Can you visit all seven emirates in 10 days?

Yes. The UAE is compact — the entire country is smaller than Scotland. The furthest drive between any two emirates is approximately 2.5 hours. Ten days allows 2-3 days for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, one full day each for the smaller emirates, and enough breathing room that you are not just passing through.

Do I need a rental car for this itinerary?

We strongly recommend [renting a car in the UAE](/go/car-hire-uae/) from Day 6 onward for the northern and eastern emirates. Public transport between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is excellent (E101 bus, approximately AED 25), but services thin out significantly beyond Sharjah. A mid-range rental runs approximately AED 120–180 per day including insurance, as of 2026.

Which smaller emirates are worth visiting?

Ras Al Khaimah offers the most outdoor adventure (Jebel Jais, zip line, kayaking). Fujairah has the best east coast beaches and snorkelling. Al Ain (Abu Dhabi emirate) has the most cultural depth with its oasis, forts, and camel market. Ajman and Umm Al Quwain are the quietest — good for a half-day each.

What is the total budget for 10 days across all seven emirates?

Budget travellers can manage approximately AED 7,500–10,000 (USD 2,040–2,720) for 10 days including accommodation, food, transport, attractions, and car rental. Mid-range travellers should expect AED 13,000–20,000 (USD 3,540–5,445). These estimates exclude flights and assume double occupancy, as of 2026.

10 Days UAE — All 7 Emirates Itinerary

This is the complete UAE itinerary. Ten days, all seven emirates, from the skyscrapers of Dubai to the fishing villages of Umm Al Quwain. Most visitors stick to Dubai and Abu Dhabi — this route goes further, covering the mountain roads of Ras Al Khaimah, the east coast beaches of Fujairah, and the quieter northern emirates that rarely make the tourist trail.

Budget Overview

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Hotel/night	AED 200–400 (USD 55–110)	AED 500–900 (USD 135–245)	AED 1,200+ (USD 325+)
Meals/day	AED 80–120 (USD 22–33)	AED 180–300 (USD 49–82)	AED 500+ (USD 136+)
Car rental/day	AED 120–180 (USD 33–49)	AED 180–280 (USD 49–76)	AED 400+ (USD 109+)

All prices are approximate as of 2026.

Days 1–3: Dubai

Day 1: Old Dubai

Arrive at Dubai International (DXB). Metro to the city centre costs AED 6–8.50; a taxi runs approximately AED 80–100 to Downtown Dubai.

Where to stay (all 3 nights): Budget: Rove Downtown from approximately AED 280/night (USD 76). Mid-range: Vida Downtown Dubai from approximately AED 600/night (USD 163). Luxury: Address Downtown from approximately AED 1,400/night (USD 381).

Head to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (free entry). Visit the Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort (AED 3 entry, open 8:30am–8:30pm Saturday–Thursday). Cross Dubai Creek by abra (AED 1) to the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira.

Dinner at Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi (Emirati cuisine, mains from AED 45–75).

Day 2: Modern Dubai

Morning: Burj Khalifa — At The Top (124th floor, approximately AED 169; 148th floor, approximately AED 379). Book the first morning slot online in advance. Follow with Dubai Mall — the aquarium tunnel walkthrough costs approximately AED 135.

Afternoon: Taxi to Dubai Marina (approximately AED 35–50). Walk the Marina Walk and have lunch at The Scene by Simon Rimmer at Pier 7 (mains from AED 70–110).

Evening: Stroll JBR Beach and eat at Tresind Studio if you want a Michelin-starred Indian experience (tasting menu from approximately AED 750 per person) or keep it casual at Bu Qtair fish shack near Jumeirah (fried fish and rice from AED 30–50 — cash only).

Day 3: Palm Jumeirah and Desert

Morning: Take the Palm Monorail (AED 30 return) to Atlantis. Visit The Lost Chambers Aquarium (approximately AED 130, open 10am–9pm). Walk The Pointe for photographs back across the Palm.

Afternoon/Evening: Desert safari with hotel pickup around 3pm. Standard group tours cost approximately AED 150–250 per person and include dune bashing, camel riding, BBQ dinner, and entertainment. Arabian Adventures and Platinum Heritage are reliable licensed operators.

