12 Places You’ll Want to Visit in Dubai

Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a city of major global importance. Being a tropical desert, Dubai is a combination of tall palm trees, taller buildings, extravagant hotels, serene beaches, ancient monuments and luxury shopping malls. It is a place where the desert meets the ocean. So if you are planning a trip to this beautiful city, here is a list of 12 places to visit in Dubai.

12 Places You’ll Want to Visit in Dubai

1. The Burj Khalifa

A visit to Dubai is wasted if you haven’t checked out the Burj Khalifa. It is the iconic structure in Dubai. Being 830 metres/ 2,722 feet high with 163 floors, a lot goes on inside the Burj Khalifa. There are two observation decks on its 124th and 148th floors, from which one can see breathtaking views of downtown Dubai.

And if you want to ‘get high,’ it has a nightclub at 144th floor, which is the highest nightclub in the world. The Burj Khalifa also includes the Dubai Fountain, which is the world’s tallest performing fountain. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and walkways.

2. The Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is the third-tallest hotel in the world. It flaunts ultra-modern architecture which looks like a sail. People say the Burj Al Arab is so luxurious that it is a 7 star hotel (although it is really ‘just’ a 5 star hotel). It is located on an artificial island, and its walls display choreographed colored light shows at night.

It is very expensive to stay here, but if you happen to be rich enough, a dinner at Al Mahara is an exotic experience. This restaurant has floor-to-ceiling glass panels that allow panoramic views of the sea life. If your budget is on the lower end, you can book an afternoon tea at Skyview Bar to enjoy the view.

3. The Dubai Museum

If history fascinates you, then the Dubai Museum will charm you. It is housed in the Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1787, and presents the history of the Emirati lifestyle. Its walls are made up of coral blocks held together with lime. This museum has a variety of things on show, including maps, boats, weapons and some artifacts said to be 3,000-4,000 years old.

4. The Dubai Aquarium

The Dubai Aquarium is on the ground floor of Dubai Mall. You walk through acrylic viewing panel, from which you can see about 33,000 different marine animals. Glass-bottom boat tours are popular, and it’s also possible to go cage snorkeling and shark diving.

5. Jumeirah Mosque

The Jumeirah Mosque is one of the most peaceful and awe-inspiring mosques in Dubai. It is a smaller copy of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque. The stone structure was built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, and the fine stonework of the walls is stunning.

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6. The Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is among the top-20 largest in the world. It includes 1,200 stores, 22 cinema screens and 120 restaurants, as well as the Dubai Aquarium on the ground floor, an ice-skating rink and gaming zone. The Dubai Mall is famous for the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (January and February) and the Dubai Summer Surprises Festival (July and August).

12 Places You’ll Want to Visit in Dubai

7. Mall of the Emirates

The most striking feature of this mall is Ski Dubai, the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort and snow park. The Mall of the Emirates also offers other entertainment options, such as the 500-seat Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, and Magic Planet.

8. The Souks of Dubai

If you are looking for the local markets of Dubai, these three souks are the places to head for:

Deira Souk: They say gold is cheaper in Dubai, and it is true. This place has around 300 jewelry retailers. Retailers include both well-established stores and smaller outlets.

Spice Souk: Walking through the narrow lanes of Spice Souk is a wonderful experience, as the streets are filled with the amazing aroma of spices and herbs.

Perfume Souk: This market has thousands of perfumes ranging from the traditional ‘Arabian Attar’ to branded, designer perfumes. Arab perfumes are very strong and the scent lingers for a long time. In addition to perfumes, frankincense is the most popular incense and is available in every store at the Dubai Perfume Souk.

9. The World Islands

The World Islands is a cluster of 300 islands that form the rough shape of the world when viewed from above. And they are for sale! But if you cannot afford to buy them, there are many hotels where you can stay instead. Motor boats or yachts can be rented to take you around ‘The World’.

10. The Palm Islands: Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali

The World Islands are not the only man-made islands in Dubai. The palm-shaped Palm Islands are next to the World Islands. Only Palm Jumeirah allows public access. It has a variety of hotels, malls and a water park, and the main tourist attractions on Palm Jumeirah include Aquaventure Dubai, Atlantis Hotel, The Lost Chambers Aquarium and Dolphins Bay.

11. The Bastakia Quarter

The Bastakia Quarter is a prominent heritage site in Dubai. It was built by Persian traders in the late 19th century. The traders were attracted to Dubai because of its relaxed trade tariffs, as well as its pearls and textiles.

The major attractions in Bastakia are the Majlis Gallery, with a collection of traditional Arab furniture, and the XVA Gallery, boasting a contemporary art collection.

The Bastakia Quarters are made of coral and limestone buildings, and many have a wind tower above them, which acted as early air-conditioning systems. The major attractions in Bastakia are the Majlis Gallery, with a collection of traditional Arab furniture, and the XVA Gallery, boasting a contemporary art collection.

12. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House

The Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is the home of the former ruler of Dubai. It was built in 1896 and is now a museum that contains numerous rooms full of antique photographs, coins, stamps and documents. The most interesting feature about this museum is that it portrays Dubai before oil was discovered.

Dubai offers both ultra-modern and heritage buildings, shopping complexes and traditional souks, natural beaches and man-made beaches. Get ready for an extraordinary trip.

12 Places You’ll Want to Visit in Dubai

Related Reading

• 48 Hours in Dubai
• Abu Dhabi Days, Dubai Nights: A Conversation With Author Jillian Schedneck
• Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Abu Dhabi
• Living in the United Arab Emirates: The Real Deal with Tiffany Bradshaw

Have you traveled to Dubai? What were your impressions? Email us at editor@pinkpangea.com for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear from you.

12 Places You’ll Want to Visit in Dubai photo credit: unsplash and Pixabay.