Hotel pickup
Meet your guide and begin the tour from your agreed Dubai pickup point. Your booking records your hotel request; OceanGate will confirm the exact meeting point and pickup time before travel.
Dubai Half-Day Guided Tour: Old & Modern Dubai
Discover Dubai’s landmarks and heritage on a guided half-day tour. Choose a shared departure or a private group, select your guide language, and add Dubai Frame admission if you wish. The traditional Abra crossing is included.
A closer look at your tour
Tap a photo to view it in full.
Photos from the tour
Dubai Frame interior access is included only when you select Frame admission. Museum of the Future is an exterior photo stop.
Your tour itinerary
Explore modern landmarks and historic Dubai. Photos remain visible when a description is closed. The route order may vary on the day.
Jumeirah coast · Burj Al Arab photo stop
Pause for coastal photographs with the distinctive Burj Al Arab in the background. Your guide introduces the city’s development along the waterfront. This stop is for exterior views; hotel admission is not included.
Palm Jumeirah, Marina and JBR
See Dubai’s modern waterfront, with a drive through Palm Jumeirah and views toward Atlantis, followed by the Marina area. Take in the skyline and hear how these neighbourhoods developed. This is sightseeing, rather than admission to Atlantis or a boat cruise.
Blue Mosque · Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab
Discover the mosque’s architecture and learn about local traditions with your guide. Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees; women should bring a headscarf. Interior access depends on opening hours and religious services. When entry is unavailable, the visit becomes an exterior photo stop.
Museum of the Future · photo stop
See the Museum of the Future’s striking exterior and Arabic calligraphy. This stop is a chance to take photographs and hear about the building. Exhibition admission is not included; access to public areas depends on the venue’s arrangements.
Al Fahidi · Dubai’s heritage neighbourhood
Walk through the historic neighbourhood with your guide and discover the quieter side of Dubai. See traditional lanes and wind-tower architecture while learning about the trading community that shaped the city.
Dubai Creek Abra crossing · included
Board a traditional wooden Abra for the short crossing from one side of Dubai Creek to the other. Watch the waterfront from the water and experience an everyday part of old Dubai. This crossing is included in the tour price; you do not need to buy a separate activity.
Gold and Spice Souks
Explore the market lanes with your guide, with time to see colourful spices and gold displays. Learn about Dubai’s trading history and browse at your own pace. Shopping is optional and personal purchases are paid separately.
Al Khayma Heritage House
Continue the heritage experience with a visit to a traditional house, where your guide explains local customs and hospitality. Take a moment to appreciate the courtyard atmosphere before continuing the tour.
Dubai Frame · optional admission
Choose With Dubai Frame admission when booking to include entry and enjoy the contrast between old and modern Dubai from the attraction. Without Dubai Frame keeps the guided city tour without this admission. Your guide does not accompany you inside the Frame.
Return drop-off
Return to your agreed drop-off point after the sightseeing route. Stop order and timings may change for traffic, prayer times, attraction opening hours or operational needs.
Inclusions & exclusions
Know what is covered before you book. Your selected tour and Frame option determine the inclusions.
What’s included
- Guided Dubai city sightseeing in the language selected when booking.
- Your selected shared-group or private-group tour arrangement.
- Agreed Dubai pickup and drop-off, with an air-conditioned vehicle. Some shared departures use a hotel shuttle to connect with the main coaster or minibus.
- The traditional Abra crossing from one side of Dubai Creek to the other — included, with no separate activity charge.
- Sightseeing and photo stops listed in the itinerary, subject to local access and operating conditions.
- Drinking water during the tour.
- Dubai Frame admission only when you select “With Dubai Frame admission”.
What’s not included
- Dubai Frame admission when you select the option without Frame.
- Museum of the Future exhibitions, Burj Al Arab entry, Atlantis attractions and other tickets not expressly included in your selected option.
- Meals and personal shopping.
- Optional tips for the guide and driver.
- Additional activities or upgrades not listed in your selected booking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between shared and private tours?
A shared tour joins other guests on a scheduled departure, with a minimum of 2 adults and a maximum of 17 guests. A private tour is reserved for your booking group, with 1–10 guests including children. Select the tour type, language and guest numbers to see the total.
Which guide languages can I choose?
Shared tours offer English, Spanish, Italian, French and German. Private tours also offer Portuguese, Russian and Chinese. English and other-language prices differ; the booking form calculates the selected rate automatically.
When will I be picked up, and when does sightseeing start?
Shared tours have two hotel pickup windows: 8:00–9:00 AM and 9:00–10:00 AM, Dubai time. These are pickup windows, not guaranteed sightseeing start times. Sightseeing begins after pickups and any shuttle connection. We confirm your exact pickup time and meeting point separately. Private-tour timing is shown in your booking selection.
Will I need to change vehicles on a shared tour?
Depending on your hotel, a shuttle may collect you and take you to the main coaster or minibus. This connection is part of the shared pickup arrangement. Please follow the pickup instructions sent for your booking.
Is the Abra boat ride included?
Yes. The traditional crossing from one side of Dubai Creek to the other is included in the tour price. It is part of the itinerary, not a separate paid activity.
Is Dubai Frame included in every booking?
No. Choose “With Dubai Frame admission” to include the entry ticket, or choose “Without Dubai Frame” for the city tour without admission. Both shared and private tours have these choices. The guide does not accompany you inside the Frame.
How long should I allow for the tour?
Allow approximately five hours for the scheduled tour. Pickup arrangements, traffic, attraction access and your selected Frame option can affect timings. If you have a flight or another fixed appointment, contact OceanGate before booking so the timing can be checked.
Can children join, and how are group prices calculated?
Children can be included in the guest selector and count towards the total group limit. Shared rates are calculated per adult and child. Private adult-group rates use 1–6 or 7–10 adult bands, with children charged separately. Enter the correct numbers to see the full price. Contact us before booking if you need advice about the child category, infants or child-seat arrangements.
Are VAT and all selected options shown before payment?
Yes. The form shows your tour subtotal, 5% VAT and total. Changing the language, guest numbers or Frame option updates the price. The selected amount is checked again at checkout.
How does Book Now, Pay Later work?
You can submit a booking without paying immediately. The booking holds its allocation for four hours and shows payment as pending. If no successful payment is recorded before the deadline, the unpaid hold expires and the spaces are released. Pay Later does not mean that cash payment has been agreed.
What will I receive after booking?
The website sends booking details to the email address entered at checkout, with a PDF summary showing your selected tour, language, guests, date and payment status. An unpaid booking summary is not a payment receipt. Keep your booking reference and check your spam folder if you do not see the email.
What are the cancellation conditions?
Read the cancellation conditions and full booking terms displayed at checkout before confirming. Guided-tour conditions and Dubai Frame ticket conditions are shown separately when applicable. Issued attraction tickets have different refund restrictions from the guided tour; the accepted conditions are preserved with the booking.
What should I wear for the mosque visit?
Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, and bring a headscarf for women. Mosque access may be restricted for prayer or other local requirements. If entry is unavailable, the visit becomes an exterior photo stop. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Is pickup available from every Dubai hotel?
Enter your full hotel name and area when booking. Pickup is arranged within the regular service area; some locations require an agreed central meeting point. We confirm the pickup location and time separately rather than assuming every hotel is on the same route.