Days 4–5: Abu Dhabi

Day 4: Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Corniche

Take the E101 bus from Al Ghubaiba station to Abu Dhabi (approximately AED 25, every 20 minutes, 2 hours). A taxi costs approximately AED 250–300.

Where to stay (2 nights): Budget: Centro Capital Centre from approximately AED 250/night (USD 68). Mid-range: Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center from approximately AED 500/night (USD 136). Luxury: Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort from approximately AED 1,800/night (USD 490).

Afternoon: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — free entry, open 9am–10pm. Modest dress required (abayas provided free). Allow 2 hours.

Evening: Walk the Abu Dhabi Corniche (8km waterfront, open 24 hours). Dinner at Beirut Sur Mer on the Corniche (Lebanese, mains from AED 55–90).

Day 5: Louvre and Yas Island

Morning: Taxi (AED 35–50) to Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Entry approximately AED 63 (under-18s free). Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6:30pm, Thursday–Saturday until 8:30pm.

Afternoon: Yas Island — choose one: Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, or Warner Bros. World (each from approximately AED 295). Lunch at Cipriani Yas Island (Italian, mains from AED 90–160).

Evening: Dinner at Al Mina Fish Market area — have your fish cooked to order at the adjacent restaurants (approximately AED 40–80 for a full meal).

Day 6: Al Ain — Garden City of the Gulf

Pick up a rental car in Abu Dhabi. Al Ain is approximately 1.5 hours east on the E22 highway.

Morning: Visit Al Ain Oasis — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 147,000 date palms linked by ancient falaj irrigation channels. Free entry, open daily 8am–5pm (October–April) and 8am–3:30pm (May–September).

Late Morning: Al Ain Camel Market (free) — the last remaining traditional livestock market in the UAE. Open mornings, busiest before 10am. It is loud, dusty, and completely unlike anything else in the country.

Afternoon: Al Jahili Fort (free entry, open Tuesday–Saturday 9am–7pm, Friday 3pm–7pm) and the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum (AED 3 entry). Drive up Jebel Hafeet — the 1,240m mountain has a winding road to the summit with views across the Omani border.

Lunch at Makani Cafe near Al Ain Oasis (mains from AED 35–60). Dinner at Al Fanar (Emirati cuisine, mains from AED 50–85).

Where to stay: Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet at the base of the mountain, from approximately AED 350/night (USD 95). Budget: Ayla Hotel Al Ain from approximately AED 200/night (USD 55).

Day 7: Ras Al Khaimah — Mountains and Adventure

Drive from Al Ain to Ras Al Khaimah (approximately 2.5 hours via Sharjah or the E611).

Morning: Drive to Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak at 1,934m. The viewing platforms are free. The Jais Adventure Park offers the world’s longest zip line (Jais Flight, approximately AED 450 per person as of 2026) and via ferrata climbing (from approximately AED 350).

Afternoon: Return to RAK city and explore Dhayah Fort — a hilltop fort with sweeping views (free entry, open daylight hours). Visit the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah (AED 5 entry, open 8am–6pm Saturday–Thursday, 2pm–6pm Friday).

Lunch at Lexington Grill & Bar at the Waldorf Astoria RAK (mains from AED 100–180) or casual Bassmat Al Reehan downtown (Arabic, mains from AED 30–55).

Where to stay: DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island from approximately AED 400/night (USD 109). Budget: BM Beach Hotel from approximately AED 250/night (USD 68).

Day 8: Fujairah — East Coast Beaches

Drive from Ras Al Khaimah to Fujairah (approximately 1.5 hours on the E18/E88).

Morning: Stop at Al Bidya Mosque, the oldest mosque in the UAE (15th century, free entry, open outside prayer times). The twin-domed structure sits against a stark rocky hillside. Walk up to the watchtowers above for coastal views.

Late Morning: Visit Fujairah Fort (16th century, free to view from outside). Then head to Al Aqah Beach for snorkelling at Snoopy Island — equipment rental from approximately AED 50–80 per set from beachside operators. The island has coral formations and tropical fish surprisingly close to shore.

