Dubai is the United Arab Emirates’ tourist hotspot. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
The city of skyscrapers and shopping malls is a destination that attracts tourists from all over the world, for its sunshine, adventure shopping and family fun. Dubai has an impressive infrastructure, the highest tower in the world and some of the most luxurious restaurants and hotels.
Here are the top 12 must-visit places in Dubai and must-do things.
Iconic places to visit in Dubai #1: Burj Khalifa
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Burj Khalifa is an iconic place to visit in Dubai as it is the world’s tallest building. At 828 metres (2,716.5 ft), the 200-plus-storey Burj Khalifa has 160 liveable floors. The Burj Khalifa is a spectacular combination of architecture and engineering with two observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors and Atmosphere, the world’s highest restaurant at 1,450 ft, on the 122nd floor. The Burj Khalifa also has the highest outdoor observation deck (1,820 ft), highest occupied floor (160th floor at 1,920 ft) and the longest elevator (1,653 ft).
See also: Check out the list of 10 tallest building in India and the tallest buildings in Mumbai
Iconic places to visit in Dubai #2: Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab is an iconic landmark in Dubai. It is a seven-star hotel that resembles a sail. Towering 321 metres, Burj Al Arab is the world’s tallest all-suite hotel. It has a helipad on the 28th floor and a restaurant that appears suspended in mid-air. Burj Al Arab is located on a manmade island that is linked to the mainland by a private bridge. The hotel has various pools, nine restaurants and bars and a waterpark. 24-carat gold has been embellished on the furniture and art frames. A tourist can book the ‘Inside Burj Al Arab’ show to experience Arabian luxury. The 90-minute guided tour of the hotel includes a visit to the opulent hotel atrium and the glamourous Royal Suite, a curated experience and a suite with digital interactives to relive the history of the original architectural designs.
Places to visit in Dubai #3: Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island
Another must-visit place in Dubai is the Palm Jumeirah, built on reclaimed land and resembling a series of artificial archipelagos. Palm Jumeirah is shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above. The island has some of Dubai’s top luxury resorts. No steel or concrete was used in creating the Palm Jumeirah, which comprises a whopping 120 million cubic metres of sand, brought from the seabed. The island offers tourists various activities. From shopping malls and hotels to luxury beach resorts, Palm Jumeirah Islands have it all. A tourist can sail around Palm Jumeirah in a yacht or speedboat or board the Palm Monorail that passes the Atlantis resort.
Places to visit in Dubai #4: Museum of the Future
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The Museum of the Future is a new tourist attraction in Dubai and is considered among the world’s most beautiful buildings. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the city’s main highway, the museum is a seven-story hollow elliptical structure designed from stainless steel and inscribed with Arabic calligraphy quotes. The museum takes the visitors on an experiential journey to the year 2071, which corresponds with the centenary year of the UAE’s founding. The seven-storey building has no pillars and is an engineering marvel. The museum presents various futuristic experiences – a trip to space, a visit to the Amazon rainforests and a spa of the senses. It utilises the latest virtual reality and augmented reality technology, big data analysis, AI and human-machine interaction. Architecturally, it has no sharp edges and is among the most streamlined structures in the world. It stands at a height of 77 metres.
See also: Top 10 tourist places in Jaipur
Places to visit in Dubai #5: Dubai Aquarium
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo holds the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Acrylic Pane’. It is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. Located in The Dubai Mall, it is home to more than 33,000 aquatic animals, comprising over 140 species. The aquarium has more than 400 sharks in the 10-million-litre tank. Cage snorkelling is a popular attraction as tourists can snorkel in the 10-million-litre water-filled tank that teems with diverse marine life. Sailing in a glass-bottom boat that floats on the surface of the water is an amazing experience too.
