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School trips to Dubai provide students with the opportunity to experience the history and culture of the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East as a whole!

School trips to Dubai are most popular among geography groups and those who want to explore Emirati culture. But whatever your reason for choosing to visit Dubai, we’ll work closely with you to ensure that your itinerary is tailor made to suit your specific requirements and learning objectives.

Read more  about our school trips to Dubai

Why visit Dubai?

Discover Emirati culture

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. Your students may not yet have had the opportunity to visit the Middle East, so a school trip to Dubai is a fantastic introduction to Emirati and Arabian culture.

On your school trip to Dubai, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore the history and culture. On a visit to the Dubai Museum, you’ll learn more about the traditional way of life in the Emirate. You’ll discover what life was like on the coast and in the desert and you’ll step on board a dhow, explore a traditional souk and enter a Bedouin tent.

You mustn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a desert safari – at the end you will be welcomed into a real Bedouin camp for an Arabic coffee, barbecue dinner and belly dancing.

Another experience not to be missed is a cruise around Dubai Marina on a traditional dhow, where you’ll enjoy warm Arabic hospitality, a delicious dinner and fantastic views of both traditional and modern Dubai.

You can also choose to include tours of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, to widen your students’ understanding of the United Arab Emirates and its culture.

Explore rapid urbanisation

Once a sleepy fishing village on the Persian Gulf, Dubai is now a bustling metropolis, famous for its wealth. Home to the world’s tallest building and the world’s largest artificial island, there is a sheer excess of luxury here in the playground of the world’s rich and famous.

Dubai has one of the world’s fastest growing economies and attracts many foreign workers, who often come to work in the oil, construction or tourism industry. The population of Dubai was around 500,000 in 1990 – it’s now well over 3 million.

After a construction boom in the 1980s which really accelerated in the 1990s, Dubai’s skyline has completely changed in the last 30 years. The city is now home to one of the world’s densest collections of skyscrapers – itself an impressive feat thanks to the high temperatures, high winds, lack of water and bedrock buried under 130m of sand.

All this makes Dubai a fascinating choice for a geography school trip focusing on the cause and effects of rapid urbanisation and urban growth and change.

Learn more about sustainability

When the World Wildlife Fund declared the UAE to be the country with the world’s largest ecological footprint in 2006, it prompted the city to change. It now aims to get 75% of its energy from clean sources by 2050 and has already made huge leaps in terms of sustainability. All this makes Dubai a great choice for a geography school trip focusing on sustainability.

Of course, building a city in what was once desert obviously comes with its own set of challenges, not least the management of resources such as water. It barely rains in Dubai – in fact the Emirate sees less than four inches of rainfall per year, on average and there are no permanent rivers.

On your geography school trip to Dubai, you’ll be able to visit the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre in Sharjah. Here, your students will see how the UAE are using reed beds, or constructed wetlands, as a natural way to recycle water.

Another challenge facing Dubai is the lack of soil suitable to grow crops. At the Emirates Bio-Farm, your students will discover how the Emiratis have adapted organic farming practices to the Gulf environment, to allow them to farm crops sustainably.

Book with Halsbury

Take a look at our range of Dubai school trips below, and then get in touch with one of our tour advisers to discuss your requirements.

Prices from £875 pp

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Frequently Asked Questions

To really make the most of everything Dubai has to offer, we would recommend planning a 5 or 6-day school trip there.

We would recommend travelling to Dubai in December, January or February if possible, before it gets too hot.

Dubai's efficient public transport system is definitely the easiest way to get around the city.

We would highly recommend a desert safari, which includes dune bashing in a luxury 4x4, before enjoying a traditional Bedouin barbecue. Your students will also love a Dhow cruise around Dubai's spectacular marina. And make sure you don't miss the opportunity to visit Dubai Museum, where you can learn more about the history of Dubai and the Emirati culture and traditions.

Although it is seen as an expensive city, there are plenty of free things to do in Dubai. For example, you can explore the souks, including the glittering Gold Souk and fragrant Spice Souk. And you can explore the historic Al Fahidi district to see what Dubai looked like before oil was discovered here.

Yes, of course! Dubai is a fantastic destination for cultural tours and offers some great opportunities for geographers too!

Why choose Halsbury?

Here are just a few reasons why teachers choose Halsbury for educational school trips that inspire.

  • School trips designed by teachers for teachers

    Originally founded by teachers in 1986, we understand the pressures on you as Group Leader and are here to make the process of running your school trip as easy as possible.

    Learn more about Halsbury Travel

  • School trips tailored to your curriculum

    We'll design your trip around your specific learning objectives and curriculum, to ensure your school trip is a truly educational experience.

    Discover how we’ll tailor your school trip

  • Health & safety prioritised

    As a proud Assured Member of the School Travel Forum, the health and safety of your group is always our priority.

    Find out how we ensure your health and safety

  • Support every step of the way

    We'll be with you every step of the way, from your very first enquiry until the moment you return home, including 24-hour support while you’re on your school trip.

    Find out about the support we offer

  • Financially secure school trips

    We're ABTA bonded and all our air tours are ATOL protected, so you can be sure that your school trip is financially secure.

    Find out more about our accreditations

  • Rewarding loyalty scheme

    You'll earn loyalty points from your very first school trip with Halsbury. These can be used towards a discount on your school trip or a free gift for your school.

    Explore our loyalty scheme

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The Halsbury Difference

School trips designed by teachers for teachers

Originally founded by teachers in 1986 and with several former teachers in our team, we understand the pressures on you as Group Leader and work hard to relieve them.

Trips tailored to your curriculum and learning objectives

We’ll design your trip around your specific learning objectives and curriculum, to ensure it meets your particular requirements.

Rewarding loyalty scheme

Work together with other teachers in your school to save thousands of pounds on future school trips with our multi-trip loyalty scheme!