Plan my weekend
Weekend and Long Weekend Trips from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The easiest weekend trips from Dubai and Abu Dhabi are places under about four hours away: Tbilisi, Baku, Yerevan, Almaty and Muscat. Leave Thursday night, take Friday off and fly back Sunday night. Happy Journey packages for 2 to 4 nights include flights, hotel, transfers and a city tour, and we check entry rules for your passport.
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Packages
Trips you can book
Every package can change: dates, nights, hotel grade and tours. Prices are per person and dated.
3 nights
3 nights
2 to 3 nights
3 nights
01
Weekend trips from the UAE: prices for 2 to 4 nights
A good weekend trip has a short flight, simple entry and enough to see in two full days. The table compares popular short-flight places for a weekend. Prices are per person, sharing a double room, with return flights, a hotel with breakfast and airport transfers.
Muscat, Oman
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 2 to 3
- From
- On request
Tbilisi, Georgia
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 3
- From
- On request
Baku, Azerbaijan
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 3
- From
- On request
Yerevan, Armenia
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 3
- From
- On request
Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 3 to 4
- From
- On request
Male, Maldives
- Flight from AUH or DXB
- Ask us
- Entry for many UAE residents
- Ask us
- Nights
- 3
- From
- On request
| Destination | Flight from AUH or DXB | Entry for many UAE residents | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat, Oman | Ask us | Ask us | 2 to 3 | On request |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | Ask us | Ask us | 3 | On request |
| Baku, Azerbaijan | Ask us | Ask us | 3 | On request |
| Yerevan, Armenia | Ask us | Ask us | 3 | On request |
| Almaty, Kazakhstan | Ask us | Ask us | 3 to 4 | On request |
| Male, Maldives | Ask us | Ask us | 3 | On request |
Weekend prices rise sharply on public holiday weekends, when many UAE residents travel at once. If your dates are flexible, an ordinary weekend in a quiet month is usually much cheaper than a long weekend. Entry rules depend on your passport; see our guide to visa-free countries for UAE residents or send us your passport to check.
02
UAE long weekends calendar with trips for each
Public holidays turn a weekend into three or four days off, and a single day of leave can stretch them further. Islamic holidays follow the moon, so their dates are expected, not fixed, until the official announcement. Book flights early for these weekends and keep the hotel booking flexible where you can.
Commemoration Day and National Day
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- A long weekend
- Trip that fits
- Georgia or Azerbaijan for snow, Armenia
New Year's Day
- Date
- Friday 1 January 2027
- Days off (likely)
- Friday to Sunday, 3 days
- Trip that fits
- Tbilisi, Baku or Muscat
Eid al Fitr
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- 3 to 4 days
- Trip that fits
- Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Maldives
Arafat Day and Eid al Adha
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- 4 days or more
- Trip that fits
- Armenia, Georgia, Nepal, Maldives
Islamic New Year
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- A long weekend if moved to a Friday or Monday
- Trip that fits
- Muscat, Baku, a UAE staycation
Prophet's Birthday
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- A long weekend if moved to a Friday or Monday
- Trip that fits
- Georgia or Armenia for cool weather
Commemoration Day and National Day
- Date
- Ask us
- Days off (likely)
- A long weekend
- Trip that fits
- Georgia or Azerbaijan for snow
| Holiday | Date | Days off (likely) | Trip that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commemoration Day and National Day | Ask us | A long weekend | Georgia or Azerbaijan for snow, Armenia |
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | Friday to Sunday, 3 days | Tbilisi, Baku or Muscat |
| Eid al Fitr | Ask us | 3 to 4 days | Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Maldives |
| Arafat Day and Eid al Adha | Ask us | 4 days or more | Armenia, Georgia, Nepal, Maldives |
| Islamic New Year | Ask us | A long weekend if moved to a Friday or Monday | Muscat, Baku, a UAE staycation |
| Prophet's Birthday | Ask us | A long weekend if moved to a Friday or Monday | Georgia or Armenia for cool weather |
| Commemoration Day and National Day | Ask us | A long weekend | Georgia or Azerbaijan for snow |
03
Under four hours by air: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Oman
These five work for a normal weekend because the flight is short and the main sights are close to the capital. You can land on Thursday night, have two full days, and be home on Sunday night.
