Dubai

World-class shopping, dining and entertainment attractions, beautiful beaches, mysterious deserts and culturally-rich heritage sites – Dubai is a must-see holiday destination, with something for everyone. From shopping enthusiasts and adventure-seekers to foodies and families, this bustling city has an eclectic mix of activities and places to suit all tastes.

From a humble village to a cosmopolitan city Dubai has transformed from a humble fishing village to one of the most cosmopolitan and innovative cities in the world today. Tracing its origins back to 3,000 BC, Dubai's inhabitants made their livelihood from fishing, pearl diving, boat building and sea trading, before the discovery of oil in the late 1960s. In 1971, Dubai joined its neighbours to form the United Arab Emirates, safeguarding the area's prosperity.

What to see and Do in Dubai

Dubai is a city that must be seen to be believed. Record-breaking architecture stands alongside traditional quarters, while man-made islands jut out of the coastline. Here are the top places to tick off your sightseeing list when you’re in town.

1. The Dubai Fountain

Witness the tallest performing fountain in the world during your visit to Downtown Dubai. The Dubai Fountain offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in a captivating water, music and light experience.

Submerged within the 30-acre Burj Lake, at the foot of The Dubai Mall, powerful water jets are laid out strategically over an area equal to the size of two football pitches. The fountain jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 140m in the air at any one time.

2. Bluewaters Island

Enjoy the sunshine at Bluewaters, an island destination that's making waves for its blend of shopping, dining and entertainment attractions. Highlights include the lifestyle district of The Wharf, pristine Cove Beach club with luxe cabanas and Ain Dubai – the tallest and largest observation wheel. It's also home to the Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai – the world’s second Caesars Palace – that boasts a sparkling outdoor swimming pool, signature hospitality and incredible restaurants, including Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay.

3. Dubai Parks and Resorts

With three theme parks and a water park, Dubai Parks and Resorts offer a thrilling experience like no other. Over 100 incredible indoor and outdoor attractions form Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park – this wonderland will keep young hearts enthralled. At the heart of it all is Riverland Dubai, which presents fun dining and retail options, and nearby is Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed family resort.

4. Burj Khalifa

Soaring 828m above Dubai and currently the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa represents a union of art, engineering and heritage. Its home to office space, private residences, the 160-room Armani Hotel and At the Top's observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. At.mosphere is the world's highest restaurant, with stunning views and an equally stellar menu. There are also more than 1,000 specially commissioned works of art throughout the building.

5. Visit the Grand Mosque

Located in nearby Abu Dhabi, the Grand Mosque is definitely worth a half-day trip. It’s a 90-minute drive from Dubai, and you’ll want to make sure you wear appropriate clothing. They do have cover-up items available there, however, for anyone without suitable attire. Admission is free.

6. The Dubai Mall

More than just a shopping mall

The Dubai Mall is the world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure, located next to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Featuring over 1,200 retail stores, two major department stores and hundreds of food and beverage outlets, the mall covers more than 1 million sqm – equivalent to 200 football pitches.

The Dubai Mall is the ultimate family entertainment destination with The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, an Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink, children’s ‘edutainment’ concept Kidzania, a massive indoor cinema complex and The Village – with a retractable roof that opens during the winter months.

For lovers of high fashion, over 70 signature outlets will beckon for your attention. For haute couture, head to Fashion Avenue where you can experience the latest collections from world renowned designers. You can also find fine jewellery in the Gold Souk as well as the latest in footwear at Level Shoes.

7. Palm Jumeirah

Dubai is famous for its soaring skyline – and that’s not the only feat of engineering to capture the world’s imagination. Built from reclaimed land in a series of artificial archipelagos, Palm Jumeirah is shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above.

The unique island is home to some of Dubai's top luxury resorts, including Atlantis, The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray,One Only the Palmand many more. There are fantastic fine dining options, such as Nobu and 101 Dining Lounge, and more than 80 restaurants, lounges and other attractions at The Pointe, located along a scenic promenade at the tip of The Palm.

Climate

Summers are extremely hot in Dubai. Daytime temperatures are sometimes over 106 degrees while nights rarely fall below eighty-eight degrees. Winters are much more comfortable with temps between sixty and seventy-five degrees.

Language

While Arabic is the UAE’s official language, English is the language of business and is spoken by almost everyone in Dubai.

Currency

Dirham (Dhs). The exchange rate as of the time this article was written is Dhs 3.67 to USD 1.

Shopping in Dubai

Between Dubai’s grandiose malls including The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates to traditional souks such as the Gold Souk and Perfume Souk, you’re practically guaranteed to and a souvenir to treasure from your holiday to Dubai. Plus, with massive citywide shopping celebrations like Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), you could snag the deal of a lifetime during your visit to this global shopping destination.

What to Eat In Dubai

With a combination of Iranian, Lebanese and Arabic food, the Dubai cuisine will only leave you craving for more. The food is fresh and it is delicious! Dubai is known for multicultural cuisine and pretty much anything you are want to eat you will find here. Head to the streets or restaurants, you are surely in for an enjoyable experience. Whether a foodie or not, you just can’t ignore the delicious flavours that Dubai food has in store for you. The titillating aroma of the piquant delicacies in Dubai will give you a foodgasm for sure. From vegetarians to non-vegetarians, Dubai has something for every foodie. Some dishes will even make you feel home-like as they represent the tradition of their culture.

Best Time to Visit Dubai

The best time to visit Dubai is during the winter months, from November to April. Whether it’s the malls, the Burj Khalifa, the state-of-the-art venues, the plethora of activities, adventures and experiences and the overall entertainment provided. January and February see heavy tourist traffic because of the Dubai Shopping Festival, which makes the city come alive. This is one of the greatest global cities in the world, and it’s only right that you should experience it at least once (if not more).

Peak Season: November-March

Shoulder Season: April-May, September-October

Off Season: June-August

How to reach Dubai

By Flight

The Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. Being the hub that connects the western countries with the East, this airport is well-connected to many cities around the globe. Dubai has direct flights to many cities in the world like London, New York, Sydney, Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Bangkok, Moscow, Islamabad, Paris, Toronto, Beijing, Hong Kong, Djibouti, Cairo, Alexandria, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Prague, Amsterdam and more. The major airlines operating from Dubai are Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacafic, IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Airblue, EgyptAir etc. Dubai also has frequent flights to the capital city, Abu Dhabi.

By Bus

Dubai is easily accessible from the other emirates or states in UAE, by bus. The Road Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai runs many A/C Volvo buses to all the emirates like Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), Fujairah, Ajman and Um Al Quwain. RAK Transport Authority and Sharjah Transport Authority also run several buses to Dubai. The capital city of Abu Dhabi also has public buses that ply to Dubai. The city also has some international bus routes, connecting it to cities like Muscat, Riyadh, Makkah, Madina and Dammam. Aside from private buses, government-run buses operated by Oman National Transport (ONT) and Saudi Arabia Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) also run many buses on these routes.