15 Top Tourist Attractions in Dubai
This list of the top tourist attractions in Dubai will help you not miss anything in one of the most impressive cities in the world, which I’m sure will not leave you indifferent.
Built in the middle of one of the driest deserts on the planet, thanks to oil wealth, Dubai has become one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in recent years.
In it, luxury and ostentation, one of the hallmarks of Dubai, can be seen in many aspects and corners of the city, including the luxurious shopping centers, where locals have shopping as their favorite pastime. In addition to this glamour, you must bear in mind that in Dubai, everything is grand. So you will find the tallest building, the most luxurious hotel, and even the largest shopping center in the world, all in the same city.
In addition to getting to know this part of the most modern city that has developed in a dazzling way in the last 30 years and that is constantly under construction, another of the best things to do in Dubai is to visit the old part where there are souks, mosques and the most traditional shops where you can learn a little more about the history.
The best time to travel to Dubai if you don’t want to spend all your time indoors is from November to April when temperatures are below 30 degrees. And the worst time is the summer months when thermometers easily exceed 45 degrees.
Once you have decided to take this trip, I recommend investing about four days in Dubai and leaving two more days for an excursion to the desert and of course to nearby Abu Dhabi.
Based on the experience of my trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Rub’ al Khalif, I have made this list of the 17 top attractions in Dubai. Let’s go!
1. Burj Khalifa: The most popular Dubai Tourist attraction
The Burj Khalifa, at 828 meters high, double that of the Empire State Building in New York, is the tallest building in the world and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Dubai. Built between 2004 and 2010, this colossal building can be seen from more than 90 kilometers away. It owes its name to the president of the United Arab Emirates and has an observation deck, a restaurant, and a nightclub located at the highest altitude in the world.
To go up to the viewpoint, which is located on the 124th and 125th floors, I recommend booking this ticket in advance to avoid queues and not be left without a place, especially on holidays and weekends.
Regarding the time to go up, I recommend doing it an hour before sunset, since this way you can enjoy the city during the day, a spectacular sunset, and see how it ends up lighting up after the sun goes down.
Keep in mind that another viewpoint was recently opened, located on the 148th floor at 555 meters high, to break the record for the highest viewpoint. In case you are interested in visiting this other viewpoint, you can reserve admission to this viewpoint here.
2. Dubai Fountain
After enjoying the views from the Burj Khalifa viewpoint, you can go down in its super-fast elevator and watch the spectacle of water, light, and music from the fountains located in the lake in front, which has become another of the top attractions in Dubai for all tourists.
This show, which surpasses the spectacularity of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, takes place every half hour from six in the afternoon to ten at night, and each show is different.
In addition to the entire area surrounding the lake, to have the best views of the fountains, you can go up to the terrace of the Apple store or dine on the terrace of the Tribu restaurant. Both are located in the Dubai Mall.
I recommend you see at least two shows in a row since they vary greatly in terms of spectacularity, and usually, in one of the two, the most powerful water jets are used, which reach 150 meters in height. If you want to observe the show from a privileged position, you can reserve access to the walkway located in front of the Fountain.
3. Dubai Mall
Once inside the Dubai Mall, you have no choice but to explore the world’s largest and most visited shopping center, with more than 1,200 stores of all kinds that will delight shopping lovers.
In addition to having a metro station and a large parking lot in the underground part, in this immense space, you will not have time to get bored. You can spend a full day enjoying its shops, restaurants, arcades, cinemas, and different attractions, such as an ice rink, an aquarium, the popular Gold Souk, and even an indoor waterfall.
If you prefer a more welcoming shopping center decorated in the Arab style, you can cross the Burj Khalifa Lake and enter the Souk al Bahar.
Visiting hours: every day from 10 a.m. to midnight.
4. Deira, One of the Best Places to Visit in Dubai
Before oil was discovered, Dubai extended on both sides of the creek, a natural estuary that extends into the city for about 10 kilometers and separates the Deira and Bur Dubai neighborhoods. Its oldest neighborhoods will remind you of the origins of this city and its commercial past.
Among the most notable Dubai attractions which are located in the Deira area are the popular perfume, spice, and gold souks. The latter is famous for its shop windows full of gold items, such as the one showing the biggest ring in the world.
Other points of interest in this neighborhood are Al Ahmadiya (Dubai’s first school) and the Heritage House, a historic and traditional house that belonged to a rich pearl merchant.
