Dubai, the Liwa Desert and Abu Dhabi in 9 Days

Sunset from the tallest tower, silence in the dunes, a white mosque at dusk

9 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Three nights in Dubai for the Burj Khalifa, the Creek and a beach on the Palm, two in the Liwa Desert at the edge of the Empty Quarter, then three in Abu Dhabi for the Grand Mosque, the Louvre and Saadiyat's quiet beach. Every transfer is a smooth highway drive. It suits couples who want winter sun, luxury hotels and a real desert night. Go from November to March.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

The UAE is the easiest long-haul honeymoon from the US for couples who want sun in winter. Nonstop flights have linked many American cities with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, English is spoken everywhere and the hotels are among the best run in the world. The surprise is how much variety fits into a country this small.

This route has three very different bases. Dubai comes first for the energy: sunset from the Burj Khalifa, a wooden abra across the Creek to the spice souk and a beach day on the Palm. Then you drive southwest to the Liwa Desert, where dunes hundreds of feet high run toward the Empty Quarter and the only sound at night is the wind. Two nights there is the slow stretch of the trip. The finale is Abu Dhabi, the calmer capital, for the white marble of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre's floating dome and three nights on Saadiyat Island's natural beach.

By the end you have done the city, the desert and the sea. You fly home from Abu Dhabi without retracing a single mile.

The route

Best months: November to March
Trip length: 9 days
Budget: About $400–1,500 a night for two in luxury city and beach hotels and desert resorts (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–4: Dubai

Land at Dubai International (DXB), about 12 to 13 hours from the East Coast. Emirates has flown nonstop from about a dozen US cities. Check in, have a long lunch and go to bed early. A beach or pool hotel on the Palm or the Jumeirah coast helps with jet lag.

On day 2, explore old Dubai in the cool morning. Walk the wind-tower lanes of the Al Fahidi district, cross the Creek on a wooden abra for a few dirhams and browse the spice and gold souks in Deira. Rest in the afternoon. Then take a sunset slot at the Burj Khalifa's observation decks and watch the Dubai Fountain from below as the city lights come on. That is the romantic moment of Dubai.

Day 3 is a beach day. One of you might want a beach club on the Palm while the other prefers the spa. Most big resorts do both well. In the evening, charter a small yacht around the Palm at sunset, or take a dhow dinner cruise along the Marina if you want something easier.

Days 4–6: The Liwa Desert

On day 4, drive southwest to Liwa, about four hours from Dubai on excellent, almost empty highways. Your resort can arrange the transfer. Stop for lunch in Abu Dhabi on the way if you want to break the trip.

The Liwa crescent of date farms and small towns sits on the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali, the largest continuous sand desert on earth. Arrive in time for sunset from your terrace, when the dunes turn soft pink.

Day 5 is the slow stretch and the heart of the trip. Climb the nearest dune ridge at sunrise with a thermos of coffee, when the shadows are deepest and the silence is total. Spend the middle of the day at the pool or the spa. In the late afternoon, take a camel trek timed to reach a high dune at sunset, followed by a private dinner in the dunes with lanterns, carpets and a fire. That dinner is the romantic moment of the whole trip. Afterward, lie back on the cool sand and look for the Milky Way. Drive out with a guide to see Moreeb Dune if you have the energy.

Days 6–9: Abu Dhabi

Drive two and a half to three hours to Abu Dhabi on day 6 and check in on Saadiyat Island, where beach resorts face open water rather than towers. Spend the afternoon on the sand.

On day 7, visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the late afternoon and stay through sunset, when the domes turn pink and the lights come on in the courtyard of white marble inlaid with flowers. Book online ahead. Both of you need covered arms and legs and women need to cover their hair. It is quiet, moving and a little different from anything else on the trip.

Day 8 is for Saadiyat. Spend the morning in the Louvre Abu Dhabi, then walk to the edge of the plaza where the water laps under the latticed dome that scatters light like sun through palm fronds. Paddle the Eastern Mangroves at dawn or book afternoon tea at Emirates Palace. On day 9, the airport is about 20 minutes from Saadiyat for your flight home from Zayed International (AUH).

Getting Between Stops

Every transfer on this route is a highway drive. Book private transfers through your hotels or hire a driver; roads are excellent but the desert legs are long and mostly straight. Approximate times: Dubai to Liwa about four hours, Liwa to Abu Dhabi two and a half to three hours and Saadiyat Island to Zayed International about 20 minutes.

If you rent a car, stay on paved roads. Dune driving is a specialist skill and soft sand traps rental cars quickly. Fill the tank in Liwa town before heading deeper into the desert.

In Dubai, the driverless metro runs along the main coastal corridor, taxis are metered and ride-hailing works well. The Palm has its own monorail. In Abu Dhabi, use taxis or ride-hailing, since the city is spread out. Flying into Dubai and out of Abu Dhabi saves a backtrack, so book an open-jaw ticket.

