Dubai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Home to the tallest tower in the world, the Burj Khalifa, this global city is known for its lavish architecture, incredible skylines and a plethora of tourist attractions that break records to be the tallest, longest and biggest. Dubai has abundant opportunities when it comes to adventure activities like Desert Safaris through golden Arabian Dunes, Skydiving over the beautiful Palm Islands, Reef and wreck diving, kite surfing, wakeboarding, etc.
Flaunting its glittering infrastructure amid the glorious Arabian desert, the city of Dubai was once known to be a barren land. Today, this man-made miracle is filled with shimmering skyscrapers, fancy hotels, shopping malls and restaurants. Burj Khalifa – the tallest manmade building, Dubai Fountain with jets and lights choreographed to music, Atlantis, the Palm and an aquarium resort are among the top tourist destinations in Dubai.
The name of the currency in Dubai is the United Arab Emirates Dirham, more commonly known as Emirati Dirham. It is used throughout the UAE. The currency – when abbreviated – is known as the “AED” (officially) or the “DHs” (unofficially)
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB)
Dubai International Airport is situated in the Al Garhoud district, 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) east[2] of Dubai and spread over an area of 7,200 acres (2,900 ha) of land.[12] Terminal 3 is the second-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal in the world.[13]
The official language of the United Arab Emirates is Arabic.
Although Arabic is the official language of the UAE, English is the most spoken language in Dubai.
Dubai weather is characterised by a tropical desert climate with hot, sunny conditions created by its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and the Northern desert belt. Summers are very hot, humid and dry with temperatures climbing to 40 °C and higher and rarely dropping below 30 °C.
Dubai Weather in January: Although January is the coldest month in Dubai, to many people, it will feel like a warm summer day at home, with temperatures averaging 19°C to 20°C, and sometimes as high as 23°C in the afternoon.
The best time to visit Dubai is during the winter months from November to March when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy sightseeing throughout the day. In the Summer months, the weather is hot and humid and you must plan your trip in winters.
Towering at a height of 2,700 feet, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest tower in the world.
Things to Do at Burj Khalifa
1. Watch a breathtaking musical show at the Dubai Fountain.
2. Get the best views of Dubai at ‘At The Top‘ at the 124th and 125th level.
3. Dine in style at the best restaurantsin Dubai located right here in Burj Khalifa. You can visit At.mosphere for one of the city’s best fine dining experiences, Amal for an Indian culinary adventure, Ristorante for delectable Italian dishes, Hashi for lip-smacking Japanese cuisine and many other restaurants.
4. Spend an evening shopping to your heart’s content at one of the world’s best shopping destinations as well as the world’s second-largest mall, The Dubai Mall!
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s magnificent artificial archipelago, is the epitome of beauty created by land reclamation, extending into the Persian Gulf. The archipelago resembles a palm tree with a circle when you take an overhead view of it. It was one of the first major tourism projects in the UAE and currently houses some of Dubai’s top tourist destinations like Atlantis, the Palm, Aquaventure Waterpark and the Lost Chambers Aquarium.
Things to do at Palm Jumeirah
1. Take a tour of The Lost Chambers Aquarium: When you explore the Atlantis, don’t forget to explore the Lost Chambers Aquarium where you can get up close with a great population of the marine animals.
2. Get adventurous at the Adventure Water Park : Sit back or unwind with a cocktail, splash like a child in the pool or take a ride of some of the record-breaking water slides and get shot from a shark tank at the Adventure water park.
3. Take a speedboat ride with Splash Tours: Riding through the sparkling waters in a speedboat is both thrilling and adventurous. Start at the cruise Marina and cruising around the Palm Jumeirah to take a water view of the magnificent islands. The 90-minute ride is sure to give you an exhilarating experience.
4. Experience a Turkish Coffee Hamam: Unusual but relaxing, take this coffee-infused spa treatment at Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and pamper yourself. It is undoubtedly the world’s most luxurious spa treatment. If you want to have an extravagant experience take the premium pack with an overnight stay a caviar lunch with Champagne.
5. Take a birds-eye view of Palm Jumeirah with a helicopter tour: Take to the sky and enjoy the most scenic view of Dubai’s most luxurious properties with a City Circuit helicopter tour departing from Atlantis, The Palm. It is undoubtedly the best experience to take of Palm Jumeirah. You get a view of the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Creek and the old town.
Located on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo houses over 33,000 marine life occupying the 10 million litres of water within the tank.
This extraordinary zoo is located on Level 2 of Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, just above the Aquatic Tank. Children and adults alike are mesmerized by the spectacular displays of animals with 40 different shelters holding a wide variety of animal life that includes the Humboldt Penguin, African Dwarf Crocodile, Lion fish, Otters, the Giant Spider Crabs as well as the sharp teeth piranha fish.
Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters of the indoor ski area. It is the largest indoor ski park in the world. The park has a Snow Park, ski slopes, an ice museum and a skiing academy for those who wish to learn skiing.
Ski Dubai also hosts various events and concerts and a very cosy eatery called the Avalanche Cafe which has a balcony that faces the ski slopes.
