7 Things To Do In Dubai (and a few more you don’t want to miss!)
Dubai is a dream destination with luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, and a lively nightlife scene that never fails to impress, whether you are a first-time tourist or have just moved to the city. There are new hotspots opening and events happening every year. The coastal city of Dubai has many experiences to offer. A lifetime is going to be less to cover them all. This city is magical, and it will never cease to amaze you. That may be one of the several reasons why Dubai has a lot of tourists who keep coming back.
City of Dubai. Photo by ZQ Lee on Unsplash
Right now, Expo 2020 Dubai, is one of the biggest attractions. If you haven’t visited Expo 2020 Dubai, you should do it before getting started with anything on this list because the expo will end by March 31, 2022.
Wondering what to do in Dubai? Here are some of the experiences we recommend that you should not miss.
1. Desert Safari
Experience the dunes in Dubai. Photo by Damir Babacic on Unsplash
Nothing spells a great evening more than a bag full of memories waiting to manifest in the red dunes of Dubai. Go dune bashing in a 4×4 or enjoy camel rides. Get an ATV self-drive experience, ride in vintage cars or rise towards the clouds in a hot air balloon. These are some of the ways to jump-start your excitement in the deserts of Dubai. What’s more? You get to treat yourself to some Arabic cuisine, see amazing artists put on fun performances, and take great pictures, all in the middle of nowhere. You can even choose to camp the night if you want to gaze at breathtaking stars.
2. Malls of Dubai
Some of the largest malls in the world are in Dubai. It is not uncommon for people to spend a couple of days completing one mall at a time. IIf you think malls in Dubai only offer luxurious shopping, think again! There’s something for everyone in the malls of Dubai. There’s something for everyone in the malls of Dubai. You can expect great deals, delicious meals, and unmatched uniqueness within these giant shopping arenas. You can scuba dive, ski, visit an underwater zoo and have lots of other unimaginable experiences. All the malls are easily accessible by the metro in Dubai. We would recommend you start with the obvious choice – The Dubai Mall. A great place to get deals is Dubai Outlet Mall and Outlet Village Dubai. Don’t forget to visit Dragon Mart Dubai for all your gift shopping. If you’re in Dubai in winter, City Walk Dubai and The Beach at JBR offer great outdoor shopping.
3. Adventure
Dubai has adventure activities for all appetites and ages from extreme experiences like diving into the world’s deepest swimming pool at Deep Dive Dubai to diving out of a plane over the Palm Islands with Skydive Dubai; and everything in between. Play with the dolphins or swim with the sharks. Go sandboarding, quad biking, riding speed boats, or jet skiing. You can take helicopter rides and even dine in the air. Want to try a new sport? Try hitting some balls at Topgolf Dubai! The cheapest adventure starts with AED 1 – an Abra ride (boat ride) across the Dubai creek (Yes! THAT affordable).
Abra Ride
In Dubai, you can do it all. All the information for these and other newer adventurous activities in Dubai is available online. We recommend you pick a highly rated service to ensure the best experience in your budget.
4. Landmarks of Dubai
From Left to Right: Burj Al Arab, Dubai Frame, Burj Khalifa. Photo by Vlad Hilitanu on Unsplash. Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash. Photo by paul silvan on Unsplash
Dubai has some of the fanciest artificially created marvels in the world. What started as a fishing village is now one of the most modern global cities to live in. Wondering which are the top places to visit in Dubai? You could start with the world’s only 7-star hotel, Burj-Al-Arab, or the world’s highest viewing decks situated in Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world! The Dubai Frame is another example of how the city offers an insight into its past and the future. You can also go to the Global Village, visit Miracle Gardens, and watch the musical shows of the iconic Dubai Fountain. The list is endless. We would recommend you start with the sky decks of Burj Khalifa.
Tip: visit during a slot that lets you see either the sunrise or the sunset.
5. Souks of Dubai
You can spend hours, days, and weeks in these gems of Dubai. Souks are traditional, picturesque local markets. There are souks for spices, clothes, antiques, perfumes, rugs, and even gold. Several of these are along Dubai creek. We recommend you start with the Gold Souq Dubai (Why? Have you ever seen clothes made of gold? That’s what we thought). Don’t forget to club this with your Abra ride experience. One thing is for sure you will keep going back to these bustling bylanes of Dubai’s Souqs, filled with boutique shops, especially if you have an exploring streak in you.
6. Theme Parks
Dubai has an endless list of theme parks offering all sorts of experiences. There are various Dubai water parks you can visit. Atlantis Aquaventure, Wild Wadi waterpark, Yas Waterworld, and Legoland Dubai waterpark, to name a few. If you are looking for a change in the weather, you can visit Ski Dubai. It is an indoor ski resort with freezing temperatures maintained around the year. If you are a fan of Cartoon Network or Marvel Studios, the IMG Worlds of Adventure is a must-see. Then there is the one-of-a-kind Bollywood Park dedicated to Hindi movie-buffs. Fans of Hollywood movies should see the Motiongate Dubai Theme Park. It has rightfully earned the nickname of ‘Hollywood in the Desert’. Wondering where to stay? Kids will love to spend the night at Dubai Parks and Resorts.
7. Day trips to other emirates
UAE has seven emirates, including Dubai. The neighbouring Emirates are short driving distances away and have various day trip experiences to offer. The zoo and the Green Mubazzarah hot springs of Al Ain; the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World and the Emirates Palace of Abu Dhabi; Khatt fort and spring, Suwaidi Pearls and the Flamingo beach in Ras-Al-Khaimah; Al Jarah Cultural Center in Ajman; Al Noor Mosque and island, Al-Hisn Fort and various museums of Sharjah; Al Hayl fort, Jazīrat al Ghubbah and Al-Bidyah Mosque of Fujairah; and many more destinations will keep you busy for months.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi. Photo by David Rodrigo on Unsplash
If this list isn’t enough, some of the other places you definitely want to visit include the Dubai Museum, Dubai Eye (otherwise known as Ain Dubai), or the historic old district at Al Seef Dubai. You can also catch a show at the Dubai Opera, go camping at Love Lake Dubai or enjoy an afternoon with nature at the Dubai Butterfly Garden. Don’t forget to indulge at the top restaurants in Dubai which offer top gastronomic delights from around the world.
Miracle Gardens
With so many things to do, one may wonder where to start? Well, it is okay to feel overwhelmed. Dubai can have that effect! Know one thing, there is no beginning or end to the fun times awaiting you in Dubai. So we recommend you pick anything on this list and just get started.
If you are in the tech industry and looking to move to work in Dubai or the UAE, check out our latest vacancies on the website or visit our LinkedIn.