If you have more time, I also recommend taking bus line C28 or a taxi (they are not expensive) to take you to Mamzar Beach Park, where the best beaches in Dubai are located.
5. Bar Dubai
Once you finish your visits to Deira, you can take a traditional boat known as Abra (1AED per person) to cross to Bar Dubai and see its main points of interest.
Its jewels include the House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, the Meena Bazaar dedicated to Indian products, the Al Seef Market, and the Dubai Museum, located in the Al Fahidi Fort (the oldest building in Dubai). Here, you can get a great review of the history of the city, from the first nomadic tribes to its expansion with the discovery of oil.
An area that I loved to walk through in this part of Dubai is Al Bastakiya, a network of narrow alleys and wind catchers. You can usually end up trying the delicious Arabic food on the interior terrace of the beautiful Arabian Tea House, one of the best restaurants in town. All these makes Bar Dubai one of Dubai tourist attractions that you cant afford to miss.
A great experience if you’re in this neighborhood at night is to book this dinner cruise.
6. Burj al Arab
The Burj al Arab Hotel, built on an artificial island located less than 270 meters from the beach, is another of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai.
With a height of 321 meters in the shape of a sail, this hotel is located among the best accommodations on the planet and is classified as the only 7-star hotel. Prices per room per night (in this case, they are all suites) start at 1,500 euros.
To visit its interior with a spectacular hall full of luxurious shops, you have to be staying or have a reservation at one of its restaurants or bars. In this case, the cheapest option is to book at the Skyview Bar, located 200 meters high, where a minimum consumption of about 70 euros is required.
Another more complete alternative is to book this guided tour or lunch or dinner at one of its restaurants, both of which also include hotel pick-up.
In addition to visiting the Burj al Arab, I recommend watching the sunset from Umm Suqeim beach, while you take a bath or simply sit on the sand to enjoy the views of one of the most famous hotels in the world.
Another good option to get a unique perspective of the Burj al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah is to book this boat tour.
7. Dubai Frame
Another of newest Dubai’s tourist attractions, opened in 2018, is the Dubai Frame, a spectacular museum that will surprise you with its architecture.
Located in a huge frame 150 meters high by 105 meters wide, the museum offers you a journey through the past, present, and future of Dubai. Its immense structure aims to frame all the symbols of the city. It is located in such a way that on one side, you will see the modern part of Dubai, and on the other, the old part.
During the tour around the top of the building, you will enjoy magnificent views of the city skyline with the Burj Khalifa in the background. You will also release a little adrenaline when the ground becomes transparent under your steps. You can book your ticket from this page.
A few meters from the museum is the Dubai Garden Glow night theme park, where every night, a spectacular light and music show takes place while hundreds of sculptures come to life.
Visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Price 50AED
8. Walking Through the Parks
Another of the best things to do in Dubai is to walk through its magnificent parks, such as Safa Park or the Miracle Garden.
Safa Park is one of the green lungs of the city, with more than 64 hectares. It is perfect for practicing all types of outdoor sports, as well as walking around a large lake, a waterfall, a wooded area, and, most surprisingly, enjoying the incredible views of the Dubai skyline.
Miracle Garden is the largest natural flower garden in the world and another of the top tourist attractions in Dubai. Here, you will find structures such as an Airbus A380 made of flowers, a heart-shaped path, and a garden with more than 15,000 butterflies.
The only drawback of Miracle Garden is that it is only open from October to April due to the extreme heat that the flowers suffer during the rest of the year. You can book your ticket in advance from this page.
9. Dubai Marina
The Dubai Marina district, located around an artificial canal of less than 4 kilometers, is another of the points of interest in Dubai.
In this area of imposing skyscrapers, recreational yachts, luxurious hotels, shopping centers such as the Dubai Marina Mall, and pleasant restaurants with terraces, a large part of the foreigners who work in the city are concentrated. So, the atmosphere is quite different from what you can see in the rest of tourist attractions in Dubai.
The best time to approach the Dubai Marina is at night when the temperatures drop, and the terraces on the canal bank are filled with atmosphere. But if you arrive early, you can see it during the day and relax in the JBR beach area, located a few minutes’ walk away, where you can breathe a very good atmosphere.
10. Ain Dubai: One Of Dubai main attractions
Near the Dubai Marina district is the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel located on the artificial island of Bluewaters.
From its spectacular glass cabins located more than 250 meters above sea level, you will have unique panoramic views of Dubai, the desert, the iconic Jumeirah Palm Tree, and the entire coastal area for 36 minutes.