Afternoon: Relax on the beach or visit Wadi Al Wurayah (a freshwater waterfall and nature reserve, entry approximately AED 15).

Dinner at Fakhreldine in Fujairah city (Lebanese, mains from AED 45–80).

Where to stay: Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort from approximately AED 500/night (USD 136). Budget: Ibis Styles Fujairah from approximately AED 220/night (USD 60).

Day 9: Sharjah — Culture Capital

Drive from Fujairah to Sharjah (approximately 1.5 hours via the E88).

Morning: Explore the Heart of Sharjah restoration area — the emirate’s old quarter being carefully restored. Visit the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation (AED 10 entry, open Saturday–Thursday 8am–8pm, Friday 4pm–8pm) housed in a restored gold souk along the creek.

Late Morning: Sharjah Art Museum (free entry, same hours as above) — the largest art museum in the Gulf region. Then walk through the Blue Souk (Central Market) — the 600-stall bazaar selling everything from carpets to antiques.

Lunch at Shababeek in the Heart of Sharjah (Levantine, mains from AED 45–80).

Afternoon: Drive north to Ajman (20 minutes) and Umm Al Quwain (40 minutes from Sharjah). In Ajman, walk the Ajman Corniche and visit the Ajman Museum inside the old fort (AED 5 entry, open Sunday–Thursday 8am–8pm, Friday–Saturday 3pm–8pm). In Umm Al Quwain, see the Old Town and the mangrove-fringed coastline. These are the least-visited emirates — quiet, local, and almost entirely free of tourism infrastructure.

Dinner at Sadaf Restaurant in Ajman (Iranian/Arabic, mains from AED 35–60).

Where to stay in Sharjah: Coral Beach Resort Sharjah from approximately AED 350/night (USD 95). Budget: 72 Hotel Sharjah from approximately AED 180/night (USD 49).

Day 10: Return to Dubai and Departure

Drive from Sharjah to Dubai (30–45 minutes, depending on traffic — the Sharjah-Dubai border crossing is notorious for congestion during rush hours). Return the rental car.

Morning: Use any remaining time for last-minute shopping at Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall, or visit the Museum of the Future (approximately AED 149 entry, open daily 10am–7:30pm). The torus-shaped building on Sheikh Zayed Road is worth seeing from outside even if you skip the interior.

Afternoon: Head to the airport. Allow 3 hours before international flights — DXB terminals are large and immigration queues can be long on peak days.

Transport Summary

Route	Method	Cost (approx.)	Time
Dubai → Abu Dhabi	Bus (E101)	AED 25	2 hrs
Abu Dhabi → Al Ain	Car	AED 30–40 fuel	1.5 hrs
Al Ain → Ras Al Khaimah	Car	AED 40–60 fuel	2.5 hrs
RAK → Fujairah	Car	AED 25–35 fuel	1.5 hrs
Fujairah → Sharjah	Car	AED 25–35 fuel	1.5 hrs
Sharjah → Dubai Airport	Car/taxi	AED 60–100	30–45 min
Car rental (compact)	Per day	AED 120–180	—

All costs approximate as of 2026.

Key Tips

Sharjah is a dry emirate — no alcohol is sold or served anywhere. Plan accordingly if that matters to your evening plans.
Friday is the holy day. Some museums and attractions have reduced morning hours or open only in the afternoon on Fridays.
Fuel is cheap. A full tank for a compact car costs approximately AED 100–130 (as of 2026), and distances between emirates are short.
Toll gates (Salik) operate in Dubai — AED 4 per gate. Your rental car will be charged automatically and billed to your credit card.

Aviasales compares fares into Dubai International, Abu Dhabi International, and Sharjah airports — worth checking all three for the cheapest entry point. GetYourGuide covers desert safaris, Burj Khalifa tickets, Abu Dhabi day trips, and more — pre-booking a couple of key activities avoids sold-out slots in peak season. VisitorsCoverage covers UAE medical costs and trip cancellation; worth arranging before the first hotel deposit is paid.

10 Days in the UAE: All Seven Emirates

Itineraries in the area