Georgia: Tbilisi
The old town, the cable car to Narikala and a half day in Mtskheta. Add Gudauri for snow in winter if you have a third day.
Georgia tour package
Azerbaijan: Baku
The walled old city, the Flame Towers and the seaside boulevard, with Gobustan or the Absheron fire sites on day two.
Azerbaijan tour package
Armenia: Yerevan
Republic Square, the Cascade steps, and a half day at Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery.
Armenia tour package
Kazakhstan: Almaty
Mountains on the edge of the city: Medeu, Shymbulak and Kok Tobe. Better with four nights, since the flight is a little longer.
Kazakhstan tour package
Oman: Muscat
The closest trip of all, by a short flight or a drive. Mutrah Corniche, the souq and the Grand Mosque, with a beach afternoon.
Oman tour from Dubai
04
Beach weekends: Maldives and Sri Lanka
A beach weekend works if the transfer at the other end is short. In the Maldives, pick a resort reached by speedboat from Male airport: you can be on the beach within an hour or two of landing. Seaplane resorts lose time each way and seaplanes fly only in daylight, so they suit four nights or more. See our Maldives packages for resorts that work for three nights.
Sri Lanka is a better fit for a long weekend than a normal one.
05
Weekend getaways inside the UAE
No flight needed. A weekend at home can still feel like a trip if you change the scenery: desert, mountains or beach. We handle the hotel booking and add tours to fill the days.
Liwa desert resort
- What it is like
- Huge dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter, quiet and dark at night
- Add
- A desert drive and stargazing
Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah
- What it is like
- The UAE's highest mountain, cooler air, mountain views
- Add
- The zipline and a viewing deck
Saadiyat Island beach
- What it is like
- A beach hotel with museums close by
- Add
- Louvre Abu Dhabi and the beach
Hatta
- What it is like
- Mountains, a dam and outdoor activities near the Oman border
- Add
- Kayaking and mountain biking
Fujairah or Khor Fakkan
- What it is like
- The east coast, mountains meeting the sea
- Add
- Snorkelling and a beach day
A Dubai or Abu Dhabi staycation
- What it is like
- A city hotel with a pool, no driving
- Add
- A desert safari or a dhow dinner
UAE weekend getaways from Abu Dhabi and Dubai
| Getaway | What it is like | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Liwa desert resort | Huge dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter, quiet and dark at night | A desert drive and stargazing |
| Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah | The UAE's highest mountain, cooler air, mountain views | The zipline and a viewing deck |
| Saadiyat Island beach | A beach hotel with museums close by | Louvre Abu Dhabi and the beach |
| Hatta | Mountains, a dam and outdoor activities near the Oman border | Kayaking and mountain biking |
| Fujairah or Khor Fakkan | The east coast, mountains meeting the sea | Snorkelling and a beach day |
| A Dubai or Abu Dhabi staycation | A city hotel with a pool, no driving | A desert safari or a dhow dinner |
In summer, keep outdoor plans to early morning and evening, and pick a hotel with a good pool. From October to April, the UAE weekend outdoors is at its most pleasant.
06
Can you do Europe in a long weekend?
It is possible but tight. Most of Western Europe is six to seven hours from the UAE, so a two-night weekend means more time flying than sightseeing. With four nights it starts to make sense: one city, a direct flight, and a hotel in the centre.
- Take the overnight flight out if one runs, so you arrive in the morning
- Prices rise over Eid and the December break, when many residents have the same idea
07
Long weekends: using public holidays for 4 to 5 day trips
A public holiday plus one or two days of leave gives you four or five days, which opens up places that are too far for a normal weekend. Almaty with a day in the mountains, Tbilisi with Gudauri and Kazbegi, or Baku with a night in Gabala all fit. So does Kathmandu: our nepal tour package from dubai can be shortened to four nights for a long weekend.
