Half-Day Layover or Shore Excursion: Discover Dubai Like a Local in Dubai - Dubai_Shore_Ex3.jpg
5.0

Half-Day Layover or Shore Excursion: Discover Dubai Like a Local

  • 4 hours
  • Day Trips
  • Dubai
User image
User image

Choose one of 9 locals available

Experience hosted by Jose Gomez & Sandy Nat, Tamour Ali & other locals

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Discover your ideal Dubai tour with this personalized shore excursion! With pick-up directly from the cruise terminal or airport, you’ll have the flexibility to explore Dubai at your own pace. A local guide will take you around the city, letting you choose where to stop—whether it’s iconic landmarks or hidden gems. The day is yours to shape!

Destination
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Category
Day Trips
Duration
4 hours
Transport mode
Car
Available languages
English, Hindi
Included
  • Private Guide
  • Transport by Car
  • All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to Attractions
  • Meals

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Your personal half day city tour in Dubai – by car!
  • Half-day shore excursion with pick-up from the cruise terminal or airport
  • The best of Dubai with the comfort of a private car
  • Enjoy Dubai your way with a local guide
  • Explore at your own pace and on your schedule
  • Insider tips & tricks for navigating the city

What you can expect

Half-Day Layover or Shore Excursion: Discover Dubai Like a Local in Dubai - Dubai_Shore_Ex3.jpg

What’s on your must-see list in Dubai? From the famous Al Fahidi Neighbourhood to the charming streets around Indian Temple Street, you’re in control of where to go and what to explore. With Withlocals Your Way, you’ll get a private car and local guide for a day, giving you the ultimate freedom to experience the city exactly as you want.

No more rushing through public transport or sticking to a fixed schedule – this 100% personalized tour is all about you! Your local host will craft a custom itinerary based on your interests, from iconic landmarks to off-the-beaten-path gems. You can even reach those harder-to-access spots that are just beyond walking distance, making the most of your time in Dubai.

Each of the hosts on this tour has different ideas in mind. Check out their profiles and pick your favourite guide. The hosts always have a base plan in mind, and trust us; they know exactly what they are doing!

And if you’re craving even more adventure, your host can tailor the experience to fit your travel desires. Simply contact your favourite host and start your adventure.

Please note: The price shown is for a half-day city tour and may vary depending on your requests and the personalized offer your host creates. Entrance tickets are not included.

Choose your local

Get to know these 9 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at - Dubai to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. This Experience is YOURS!

    Take control of your day and explore Dubai by car on a fully personalized tour. With your private guide and vehicle, you decide where to go and what to see. Just let your local host know your interests, and they’ll tailor an unforgettable journey for you.
  4. See the Must-See Sights

    What’s on your must-visit list? Cruise from one landmark to another, soaking in the sights from the comfort of your car. Your host will share insider tips and show you the best ways to experience Dubai's top attractions.
  5. Discover Hidden Gems

    Want to avoid the usual tourist spots? Your local guide will take you off the beaten path, uncovering lesser-known gems and unique views of Dubai’s famous landmarks, all while skipping the crowds.
  6. Explore Neighborhoods Your Way

    With a car at your disposal, you can easily dive into Dubai’s neighborhoods. From local hotspots to historic streets, there’s so much to explore beyond the main attractions. Where will your curiosity take you?
  7. The Best of Dubai, All Day Long

    Enjoy a full-day adventure with the flexibility to explore Dubai at your own pace. Choose the sights, decide the timing, and let your host craft the perfect itinerary, ensuring you tick off every must-see on your list.
  8. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

