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Must To Do In Dubai – Dubai is a city of contrasts – from the tranquility of the desert to the life of the city, there is so much to see and do! Thanks to its central location at the center of so many international long-haul routes, Dubai is the perfect stopover city to enjoy for a few days, so if you’re passing through, here are some of the best things to do in the city!
A great way to start your time in Dubai and gain an appreciation for the scale of the city, head to the top of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa. From here you can enjoy the view of the whole city, but note that the view changes every day! For our visit the view was quite hazy, but on a good day you can see far into the distance. Sunrise and sunset are also magical times to visit and find yourself on top of the clouds, but be sure to book your visit a few weeks before your trip as the tower is fully booked daily!
Must To Do In Dubai
After stepping off the 14-hour flight from Australia, my first port of call was the hotel swimming pool to freshen up for the day. We stayed at the Four Seasons DIFC, which we soon discovered was home to Dubai’s only glass pool with incredible views of downtown Dubai.
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The city of Dubai has a lot to offer in terms of activities, but if you are looking for tranquility, there is no better place to visit than the desert. I have visited the Dubai desert a couple of times now and my favorite operator is still Platinum Heritage, who take their guests to a private desert reserve called Al Maha. This reserve is owned by the royal family who have a weekend home here and own part of the travel company known for offering the most authentic and engaging desert safaris to visitors.
One of my favorite experiences on all my trips to Dubai has been arriving at the Talise Spa, located on the eighteenth floor of the Burj Al Arab. This hotel is famous for being the world’s only 7-star hotel, a title that is not at all accurate (five stars is the international maximum), but you will soon see why it was given this title when you step inside! Spa is a world of mosaic tiles, filled with millions of them and many of them gold (so incredible to see!)
It took me a few visits to Dubai to finally visit the souks, considering their location is a short taxi ride out of the way and I had heard they were a bit on the touristy side (correction: a lot!) Despite this, the souks are a good way to get a feel for “old Dubai”, especially if this is your first visit to a souk. They have nothing of the experience you find in Muscat (Oman) or Marrakech (Morocco), but they are an experience nonetheless.
Every evening outside the Dubai Mall and under the Burj Khalifa, visitors to Dubai can enjoy the famous Dubai Fountain Show. While it might not sound like much, the show is quite quirky and cool to watch, with the twinkling lights of the Burj Kahlifa in the background. My favorite place I have found to watch the fountain show is at Thiptara Thai Restaurant.
Must Do In Dubai
I can’t say it was the best skiing experience I’ve had (assuming I compare to the mountain scenery in the likes of Zermatt, Arosa, Jasper and Chile), but it was an experience nonetheless! There’s only one chairlift and one full ride, but if you’re up for an activity and want to see what all the fuss is about, this is a great way to spend a couple of hours at the Mall of the Emirates.
If waking up at 4am for a hot air balloon ride isn’t your thing, a Dubai desert safari might be a little more to your taste. There are a number of tour companies that offer afternoon sand dune excursions, so be sure to choose one that best suits your style. I prefer Platinum Heritage safaris for all things desert related in Dubai.
Still one of my favorite aspects of a trip to the Middle East is enjoying all the delicious Arabic pastries! My favorite is still the old and faithful baklava, but there are so many variations around the continent that you will be spoiled for choice!
If you’re more of a lay-in-the-sun kind of traveler, you’ll love Jumeirah Beach. Personally, I have a short attention span, so it lasted about 20 minutes on the beach before moving on to a new activity (ha!) The beaches can’t compare to the beauty of Aussie beaches, although I’d be hard pressed to find comparable beaches anywhere else in the world outside the Pacific!
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Conservation and education of marine wildlife is a strong theme here in Dubai, with both the Dubai Aquarium and the Lost Chamber at the Dubai Mall having two very large and impressive aquariums. Personally, I’m not a big fan of seeing wild animals in enclosures, but if you’re traveling with kids, this is a great way to educate them and learn about the conservation projects.
On our last morning in Dubai we woke up at 4am to take a hot air balloon ride over the desert. This was my third hot air balloon experience but definitely the most memorable. Compared to other hot air balloon rides, the landscape and scenery of the desert was incomparable!
Another beautiful spa to check out if you like to pamper yourself is at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The property is a bit out of the way unless you stay on the palm, but the spa is totally worth it! It’s not only popular with out-of-town visitors, but locals as well.
Another way to experience the Dubai desert for those looking for a real adventure is to spend the night at a traditional Bedouin camp. You can join a late afternoon game drive, followed by a night under the stars and a morning waking up to a traditional Bedouin breakfast.
Cheap Things To Do In Dubai
One of my favorite hotels in Dubai is also one of the most beautiful to come check out, even if you don’t live there. The Palace Hotel Downtown is connected to the Dubai Mall via the Souks, so be sure to wander along if you want to see the symmetry of the hotel’s exterior. The lobby is equally impressive and non-hotel guests can visit for a drink or meal at one of the restaurants. I can highly recommend Thiptara Thai restaurant attached to the hotel and it has an unbeatable view of the Dubai fountain show!
If you find yourself on Jumeirah beach, be sure to visit Madinat Jumeirah for a traditional boat ride along the water. There are plenty of restaurants in this area and beach clubs to stop by and enjoy a drink. This is a fairly residential part of the city, making it a great place to check out if you’re looking to move to Dubai (remember, the UAE has some great tax benefits!) There are some great movers and packages in Dubai to help you get you there if you want to move to the center of the world.
Often the best way to see Dubai is from your hotel window or balcony, so be sure to request a room with a view! Some of the best views are often found in Dubai’s financial district, which is not usually a first choice for leisure travelers. This view is from the Shangri-La Downtown Dubai, which has more of a business hotel feel to it, but undeniably one of the best views of the city!
This little gem has long been on my foodie bucket list in NYC, but the lines have always been so long that I end up second-guessing somewhere else. When I heard that Black Tap had opened a restaurant in Dubai, I knew I was destined to visit! Although they are best known for their milkshakes (which go for a whopping $25 AUD in Dubai), they also do a really good burger. It’s not cheap but what, if anything, is in Dubai!?
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One of the experiences I have yet to try in Dubai is also one of the most popular – a helicopter flight over the city to see the Palm from above. Although not cheap, this is another great way to see Dubai from above and get a view of the city (a cheaper option would be to visit the top of the Burj Khalifa and hope for clear skies!)
Another activity I would highly recommend in the desert is going on a game drive to see the famous Oryx and Gazelle. It took my three visits to Dubai to finally do this, but I’d say it has to be one of my favorite experiences!
As one of the most iconic structures in Dubai, the Atlantis Hotel
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