Being the fourth most visited place in the world, Dubai is famous for its superb collection of resorts and spas and high-rising architectural marvels. As time went by, the city made headlines first for its gigantic tower Burj Al Arab, only to be replaced by the Palm Jumeirah and then Burj Khalifa.
Dubai never stops growing and is always on a rapid rise, continually building futuristic towers along with incredible attractions. The city brings a holiday experience to another level, with the world’s largest gardens and markets, entertaining destinations filled with cultural shows, an indoor aquatic world, and many other fascinating things.
Sheikh Zayed Road
Sheikh Zayed Road is the main boulevard, that runs through Dubai’s modern downtown business district. This broad eight-lane highway is fringed with towering glass, chrome, and steel high-rises through its entire length. It’s one of the best vantage points on the ground for Dubai’s famous skyscraper views.
Main attractions are beside the strip between the roundabout and the first intersection, or just off of it and most of Dubai’s prominent malls are sited along the road’s route. The Dubai World Trade Tower is well-known for its observation deck on the top floor, which offers tourists panoramic views. It is also a cheaper option than the Burj Khalifa. The Gold and Diamond Park (Sheikh Zayed Road) can be a one-stop-shop for jewelry lovers, as it has 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers located under one roof.
Burj Khalifa
Dubai’s landmark building and perhaps its biggest tourist attraction is the Burj Khalifa. Standing at 829.8 meters is the tallest building in the world and the most celebrated of the city’s points of interest. A trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor here is the main thing to do for most tourists while in the city. The views over the city skyline from this top-of-the-world perspective are simply astounding. The main observation deck experience provides a multimedia presentation on the city and the building of the Burj Khalifa, which was completed in 2010. Then, the high-speed elevator brings you up to the observation deck for amazing 360-degree views out across the ocean on one side and across the skyscrapers to the desert on the other. Nighttime visits are especially among the photographers due to Dubai’s celebrated city-lights panoramas. You can buy the Burj Khalifa “At the Top” Entrance Ticket in advance in order to avoid long line-ups, which is especially important if you are planning to visit on a weekend.
Back on the ground, you will find the building’s beautifully designed gardens, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa with their winding walkways. There are a lot of water features including the Dubai Fountain, modeled on the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, which is the world’s tallest performing fountain.
Dubai Museum
Dubai’s magnificent museum is located in the Al-Fahidi Fort, which was built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. The walls of the fort are constructed out of coral-blocks and held together with lime. The fort’s upper floor is supported by many wooden poles, while the ceiling is built from palm fronds, mud, and plaster. In its long history, the fort has served as a residence for the ruling family, prison, garrison, and a seat of government. It was first restored in 1971, and then again extensively in 1995, and is now the city’s premier museum.
The entrance has a vast exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai, which show the gigantic expansion that hit the region after the oil boom. In the courtyard, there are several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirati wind-tower. The left-hand hall showcases traditional Emirati musical instruments, and the right-hand hall features weaponry. Below the ground floor, there are display halls with exhibits and dioramas showing various aspects of traditional Emirati life, such as pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life. There are also artifacts from the 3,000- to 4,000-year-old graves at Al Qusais archaeological site.
Al Fahidi Quarter (Old Dubai)
The Al Fahidi Quarter was built in the late 19th century and previously known, and sometimes still referred to, as the Bastakia neighborhood. Its main purpose was to be the home of many wealthy Persian merchants who, at the time, dealt in pearls and textiles and were coming to Dubai because of the tax-free trading and access to Dubai Creek.
Al Fahidi Quarter occupies the eastern portion of Bur Dubai along the creek. There are coral and limestone buildings here, many with walls topped with wind-towers, which have been excellently preserved. The homes here featured an early form of air conditioning provided by wind-towers: the wind was trapped in the towers and funneled down into the houses. Persian merchants likely transplanted this architectural element from their homeland to the Gulf, as it was common in Iranian coastal houses. The narrow lanes are lined with distinct Arabian architecture, and highly evocative of a bygone age of Dubai’s history. Inside the district, you will find the Majlis Gallery, which has a collection of traditional Arab ceramics and furniture, and the Al Serkal Cultural Foundation, with a shop, café, and several art exhibitions, which is located in one of the historic buildings.
Burj al-Arab
The Burj Al-Arab is located on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline and currently is the world’s tallest hotel, standing 321 meters high. The exterior of the building is designed to resemble a billowing sail and lit up by a choreographed, colored lighting show by night. The Burj Al-Arab is one of the most expensive hotels in the world, as its most luxurious suites cost more than $15,000 for a night.
Another way to experience the incredible opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater Al-Mahara restaurant. The floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the main dining room walls allow you to watch the sea life while you eat. You can also enjoy dinner at California-style fusion restaurant Scape. To get the ultimate panoramic views over the city you can book a table at the Skyview Bar on the 27th floor of the building.
