54 Best things to see & do in Dubai

At 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building – truly a sight to behold, whether standing proud against a clear blue desert sky, reflecting the colours of the sunset, or springing to life with lights and LED displays at night.

Gaze up at it from ground level or ride up to the 125th floor, in the lift with the longest travel distance in the world for the ‘At the Top’ experience. The tower’s observation decks offer multimedia presentations about Dubai’s history, and immersive virtual reality experiences. You can even step out onto the world’s highest outdoor observation deck, located on the 148th floor.

This extraordinary, one-of-a-kind museum offers visitors an insight into what a future world will look like. Interactive exhibits and displays showcase cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and virtual reality that delight, amaze and bamboozle. The highlight of the museum is undoubtedly the Future Lab, where visitors can try out futuristic technologies and even create their own inventions. Kids of all ages will love it here.

Even if you don’t go inside, at least stop by to see the building – an architectural marvel with the metallic facade, smothered in intricate geometric patterns.

From Matt: Highlight for me was the lift you can take to the top floor when you start your visit. It simulates a spaceship launch up to a space station. Brilliant!

Due to their often inaccessible locations, unrelenting heat and generally harsh living conditions, deserts are not something we come across or get the chance to experience often – which is why this is such an essential Dubai experience.

First, there are your desert outdoor activities for those with an interest in adrenaline. These include sandboarding, dune-bashing (driving over dunes in 4x4s) and quad biking. A number of more nature-themed safaris head instead to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, a stunning environment populated with rehabilitated indigenous wildlife, including the once-endangered Arabian oryx and gazelle.

Second, a trip into the expansive desert outside of the city also allows you to tick off a checklist of distinctly Arabian experiences. Many tours will include the option to ride on a camel, watch a traditional falconry display, smoke a sheesha and get a henna tattoo.

Your Lawrence of Arabia desert experience concludes at a Bedouin-style desert camp for dinner, with entertainment supplied by traditional local performers, including belly dancers.

Platinum Heritage and Sonara Camp are amongst the best operators that have overnight camp options. You could then also arrange a sunrise hot air balloon flight – a surreally beautiful way to see the desert.

Some of the desert activities have minimum age requirements; for example, dune buggying is for over-14s only (passengers) or over-18s (drivers), camel riding for over 5s. The sunset dinner safaris are a great experience for children from about 5 upwards.

Desert safaris – that include a checklist of outdoor desert adventures – are one of Dubai’s top attractions. But many miss out on the rare opportunity to spend a night in the desert. When the tour group hordes head back after their Beduin-style dinner, the desert returns to a place of utter tranquillity, overlooked by a carpet of twinkling stars for mesmerising star-gazing.

Luxury local operator Nara offers you the chance to stay a night, or two, at their ‘Nest’ camp. You can go straight there for sunset drinks, followed by dinner. Meals range from simple barbecues to multi-course feasts, with most evenings ending with glasses of steaming mint tea, taken around a flickering fire.  You can try your hand at archery, or perhaps ride a camel, and learn some astronomy –  the starry night sky is magnificent and clear.

Alternatively, you can choose to dine at the Sonara Camp, where dinner is taken in a hollow carved out of the sands, strewn with fairy lights, with an open kitchen and a stage, where the evening’s performances include a whirling dervish and fire show. Dishes infused with regional flavours include lamb shoulder with Ras el Hanout spices, slow-cooked hammour fish from Umm Al Quwain, and roasted cauliflower with tahini. There’s also an entire menu dedicated to vegan guests. Afterwards, you return to The Nets to sleep.

A more budget-conscious ‘desert glamping’ experience of offered by the Hatta Dome Park, where you sleep in specially-created dome tents, with views over the Hitta mountains. For the top-end experience, at a desert oasis no less, then book yourself in for a night or two at the uber-luxurious Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa.

All ages are welcome, but there are minimum ages for activities – for example, children must be 5 and over to ride a camel.

Emirati food is similar to other Arabic cuisines, with cardamom, saffron, turmeric, thyme and cinnamon as central flavours, but with the city home to almost 200 nationalities, you’ll find a restaurant or café serving dishes from almost anywhere in the world.

In recent years, Dubai has become a serious gastro-hub, with dozens of international celebrity chefs setting up outposts within the city’s top hotels. However, for those looking for more affordable eats, there are excellent and more authentic Indian, Pakistani, Persian and Lebanese restaurants and cafes.

