Dubai Pass Comparison: Which Dubai City Pass Is Worth It?

How does a Dubai City Pass work?

A Dubai Pass is a compact admission ticket for various attractions. You pay once and get free entry, and at many Dubai attractions you can also skip the line.

You can buy all passes online — some aren’t even available on-site. All you need to do is specify when you want the pass to be valid. You’ll typically receive an order confirmation and then the actual pass about a week before your trip.

All passes can conveniently be used digitally on your smartphone. We do recommend keeping a printout of the pass in your pocket just in case. That way you’re covered if your phone battery dies on you.

Important: For some attractions, such as the Burj Khalifa, you also need to register separately for a specific time on a fixed date. You’ll get detailed instructions on where this is required and how it works when you book a pass.

The passes differ not only in which attractions they include, but also in their validity.

• With a time-based Dubai Pass, you can visit as many of the included attractions as you want on the days your pass is valid. The more attractions you visit, the more you save.
• Attraction-based passes include a large selection from which you can pick a set number of attractions. The more expensive the attractions you choose, the more you save.

Our Recommendation: The Dubai Pass That's Right for You!

There are more City Passes for Dubai than for almost any other city. Comparing all the offerings and prices is pretty complicated — so we’ve done the work for you.

The result: four traveler types, four recommendations. For four typical Dubai tourists, we’ve each picked out the one pass that truly fits them. You’re sure to find yourself in one of them, so you can jump straight to the right pass instead of scrolling through every option.

We’ll first introduce you to the four traveler types along with our respective pass recommendation. You’ll find detailed info on each pass in the sections below.

#1 The First-Timer: Turbopass Dubai

You’re visiting Dubai for the first time and only have a few days. During that time, you naturally want to see the top highlights of Dubai, but also do a few other activities in Dubai that make your trip a well-rounded experience.

Buy the Turbopass Dubai online
#2 The Turbo Sightseeing Tourist: Dubai Unlimited Pass

Even on vacation, you’re up at 6 AM, your sightseeing itinerary is completely planned out, and you only take breaks for essential needs like eating and drinking. You don’t just want to see Dubai’s top attractions — you want to see all of them.

Buy the Dubai Unlimited Pass online
#3 The Laid-Back Traveler: Dubai Flexi Attractions Pass

You want the exact opposite of turbo sightseeing. You might want to sleep in and then just go with the flow. You’d like to see a few typical attractions, but definitely without any stress.

Buy the Dubai Flexi Attractions Pass online
#4 The Undecided: Dubai Select Attractions Pass

You just can’t decide what to see — maybe your time or budget is limited. You wouldn’t mind letting your Dubai Pass “decide for you”.

Buy the Dubai Select Attractions Pass online

The best Dubai Passes at a glance

Not sure which category fits you? No problem. We’ve put together a table with the most important info on the four Dubai City Passes mentioned above so you can get a quick overview.

Need even more detail for your dubai pass comparison? This table shows you exactly which pass includes which Dubai attractions.

Dubai Turbo Pass: for First-Timers

The Turbo Pass is ideal for first-timers because it includes all the Dubai classics that every visitor needs to see at least once — and at a price you can easily recoup with an average sightseeing itinerary.

What does the Dubai Turbopass include?

• Valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 consecutive calendar days
• Hop-on/Hop-off bus for 48 hours
• Admission with a fixed time slot at the Burj Khalifa (124th floor)
• Desert safari, boat tour
• Additional attractions such as the Lost Chambers Aquarium or the Ambassador Lagoon

How much does the Dubai Turbopass cost?

Children between four and twelve years old pay about 20 percent less. That’s significantly more of a discount than with any of the other Dubai passes.

Children up to three years old get free admission everywhere anyway.

Important booking information

The Turbo Pass is available online only. When booking, you’ll need to specify when you’d like to visit the Burj Khalifa.

The earlier you book, the better your chances of getting your preferred time slot for the Burj Khalifa. If you book at the last minute or during peak travel periods such as New Year’s Eve, your preferred time may no longer be available — in that case, you’ll automatically be rebooked for the next available slot.

After booking, you’ll also need to register for a fixed time to join the desert safari. You’ll receive all the necessary details along with your booking confirmation.

Pros and cons

• Includes all top attractions
• You get a fixed time slot for the Burj Khalifa
• Biggest discount for children of all Dubai passes
• Includes fewer attractions than the other passes

Our verdict on the Turbopass in Dubai

In our opinion, the pass is worth it for most tourists from two days onward.