Places to visit in Dubai #6: Atlantis Aquaventure and Secret Chamber
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The Aquaventure Waterpark has private beaches, kids’ play areas and marine activities and it is adjacent to the Atlantis Aquaventure, the largest waterpark in Dubai with iconic rides and attractions. The water park is spread over a 17-hectare area and offers the most fascinating water attractions. The park has 30 water slides for adventurous tourists. You can dive in the Leap of Faith, a 27.5-metre plunge that takes you through a clear tube surrounded by rays and sharks. Another thrilling attraction is the Aquacade. You can slide through the tube at a speed of up to 35 kph. Do not miss the Secret Chambers and Atlantis Underwater Zoo, which have 65,000 marine animals.
Places to visit in Dubai #7: Ski Dubai
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Enjoy a fantastic winter setting in the mountains in Ski Dubai. This tourist attraction in the Dubai Mall has various snow activities including skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding. You can also get close to the resident snow penguins. Ski Dubai is the Middle East’s first indoor ski centre. It is a must-visit place with five ski runs (the longest of which spans more than 1,300 ft with a 197-ft vertical drop), a giant ball run, an exciting 10-ft ramp, tube slides and a relaxing chairlift that enables you to see the sights from a height.
Places to visit in Dubai #8: Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina, the manmade canal city, is set on a two-mile stretch of sand facing the Arabian Gulf. Here, tourists can view the high-rise luxury residential and vacation properties. To explore the area, take a boat tour on a traditional Arabian dhow, yacht or speed boat. The entire waterfront district is man-made and was created by excavating the desert and allowing the waters of the Gulf to flow into the site. Make the most of this waterside location by soaking up the sun and swimming at Jumeirah Beach. Dubai Marina Walk is a seven-km-long palm-lined waterfront walkway with lovely landscaped greenery.
See also: Best tourist places to visit in Goa and things to do
Places to visit in Dubai #9: Dubai Frame
Dubai Frame holds the world record for being the largest picture frame. Situated in Dubai’s Zabeel Park, between old and new Dubai, the huge structure offers panoramic views of the city from a height of 150 metres. An amazing feature is the state-of-the-art glass bridge that connects parallel vertical towers to create the shape of a picture frame. The structure, designed with a decorative mix of glass, reinforced concrete, steel and aluminium, has an abstract look. Take the elevator to the top, to walk across the sky bridge at the top of the frame, to get a 360-degree view of the city.
Places to visit in Dubai #10: Miracle Garden
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Miracle Garden is one of the most attractive natural flower gardens in the world. Miracle Garden in Dubai has more than 150 million flowers in full bloom. This 72,000 sqm paradise blossoms into the most picturesque, sweet-scented floral paradise. The world’s largest natural flower garden has hundreds of flower-formed displays, spread over 18 acres (7.3 hectares), creating an extravaganza of colour and scent. The floral creations change each season to ensure a different experience each time you visit. The garden is open from mid-November to May.
Places to visit in Dubai #11: Dolphinarium
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Dubai’s Dolphinarium is a huge tourist attraction spread over 1.25 acres (approximately) of air-conditioned area. Located in Creek Park, a family entertainment and activity park in Dubai, the Dolphinarium is the home of six bottlenose dolphins and seals. This Dolphinarium has an arena-style seating with the pool in the centre. A 45-minute indoor interactive extravaganza showcases the animals’ skills. Watch the dolphins and seals dance, sing, juggle, play ball and jump through hoops!
Places to visit in Dubai #12: Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain is one of the world’s largest musical fountains designed by the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas. Located at the base of the Burj Khalifa, each colourful, illuminated jet in The Dubai Fountain sways in time to musical numbers from around the world. Nearly 300 metres (900 ft) long, the fountain can spray water to the height equivalent to a 50-storey building. The fountain is illuminated by 6,600+ lights and 25 colour projectors. The fountain system is an engineering masterpiece – the water comes from a system that recycles condensation from Burj Khalifa’s air-conditioners.
See also: Top 10 places to visit and things to do in Pune
Top things to do in Dubai
There are various activities for tourists in Dubai. We list the top things to do in Dubai.