What to try

Harees is a classic Emirati dish to look out for, with small pieces of meat combined with cracked wheat and spices to form a kind of thick porridge. Shawarma chicken wraps are a delicious, omnipresent snack.

For the ultimate sweet treat, Loqaimat are deep-fried dough balls, best-served piping hot with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a generous pour of date syrup.

Camels have always been an integral and essential part of Emirati life – for milk and meat, for transport, and for entertainment.

Like horse racing in other countries, camel racing is a hugely popular and traditional sport in Dubai – one dating back to the 7th century. Also like their equestrian peers, racing camels are big business. Prices start at $20,000 – the fastest can fetch bids over $2,000,000.

Dubai’s biggest camel racing track, Al Marmoom, located at the Dubai Camel Racing Club, is the best place to experience this lively tradition.

Races, with anything from 15-60 competing camels, last about 15 minutes, and range from 2.5 miles to 6 miles, depending on the weight, age and gender of the camels.

Thankfully, jockeys were banned in 2002 in UAE – the camels now spring in response to prompts from robot jockeys tied to their humps, with trainers following behind in 4x4s.

If you have time, and even if you’re not a typical fan of such sports, a visit to the track is well worth it for a fascinating insight into Emirati culture, tradition and rituals –  and the unique and thrilling spectacle.

With a depth of 60 metres, Deep Dive Dubai adds a new superlative to the city’s attractions. It’s the world’s deepest diving pool.

But this is no ordinary pool. Themed like a post-apocalyptic sunken city, divers can explore a fully-furnished abandoned apartment, play arcade games, sit on a sofa, and shoot some pool, all underwater. It’s a fun, underwater theme park and unlike any other diving facility anywhere in the world.

Don’t worry if you’re not a diver – you can join a Discover Scuba session, or even just snorkel, to get a taste of the experience. Certified divers can explore the true depths, and there are a number of courses designed to help you improve your diving skills.

Especially for under 12s

Children aged 6 and upwards can book in for a special ‘kids experience’ – choose between snorkelling, free diving or tankless scuba diving. If they’re over 10 they can also do a ‘Scuba Discovery’ dive up to 12m.

Some cities really lend themselves to being seen from the sky – and Dubai is one of them.

Hop in a helicopter for jaw-dropping flights over Dubai’s famous landmarks, from Dubai Creek to the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), and the man-made Palm Jumeirah and World Islands.

Flights range from a 12-minute short-hop, where you’ll share the helicopter with up to five other people, to 45 and 60-minute private flights. If you’re also planning on visiting the Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujeirah emirates, you can book a VIP helicopter charter (and save yourself the drive).

It’s an unforgettable experience that gets you up close to Dubai’s world-famous landmarks, and puts the sprawling desert city in perspective. Children over 2 are permitted, accompanied by an adult, but kids under 12 may find the experience frightening.

By many standards Dubai is an exceptional place – when they do something here it’s usually either the biggest in the world, or a world first. Perhaps not surprising then that few, if any, cities can rival Dubai for a family holiday.

Hotels are exceptionally family-friendly, with plenty of bed and bedroom configurations, kids’ meals, space for play and facilities galore (including kids’ clubs). Then, there’s a prevalence of good weather, golden sand beaches and waterparks – a heady mix for any kid.

Even a trip to the shopping mall – usually an occasion of dread for the little nippers – can yield skiing, ice skating, giant aquariums, waterfalls, cinemas, oversized toy shops and more in Dubai’s mega shopping malls slash entertainment centres.

Last, but not least, there there are a ridiculous number of specialist family attractions and activities on offer. Here’s our round-up of some of the best.

One for adrenalin junkies, Skydive Dubai offers skydives over two sites in Dubai: the famous Palm (the Palm drop zone) or Dubai’s nearby desert dunes, 35km from the city (the Desert drop zone).

You’ll jump from 13,000 feet and reach speeds of up to 120 mph, with 60 seconds of freefall. If you can relax enough to enjoy the views, they’re spectacular.

Floating over the Dubai desert at sunrise in a hot air balloon is a magical experience; the chance to get a unique perspective on just how extensive the desert really is.

