25 Best Things To Do in Dubai
What to do when you're in this sprawling desert city.
It seems like Dubai is all malls and air-conditioning, but this sprawling desert city has a new and exciting influx of cultural institutions, galleries, and shopping complexes all focused at luring in a new generation of visitors. Whether your idea of an adrenaline rush is jumping out of a plane or watching the city’s dramatic fountains gush 500 feet in the air, almost anything is possible in this city, and we have the list to prove it. Here are our picks for some of the best things to do in Dubai.
1.Dubai Spice Souk
Dubai's sprawling spice market is arguably the most entertaining of all the city's souks. Therefore, it's bustling and crowding, with intoxicating sights and smells. Many of the vendors sell the same ingredients—Persian dried limes, saffron, barberries, rose hips, and traditional Middle Eastern spice mixes. Saffron, while still pricey, is more affordable here than elsewhere in Dubai.
2.Underwater Yoga in The Lost Chambers Aquarium Dubai at the Atlantis, The Palm
Whether you're a yoga lover or just looking for an early morning retreat from buzzy Dubai, yoga at the Atlantis's Lost Chambers is a tranquil, humbling experience. Trying to balance in tree pose isn't necessarily easier to do while eagle rays and giant tuna are swimming past, but it's unequivocally better.
3.The Dubai Mall
As the largest mall in the world, the Dubai Mall draws in almost 100 million visitors a year (in 2015, it counted 92 million). It's easy to get lost—there are more than 1,200 shops, after all—but a great place to beat the Dubai heat and ogle at the luxury stores.
4.Abra Ride Across Dubai Creek
Riding an abra, or traditional wooden boat, is one of the quaintest and low-key ways to get a feel for life in Dubai. The boats gather on either side of Dubai Creek—in Deira or Bur Dubai—and can carry about 20 people. Many locals use the boats to get across the creek quickly and to avoid traffic, but you'll also see lots of tourists, especially at dusk.
5.Kite Beach
Like a Miami beach with its wide stretch of sand, aquamarine water, beach chaises, and enough activities to make you feel like sunbathing isn't quite enough. Join a game of beach volleyball, give kite-surfing a try, or take a run around the soft running track. When it's not almost 106 degrees F out.
6.Etihad Museum
This ultra-modern museum offers a comprehensive look at the formation of the seven emirates that comprise the UAE. As a result, it draws a diverse crowd of UAE nationals and history-buff tourists. The museum lies on the site where the country's unification was signed in 1971.
7.Jumeirah Mosque
As the only mosque in Dubai that's open to non-Muslim visitors, the Jumeirah Mosque is popular with a range of travelers—it's also the most photographed. The mosque is easily one of the most beautiful in the Emirate, crafted entirely from white stone in the medieval Fatimid style. It's particularly breathtaking at dusk. Visitors are allowed six days a week, and tours are led by knowledgable guides who make the experience.
8.Afternoon Tea at the Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab's swanky top-floor bar transforms into a modern tea parlor come early afternoon. Traditional tea is served alongside clotted cream, scones, pastries, sandwiches, and other delights (champagne, anyone?). The price of admission isn't cheap, but if you want the decadent Burj Al Arab experience without shelling out for a room, this is the perfect amuse bouche.
9.The Dubai Fountain
The world's tallest fountain puts the ones in Vegas to shame. Multiple fountain shows are scheduled a day, shooting 22,000 gallons of water up 500 feet in the air within the 30-acre Burj Lake. Plus, a new floating viewing platform means you can get much closer to the action than before. Even better, it's free.
10.Ski Dubai
In the middle of a mall in the desert, the world's third-largest indoor ski slope is a sight to behold. A daily lift ticket will run you about $138 (excluding equipment rentals), and you should plan to get there early. The place is filled with families with kids, most of whom are taking part in various rides and penguin visits instead of skiing. If you're here to shred, there are two runs and a dedicated freestyle area.
11.At the Top, Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building is, unsurprisingly, visible from almost everywhere in Dubai. Taking in the site is thrilling enough from the street, but you can also visit the top of the 160-story behemoth—brace yourself for the thrill of the high-speed elevators, followed by complete awe the moment you step onto the observation deck.
