Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks. World-class shopping, dining and entertainment attractions, beautiful beaches, mysterious deserts and culturally-rich heritage sites – Dubai is a must-see holiday destination, with something for everyone. From shopping enthusiasts and adventure-seekers to foodies and families, this bustling city has an eclectic mix of activities and places to suit all tastes. Whether you're looking to embark on a gourmet holiday or a sightseeing trip, explore our action-packed travel itineraries to get the best out of your Dubai visit.

Dubai's top experiences

Discover the world's tallest building, shop 'til you drop in some of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations, uncover hidden gems in a traditional souk, or treat the family to fun-filled attractions, water and theme parks, all in a single Dubai sightseeing itinerary.

The Dubai Mall is the perfect hub for shopping, entertainment and leisure. Shopaholics will rejoice at The Dubai Mall - the world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure located next to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Featuring over 1,200 retail stores, two anchor department stores and hundreds of food and beverage outlets, The Dubai Mall covers more than 1 million sqm – an area equivalent to 200 football pitches.

Witness the tallest performing fountain in the world during your visit to Downtown Dubai. The Dubai Fountain offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in a captivating water, music and light experience. Submerged within the 30-acre Burj Lake, at the foot of The Dubai Mall, powerful water jets are laid out strategically over an area equal to the size of two football pitches. The fountain jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 140m in the air at any one time.

At 555 metres up, enjoy the highest view of Dubai. Marvel at the sheer spectacle of the world's tallest building. Standing high above the city, you can experience what the world’s tallest skyscraper has to offer at viewing deck At The Top. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking views at Dubai’s most prime location. The Burj Khalifa has not one but two stunning observatories - At The Top located on the 124th and 125th floors, and the premium At The Top Sky on the 148th level that is a staggering 555m above ground.

Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel is synonymous with luxury living. One of Dubai’s most famous tourist landmarks, the Burj Al Arab often stands among the top five – if not the absolute peak – of the world’s most iconic hotels. Since its opening in late 1999, the hotel with its distinctive sail-shaped silhouette, has thrust Dubai onto the global luxury tourism landscape. Built on a triangular man-made island reclaimed from the sea, the hotel and its billowing sail-like structure rise 321Metres above the sea, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf.

Madinat Jumeirah is a traditional Arabian destination within a destination. Perched right by the Arabian Gulf and boasting its own private beach, Madinat Jumeirah is a true Arabian mini-city in Dubai. A destination within a destination, you’ll find three grand hotels (Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and the newly opened Jumeirah Al Naseem), a cluster of traditional summerhouses at Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf and seven grand homes at Jumeirah Malakiya Villas. Plus, there’s more than 50 different restaurants, nightspots and lounges at your disposal across its 40 hectares.

Play in the desert snow and ice at Ski Dubai. Do something impossible in Dubai – go skiing in the desert! Located inside the buzzing Mall of the Emirates, you will find one of the most innovative, iconic and exciting tourist attractions to be found in the Middle East.
You can easily recognize it from afar – it’s the slanted building perched on top of the Mall of the Emirates. Surrounded by a cluster of cosy chalets and restaurants, there’s nothing quite like skiing as you watch shoppers pass by in the surrounding windows.

Venture deep underwater to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Want to explore one of the largest and most stunning aquariums in the world. Don’t miss the giant 10 million-litre tank at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which contains more than 33,000 aquatic animals and the largest collection of sand tiger sharks anywhere. Rising to the third floor of The Dubai Mall, the aquarium is home to 140 species of sea life and offers many incredible ways to experience the underwater world.

A trip to Dubai isn't complete without a trip to the famous Gold Souk, one of the oldest and most fascinating traditional markets in the emirate. Whether you’re just browsing or genuinely on the hunt for even the slightest amount of precious gold, walk through the glittering Gold Souk and you’ll find the biggest selection of gold jewellery and gemstones crafted in a variety of carats.

See the old and the new city through Dubai Frame. Standing tall, Dubai Frame is fast becoming one of the city’s most famous attractions for visitors and residents alike. Much like the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab's iconic structures, Dubai Frame's landmark location in Zabeel Park provides sweeping panoramic views of the city. At 150m tall and 93m wide with a bridge connecting the two towers, Dubai Frame has a unique concept to its structure. Resembling a picture frame, Dubai's historic district can be seen to the north while the south provides breathtaking vistas of the city's modern skyline.

Located on Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai adds one more item to the list of world records to be broken by Dubai. The giant observation wheel stands at a staggering height of 210m making it the highest of its kind in the world. It is located off the popular Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) beachfront and is set to offer 360-degree views of the Dubai skyline.