Dubai desert safari
Desert dune safari is a must-have experience in Dubai. Riding over dunes and sliding off at 45-degree angles while strapped in a 4-wheel drive is a scary but fun experience. This adventurous safari can be clubbed with dinner, camel ride, sandboarding and entertainment options. Visit the Bedouin Camp that makes these trips iconic.
Sky dive Dubai
The skydiving experience is for those who wish to have a thrilling adrenaline rush. Skydive from 13,000 ft above the Palm Jumeirah.
Dhow ride
Dhow Cruise Creek is the best spot for romantic trips. Enjoy the two-hour dinner cruise, with a wide range of cuisines, through the sparkling waters of Dubai on a traditional Dhow boat under Dubai’s gleaming skyline.
Best shopping places in Dubai
A shopaholic’s dream destination, Dubai malls are among the biggest in the world and have a mind-boggling selection for all budgets. From luxurious malls to traditional souks, Dubai has lots to offer. Apart from branded fashion wear and cosmetics, a tourist can buy exquisite lamps, lanterns, gold, camel milk chocolate, dates, Arabic perfumes and Persian rugs.
The Dubai Mall sprawls over 12 million sq ft and houses 1,200-plus shops and 150 restaurants. The Mall of the Emirates is one of the best shopping malls in Dubai. With 600+ retail outlets, the mall also has over 100 restaurants and cafés. Ibn Battuta Mall, one of the world’s largest themed malls, pays tribute to the travels of the famed explorer, Ibn Battuta. The mall has six different zones based on the travels of Battuta – China Court, India Court, Persia Court, Egypt Court, Tunisia Court and Andalusia Court. Each court has relics and architecture that represent these regions.
Gold souk in Dubai is one of the largest retailers of gold worldwide. There are over 300 gold retail stores that mostly trade in jewellery. Gold Souk offers a mind-blowing collection of 18, 21, 22 and 24-carat gold jewellery. It is believed that a minimum of 10 tonnes of gold is present within the Souk at any given time. Platinum, silver and precious stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds are also traded in Dubai Gold Souk.
Must-have food in Dubai
About 85% of Dubai’s population are expats, lending it a mix of cuisine, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Dubai is a hub of world cuisine – Japanese, Lebanese, Uzbek, Syrian, Italian, French, Persian, Indian and of course, Emirati. Dubai has restaurants by some of the world’s best-known Michelin-starred chefs.
Shawarma is the most popular and must-have dish in the UAE. Be it malls, street outlets or restaurants, you will find shawarma at any time of the day. You may have tried shawarma at your local shops but this is the real deal. Prepared from lamb or chicken, here, it is served in an Arabic roti with vegetables, fries, tomatoes, pickles, garlic sauce and hummus. Another must-have dish is Mandi, made of meat or chicken mixed with spices and served with rice. Falafel, the Lebanese deep-fried balls or patties, is a popular snack in the Middle-East. Falafel is stuffed in pita bread or Khubboos or Turkish bread and served as a sandwich, along with vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes and tahini. Dubai also has a variety of desserts. Try the kulfis, Baklava, Mehalabiyais (a kind of pudding) and Knafeh (a sticky pastry made of gooey sweet cheese).
FAQs
What is the best time to visit Dubai?
November to March is the best time to visit Dubai as these are the winter months. These months are quite pleasant with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. Dubai Shopping Festival is the highlight of this season and you can find the greatest shopping deals. Avoid June, July and August as these are the hottest months with temperatures crossing 40 degrees.
Which are the theme parks that are a must-visit for tourists with kids?
Children can enjoy activities at theme parks such as Motion Gate, Bollywood Park and Legoland.
Which is the best way to get around Dubai?
Taxis are the easiest way of getting around Dubai. The cabs can be hailed off the streets, called over the phone or booked via an app. The Dubai metro is also an option. It is one of the most modern and cost-effective public transport systems in the world.
Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.
Email: [email protected]
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