We especially recommend it if you’re traveling with children. With the other Dubai City passes, children pay almost the same price as adults — so the Turbopass’s bigger kids’ discount really adds up.

To the Dubai Turbopass

Dubai Unlimited Pass: for Turbo Sightseeing

The Unlimited Pass is the right choice for turbo sightseeing because it lets you visit as many of the included attractions as you want. And it truly covers a huge number of Dubai’s must-sees.

What does the Dubai Unlimited Pass include?

• Valid for 3 or 5 consecutive calendar days
• Very large number of attractions
• Unlimited selection
• Hop-on/Hop-off for 24 hours
• Burj Khalifa 124th and 125th floors

How much does the Dubai Unlimited Pass cost?

Pros and cons

• Unlimited selection from a very large number of attractions
• Many offerings must be reserved at least 48 hours in advance
• Quite expensive — you need to see a lot to make the pass worth it
• Only 24 hours of Hop-on/Hop-off

Our verdict on the Dubai Unlimited Pass

To get your money’s worth with the Dubai Unlimited Pass, you really need to pack your days from morning to night for the entire validity period. Honestly, we wouldn’t choose this pass ourselves — it’s simply very expensive, and the pressure to maximize it takes the fun out of the trip.

To the Dubai Unlimited Pass

Dubai Flexi Attractions Pass: for the Laid-Back Traveler

With the Dubai Flexi Attractions Pass, you can visit three to seven attractions over seven days. Compared to time-based passes, the attraction-based format means you don’t have to rush through as many places as possible to get your money’s worth. Much more relaxed!

What does the Flexi Attractions Pass include?

• Attraction-based pass
• Very large selection
• Flexible choice from all offerings
• Hop-on/Hop-off for 24 hours available
• Burj Khalifa 124th and 125th floors available

How much does the Flexi Attractions Pass cost?

The Flexi Attractions Pass comes in three versions. It is always valid for seven days, but you choose how many attractions you want it to cover.

Pros and cons

• Flexible selection from a very large number of attractions
• Great if you only want to visit specific sights
• No time pressure
• Many offerings must be reserved at least 48 hours in advance
• Very expensive for children

Our verdict on the Flexi Attractions Pass

If you only want to visit a handful of attractions spread out leisurely over a full week, check whether those specific places are included in the Flexi Attractions Pass. If they are, this could be the perfect fit.

To the Dubai Flexi Attractions Pass

Dubai Select Pass: for the Undecided

With the Dubai Select Pass, you choose one attraction from each of three categories. The categories help you pick solid options without having to navigate an overwhelming list.

What does the Dubai Select Attractions Pass include?

• Attraction-based pass
• Over 30 attractions, including the Burj Khalifa
• Choose one attraction from each of three categories
• Hop-on/Hop-off for 24 hours available
• Burj Khalifa 124th and 125th floors available

How much does the Dubai Select Attractions Pass cost?

The Dubai Select Pass covers three selected attractions and is valid for seven days. The price is around 140 euros per person.

Pros and cons

• Great if you only want to visit specific attractions
• No time pressure
• Cheaper than the Flexi Attractions Pass
• Many offerings must be reserved at least 48 hours in advance
• Very expensive for children

Our verdict on the Dubai Select Pass

The Dubai Select Pass does narrow your choices a bit. But if you genuinely have no idea which Dubai attractions to prioritize, the category structure can actually be a helpful nudge in the right direction.

To the Dubai Select Attractions Pass

More Dubai City Passes

The Dubai passes described above are the “classics” that work for most visitors. But there are three more passes that are only worth it in very specific situations. Here’s a quick overview so you know your options.

• For theme park fans: Dubai Themepark Pass — you get one-time admission to three (116 euros) or five (182 euros) theme parks in Dubai
  to the Dubai Themepark Pass
• Combining Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Dubai All-Inclusive Pass by Go City — like a regular Dubai Pass, but with day trips to and tours in Abu Dhabi
  read our full Dubai All-Inclusive Pass review
  to the Dubai All-Inclusive Pass by Go City
• For longer stays: Dubai Explorer Pass — an attraction-based pass that’s valid for a full 60 days
  to the Dubai Explorer Pass
• For budget travelers: Hop-On/Hop-Off Pass — a simple pass for 24, 48, or 72 hours to see the most important sights from the outside
  to the Hop-On/Hop-Off Pass

Questions and answers about the Dubai Passes

Still have a question about the Dubai City Passes? You’ll find your answer here!

Note: Our Dubai pass comparison is updated regularly. That said, things can sometimes change unexpectedly. It’s best to double-check the terms and included attractions before you make your final purchase decision. Thanks!