As the sun rises and its rays touch the surface of the dunes, the colours change from pale yellow to orange, and in some parts where the iron content is high, almost scarlet.

If you’re lucky, you might have some early morning mist; as it clears, the extraordinary landscape of rolling dunes is revealed. Keen-eyed viewers may also see groups of camels traversing the sands.

Children over 4 are permitted, accompanied by an adult, but they need to be tall enough to see over the basket unaided – and unafraid of heights!

In a desert city where summer temperatures nudge 50°C, Dubai’s 60-plus shopping malls serve a similar function to city parks – vast open spaces where citizens can gather in comfort to wander and mingle, as well as to dine and shop.

The bigger malls also serve as entertainment hubs, with everything from cinema complexes and kids’ edutainment zones, to giant aquariums and regular live events. Even if you’re not a shopper, a visit to a mall is a quintessential Dubai experience – and one of the city’s favourite pastimes.

The buildings of ‘Old’ Dubai may only date back 100 years or so, but this neighbourhood, encompassing the Al Fahidi heritage district, Bur Dubai and the Creek itself, is the place to come to get a feel of the city’s history.

Until the 20th century, Dubai was a small pearl-diving and trading post, under the protection of the British as part of the Trucial States. Since the discovery of oil in the region, along with the formation of the UAE and independence in 1971, the city’s growth has been unprecedented, with mega-towers mushrooming out of the desert and tax-free zones drawing businesses and expatriates from across the globe.

From its roots as a centre of trade and pearling, Old Dubai is where you can catch a glimpse of how life would have felt before the skyscrapers arrived. Traditional wind towers rise up above the alleyways, old houses have been converted into atmospheric courtyard cafés and traditional wooden abra boats still cross Dubai Creek.

You can easily spend an entire day here, visiting some interesting museums, browsing the galleries, and shopping the souqs. Don’t miss the opportunity to get on the water – cross from one side to the other for just AED 1, or book your own abra for a private hour-long tour.

While it may be famous for its desert location, Dubai’s beaches are where residents head on weekends. The long coastline offers a choice of excellent public beaches, some with facilities including bathrooms, shops and food trucks, others without.

Options range from hip beach clubs or family-friendly public stretches of sand. If you stay at any of the luxury resorts along the coast you’ll have recliners, cabanas and cocktail service to hand on a private stretch.

Head to one of the buzzy beach clubs and you can float in the warm waters or dance to the DJ. On weekends these can almost have the feel of outdoor nightclubs.

With one of the world’s most connected airports, serviced by one of the world’s biggest airlines, Dubai has become an epicentre of global travel. Probably no wonder then that it has also emerged as one of the world’s leading shopping destinations.

Extraordinary shopping malls – vast in scale and scope – are dotted all over the city. The big malls are destinations in themselves, mini-cities within the city, home to entertainment zones and hundreds of restaurants.

The most atmospheric places to shop though are the traditional souks (bazaars) in Deira and Bur Dubai on either side of Dubai Creek, (although the vendors can be extremely persistent at times).

You’ll also find concept stores in various locations, particularly around the Jumeirah neighbourhood, stocking products from local and regional designers, floaty kaftans, homeware and accessories.

What to buy

Must-buy souvenirs include carpets, Arabian attars (perfumes), sheesha pipes, bronze coffee pots, Aladdin slippers, Bedouin jewellery, antique khanjar daggers, Gulf-style incense burners, dates, and fluffy toy camels for kids.

An atmospheric bazaar where dazzling chains, earrings, headdresses and more drip from the shop windows, and good deals can be had if you know what you’re looking for. It’s regulated by the Dubai government to ensure authenticity.

Saved from the tip, today it’s permanently moored in Dubai where it’s been repurposed as a hotel where guests can stay and relive their Golden Age fantasies. Guests and non-guests can join entertaining and informative heritage tours led by the ship’s former Cruise Director, which will teach you all about this legend of the seas and its role in the Golden Age.

For the full experience, book in for an afternoon tea in the Queen’s Grill.

Set in the 30-acre Burj Lake, at the foot of the Burj Khalifa next to Dubai Mall, this Bellagio-esque, 5-minute light, sound and water spectacular sees jets of water shoot up to 140m into the air, synchronised to music. It takes place every 30 minutes from 6pm, over an area covering 2 football pitches. Head to the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk for the best view.