Where to Stay

Dubai: Palm Jumeirah has resorts with private beaches and big pools. It feels like an island escape but takes time to reach the rest of the city. The Jumeirah coast, home to the Burj Al Arab and the canal-lined Madinat Jumeirah, mixes beach access with easy reach of Downtown. Downtown hotels put you beside the Burj Khalifa with skyline views. For a desert night near the city instead of Liwa, Al Maha in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve has suites with private pools.

Liwa: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is built like a fortified desert palace among the dunes, with pools, a spa and villas with plunge pools facing the sand.

Abu Dhabi: stay on Saadiyat Island, where The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi sit on the natural beach. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the grand domed landmark on the main island.

When to Go

November to March is the season. Daytime highs sit in the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, evenings are pleasant for outdoor dinners and the desert is warm by day. Liwa's nights can drop sharply in December to February, so pack a real sweater for sunrise and dinner in the dunes. December and January are the busiest and most expensive months.

October and April are hot, with afternoons in the 90s, but workable in the cities if you plan pool time. From May to September the heat is extreme. Coastal highs often exceed 104°F with high humidity and the interior desert is far hotter, which makes Liwa unsafe for walking on the dunes.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in late November or early December pushes up prices. The Liwa festival brings crowds to the dunes for part of the winter. Ramadan dates shift each year.

Budget and Booking

The UAE spans every budget, but this route uses luxury hotels where they matter. Plan on roughly $400–1,200 a night for two at good beach and city hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with famous suites far above that. Expect about $600–1,500 for a desert resort villa in Liwa. Summer rates fall sharply. All figures are approximate.

Book Burj Khalifa sunset tickets and Grand Mosque visits online in advance, since sunset slots go first. Mention your honeymoon when you book hotels; upgrades, cakes and rose petals are common here.

Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants and is expensive, so a sunset drink can cost more than dinner elsewhere. Desert resorts include more activities when booked as packages. Ask what is included before you pay for camel treks and private dinners separately.

Make It Shorter or Longer

For a week, cut Dubai and Abu Dhabi to two nights each and keep two in Liwa. The trip still works because the transfers are smooth.

With 11 or 12 days, add two nights on Sir Bani Yas Island off the Al Dhafra coast, about three hours from Abu Dhabi plus a short boat ride, for a wildlife reserve with giraffes and cheetahs among the dunes. Or start with two nights in Ras Al Khaimah, about an hour north of Dubai, for mountain views and quieter beaches.

For a longer desert and mountain trip, combine the UAE with Oman. Muscat is about an hour by air from Dubai, with the mountains of Jebel Akhdar and the dunes of Wahiba Sands within a few hours' drive. Fujairah on the east coast adds snorkeling on the Gulf of Oman.

Honeymoon Tips

Keep public affection to holding hands, even at the beach.
Cover shoulders and knees in malls, souks and government buildings. Pack one modest outfit each for the Grand Mosque.
Do not bring CBD or any drugs. Carry prescriptions for all medication.
Choose small-group or private desert experiences over large dune-bashing camps.
Pack warm layers for Liwa nights and sunscreen and hats for the days.
Avoid photographing military sites or security forces.
Read the State Department's current UAE advisory close to your dates, enroll in STEP and book flexible fares with insurance that covers regional disruption.
Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.

FAQ

Planning this trip

Is the UAE good for a honeymoon?

Yes, especially in winter. You get reliable sunshine, excellent hotels with attentive service and an easy mix of city, beach and desert. Nonstop flights have linked many US cities with Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The trade-offs are high alcohol prices, conservative rules on public behavior and intense heat from May to September.

Should we stay in the desert near Dubai or go to Liwa?

Liwa, if you have two nights. The dunes there are among the largest in the world and the silence and dark skies are on another scale. A desert resort near Dubai such as Al Maha is easier for a single night. The usual Dubai desert safari is a few hours of dune bashing and a buffet.

How many days do we need in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Three nights each is comfortable. In Dubai that covers old Dubai and the Creek, the Burj Khalifa at sunset and a beach day. In Abu Dhabi it gives you the Grand Mosque at sunset, the Louvre and a full day on Saadiyat's beach. Two nights each works on a shorter trip.

What should we wear in the UAE?

Swimwear is fine at hotel pools and beaches. Elsewhere, both of you should cover shoulders and knees, especially in malls, souks and government buildings. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque requires covered arms and legs for everyone and covered hair for women. Light, loose fabrics are most comfortable.

When is the best time for a UAE honeymoon?

November to March, when days are warm and evenings pleasant. December and January are the coolest and busiest. Liwa is best from November to February and nights there can be cold. Avoid May to September unless you mainly want a discounted pool holiday, since the heat makes sightseeing hard.

Stops on this route

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Liwa Desert

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

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