Overview

The ultra-modern sparkling city and emirate along with its stunning shorelines make Dubai a must-see! In Dubai, everything feels extra spectacular, this cutting-edge city and its soaring skyscrapers, luxury shopping, record-breaking attractions, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife is a hit with everyone. Dubai was named Tripadvisor’s #1 Top Destination in the World for 3 years running. It is home to some astonishing sights such as The Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world, The Dubai Mall which is the world’s largest mall, and the awe-inspiring man-made islands like Palm Jumeirah which is shaped like a palm tree. 

The City of Gold is known for its glitz and 5-star glam, innovative design, development, and architecture. There are tranquil deserts, picture-perfect beaches, and bustling colorful souks, there is a wide variety of things to see and do in Dubai. There are exciting theme parks, endless shopping options, thrilling safaris, indoor skiing, dune surfing, and other adrenaline-pumping activities. Strolling through the winding alleyways of the historical neighborhood of Al Fahidi is a charming way to see what the city was like during the mid-19th century. Any vacation to Dubai is sure to be extraordinary and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this futuristic city is a visual gem and just amazing to visit. 

Things to See and Do

Take an introductory tour of the city on the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Dubai Tour to discover the amazing sights this magical city has to offer. Highlights of the tour include The Palm, The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Marina, and the Dubai Creek. 

Be sure to see the most famous landmark in the city, the Burj Khalifa, set in the center of downtown, this magnificent 2,716-foot tall man-made skyscraper is the world’s tallest building. Head straight to `At the top` which is the world`s highest outdoor observation deck located on the 124th floor, marvel over the breathtaking views of the city below, and watch the sun rising over the sands.

The magnificent Dubai Fountains is found at the base of the Burj Khalifa, a spectacular sight to see, especially at night. This dazzling visual and audible show is quite impressive with lights, sounds, and water that move together as one. 

The Dubai Museum is housed inside the Al Fahidi Fort in Bur Dubai which is a part of Old Dubai. It is the oldest building in Dubai built in 1787. The museum features exciting exhibits on pearl diving and the history of Dubai.

Check out the Burj Al Arab another iconic symbol of Dubai, this 7-star hotel sits on its own manmade island just off the coast. This majestic hotel has a lot to offer but you have to have the big bucks to enjoy them with suites here costing upwards of $15,000 a night!! The most economical option to get inside this beauty is to book afternoon tea and check out the wonders this hotel has to offer.

Palm Jumeirah is a spectacular man-made wonder, an island shaped like a giant palm in the middle of the Persian Gulf. The magnificent Atlantis Resort is situated on the crescent and is home to Aquaventure Water Park. Make your way out to the Palm and check out all the wonders it has to offer. 

Take the family to The Dubai Parks and Resorts, the largest integrated leisure and theme park in the Middle East featuring over 100 rides and attractions including Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Water Park, and Bollywood Parks.

Spend an afternoon at IMG World of Adventure another popular attraction in Dubai, the world`s largest indoor theme park featuring 17 themed rides in four different themed zones including Cartoon Network, Marvel, and Lost Valley. Restaurants, stores, and a cinema are also featured.

Visit the Jumeirah Mosque, one of the most stunning mosques in Dubai with its detailed white façade and medieval Fatimid architectural style in the center of the historic district in Bur Dubai. Inside visitors can witness the spectacular ornate décor and visit the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding to promote the understanding of Islam.

Shopping

Dubai is a shopaholic's dream destination with a wide array of shopping variations and boasting some of the largest and most spectacular malls in the world, including the Dubai Mall and The Mall of Emirates.Some may consider the shopping in Dubai to be average but the overall experience is pretty outstanding. Traditional souks (Arab marketplaces) are plentiful in the city where shoppers are advised to `haggle` with the shopkeeper for the best prices. Dubai is well known for its gold and textiles along with some electronics.

The Dubai Shopping Festival starts in January and ends in February, it is the biggest shopping event featured in the Middle East, and the festival features family fun entertainment and concerts with performances by international musicians, bands, and celebrities.

The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world. It is a premier mall that offers shoppers over 1,200 stores and 150 restaurants along with the world`s largest aquarium! Visit the Dubai Aquarium and walk through the biggest see-through viewing panel in the world with sharks, rays, and other marine life swimming all around you. You can catch a movie, go ice skating, and check out the indoor theme park, and be sure to stop by the giant indoor waterfall as this is a spectacular sight to see.

The Bur Dubai Souk area is situated on the Dubai Creek, catch a boat across the creek and make your way to the many `souks` in the area including Gold and Perfume, these markets are a great place to find some traditional Arabian souvenirs.

The Mall of Emirates, is another one of the city`s famous malls with over 1,200 stores and over 100 restaurants covering 255, 489 square meters of space. Featured at the mall is Ski Dubai the largest indoor snow park featuring 5 different ski slopes, the first indoor black diamond run, sledding, toboggan runs, giant snowballs, and real penguins.

Beaches

Visit Kite Beach a serene stretch of white sand beach filled with a wide array of water sports activities, renowned for its kite surfers along with swimming and kayaking the area is filled with restaurants, cafes with great views of the Burj Al Arab.

Spend the day at Jumeirah Beach a visually stunning long stretch of sand on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The stretch leads down to The Palm Jumeirah island entrance. Soak up the sun while sunbathing on the warm sand, take a leisurely stroll, or a refreshing dip in the ocean, and grab food and refreshments from one of the oceanfront restaurants.