User image
Peter
(About local )
15 February 2025
Ikram met us on time and as planned, and took us on a fascinating tour as described. It was a great mixture of national and local history, and an introduction to his own life and the souks. Thank you for your time Ikram!Excellent
User image
Janani
(About local )
14 February 2025
User image
Ina
(About local )
9 February 2025
We really enjoyed the tour! Fawad was a great tour guide - he told us interesting facts about the individual buildings during the trip. The visit to the mosque was very exciting and everything went smoothly! Highly recommended :)We really enjoyed the tour , fawad was great tour guide
User image
Herman🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
8 February 2025
Het was top!
User image
Natascha🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
6 February 2025
Ali is a great guide. He came prepared and had a water bottle for each of us. He knows a lot about Dubais history and could answer all our questions. He also gave us food and sightseeing recs which was very appreciated. I would recommend him and even book him again. Ali is very knowledgeable
User image
Riley
(About local )
4 February 2025
We had the best experience with Sandy and Jose!!!!!!! Sandy was so knowledgeable and made everything run so smoothly with our layover! They went above and beyond for us and were up for anything ! We wanted dinner last minute and to see a specific building last minute and adjusted the schedule easily ! Thanks for the best time !! We highly recommend this tour !!! Anazing experience !
User image
Menachem🇮🇱 Israel
(About local )
2 February 2025
Tamour giuded us on a 4 day trip to abu dabi and dubai. He worked hard to plan well ahead together with us. He purchased the tikets to all attractions without fail. During the trip he was personally nice and easy to get along with. He was punctual at all times Delivered on every promise while being very knowledgble. We feel he made our trip an excellent experience TKS TAMOUR Very good experince
User image
Oliver
(About local )
31 January 2025
Abu Dhabi top, guide Fawad was top... Very helpful and good photographer. It's worth 5 stars but I only put 4 because the stops at Ferrari world and the Louvre were really not useful Abudhbai top , guide fawad was top
User image
Dhanashree
(About local )
30 January 2025
My husband and I had a lovely experience with Sandy. We had great food and soo much food we were stuffed. My husband is vegetarian and his dietary needs were met at all spots. Sandy was very knowledgeable about the culture and history of Dubai which made the tour very interesting. I would highly recommend making this a part of your Duabi trip. Amazing Adventure
User image
Lila
(About local )
28 January 2025
I had an awesome time exploring Dubai's old quarter with Ikram as my guide! He's seriously passionate about what he does -you can feel it in every story he tells and every spot he points out. His explanations really brought the history and culture tolife. Plus, he's super chill and goes with the flow, making sure everyone's having a great time, Thanks to Ikram, I'm already planning my next visit to explore even more. Big shoutout to him for making the tour unforgettable! I highly, highly recommend his tours to anyone looking for an amazing Dubai experience!Go ahead with your eyes closed !
User image
Mohammad
(About local )
21 January 2025
Fawad was an excellent tour guide Thank you to Fawad for being an excellent tour guide on our trip to Sharjah. Fawad was very kind, patient and helpful. He explained and told us about Sharjah's history and heritage which was super interesting. We visited the Cultural Square / Quran Roundabout, Sharjah museum of Islamic Civilisation, Bait Al Naboodah, King Faisal Masjid, Blue Souk and Souk Al Jubail- all of which were really nice to visit.Fawad was an excellent tour guide
User image
Sheila
(About local )
17 January 2025
This was such an interesting and informative tour. Ikram answered all sorts of questions in addition to his clear explanations, to help us understand dubai and its history. It was relaxed and enjoyable. He gave us tips on all sorts of products and we did not get hassled walking with him. Crossing on the abra Was fun, and then we learnt about spices. I had hoped walking with a local would give us some insights. It did!We would absolutely recommend ikram's tour
User image
REYES
(About local )
13 January 2025
Everything was great, we had Fawad Faisal as our guide who gave us all the necessary details for our visit, the time to take pictures was perfect and he was very attentive to our group, I recommend him!Everything was great , we had fawad faisal as our guide