You can book your tickets in advance from this page, which is their official page.
11. Mezquita Jumeirah
The Jumeirah Mosque is the only one in the city that accepts non-Muslim visitors and is another of the most famous tourist attractions in Dubai.
This religious building is built of white stone, with two twin minarets that rise on both sides of the central dome. The only way to see it is by taking a guided tour of the interior, which takes place at 10 in the morning from Thursday to Saturday (except Fridays). Please note that access is not possible in shorts, and women must cover their hair with a scarf.
In addition to its beautiful architecture, this mosque offers a good opportunity to learn about Muslim religion and customs during the hour-and-a-half visit.
After the visit, you can take a walk along the sea at La Mer, a long promenade with several beaches and the Laguna Waterpark.
12. Palmera Jumeirah: top-rated tourist attraction in Dubai
The Palm Jumeirah is the most famous set of artificial islands in Dubai and the world. Built in the shape of a palm tree, these islands are characterized by being full of luxury hotels and residences, for which large amounts of sand and rock were used in their construction.
The best way to observe this complex is from above by booking a helicopter ride or parachuting over the palm tree with the company Skydive Dubai. If you don’t want so much adrenaline, you can fly on the iFly Dubai, which takes place inside a wind tunnel.
Another option to see the Jumeirah Palm Tree, although it is not fully appreciated, is from the Observatory restaurant, located at the top of the Dubai Marriott Harbor Hotel, or from the Sky Bar of the Burj Al Arab. You can come and have a drink in the evening, at night, or lunch or dinner. If you choose this option, it is highly recommended to reserve on their website or directly call to reserve a table for you. Although you get the best views of the palm tree by reserving this ticket, a cheaper option is to opt for The Palm viewpoint.
If you have more time, you can take the Palm Jumeirah monorail. This will take you to the spectacular Atlantis Hotel and enjoy Aquaventure, one of the largest and most impressive water parks in the world. You can reserve your ticket in advance here.
Another artificial island project that has not yet been completed is The World, where these pieces of land form a world map, but today, it is said that it has been a failure since they are sinking. If you want a good perspective, on a clear day, you can observe it from the Burj Khalifa.
13. Shopping Centers to Visit in Dubai
Dubai is the perfect city for shopping lovers as it has the most spectacular shopping centers in the world and the largest number of stores of all international brands.
In addition to shopping, these shopping centers have a wide range of restaurants and leisure options, including ski and skating slopes.
My favorite shopping centers to see in Dubai, not counting the Dubai Mall, are:
• Mall of the Emirates: a space full of luxury stores and international brands, which highlights its spectacular indoor ski slope.
• IBN Battuta: Although its stores are not as luxurious as the previous two, the decoration of the building with themed areas of Andalusia, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, India, and China will leave you speechless.
• Souk Madinat Jumeirah: One of our favorite shopping centers with a traditional design and views of the Burj al-Arab.
If you don’t have much time, a good option to visit the main points of interest in Dubai is to book the hop-on, hop-off bus for one, two, or three days.
14. IMG Worlds of Adventure
If you like strong emotions and releasing adrenaline, there is nothing better than entering the IMG Worlds of Adventure, the largest indoor theme park in the world and another of the best things to do in Dubai.
In this park, made up of four themed areas, children and adults have fun going on its different attractions inspired by comic characters, watching movies with the latest technology, being scared in the haunted house, or visiting its numerous shops and restaurants.
Visiting hours: every day from 12 noon to 9 p.m.
15. Abu Dhabi
If you have one or two extra days in the city, I recommend you complete the list of top tourist attractions in Dubai by taking one of the excursions in Dubai, such as the desert tour or a visit to the city of Abu Dhabi.
One of the most valued tours by travelers visiting Dubai is the day trip to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Among the top attractions in Abu Dhabi are the Louvre Museum, the Corniche beaches, the Emirates Palace Hotel, and the Ferrari World, although nothing can overshadow the beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which I am sure will delight and leave you speechless.
Desert Tour from Dubai
Another of the best experiences in Dubai is to go on a safari through the largest sand desert in the world, releasing adrenaline with reckless 4×4 driving and descending dunes on a sandboarding board.
Afterward, you can watch an incredible sunset over the desert and finish the tour by dining on typical Arabic food under a blanket of bright stars.
Also Read: 10 Best Places to Visit in the United States
