visit for a desert safari and the rest remains unchanged.
3) (Destination group tour with a Chinese guide) 6 days/5 nights in Dubai (stay 3 nights) + Abu Dhabi (stay 2 nights), small group tour (1 person can start a group, maximum of 9 people), 3888 yuan/person. Valid until September 15, 2024, no price increase for any dates. This includes the desert driving experience but does not include Yas Island park tickets.
There’s also an option that includes both the desert safari and Yas Island park tickets for 4288 yuan/person for 6 days and 5 nights.
If you desire a deeper experience, consider the below 7-day, 6-night option. This includes another emirate, Sharjah, but doesn’t include overnight accommodations in Sharjah—just a day tour from Dubai.
4) (Destination group tour with a Chinese guide) 7 days/6 nights in Dubai (stay 4 nights) + Abu Dhabi (stay 2 nights) + Sharjah (day tour), small group tour (1 person can start a group, maximum of 9 people), 4488 yuan/person.
Itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Pick up from Dubai Airport – Dubai Hotel
Day 2: Dubai Hotel – Abu Dhabi (Grand Mosque – Arabian cuisine – Capital Gate – Etihad Towers – exterior of the Presidential Palace – artificial island – Heritage Village – Louvre Abu Dhabi – Abraham’s House – hotel)
Day 3: Abu Dhabi Hotel – Yas Island – park (optional paid upgrade) – Yas Mall – hotel (return taxi back to the hotel with reimbursement from customer service)
Day 4: Abu Dhabi Hotel – Dubai (Al Fahidi Historical District – Jumeirah Beach – Palm Island – hotel – desert safari – hotel)
Day 5: Dubai Hotel – Sharjah (Heart of Sharjah – Art Museum – lunch – waterfront) – Dubai Hotel
Day 6: Free day in Dubai (no vehicle use)
Day 7: Dubai Hotel – Drop off at Dubai Airport
My personal recommendation is to choose the 5 days and 4 nights, or the 6 days and 5 nights package. If you enjoy theme parks, opt for the Yas Island park ticket option; if you prefer desert safari, choose that one. If you like both, then select both options.
If you want to include airfare, there’s also a larger group tour that is fully inclusive. This too has no compulsory expenses and no shopping included.
6) Shanghai-Dubai + Abu Dhabi + Sharjah 7 days/5 nights group tour, 6499 yuan (direct flight from Eastern Airlines, with national connections available)
4 nights in Dubai, 1 night in Abu Dhabi, all local 5-star hotels with daily itineraries included.
Available from June to October 2024, with departures every Tuesday and Saturday.
This is also without compulsory expenses and shopping; it’s a pure leisure tour. Being a larger group, daily meals are all included, and on-ground Wi-Fi is provided as well. Additionally, Eastern Airlines can be combined with nationwide connections, which means you can transit to Dubai from other cities through Shanghai. The connection prices are quite reasonable—usually only an additional 400-600 yuan.
Specific itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Shanghai – Dubai (MU245, 11:25-17:25)
Day 2: Dubai – Abu Dhabi
Exterior visit to the Emirates Palace + Heritage Village + exterior visit to the artificial island + Presidential Palace (includes entrance ticket) + Abraham’s House + Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque + Louvre Abu Dhabi (ticket included)
Compared to above, this larger group includes interior access to the Presidential Palace.
Day 3: Abu Dhabi – Dubai
Bluewaters Island (view from the car) + Ain Dubai (view from the car) + Shindagha Museum (includes entrance ticket) + Museum of the Future (exterior view) + Jumeirah Souk.
Day 4: Dubai
Jumeirah Palm Island (view from the car) + Jumeirah Mosque (exterior view) + Jumeirah Beach Park + complimentary Dubai Creek evening boat cruise (includes performance and first entrance).
Day 5: Dubai – Sharjah – Dubai
Cultural Square + Sharjah Archaeology Museum (exterior view) + King Faisal Mosque (exterior view) + Sharjah Emirate Palace (exterior view) + Al Naboodah House (includes entrance ticket) + Blue Market + Museum of Islamic Civilization (includes entrance ticket) + Ajman waterfront (exterior view).
