Old and Modern Dubai Full Day Private Tour with Blue Mosque

One day, two versions of Dubai: the souks and the skyline.

A private full-day tour of Dubai with a live guide covering Old Dubai's Gold Souk and Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque (the Blue Mosque), then the modern landmarks—Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach. Hotel pickup is included; the guide speaks English, Hindi or Arabic. Dress code applies at the mosque: long trousers for men, long dresses and headscarves for women.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old and Modern Dubai

• Visit Dubai Gold Souk
• Photo shoot at Zabeel Palace outside
• Explore Al Seef district
• Pass by Dubai Water Canal
• Visit Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque
• Shop at Souk Madinat Jumeirah
• Photo shoot at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah outside
• Relax at Jumeirah Beach
• Photo shoot at Atlantis The Royal outside
• Visit Dubai Marina
• Pass by Ain Dubai observation wheel
• Photo shoot at Burj Khalifa outside
• Pass by Dubai Frame

The Experience

The day starts at the Gold Souk, one of Dubai's oldest traditional markets, where you walk through glittering stalls of gold jewelry in designs and carats from around the world. From there the tour moves through Old Dubai's heritage district—Al Seef, with its waterfront views of Dubai Creek, and the Dubai Water Canal, a modern artificial waterway lined with restaurants and shops. You'll stop outside Zabeel Palace, built in the 1960s and designed by the architect who created Dubai's Clock Tower, to photograph it against the modern skyline that now surrounds it.

The Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, opens its doors to visitors twice daily and is one of the first mosques in the region to welcome non-Muslims. Tours are conducted in the mornings and evenings, Sunday to Thursday. The interior is a place of worship and also houses a youth club and lecture hall. Respect for the space means following a dress code: men wear long trousers, women wear long dresses with a headscarf, and shorts or sportswear are not permitted.

The afternoon shifts to modern Dubai. You see the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 828 meters, and the Burj Al Arab from outside—the iconic seven-star hotel on the water. Jumeirah Beach, locally called Nessnass Beach, is a public stretch popular for swimming and water sports. The tour also passes Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a modern take on a traditional souk within the Madinat Jumeirah resort, with over 25 dining outlets and shops; Dubai Marina, the waterfront neighborhood with yachts and leisure complexes; and views of Ain Dubai, the world's tallest observation wheel at 250 meters on Bluewater Island. You'll also see the Royal Atlantis resort on Palm Jumeirah and pass by the Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park. The entire tour runs 7 to 8 hours including travel time, with an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and a private guide who speaks your chosen language.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• private guide in English, Hindi or Arabic.
• Gold Souk and Spice Market.
• Zabeel Palace photo stop.
• Al Seef Walk and Dubai Marina Walk.
• Dubai Water Canal views.
• Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque (Blue Mosque) visit with dress code required.
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach.
• Burj Al Arab photo stop.
• Burj Khalifa photo stop and Dubai Frame views.
• Royal Atlantis resort and Palm Island views.
• Ain Dubai observation wheel views.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Our Choice Tourism

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want your own driver and guide for the full day rather than joining a shared group, letting you set the pace between old souks and modern landmarks without waiting for other travelers.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

72 verified traveler reviews

5 ★72

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is the Blue Mosque and why is it called that?

The Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque is a beautifully designed place of worship and one of the first mosques in the region to open to non-Muslim visitors. It's also a religious center with a youth club and lecture hall. Tours run twice daily, mornings and evenings, Sunday to Thursday, and visitors must follow a dress code: long trousers for men, long dresses and headscarves for women.

Does the tour include time to shop at the souks or just drive past them?

The Gold Souk and Souk Madinat Jumeirah are included stops where you walk through and browse. The Gold Souk is one of Dubai's oldest traditional markets with jewelry from around the world; Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a modern souk within the Madinat Jumeirah resort with shops, galleries and over 25 dining outlets, so you have time to explore and shop if you want to.

Is hotel pickup really included, or do I need to meet the guide somewhere?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. Your private guide will collect you from your accommodation in an air-conditioned vehicle, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the starting point.

Can I get photos of Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab, or are those just drive-bys?

Both Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab are photo stops outside the buildings, so you'll have time to photograph them. The same applies to Zabeel Palace and the Royal Atlantis resort—these are exterior photo opportunities as part of the tour route.

How long is 7 to 8 hours—is that the actual time seeing things, or does it include driving?

The 7 to 8 hours is the entire duration including all travel time between stops. The tour covers a lot of ground across Dubai, so a significant portion is spent moving between Old Dubai's heritage sites and the modern landmarks on the other side of the city.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide is available in English, Hindi or Arabic, so you can choose the language that suits you when you book.