Dubai – UAE : Whether you are an expat hosting family and friends in Dubai, or a tourist yourself, Dubai has much to offer. The timeless beauty of the desert with the most historical monuments, attractions alongside the man-made architectural marvels, bustling night life, souks, adventure activities and an unmatched shopping experience for retail therapy, makes Dubai a must see destination for travellers.
Dubai can get very expensive, as it is a luxury destination; however, you could get yourself combined deal packages, and explore the city on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour that stops at all major attractions. If you choose to carry some currency, or travellers’ cheques, you could exchange them at any of the money exchange service providers, which provide competitive rates.
Below we have listed some of our favourite places under the different categories, yet this list is a starting point and cannot do justice to everything that Dubai, has to offer.
Man-Made Marvels
Burj Khalifa
This is the tallest building in the world, which takes you to new heights literally. A trip to the observation deck on the slick high speed elevator to 124th floor offers 360 degree views of the skyscrapers, desert and the sea. On ground level, there are beautifully designed gardens with walkways and the well-known Dubai fountains.
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is the world’s only 7 star hotel and designed to resemble a sail. Dominating the Dubai skyline, it truly is one of the most iconic symbols of Dubai and is a majestic building. No trip to Dubai would be complete without seeing this symbol of modern Dubai. More than the stunning building itself, its luxurious hospitality, finest services and experiences, make this the world’s most luxurious hotel. If you are not staying there, you may need to make prior reservations for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Adventure
Dune Bashing and Desert Camp
Venture through the desert in a 4 x 4 rugged Land Rover, and enjoy the exhilarating desert safari and the overnight camp in Bedouin style tents. Watch the sun go down as you enjoy traditional Bedouin style camp with a spectacular local dance performance and may be even a falconry display and delicious authentic dinner under the stars. You may even spot some Arabian wild life such as the wild Arabian oryx, or the Persian lynx and honey badger.
Apart from the above mentioned desert camp experience there are several activities such as the kite surfing, hot air balloon ride, helicopter ride, seaplane fight, wakeboarding, reef diving and mountain biking tandem diving, and Kayaking,
History
Dubai is filled with historical treasures, museums and heritage areas, which take you on a journey to the past. Learn about the centuries-old structures and Dubai’s Bedouin and pearl-trading past by visiting the Heritage Village and Dubai Museum in the historic Al Fahidi Fort.
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) is recommended to understand the Emirati culture and heritage, while Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum’s House is the residence of the ruling family and Dubai’s visionary founder.
Shopping
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is the world’s largest mall where you could spend the entire day shopping, dining and enjoying amazing places of entertainment. It has an ice skating rink, gaming zone, live music and cinemas. The famous shopping festivals, take place here in January and February and the Dubai Summer Surprises Festival in July and August.
Whilst shopping, you could also enjoy the Dubai Aquarium and the beautiful Dubai Fountain show, where the fountains dance to world music.
For more traditional shopping, venture into Deira, which is known as the melting point of different cultures and nationalities, and has the traditional souks (markets), like the Gold Souk, the largest gold bazaar in the world, and the Spice Souk which sells every imaginable spice from the East. Magical, luxurious, modern and traditional, make Dubai one of the hottest business and leisure locations in the world. It has great flight connectivity across the world, and offers hassle-free visas on arrival for many nationalities.