Day safaris hold you in for an adventure as you get to try out Dune Bashing, sandboarding, quad biking, camel rides and more.
Though this experience can be availed throughout the year, the best time for this is from October to March.
The experience is one of its kind and worth every penny spent! Visitors can experience desert camping with a delicious Arabian dinner, belly dancers and other traditional performers.
Wild Wadi Water Park is one of the premier water parks of Dubai and boasts of innovative rides for all ages providing a unique experience for visitors. Located in front of the iconic Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi Water Park is themed around Juha, the character from the very popular folktale Arabian nights. Apart from the rides, the water park also provides an excellent surfing experience.
The Lost Chambers Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United Arab Emirates which is located in a five-star luxury hotel Atlantis, The Palm. With over 65,000 marine creatures from the depth of the Arabian Sea, UAE’s largest aquarium is a must-visit for people of all ages, especially families with younger children.
Things to Do at the Lost Chambers Aquarium
- Snorkeling
- Fish Tales Tour
- Aquarium Dives
- Haunted Chamber Parties
- Aqua Theatre Shows
- Touch Tank
This beautiful park has over 3000 animals from across the globe and has become a popular attraction in Dubai for locals and tourists alike. The zoo is divided into various zones named as ‘Villages’, and these are classified based on the regions around the world in which the animals are based. They are Safari Village, African Village, Asian Village, Wadi Village, Arabian Village and Kids Farm which is a playground for children to learn about wildlife.
Home to the majestic Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, Northern and Southern American fur seals, and exotic birds, the Dubai Dolphinarium is famous worldwide for its awe-inspiring and interactive shows.
Located in Creek Park, a family entertainment and activity park in Dubai, the Dubai Dolphinarium is a major tourist attraction where people from all over the world flock in large numbers all around the year to enjoy exciting marine mammal and bird shows.
Whether travelling solo or with family, the Dubai Dolphinarium is must-visit.
Global Village Dubai is claimed to be the world’s most significant tourism, leisure and entertainment project of UAE. It is the region’s first cultural, entertainment, family and shopping destination. Every year, the place receives over 5 million visitors over an area of 17,200,000 sq ft. The compound has various pavilions that each Managed by Dubai land on the outskirts of the city, the event is organized during the winter season between late November and late February and is part of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Things To Do at Global Village
1. Take a day trip around the world: Visit the pavilions dedicated to each country, with local vendors and food
2. Be a part of exciting live concerts and shows
3. Witness thrilling stunt shows, take a tour of the many experiences like the haunted house and other escape games.
4. Visit the carnival and go on exciting rides that are fun for the entire family.
5. Have a culinary expedition of the world with a wide range of eateries at the food court.
6. Visit on Thursday and Fridays around 9:00 PM to witness a beautiful fireworks display
The Dubai Mall, also known as the home of the Dubai shopping festival, is one of the world’s largest shopping malls with an area of over 500,000 square meters! With more than 1200 stores, a large walk-through aquarium, a world-class ic rink, 14,000 parking spaces and more exciting experiences for shoppers, the mall was voted the best shopping experience in the world by Grazia Magazine in 2010.
Dubai Mall is one of the city’s premier malls, offering entry to the world of amusement and entertainment. It is home to the famous Underwater Zoo, which is a walk-through aquarium with a collection of over 300 species of marine animals.
Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed water fountain located in the beautiful Burj Complex. This dancing fountain surges as high as 150 meters in complete synchronisation to classical, Arabic and other popular world musical numbers. Forming beautiful arcs and jumping to the beats, this fountain was designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Burj Al Arab Beach is a public beach surrounding the stunning, world-famous hotel, Burj Al Arab. Located in the Umm Suqeim area, it is also locally known as Umm Suqeim Beach or Sunset Beach. This place is one of the most photographed areas in Dubai.
Compared to other famous beaches, this beach is relatively empty, peaceful and is ideal for those who wish to revitalise and rediscover themselves. There is also has a small play area here for the children.
Stretched along the coast, south of the city’s historic Al Faihidi district, this sandy white strip of sand is among the top beach destinations for the visitors of Dubai
A favourite picnic spot amongst the locals, the 12-hectare big Jumeirah Beach park has everything a visitor would need on a nice weekend out with family.
One of the biggest water parks of Dubai, Aquaventure is located in the Atlantis hotel complex. This amazing water park offers a series of pools, shoots and flumes and a few thrilling rides.
Visitors can also relax at the Cabanas, have a nice meal at the various restaurants and shop some souvenirs at the many stores in the park.
The park houses the Country’s longest river called Rapids that goes up to 2.8 kms, a private beach for visitors to relax after a long day at the park and other facilities like sunbeds, experiences like the Shark Safari if you wish to go ‘safely’ swim with the sharks, feeding the stingrays or even go zip lining 20m above the park as you fly through the compound.
Top excursions to explore
1. Scuba Diving
2. Bunjee jumping
3. Sky Diving
4. Snorkelling
5. Hot air balloon flight
6. Camel ride
7. Dessert Safari with camp activities & BBQ Dinner
8. Helicopter tour &
9. Seaplane Adventure Dubai
10. Quad Bike Safari
11. Sand Boarding
12. Dolphin Show