Top Things To Do In Dubai
Welcome to Dubai: one of the world's most exhilarating destinations – a glittering city home to golden beaches, record-breaking landmarks and world-class shopping, dining and nightlife.
Shopping
Shopping in Dubai is not just about making purchases, it is also about amazing leisure and cultural experiences. Think bartering for silk in a historic souk, picking up hand-crafted trinkets from a local market, meeting a colony of king penguins or coming face to face with one of the world's largest crocodiles. From the vast Dubai Mall and Mall of The Emirates to the bustling Gold, Spice and Textiles Souks, visitors are guaranteed memorable experiences.
Dining
Dining in Dubai is not just about filling your stomach, it is about the pleasure of sampling cuisines from the 200 nationalities at home in the city. As a culinary capital – not only regionally but increasingly globally – Dubai has long caught the attention of Michelin-starred chefs and is home to some of the best taste delights in the world – flavours that can be savoured in plush five-star hotels, in casual cafés or simple roadside eateries.
Sports and Adventure
For the sporty type and adventure seeker, Dubai is about sand boarding down a 300ft sand dune, camping in the desert, deep-sea fishing, skydiving above Palm Jumeirah, kite surfing on the Arabian Gulf and playing polo while riding a camel. It's about experiencing the great outdoors while hiking in the magnificent Hajar Mountains in Hatta, just a short drive out of the city, where you can also mountain bike along breath-taking trails or kayak in freshwater lakes at sunrise.
Culture
For culture vultures, Dubai is a city that's rich in heritage and increasingly making its mark on the world stage. Looking ahead, a number of culture-focused projects are underway that will greatly enhance Dubai's offering in this area. For example, plans are afoot to enhance the neighbourhoods along the shores of Dubai Creek as part of the Dubai Historical District project.
Entertainment
Covering the genres of art, film, literature, music and comedy, Dubai hosts dedicated festivals and events, all combining to create an exciting year-round calendar with something for everyone – be it concerts by chart toppers such as John Legend, Justin Bieber and Sting, talks and book signing sessions by best-selling authors at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, gallery exhibitions displaying works by artists from across the world during Art Dubai, or world movie premieres during Dubai International Film Festival.
Theme Parks
Appealing to both families and thrill-seekers alike, Dubai Parks and Resorts is the region's largest integrated theme park destination, comprising three parks as well as a water park, all within walking distance. Meanwhile, Motiongate Dubai brings to life some of Hollywood's most beloved movies and characters, while Bollywood Parks Dubai is the first theme park based on the sights and sounds of Bollywood.
Attractions
The Dubai Frame, which offers spectacular panoramic views of the city as well as a glimpse into the UAE's history, consists of two 150-metre high towers connected by a 93-metre glass bridge at the top, with a museum on the ground floor. Meanwhile La Perle by Dragone is the region's first permanent live-action stage show, with more than 450 performances per year in a state-of-the-art theatre that's filled with 2.5 million litres of water.
Record Breaking Heights
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and a global icon. Truly a feat of engineering, the building represents the conceptual heart and soul of the city of Dubai. At 828m tall, this magnificent structure is located next to The Dubai Mall and its unmatched view can be taken in from a number of observation decks, lounges and restaurants between 124th and 154th floors.