User image
Ivy
(About local )
8 January 2025
Fawad is very knowledgeable, down to earth , friendly and easy to talk to. He understand all customer's concern and attend to their need as soon as they need. Would definitely recommend others to hire him as the local guide if ever come to Dubai.Fawad is very knowledgeable
User image
Maciej
(About local )
8 January 2025
Smooth ride on all the top places, tour guide will answee all your questions (shout out to Ikram). Overall great experience,Excelent tour
User image
Lindy
(About local )
7 January 2025
I booked this tour because 1 had a long wait between landing and hotel check-in and it was the best decision ever! It was such a great way to see parts of the city and the tour guide lkram was so knowledgeable and accomodating. He really knows his stuff and was even willing to drop us off where we needed to be which saved us so much time. I was also able to ask him anything and he provided great tips for my stay in Dubai. Would highly recommend!Dubai tour
User image
Linda
(About local )
4 January 2025
We did the streetfood tour with Sandy and a had a great time. The communication was good and Sandy gave us good explanation about the meeting point, as well as the traffic at this time. The range of food was excellent and we visited restaurants, which we would never had found on our own as tourists. Sandy is a great tour guide and we got special prices at the spice market as the sellers know him. He made our trip to Dubai very special as we love to experiance local food on our vacations. I would highly recommend this tour with him! Thank you very much for everything!! Wonderful food tour
User image
Elma🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 December 2024
We had a wonderful tour with Sandy! He was very accommodating to our requests. We went to see the Mosque in Abu Dhabi and some sights in Dubai including the miracle garden. He was very knowledgeable and engaging, we really enjoyed our tour and would book again!Great tour of Abu Dhabi & Dubai
User image
Udani
(About local )
25 December 2024
lkram was an amazing guide and Rehan WaS a very efficient driver. Got to see all the best of Dubai while staying cool. Highly recommend their serviceBest experience 10/10 would recommend
User image
Joshua
(About local )
24 December 2024
Great guide Mansoor Ali showed us across all the places, very informative and very detailed. Highly recommend for anyone looking to see the intricacies and delicacies of the city away from the main tourist spots.Dubai Food Tour with Mansoor Ali
User image
GrandTour56482710513
(About local )
21 December 2024
Ikraam was a fantastic host. We had a 9 hour layover in Dubai flying back to New Zealand and found this tour on his website. I was with my four kids (14-20) and Ikraam picked us up at 2:30am (! and he was wide awake and full of energy! We toured around Dubai together to old parts, new parts and him and his driver were fantastic hosts. He told us many stories about the history of Dubai and he is a very passionate and fantastic story teller. He showed us many videos of what life is like in Dubai while we were driving. We saw so many incredible landmarks and fell in love with all the amazing sites in Dubai. A perfect length of time and break before the 17 hour flight home. Thank you ikraam for a fantastic experience!Fantastic Dubai tour!
User image
Olga
(About local )
20 December 2024
The trip to Abu Dhabi was the best thing in Dubai. Faisal, our guide gave us an insight info the mosque. The mosque is beauriful and its definitely Worth seeing.Fawad Faisal was an excellent tour guide
User image
M.de
(About local )
20 December 2024
The tour with Ikram was amazing. He is very knowledgeable. A nice man who likes to answer all your questions. Ask for Ikram and go with Ikram. You won't regret it.Best tourguide in Dubai
User image
Xta
(About local )
16 December 2024