The trick is to book early. Long weekend flights from the UAE sell out first, and the fares that remain are the expensive ones.
08
Making the most of a weekend: flight times and one day of leave
The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Take Friday off and you have a three-night trip with only one day of leave. A typical weekend plan looks like this:
- 01
Thursday evening
Leave work, fly out in the evening. Land and go straight to the hotel.
- 02
Friday
Your day of leave. The main city tour, with the afternoon free.
- 03
Saturday
A day trip out of the city: Mtskheta, Gobustan, Garni or the mountains.
- 04
Sunday
A slow morning, a last walk, and a late afternoon or evening flight home.
Flight timings make or break a weekend. An early-morning return on Sunday wastes a day, and a late-night arrival on Thursday can mean a 2am check-in.
09
What a weekend package includes
Checklist
- Return flights from Abu Dhabi or Dubai, timed for the weekend
- Hotel nights with breakfast, in the centre so you do not waste time in taxis
- Airport transfers at both ends
- A city tour, and a day trip on three-night packages
- Visa or e-visa filing where your passport needs it (fee extra)
Not included unless the quote says so: visa fees, travel insurance, meals other than breakfast, entry tickets for optional activities, and extra baggage. Weekend packages are short, so we keep them simple: fewer tours, more free time.
10
How to book a weekend trip with Happy Journey
- 01
Send your weekend
The dates, how many days of leave you have, the number of travellers, and a photo of each passport.
- 02
We compare
Two or three options with flight times, entry rules for your passport and the price.
- 03
Go
Tickets, vouchers and any visa approvals arrive before you fly.
Visit us at Office 329A, 3rd Floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, next to du and opposite Spinneys, with free parking. We are open Monday to Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 2pm to 9pm, and have been open since 20 May 2020, with a 4.6 rating on Google from about 280 reviews (3 November 2026). For longer trips, see all our holiday packages from Abu Dhabi.
Questions
Weekend trips FAQs
Quick answers to what weekend travellers ask us. For anything else, message us on WhatsApp, call 02 679 8008 or visit our travel agency in Abu Dhabi.
Where can I go for a weekend trip from Dubai?
Good weekend trips from Dubai are places within about four hours' flight: Tbilisi in Georgia, Baku in Azerbaijan, Yerevan in Armenia, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Muscat in Oman. Each works in three nights, and flight times let you leave Thursday evening and return Sunday.
How much does a weekend trip from Abu Dhabi cost?
Long weekends around public holidays cost more, so book early.
What are good weekend getaways inside the UAE?
Inside the UAE, weekend getaways include a desert resort near Liwa, the mountains of Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, a beach stay on Saadiyat Island or a staycation in Dubai. We book hotels and add a desert safari or city tour to fill the days.
Is a Maldives weekend package worth it?
A Maldives weekend works if you pick a resort close to Male by speedboat and fly out early. Three nights gives two full days on the island. Seaplane resorts lose half a day each way, so they suit four or more nights better.
Can I visit Europe over a weekend from the UAE?
A Europe weekend is possible but tight: flights take six to seven hours, so a city like Istanbul, Athens or Vienna needs at least four nights to feel worth it. .
Do I need a visa for weekend trips from the UAE?
It depends on your passport. . Our visa-free countries guide and team can check your case.
It's your smart choice
Let's plan your trip together
Send your dates and travellers on WhatsApp, or walk in at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi or BurJuman, Dubai. We reply with options and today's prices.
Enquiry
Send us your enquiry
Tell us where, when and who is travelling. A consultant replies by phone, WhatsApp or email.
- Abu DhabiOffice 329A, 3rd Floor, Mushrif Mall
- DubaiShop 1041, BurJuman
- Call us02 679 8008