Destinations

BURJ KHALIFA

Dubai’s landmark building is the Burj Khalifa, which at 829.8 meters is the tallest building in the world and the most famous of the city’s points of interest. For most visitors, a trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city. The views across the city skyline from this bird’s-eye perspective are simply staggering. The slick observation deck experience includes a multimedia presentation on both Dubai and the building of the Burj Khalifa (completed in 2010) before a high-speed elevator whizzes you up to the observation deck for those 360-degree views out across the skyscrapers to the desert on one side and the ocean on the other. Nighttime visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai’s famous city-lights panoramas. Buy your Burj Khalifa “At the Top” Entrance Ticket in advance to avoid long line-ups, especially if you are planning to visit on a weekend.

Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the building’s beautifully designed gardens, with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest performing fountain, modeled on the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

DUBAI MUSEUM

Dubai’s excellent museum is housed in the Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. The fort’s walls are built out of traditional coral-blocks and held together with lime. The upper floor is supported by wooden poles, and the ceiling is constructed from palm fronds, mud, and plaster. In its history, the fort has served as a residence for the ruling family, a seat of government, garrison, and prison. Restored in 1971 (and again extensively in 1995), it is now the city’s premier museum. The entrance has a fascinating exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai, showing the mammoth expansion that hit the region after the oil boom.

The courtyard is home to several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirati wind-tower. The right-hand hall features weaponry, and the left-hand hall showcases Emirati musical instruments. Below the ground floor are display halls with exhibits and dioramas covering various aspects of traditional Emirati life (including pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life) as well as artifacts from the 3,000- to 4,000-year-old graves at Al Qusais archaeological site.

BURJ AL-ARAB

The Burj Al-Arab is the world’s tallest hotel, standing 321 meters high on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline. Designed to resemble a billowing dhow sail, the exterior of the building is lit up by a choreographed colored lighting show at night. Decadent in every way possible, the Burj Al-Arab is one of the most expensive hotels in the world, with the most luxurious suites costing more than $15,000 for one night.

For those without unlimited credit, the way to experience the over-the-top opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater Al-Mahara restaurant, where floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the dining room walls allow you to view sea life while you eat, or you can enjoy lunch at California-style fusion restaurant Scape. For the ultimate panoramic views over the city, book afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar (a minimum spend is required) on the 27th floor.

Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products. Located in the Financial District of Dubai, UAE, the Museum of the Future has three main elements: green hill, building, and void. Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation. The Museum of the Future welcomes people of all ages to see, touch, and shape our shared future. Go on a journey through possible futures and bring hope and knowledge back to the present.

DUBAI OPERA

For nighttime attractions, look no further. Opened in mid-2016, Dubai’s classy new opera building is the centerpiece to the waterfront Opera district in downtown Dubai and set to become the city’s major cultural hub and main entertainment venue. The Dubai Opera hosts a year-round program of famous musical theater productions, concerts by world-class musicians, opera, ballet, and classical music, as well as smaller productions, comedy nights, and concerts. The 2000-seat theater building itself is an astonishing piece of architectural mastery and one of Dubai’s new landmarks, with its highly-contemporary glass and steel walls jutting out over the waterfront, built to resemble the curves of a traditional dhow.

DUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS

At Dubai Parks and Resorts, your entertainment needs are all rolled together into one location. The only problem here is choosing what you want to do. This mammoth project incorporates a swag of world-class theme parks providing something for everyone, whatever your age. Motiongate takes its theme from Hollywood productions with rides based around movie blockbusters, Bollywood Parks brings the world of India’s famous movie industry alive on its rides, and Legoland Dubai provides younger visitors with a fun-packed day out on its interactive rides. Legoland Waterpark is planned for the future. The district’s attached Riverland Dubai dining hub means that there’s no need to leave after you’ve exhausted yourself with theme park pursuits, as there’s plenty of evening entertainment here as well.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium & Aquaventure Water Park

Aquaventure waterpark, based at Atlantis, The Palm on the Palm Jumeirah – Dubai’s famous man-made island development – is a great place to cool off after a few days of hectic shopping and sightseeing. The water slide action here is excellent and world-class, with the Aquaconda, the world’s longest water slide; a nine-story-tall slide, aptly named the Leap of Faith; and water coaster rides. There’s also underwater safaris using seatrek helmets; a dedicated water play area for smaller children with slides; and for when all your energy has been used up, a 700-meter sweep of white-sand beach to chill out on.