A family-friendly journey around the world in one evening, full of shopping, food and entertainment. Pick up honey from Yemen, kaftans from Morocco, Thai food from the floating market, and go for a spin on the fairground rides. Good – if slightly kitsch – fun.

One for the gardeners – this aptly-named garden, cultivated in the Middle East desert climes, is the world’s largest natural flower garden with over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants. The 72,000 square metres of park features numerous structures and decorations – from castles to elephants to 747s – covered in brightly coloured blooms.

One of the world’s largest malls, at the foot of the world’s tallest building – a veritable city within a city. The mall includes 1,300 shops, a vast aquarium, ice rink and cinema, and SEGA Republic. Next door is a modern souk and a lake with spectacular dancing fountains directly beneath the Burj Khalifa.

Head to this restaurant/café on the 122nd floor of the iconic Burj Khalifa for the highest tea in the world. You’ll have practically the same views as from the observation deck, but with a more relaxed ambience. Cocktails, coffee and full dining options available too.

An outdoor park featuring over 500 different displays and sculptures, illuminated by millions of lights. Highlights include famous monuments like the Taj Mahal, a Dinosaur Park with life-sized dinosaur models, the Underwater World, and the Magic Park, with interactive exhibits and optical illusions.

Running alongside Dubai Creek, the main lane of the souk is firmly for tourists and vendors can be quite persistent. Head one street back to find the real textile shops that cater to local tailors, with hues of every colour, shimmering satins, thousands of sequins, and the classic blacks and whites that are used to make Emirati traditional dress.

This observatory, sited on the top of 50-story dual towers, offers views across the skyscrapered Dubai skyline. Daredevils (age 12-65 years) can book in for a terrifying ‘Edge Walk’ along the rim, attached to harnesses; and/or slide 4m down a transparent glass tube on the building exterior.

Colossal marine and waterpark located at Atlantis The Palm, featuring adrenalin-pumping slides, including 12 new slides added at Trident Tower. Heaven for kids and big kids; only the bravest dare to try the near-vertical ‘Leap of Faith’ waterslide.

The world’s highest Ferris wheel, Ain Dubai has recently opened in Dubai Marina, offering spectacular views of the waters of the Arabian Gulf and towering skyscrapers along the coastline.

While some stores feel a little touristy, locals really do stock up on spices here too. From Iranian saffron to piles of chilis, cloves and spice mixes, the shopkeepers will be happy to tell you about their stock and how you can use the spices back home.

The UAE’s national museum, set in this striking building by architects Moriyama & Teshima, is dedicated to preserving and displaying the heritage of the UAE – everything from social and cultural, scientific and military. The location was specially chosen to be where the country was founded in 1971. Open daily, with free daily guide tours.

A wonderful opportunity for non-Muslims to gain an insight into the Islamic faith. Public tours are on offer as part of the ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’ programme, inviting visitors to ask questions of their Emirati guides, enhancing their understanding of local culture.

Indoor ski centre located inside the Mall of the Emirates, with two ski lifts and a ‘chalet’ for hot chocolate mid-ski. Worth a look, if only for the novelty or wrapping up in ski wear when it’s 45°C outside, but there are better things to do in Dubai.

Anyone wanting to explore the desert scenery outside of the city should sign up for this 7-mile (11km) hike, run by local operator Nara. The trail is 1.5 hours from Dubai. Luxury transfers, refreshments and guide are included.

A smallish waterpark inspired by Arabian myths/legends (Sinbad and Juha) popularised in children’s stories, with a reasonable fare of child-friendly water chutes, waterfalls and wave pools. It’s a great spot for families with younger kids – older kids will be bored after a couple of hours and would be better at the Aquaventure alternative.

A staggering replica of an Arabian walled citadel from medieval times, complete with towering sand-coloured buildings topped by wind towers, a touristy-but-fun covered souk, some great restaurants and bars, and a maze of meandering canals and lagoons plied by abras.

It may veer on the kitsch, with its bazaar of Aladdin’s Cave-style shops, but some of the boutiques stock high-quality embroidered fabrics, pashminas and scarves. When you’re shopped out, there’s a great selection of restaurants outside, and cute little abra boats to ride around the man-made canals.

