03-08-2025
24 hours in Dubai for solo travellers
Want to see Dubai in just 24 hours?
The good news is that, being the second safest city in the world and the best for solo female travellers, you can do that without worrying about roaming the streets at midnight or taking the public transport.
Whether you want to hit the pub for a solo soirée or dine solo at a fancy spot, rest assured knowing Dubai's got your back.
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If you're wondering how to spend the day, we've mapped out an itinerary that covers the best of the city – from iconic bucket-list spots to underrated places you might not have heard of.
Here's a one-day itinerary for solo female travellers in Dubai – summer edition.
8am: Breakfast at Maisan15
Credit: Maisan15
Location: Al Barsha
Start your day slow and serene at Maisan15, a nice café/garden/library in Al Barsha.
It's a great starting point because it's the perfect mix of Middle Eastern and international, so expect dishes like masala scrambled eggs and eggs Benedict served with harissa hollandaise.
Open daily 8am-11pm. Al Barsha, @maisan15 (04 244 7291).
9.30am: Check out the Museum of the Future
(Credit: Supplied)
Location: Trade Centre
The building is impressive from the outside, but what's inside is even more fascinating – three floors of interactive exhibitions covering space missions, climate tech, wellness and more.
Doors open from 10am, so you'll beat the rush. Our pro tip is to book your tickets well in advance, as it's usually sold out.
Read more: 9 underrated things to do in Dubai (that are not tourist traps)
From Dhs159. Open daily 9.30am-7pm, Sheikh Zayed Road, (800 2071).
11am: Brave a skywalk
Location: Downtown Dubai
Fancy a view?
Take the metro at the Emirates Towers metro station and get off at Dubai Mall metro station. Exit on the Address Sky View hotel side and head straight to Sky Views Observatory.
Apart from soaking up sweeping views of Downtown and Burj Khalifa 219.5 metres up in the air, you'll also have a go on the famous glass slide (woohooo).
From Dhs65. Open daily 10am-10pm. Address Sky View Hotel, Downtown Dubai, (04 873 8888).
Noon: Create your own perfume to remember your trip
Location: Yusuf Bhai Perfumes, Deira
Before you break for lunch, stop by Yusuf Bhai Perfumes in – a legendary local perfumery in Deira where you can create your own perfume for as low as Dhs50.
If you want to skip this, you can stick around at Downtown Dubai to check out Dubai Mall or grab a drink at Time Out Market.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri 4pm-10pm. Deira, @yusufbhaiperfumer (04 258 0014).
1.30pm: Have a sustainable lunch by the sea
Location: Jaddaf Waterfront
Live the coastal life Dubai's known for (without melting) by lunching at sustainable restaurant Teible. Make sure to grab a perch by the windows for stunning, uninterrupted views of the Arabian Sea.
The menu is seasonal and mostly brought together by locally sourced ingredients. Try the prawn mamak, which is made using seafood from Fujairah or the Centro, which spotlights lamb from Abu Dhabi.
Alternatively, you could also head to the other side of Dubai (the Marina side) for a Japanese sit-down at Kinoya. Chef Neha Mishra's ramen house is a bit of a cult favourite, so it's well worth adding to your itinerary.
10am-6 pm and 7pm-10pm. Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront, (04 243 6683).
3pm: Visit a library
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (Credit: DET)
Location: Al Jaddaf
Once fed, walk off your meal with a stroll around the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Al Jaddaf, a beautifully designed space where you can wander through its seven floors or just settle into a nook and read.
If you're too anxious to simply rest and read (understandable when one's on a 24-hour pit stop in a new city), you can head down to Jumeirah to explore some charming cafés.
Free entry. Mon-Thu, Sat, 9am-9pm, Fri, 2pm-9pm, Sun, closed. Al Jaddaf, (800 627523).
4.30pm: Go café hopping
Location: Jumeirah
We are somewhat (read: very) obsessed with matcha drinking on this side of the world. So if you want the complete Dubai experience, a visit to its various charming cafés is a bucket list item.
Jumeirah has a nice stretch of great spots worth checking out.
Grab a cab from the library and head straight to Seva Table, which is a cosy wellness café tucked inside a villa. If you've ever been to Pondicherry (in India), the vibe might feel familiar.
From there, it's an easy walk – less than a kilometre – to Kulture House, where you can try some Middle Eastern-style snacks.
Keep going and you'll hit Comptoir 102 — perfect if you feel like browsing clothing or accessories while you sip on an iced matcha latte.
Seva Table: Open daily, 8am-10pm. Jumeirah Beach Road, (056 534 2899)
Kulture House: Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm. Jumeirah, @kulturehousedubai (04 399 1790)
Comptoir 102: open daily 8am-9.30pm, 102 Beach Road, Jumeirah, Jumeirah 1, (04 385 4555).
8pm: Try Middle Eastern fare at Al Safadi
Credit: Al Safadi Restaurant
Location: DIFC
Then head off to Al Safadi restaurant, which is packed with authentic Lebanese dishes, a must-try when in Dubai.
Feast on a mixed grill before ending on the delicious cheese kunafah that's soaked in a fragrant rose syrup. But if this is your first time visiting the Middle East, order the deliciously garlicky chicken shawarma.
Daily 9am-1am. Near Trade Centre, DIFC, (600 500601).
10pm: Explore nightlife at The Palm
Location: The Palm
If you didn't already know, Dubai after dark is a whole vibe. In fact, it's been named one of the best cities in the world for nightlife right now.
So if you're up for a solo soirée, start with a drink at Jade, the stylish East Asian-inspired bar at FIVE Palm Jumeirah – just a heads-up, it's a dress-up kind of place. Prefer something more laid-back? Check out The Tap House.
Later, take a stroll along the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk, the scenic crescent that wraps around The Palm, and brace yourself for breathtaking views of the sea. And yes, these streets are perfectly fine to explore any time of the day or night.
Read more: These are officially Dubai's best nights out: 80+ incredible bars, clubs, pubs and more
Jade: Mon-Thu 7pm-1am, Fri-Sun 7pm-2am. Jade Cocktail Bar and Lounge FIVE Palm Jumeirah, second floor of Maiden Shanghai, @jadedubaifive (455 9989).
Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk: Open 24/7. Crescent Road, The Palm Jumeirah.
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