Attraction
Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building, rising 828 metres over Downtown Dubai, with observation decks on levels 124, 125 and 148 open to ticketed visitors.
Things to do in Dubai range from desert safaris and beach clubs to large shopping malls and older neighbourhoods along Dubai Creek. Downtown Dubai is home to the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, while Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence have a waterfront promenade and beaches. Palm Jumeirah holds many of the resort hotels. For a sense of the city's history, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the abra boats across the creek and the gold and spice souks of Deira are worth a visit.
The food scene reflects Dubai's large international population, with Emirati, Lebanese, Indian, Pakistani and Iranian restaurants alongside celebrity-chef dining rooms in the big hotels. Some of the most interesting meals are found in older areas such as Karama, Satwa and Deira. Alcohol is mainly served in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants. Three to five days is enough for the main sights, a desert trip and some beach time. Many visitors combine Dubai with a day in Abu Dhabi.
Attraction
The world's tallest building, rising 828 metres over Downtown Dubai, with observation decks on levels 124, 125 and 148 open to ticketed visitors.
Attraction
A preserved creekside quarter of wind-tower houses and narrow lanes, now home to galleries, small museums, cafés and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Attraction
A 150-metre picture-frame landmark in Zabeel Park whose glass-walled sky bridge looks over old Dubai on one side and the modern skyline on the other.
Attraction
A white stone mosque built in the Fatimid style in the late 1970s, one of the few in Dubai that non-Muslim visitors can tour with a…
Attraction
A museum on the site where the UAE was founded in December 1971, telling the story of the union through archives, films and personal objects.
Attraction
A 275-metre choreographed fountain on Burj Khalifa Lake whose water jets, lights and music shows run every evening beneath Burj Khalifa.
Café
A courtyard café in the Al Fahidi heritage quarter serving Emirati breakfasts, karak tea and traditional sweets under a large central tree.
Café
One of Dubai's pioneering speciality coffee roasters, founded in 2007, with a warehouse café in Al Quoz serving its own ethically sourced roasts.
Café
A healthy café combined with a lifestyle concept store and organic grocery in a Jumeirah villa, popular for unhurried breakfasts and light lunches.
Hotel
An ultra-luxury resort on the Palm Jumeirah crescent with sky-high pools, a beachfront, signature restaurants and access to the vast Aquaventure waterpark next door.
Hotel
A palace-style luxury hotel at Madinat Jumeirah, laced with waterways and set on a private beach with views of Burj Al Arab.
Hotel
A luxury beach hotel at the entrance to Madinat Jumeirah, with wind-tower architecture, canal-side walks to the souk and Bahri Bar's terrace on site.
Hotel
A playful 434-room design hotel at One Central near the World Trade Centre, with a rooftop pool, a beer garden, a rooftop lounge and the Monkey…
Hotel
A relaxed, pet-friendly lifestyle hotel in The Greens from the Jumeirah group, with a co-working space and Kinoya's ramen bar next door.
Hotel
A 4-star, 172-room hotel opposite Al Fahidi Fort in Bur Dubai, within walking distance of Al Fahidi, Al Seef, the creek and the Deira souks.
Bar
A rooftop venue 54 floors up at Address Sky View, combining a modern Asian restaurant, a sky bar and a club lounge with close-up Burj Khalifa…
Bar
An elegant terrace bar at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam with views across the Madinat waterways towards Burj Al Arab, known for Silk Route-inspired cocktails.
Bar
A long-established Irish pub in Al Garhoud with a large tree-shaded garden and duck pond, live music, sports screenings and classic pub food.
Bar
A cosy Irish pub tucked behind Sheikh Zayed Road since 1996, known for live bands, traditional music sessions and homely pub food.
Bar
A sixth-floor bar at the 25hours Hotel One Central with a terrace, DJs and Nikkei-inspired food, popular for after-work drinks near the World Trade Centre.
Restaurant
A three-Michelin-star Indian tasting-menu restaurant on Palm Jumeirah, reimagining regional Indian cooking with produce sourced from UAE farms.
Restaurant
A family-run Iranian kebab canteen in Bur Dubai, open since 1978 and known for yoghurt-marinated chicken, saffron rice and walls of celebrity photographs.
Restaurant
A no-frills Pakistani canteen in Satwa serving since 1978, loved for its nihari, mutton karahi and fresh naan at very low prices.
Restaurant
A Satwa shawarma and juice stop open since 1979, famous for chicken shawarma with garlic sauce, falafel and fresh fruit juices late into the night.
Restaurant
A casual seafood spot in Umm Suqeim that began as a fishermen's shack, serving spiced fried fish and prawns with rice or roti at low prices.
Restaurant
A homely, female-led Levantine restaurant in JLT holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand, serving Palestinian and wider Levantine dishes in the style of a family kitchen.
Thing to do
Deira's covered gold market, where lanes of jewellers display necklaces, bangles and bridal sets in their windows, close to the spice souk and Dubai Creek.
Thing to do
A short crossing of Dubai Creek on a traditional wooden abra, the cheapest and most atmospheric way to travel between Bur Dubai and the Deira souks.
Thing to do
A converted warehouse district in Al Quoz with more than 70 galleries, design studios, cafés and creative businesses, and a busy programme of exhibitions and events.
Thing to do
A seasonal open-air park where pavilions representing more than 90 cultures sell food, crafts and goods, with rides, shows and fireworks through the winter season.
Thing to do
A wide public beach in Umm Suqeim with views of Burj Al Arab, a running track, watersports and casual food outlets along the sand.
Tour operator
Dubai's long-running hot-air balloon operator, formerly Balloon Adventures Dubai, flying at sunrise over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve since 2005.
Tour operator
A Dubai safari operator, part of Hero Experiences Group, offering heritage-focused and luxury desert safaris that support conservation initiatives.
Tour operator
A long-established Dubai tour company and member of the Emirates Group, offering desert safaris, camel rides, overnight stargazing and discounted attraction passes.
Tour operator
A cultural centre in Al Fahidi running Jumeirah Mosque visits, heritage tours and Emirati meals where local hosts answer visitors' questions about UAE life.
Tour operator
An open-top hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus service linking more than 20 Dubai stops, from Burj Khalifa and the souks to Palm Jumeirah and the Marina.
Three to five days covers Downtown, the old town around the creek, a desert safari and time at the beach. Add a day if you want to visit Abu Dhabi.
Downtown Dubai is close to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, while Dubai Marina and JBR suit beach stays. Deira and Bur Dubai are cheaper and closer to the souks.
The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 and runs through Downtown to the Marina. Taxis are also available at all terminals.
Dubai can be expensive, particularly for hotels, alcohol and attractions. Public transport, street food and the older districts make it possible to visit on a moderate budget.
Dress modestly in malls, souks and religious sites, and avoid public displays of affection. During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public during daylight hours should be avoided.