Lost Chambers Aquarium is a world of exotic marine life made up of chambers and lagoons themed around the legendary undersea city of Atlantis, the spectacular aquarium houses a world of tropical sea life. Explore at your own pace and see radiant reef fish, seahorses, rays, sharks and countless other creatures, including those in the vast Ambassadors Lagoon.

SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, ABU DHABI

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a mammoth modern mosque of incredible beauty. Harnessing contemporary design and ancient craftsmanship, the mosque harmoniously blends modern and ancient styles and techniques to create a new interpretation of Islamic architecture. A visit here is a must on any Abu Dhabi itinerary. With its interiors using lavish amounts of gold, mosaic tiles, and glass work and immense amounts of marble, and its exterior of blindingly white stone contrasting dramatically under the Emirati blue sky, it never fails to dazzle.

IMG WORLDS OF ADVENTURE

This theme park, near Global Village, is immersive entertainment at its finest and has thrills and spills for both kids and big kids. With one zone devoted entirely to Marvel’s iconic characters; another to dinosaur-themed rides; and a zone where the Cartoon Network takes the helm, with gentler rides and activities for younger children, there’s something here for every age. Whether you want to help the Avengers battle Ultron, scare yourself silly in a haunted house, or join Spider-Man as he swings through the city, this is heaven for families looking for a fun-filled day out.

La Perle By Dragone

Franco Dragone, the mastermind behind shows like The House of Dancing Water in Macau and Le Reve in Las Vegas, has created a show unlike any other in Dubai- La Perle.

Dubai’s first resident show, La Perle will run for at least the next 10 years, with 10 performances a week taking place twice a night in a purpose-built theatre in the heart of Al Habtoor City. The aqua theatre uses state-of-the-art technology that produces waterfalls, torrents and rain on a floor that floods and drains within seconds. Expect to see 65 world-class performers from 23 countries performing breathtaking and extraordinary acts including acrobatics, contortion, flying, diving and even motorcycles defying gravity.

With a story inspired by the spirit of Dubai, La Perle is a one-of-a-kind live show designed to capture the imagination of children and adults alike.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi is a new cultural beacon, bringing different cultures together to shine fresh light on the shared stories of humanity. The origins of Louvre Abu Dhabi date back to 2007, when France and the United Arab Emirates came together to develop a new kind of cultural institution. The result is a museum rooted in universal human values, the first of its kind in the region. Louvre Abu Dhabi represents the dynamic nature of the contemporary Arab world, while celebrating the region’s vibrant multicultural heritage.

FERRARI WORLD

This branded theme park brings the thrill of Formula One racing to Abu Dhabi and is one of the city’s top things to do for thrill seekers and families alike. Small children can test out newly learned driving skills on the Junior GT track, while adrenaline junkies can buckle up and ride the Flying Aces rollercoaster, which clocks up speeds of 120 kilometers per hour on a 52-meter loop (the tallest in the world). There’s also a collection of Ferrari’s cars, with models dating back to 1947, and a Ferrari factory tour and Ferrari knowledge game show for true car nerds.

YAS WATERWORLD

If the heat is grinding you down, head to Yas Island to cool off at the waterpark. Yas Waterworld is a mammoth theme park, with waterslides and an inner-tube river ride, as well as the world’s first hydromagnetic tornado water rafting ride; the world’s largest surfable sheet wave; and the Jebel Drop, a free-fall speed water slide. If that all seems like too much of an adrenaline rush, there are also restaurants, cafés, and shops here for some gentler pursuits. There’s also a dedicated water play area for families with small children.

Dubai Frame

The UAE’s latest cultural landmark, Dubai Frame is an iconic structure that ‘frames’ impressive views of Old and New Dubai, while serving as a metaphorical bridge connecting the emirate’s rich past with its magnificent present. Offering spectacular panoramic views across the city, Dubai Frame celebrates the story of Dubai from its early establishment to its ambitious plans for future development.