Cultural activities and meals – including wonderful cultural breakfasts and lunches in Al Fahidi – offer visitors the chance to understand Dubai from the perspective of Emirati’s who have grown up and live in the city.

A delightful former trader’s house in Al Fahidi where you could spend hours sitting in the atmospheric courtyard beneath the shady tree, sipping a mint lemonade or sweet karak tea.

An 86km cycling track that heads out from the city into the desert (go only as far as you want). Opt for an early morning or evening ride to avoid the heat, and you might be lucky enough to spot gazelles or oryxes. Bike rental is available from Hello Bike.

Just a stone’s throw from the Burj Khalifa, this is one of the city’s most unexpected sights – a wetland sanctuary full of avian life, including Greater Flamingos, spoonbills, egrets and more. Go early morning when they gather in large numbers.

This small (by Dubai’s standards) waterpark – the newest of the bunch – is on the waterfront at La Mer, so also comes with a beach. Better for older, water chute-loving kids and infinity-pool-loving adults.

The Dubai outlet of this popular theme park – packed with jaw-dropping Lego constructions and over 40 Lego-themed rides – is a great day out for kids 2-12. The air-conditioned indoor mini-land has Lego models of all Dubai’s top landmarks.

Drive out to this dairy camel farm on the outskirts of Dubai to visit the dromedaries and watch them being milked. Sample fresh camel milk, as well as flavoured milks and ice cream. Its creamy flavour belies the fact that it’s 50% lower in fat than cow’s milk.

This warehouse district, a vibrant community of all things arts, continues to go from strength to strength. It features exceptional regional art across multiple galleries, as well as the region’s first arthouse cinema, and a handful of hip cafes and one-of-a-kind design boutiques.

This labyrinthine mall holds around 1,000 outlets and is one of Dubai’s most popular. The top attraction is Ski Dubai, the famous indoor ski run and snow park. If you don’t fancy skiing, just grab a coffee and watch the surreal snowy scene through huge windows.

This mega-theme park is inspired by Hollywood, with zones, shows, rides and characters themed around blockbuster movies such as Shrek and Madagascar for little ones –  there’s even a full-blown Smurf’s Village on-site – and Hunger Games for older children. There’s even an on-site, working movie studio for behind-the-scenes tours.

A monstrously large indoor amusement park, with five entertainment zones: two original concepts ‘IMG Boulevard’ and a dinosaur-themed ‘Lost valley’, and zones for international brands Marvel and Cartoon Network featuring the well-known characters and heroes. The fifth zone is a 12-screen cinema complex.

The name says it all – 110 inflatable games and challenges floating on water offering hours of energetic fun for kids and adults alike. The world’s largest inflatable waterpark at 2,700 sq m is 25m off the beach at the Jumeirah Beach Residence. Open all year round.

Located near the iconic Burj Al Arab, this long stretch of public beach is a great place for families to enjoy water sports such as kite surfing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. There are food trucks and cafes, showers and changing facilities. There’s also a long wooden promenade for sunset strolls and a skatepark.

Located in the Jumeirah district, this public beach is a popular spot for families. With a wide stretch of white sand, crystal-clear waters, and numerous facilities like showers, changing rooms, and play areas, this beach offers a fun day out for all ages.

Shaped like an Egyptian pyramid, and themed as such throughout, the highlight of this mall is the beautiful reconstructed Souk Khan Murjan, which lies beneath the modern mall. The souk is full of stained glass, decorative details and artisan wares. Stop for a Middle Eastern lunch in the attractive courtyard of the Khan Murjan restaurant.

Yet another vast mall, this one is located just south of the airport and on a similar scale to Mall of the Emirates. In place of a ski run, there’s an aerial assault course and indoor skydiving centre, alongside a great ‘edutainment’ zone for kids.

This themed shopping mall lies beyond Dubai Marina and is split into six separate courts that trace the travels of famous Arabic scholar-traveller Ibn Battuta. Look out for story boards throughout and other oddities such as replica ships and life-sized elephants. There’s an IMAX theatre too.

A chocolate factory making everything from bean to bar in Dubai, Mirzam’s creations feature regional ingredients and rich storytelling, involving everything from ancient maritime trade routes and sea monsters to Emirati traditions. Don’t miss the lovely cafe in the Al Quoz neighbourhood..