- Parks and gardens
- Man made islands
- Dubai landmarks
- Iconic buildings in Dubai
- Where to go with children
- The best restaurants, bars and cafes
- Shopping lovers
When describing Dubai, the words "largest", "most modern" and "most famous" are often mentioned. The largest city in the UAE attracts tourists with its beaches, which are warm at any time of the year; shopping centers where millions of different types of goods are sold and bought every day; architectural masterpieces, eclipsing the scale of all the buildings that have existed until now.
When planning a vacation and deciding where to go in Dubai, pay attention to the historical part of the city, where the true spirit of the Arabian East has been preserved, and to the ultra-modern neighborhoods, where skyscrapers rush upward, piercing the clouds so rare in the Arabian sky with sharp spiers.
Parks and gardens
Despite the geographic coordinates and the desert surrounding the city, Dubai offers nature lovers walks in beautiful parks. They look like magical oases against the backdrop of endless Arabian sands.
One of the world's largest flower parks, Dubai Miracle Garden is a veritable garden of wonders. At the time of its opening, it was in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to a flower wall of three meters in height, stretching for 800 meters, and a pyramid of flowers, which rose to the sky by 10 meters. The opening of Dubai Miracle Garden was timed to coincide with Valentine's Day, and since that day it has served as a dating and romantic getaway.
Burj Park at the foot of the planet's tallest skyscraper is great for short walks. By renting a bike, you can ride along special paths or go on it to the historic part of the city.
If you are a collector of vintage items, head to the flea market in Zabeel Park. The bazaar is noisy here every first Friday of the month, but on other days this Dubai park is a great place to go with the whole family. The Zabel Park has an entertainment center, a playground for children and a boat rental on the lake.
Man made islands
Man-made and often referred to as the modern wonder of the world, the Dubai Islands are a great excuse in themselves to visit the UAE. The man-made archipelago includes three islands in the form of palm trees and the group of islands "Mir" and "Universe".
Palm Jumeirah was the first man-made island built in Dubai. It began to be poured in 2001, and today it looks like a tree trunk with 16 leaves, surrounded by an 11-kilometer breakwater. The area of Palm Jumeirah is equal to about 800 football fields, and the island is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The rest of the "palm trees" continue to be built: elite real estate - villas and houses with their own pools - is being built on them.
Palm Jumeirah can be reached from Dubai using the monorail connecting the island to the mainland.
Dubai landmarks
When flying to the Emirates for a beach holiday, take the time to see the sights that Dubai has an endless list of. Among the places to go first are skyscrapers, fountains and museums:
- Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure in the world since 2010. The 163-storey tower has soared up 828 meters. The observation deck offers dizzying views of the city.
- Burj Al Arab is another masterpiece of high-rise construction and a symbol of Dubai. The sail-shaped hotel, despite its elite status, is also available to mere mortals who decide to visit it with a guided tour.
- The Dubai World Trade Center is an equally famous skyscraper. Various exhibitions, presentations, tastings and other pleasant events are often held here.
- In the House-Museum of Sheikh Said Al Maktoum, visitors will find three dozen rooms filled with heirlooms, old photos and a magnificent panorama of the city from the balconies.
- The old Al Fahidi Fort is the entrance to the Dubai National Museum. The fortress displays the traditional reed boats of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula.
- The Dubai fountain at the foot of the tallest skyscraper in the world remains one of the largest on the planet. Its jets rise 150 m into the sky, and the length of the installation is 275 m. Every second, the device throws out about 83 tons of water.
Dubai has been a world center for natural pearl mining for centuries. If you are interested in precious stones, you should go to the National Museum, where the pearl market has been recreated in great detail.
Top 10 attractions in Dubai
Iconic buildings in Dubai
Among many other mosques, Jumeirah in Dubai is the most suitable as a sightseeing tour. Firstly, because it is the largest in the emirate, and secondly, tourists from other religions are allowed here. This opportunity appeared thanks to the work of the Center for Intercultural Communication, which is supervised by Sheikh Mohammed.
