We have a layover from 9pm to 3pm the next day in Dubai. I've done searches for Dubai layover advice on this forum and found varying advice on how to see the most sites in a minimal amount of time. Depending on time of year, Ramadan, day of week, time, etc., people seem to recommend either renting a car, booking a tour company outside of customs, or hiring a taxi.

I was wondering if anybody on this forum can provide advice on what we should do. This will be from 9pm on Dec 23rd to 3pm on Dec 24th (probably need to leave to the airport by noon I assume in order to check-in for flight). We'd like to see as much of Dubai as possible! This routing was rebooked from a canceled London itinerary because of the snowstorms, hence the last-minute request!

Thanks for any advice!!

I have posted recommendations for such an occasion. I would definitely not rent a car, as it is not easy to find one's way around the maze of streets. I think that you also will have little to gain by hiring a tour company.

I'd advise having a nice dinner (depending on what you are interested in, you could walk around Deira to a mid-scale local place, or you could go to Madinat Jumeirah, though it's a bit farther from the airport), then get a taxi driver (most likely in front of your hotel, depending on where you're staying) to drive you around the city for 2-3 hours on Friday morning. Traffic will be light, weather should be perfect, and you can see all of the major sites, and even get out of the taxi from time to time if anything interests you.

Thanks so much for the advice. I think we will follow your advice exactly! A few more quick questions if you don't mind...

1) How much do you expect we'd pay to hire a cab for 3-4 hours?
2) Will our luggage be safe if we leave it in the taxi while we walk around the sites or would it be considered rude to take it out each time we leave the taxi?
3) How much would it be from an airport hotel to Madinat Jumeirah?

Thanks again!!!

1) I would guess around AED 350 (about USD 100).

2) It will be absolutely safe. I have done this myself and not had a worry.

3) I wish that I remember from my last trip there, but probably in the range of AED 80-100 (about USD 25).

Now that I am writing this, I guess you were already there. Sorry! (I hope you had a good trip.)