1. Knowledgeable and Enthusiastic "Our guide was amazing! He knew so much about each landmark, sharing fascinating stories and history that brought everything to life. His passion for the area was contagious, and we learned so much. Highly recommend for anyone who loves history and culture!" 2. Friendly and Personable "We couldn’t have asked for a better guide! From the moment we met, he was friendly, welcoming, and made us feel like family. He took the time to get to know us and tailored parts of the tour to our interests. It was a fantastic experience!" 3. Went Above and Beyond "The best tour guide we’ve ever had! He went out of his way to ensure we had a memorable experience, even recommending hidden spots and the best places for photos. His extra effort made the tour unforgettable." 4. Professional and Adaptable "Our guide was very professional and adapted to our group’s needs perfectly. When one of us needed a break, they adjusted the pace without missing a beat. We really appreciated his flexibility and attention to detail!" 5. Knowledgeable and Organized "Our tour guide was outstandingly organized. He kept the tour flowing smoothly, balancing time at each location perfectly and sharing insightful information that we wouldn’t have known otherwise. We felt we were in great hands the entire time." 6. Created a Lasting Memory "Our guide truly made this trip unforgettable.His warmth, expertise, and attention to detail left us with memories we’ll cherish forever. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!"Best Tour Guide Ever – A Truly Unforgettable Experience!"
User image
Komalpreet
(About local )
12 December 2024
Overall worth of money you paid, my guide fawad Faisal was very kind and respectful, he answered all my questions about places, thank youOverall worth of money you paid ,
User image
Marieclaude
(About local )
12 December 2024
This tour was a very convenient Visit for 3 adults with a baby Our guide mansoor was very kind and knowledgable. Very good Time.Sunday Morning In old dubai
User image
NigeandAli
(About local )
10 December 2024
Ali is a great guide, very friendly and knowledgeable. We visited a lot of very different places that we probably wouldn't have done if we were solo. We tasted 14 different things not just the 10 advertised. It's certainly a very filling trip and not solely based around food. Well worth it. Make sure you are hungry when you go you will be full at the end without doubt.A filling tour
User image
NPKing
(About local )
9 December 2024
Tamour was an exceptional guide, so knowledgeable of the culture, history and surroundings. We got to see all the quick spots and highlights and had a great time. My favorite part was that Tamour knew all the good spots for getting the best photos. We unfortunately only had 4 hours to spend in this city but we did get a good understanding of its history and flavors. Many thanks to my wife for booking this!Layover jaunt through Dubai
User image
Sharon
(About local )
9 December 2024
Mansoor was a wonderful host and guide. He took us to several excellent food places and we tried many delicious things. He is charming and very kind. He told us a lot about the culture and history and it was very informative. We had a delightful time. I would recommend this tour. Bring an appetiteExcellent evening
User image
Goretti
(About local )
8 December 2024
Really enjoyed our time with Ikram! He was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He was also very honest and had the hookups we needed! Thank you for the last minute tour!Must do!!
User image
Andry
(About local )
6 December 2024
We had the best time! lkram and Adnan were very pleasant. We had the best sightseeing! Enjoyed to the maximum Thank you guys!Tour by night beautiful!!
User image
Neil
(About local )
5 December 2024
lkram is an excellent tour guide and very cooperative and accommodating, two thumbs up, i recommnded this tour to those having a long layover at dubaiCity tour at dubai 3 hours
User image
Farah
(About local )
1 December 2024
What a fun and memorable experience exploring the sights and tastes of Bur Dubai! Our guide was knowledgable, friendly and helpful! We loved the pani puri, chai and falafel wraps the most! Our kids (age 13 and 10) enjoyed the experience too! We would highly recommend it!Family friendly and delicious!
User image
Jonathan
(About local )
1 December 2024
User image
Brian
(About local )
30 November 2024
Tamour was professional, prompt, and knowledgeable. I enjoyed the tour. Easy pickup from the airport. Saw a lot of sights in 3 hours.Good tour!
User image
Dominique
(About local )
29 November 2024
Fawad was our guide and he was amazing! He was VERY knowledgeable about the city its history and the mosque and its significance. He explained everything very well and ensured we remained hydrated and not too hot throughout the day even in the scorching sun. He took amazing pictures for us and pointed out great photo areas! This tour was the highlight of my trip here in DubaiFawad was our guide and he was amazing
User image
Ana
(About local )
28 November 2024
Ikram made .our trip complet. We learned a lot About Dubai and it's history. An experience I Will never forget. I recomendOld Dubai by the eyes of lkram
User image
lwona
(About local )
28 November 2024