Built of natural white stone, Jumeirah can accommodate about 1200 worshipers. The traditional principles of Islamic architecture are strictly observed by the designers: the central dome of the building is framed by two high minarets, and the main element of the decoration is skillful stone carving.
Tours for foreigners are conducted in English and start at 10.00 every day except Friday.
Where to go with children
Dubai has one important feature, thanks to which the city is equally interesting to any tourist, regardless of age. If you flew on vacation with the whole family, be sure that the children will also be delighted with the trip:
- Be sure to add Wild Wadi Waterpark to your entertainment list. A pleasant microclimate reigns in it, and therefore you will be able to relax in comfort both in the midst of the July heat and during the New Year holidays. The attractions are designed for visitors of all ages, and their number and variety is amazing. The water park is considered one of the best in the entertainment industry in the region.
- A list of the largest amusement parks in the Middle East would be incomplete without Wonderland. On its territory you will find water slides, a go-kart track, a small water park, many merry-go-rounds and swings, souvenir shops and cafes with a varied menu.
- The Dubai Zoo may not seem too big, but you will be able to see the typical representatives of the local fauna.
- The entertainment complex of the famous Atlantis Hotel will delight you with tailed actors giving daily shows at the Dolphin Bay Dolphinarium, and the inhabitants of the underwater world museum, which are convenient to watch in the ideally equipped aquarium. The hotel also has a water park, as well as the Ambassador outdoor aquarium, by the way, the largest on the planet.
For a family picnic, head to Al Mamzar Park. In addition to barbecue lawns, you will find a pool and beach houses on the perfect lawn.
The best restaurants, bars and cafes
Dubai is becoming more cosmopolitan every year. The question of where to go for dinner in order to enjoy the taste of your favorite national dishes is no longer asked by the Chinese, nor the Russians, nor the French. The list of the best places to eat in Dubai is expanding rapidly, but some of the addresses are still at the top of the culinary league table:
- One of the finest seafood restaurants in town is Pierchic on a wooden bridge over the water. Bonus - great view of the Burj Al Arab hotel.
- The iconic Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire restaurant can be found in the lobby of the Inter Continental Dubai Festival City. You should go here if you find yourself in Dubai, but the love for French cuisine outweighs all other feelings. The chef of this establishment has three Michelin stars to his credit.
- Asian fusion is on offer at the Buddha-bar, which is reminiscent of an oriental spa. Relax and think about the eternal over a plate of Thai noodles visiting the Buddha, you will definitely succeed.
- If you decide to try Arabic dishes, do not pass by the Al Hadheerah, where food is cooked in traditional wood-burning ovens, and for dessert, baklava, dripping with honey, and belly dancing are served.
- Royal China, near the International Financial Center, is a true Chinese paradise. It is famous for the perfect Peking duck cooked according to old recipes and seafood worthy of royalty.
To the list of places to go in Dubai for gastronomic pleasure, you can add Armani at the hotel of the same name and Sahn Eddar at the base of the world's tallest atrium. Both establishments are ideal as romantic date restaurants.
Top 10 must-try dishes in the UAE
Shopping lovers
The largest city in the Emirates is often called a paradise for shopaholics. The reason is not only in the variety and number of stores, malls and shopping centers, but also in the pricing process. There is no VAT in the country, import duties are among the lowest in the world, and the range of discounts on the eve of the holidays and even for no reason makes Dubai price tags a dream of fashionistas from dozens of countries.
How much money to take to Dubai
Popular shopping lists are consistently topped by the Dubai Mall next to Burj Khalifa. The huge territory includes hundreds of large and small shops selling everything from linen to cars.
On Sheikh Zayed Road, you will find another shopping center with an area of over 220 hectares. Mall of the Emirates invites you to look into each of its 400 stores and choose jewelry, a fur coat, a swimsuit … You can't list it all!
In the elegant Wafi shopping center, it is customary to buy haute couture clothes, expensive leather accessories, electronics and gemstone jewelry. If these items weren't on your wishlist, just check out the Lebanese sweets shop in this mall.
For gold and diamonds, welcome to Gold & Diamond Park! Nearly a hundred shops opened by the world's leading jewelry designers are gathered under the roof of this department store.
What to bring from Dubai