12.Dubai Miracle Garden
Within Dubailand is the self-proclaimed world's largest flower garden—isn't everything in Dubai the world's largest?—but this flower theme park is no joke. This 18-acre space has more than 60 million blooms and a life-size floral replica of an Emirates Airbus A380.
13.Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
This quaint neighborhood offers a glimpse into what Dubai was like before the Emirates were formed in 1971. Traditional buildings crafted from stone, palm wood, gypsum, and teak line the twisted alleys and pathways—history and architecture buffs will love getting lost in aimless wonder here.
14.The Friday Brunch at Jumeirah Al Qasr
Dubai is a city for brunch, and the best can be found at Jumeirah al Qasr. Three of the resort's restaurants—The Hide, Al Hambra, and Arboretum—join forces for a brunch so immense that you'll need a map to get back to your table. Seriously. Thirty-five cooking stations and 300 different dishes mean there's something for everyone here.
15.HeliDubai
HeliDubai's helicopter tours are an indulgent but unforgettable way to appreciate Dubai from above.
16.Dubai Museum
Though Dubai's history is relatively short, it's still fascinating; learn all about it here.
17.Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
This non-profit produces special events (traditional Emirati meals, heritage tours) aimed at eliminating cultural barriers and increasing awareness of local U.A.E. cultures and customs. Join the group for a traditional Emirati breakfast or lunch, held multiple times a week and based on recipes from founder Abdullah bin Eisa Al Serkal's mother.
18.Dubai Opera House
Dubai's newly opened, state-of-the-art opera house receives rave reviews for its futuristic design and breathtaking location in front of the Burj Khalifa and the city's famous fountains. The multipurpose theater hosts a variety of programming aside from opera. Throughout the year, you can catch musicals, ballet, comedy, concerts, and family shows. Don't forget to grab a drink from the rooftop bar before your performance.
19.Global Village
Dubai's massive Global Village is essentially a theme park for all ages, though it's popular with families as the rides and attractions are kid-friendly. Open November through April, it also features concerts, rides, dining, and attractions from around the world.
20.Wild Wadi Water Park
This massive waterpark is a kid's paradise, situated next to the Burj al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It has 30 different rides and Breakers Bay, the largest wave pool in the Middle East. The new four-person slide, Tantrum Alley, has three tornadoes and also adrenaline rush-inducing downhill drops.
21.Dubai Marina
With so much of Dubai's city life centered indoors, Dubai Marina is a refreshing outdoor escape, provided the weather's not too hot. Most visitors flock to The Walk at JBR, a ground-level stretch of boutiques, clothing stores, and restaurants with outdoor seating.
22.Alserkal Avenue
This once-sparse industrial compound is now a hotbed of arts and culture in Dubai. The three rows of warehouses house more than 15 galleries. Big name galleries like the New York-based Heller has brought exhibitions of contemporary American and also European artists, while others, like Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde focus on rising stars from the Middle East.
23.Boxpark
Londoners will immediately recognize Boxpark, a hip shopping and dining complex constructed out of refurbished shipping containers. (It's modeled after the one in Shoreditch.) Options skew a little younger (read: more affordable) than some of Dubai's more traditional retail. Check out Typo, a super-hip concept shop that calls itself a "purveyor of joy."
24.Palm & Jumeirah Atlantis Tour by The Yellow Boats
A 75-minute speedboat tour of Dubai's marinas and surrounding sea affords guests stunning views of landmarks that are normally only seen from the street. Tours leave six times a day, but book a late afternoon one for the best chance of catching a sunset. Importantly, those who are prone to seasickness shouldn't go as the boats move fast and stop often for photo opportunities.
25.Skydive Dubai
Finally, if free-falling over Dubai at 120 miles per hour sounds like your idea of a good time, Skydive Dubai has you covered. Beginners are welcome to jump in tandem with the company's experienced guides, but licensed divers can take the plunge solo. A tandem flight from Skydive Dubai's location on The Palm costs nearly $600—but it's worth it if you're a thrill-seeker who's not afraid of heights.
by LAURA RATLIFF for Condé Naste Traveller March 4, 2018
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https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-dubai?
Image by Enjoy The World
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