Great experience and perfect timing! We had a chance to see lights show at Burj Khalifa and fountains show. We recommend to do this tour at the evening, when it is dark to experience city of lights! Our tour guide was lkram and he is a nice guy With a good sense of humor :City lights
User image
Simon
(About local )
26 November 2024
Great tour! Ali knows his stuff. If you are doing the evening layover tour, i would recommend staying for at least 2 light-shows at the fountain, as the rest of the tour involves a lot of driving. Ali is freindly, loves his country, and is eager to share stories. I might also reccomend having him take you to a local spot to a typical dish. Great job Ali, thanks for sharing your country with me.Great tour!
User image
Angga
(About local )
23 November 2024
The 8-hour tour led by lkram was absolutely amazing! We got a great sense of what Dubai city is all about. We visited almost all the major tourist spots and captured some wonderful photos along the way.Amazing tour by lkhram
User image
Matt
(About local )
22 November 2024
Fantastic tour! Ali is super knowledgable and friendly.Fantastic Tour
User image
Kelly
(About local )
22 November 2024
Really great tour for a few short hours in Dubai! Our tour guide Ikram was realy knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely recommend for a short time in Dubai!Great few hours in Dubai
User image
Anna
(About local )
20 November 2024
If you have a long layover in Dubai , I recommend this tour of the city. Its’s very informative and Mansoor is friendly, cheerful and helpful. He took us to both the old and the new part of the city, showing us the best places to take pictures and all the viewpoints. The tour is in an aiconditioned van which is essential in the heat and we made several stops. He is punctual and reliable. We enjoyed our morning in Dubai!Great quick visit to Dubai
User image
Jameela
(About local )
20 November 2024
Great accommodations and host! My flight didn't match the original time of booking but Ali ensured I still got the same time allotted for my experience, if not more. I really really wanted to buy gold but it was almost 11PM, Ali still ensured he got me to the Gold Souk in time! Anything I wanted to see Ali ensured it happened! Very very satisfied with this experience.Great accommodations and host!
User image
Aj
(About local )
19 November 2024
Very knowledgable and very helpful tour guide as he know the history of the place specially abu dhabi . We learned a lot from him. THANK YOU TEMUR.TEMUR IS THE BEST
User image
Ana
(About local )
19 November 2024
My mother, sister and 1 really enjoyed the tour. I callenged lkram withreally good questions we had so much and he made feel warmly welcome in Dubai. A walk tour trough Dubai is a must-do. And we highly recommend lkram as your local.Thanks Ikram I will be back in Dubai and will on of your other tourse AAmazing experience .Recomend!
User image
Sadiki
(About local )
19 November 2024
So... we all know or have heard of that one person whom everyone knows and has respect for. They're the type of person who'll lead you down random alleys and show you the finest lunch or dessert destinations. They know the owner usually and said owner probably owes them a favor, so you're treated like royalty. Ali is THAT GUY here in Dubai. Anything we needed to know or wanted to try, Ali knew the places everyone else would go and the places only locals would go, which is exactly where he took us. We learned so much from Ali in a short amount of time: history of the city, the vast culture of the land and its people, modern-day politics, and of course, the art of the bargain. Anyone looking to get a true view of Dubai and the people who live there. This is the tour for you.To get to to know Dubai , you must spend time with those who know Dubai
User image
Unknown
(About local )
18 November 2024
Our tour guide is prompt, very helpful, knows a lot of history and trivias about the places we go and takes good photos. Highly recommended!Highly recommended! 5stars!
User image
hedgefamily
(About local )
18 November 2024
Fantastic walking tour with Mansoor, who was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Lots of interesting stops and a great way to see sights that you wouldn’t see on the usual tourist trail. Very highly recommended.Fantastic walking tour
User image
Erika
(About local )
17 November 2024
Mansoor was very knowledgable and polite. Was a very informative day and I will definitely recommend this tour. What a beautiful city .. we’ve seen mosr of the attractions.Very informative tour

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

Other Day trips in Dubai

€79.05per person