Dubai Water Canal is a 3.2km long waterway which extends from the Creek in Old Dubai through Business Bay, before finding its way to the Arabian Gulf. The canal, which opened in 2016, meanders through the centre of the city, transforming the face of Downtown Dubai and turning it into a waterfront destination. Nearby you will find the magnificent V Hotel and Hilton Dubai as well as the fascinating La Perle aqua show. Visitors can run, walk and cycle along the 6.4km waterfront on either side of the canal. Hop aboard one of the many ferry and abra rides that make their way across the canal's calm waters for a particularly leisurely afternoon.

Crossing Dubai Creek by abra is a great way to see the city. The bustling Dubai Creek has been the lifeblood of the city for generations and continues to entice visitors today. And for just AED1 (US$0.27c), you can hop aboard one of many traditional boats or abras to cross the creek that separates Bur Dubai from Deira, Dubai’s city center.

Explore the origins of Arabia at the Dubai Museum. Visit the Dubai Museum and encounter colourful dioramas and enlightening historic exhibits. Housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, this is the oldest existing building in the city, and is a must-visit for a taste of old Dubai.
Built in 1787, this fort was once a monarch base, a force of defence, a weapons arsenal and prison, before being renovated during the reign of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. In 1971 – the same year the United Arab Emirates was formed, the fort reopened as Dubai Museum.

Palm Jumeirah is an icon on the Dubai landscape. Dubai is globally recognized for its world firsts, and The Palm Jumeirah is an impressive example. Viewed from above, the manmade island resembles a stylized palm tree, which was built from reclaimed land mass and a series of artificial archipelagos. Palm Jumeirah is home to some of Dubai's most luxurious resorts, including Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the One&Only The Palm and many more. It is also packed with fantastic dining options worth visiting, such as Nobu and 101 Dining Lounge even if you’re not staying at one of the many resorts.

A five-day stay in a luxury suite at Dubai’s Atlantis is part of a £1 million ($1.62 million) holiday being offered by travel specialists Destinology.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium

A marine adventure through the reimagined lost city of Atlantis. Surround yourself with sea life in a jaw-dropping walk through the glass tunnels of The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm. Sharks, stingrays, piranhas, lobsters, and the tiniest of seahorses are just some of the creatures you’ll come face-to-fin with in this spellbinding underwater world. Designed around the theme of the Lost City of Atlantis, the underwater tunnels serve as an immersive experience into a lost civilisation of ship wrecks and ruins.

Desert Safari Dubai specializes in tours of the vast and spectacular desert in the UAE. Catch a stunning view of the orange sunset in one of Dubai’s most adventurous activities. The tour organizers showcases a variety of packages to experience the emirate's most quintessential desert terrain in Lahbab, a tall dune known to residents as Big Red. Desert Safari Dubai makes sure you’re looked after, by picking you up and dropping you off anywhere in in the city. Experience an unsurpassed view of the desert, perched atop or bounding over the sand dunes.

A world of floral wonder awaits at Dubai Miracle Garden. Located in Al Barsha South, the 72,000sqm garden showcases identifiable structures completely covered with flowers. Here you can immerse yourself among more than 50 million blooming flowers throughout the different exhibits. There are plenty of attractions to see, including some quirky layouts. A heart-shaped pathway, pyramids and full-size houses are just some of the sights on offer. The flowers are meticulously cared for by a team of expert horticulturists and greens keepers, so the flower displays look their absolute best during every visit.

Global Village, the region’s largest outdoor family destination and theme park, opens on Tuesday with an enhanced infrastructure and a slew of other additions to add to visitors’ cultural experience, officials announced on Sunday. Returning even bigger in its 20th season this year, the theme park will run for 159 days with 32 pavilions and more than 75 countries represented, compared with the 70 listed last year.

Dubai’s Legoland theme park is on track to be completed by 2016, said its operator, Merlin Entertainments. The company, one of the world’s largest theme park operators, is also working on Legoland projects in South Korea, the United States and China on the back of an increase in sales at its parks following the global success of The Lego Movie in the first half of the year.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, sits off the mainland on an island in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Its focus on oil exports and commerce is reflected by the skyline’s modern towers and shopping megacenters such as Abu Dhabi and Marina malls. Beneath white-marble domes, the vast Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque features an immense Persian carpet, crystal chandeliers and capacity for 41,000 worshipers. See more of the UAE as you experience Abu Dhabi’s top architectural, cultural and historic sites during this full-day sightseeing trip from Dubai. Explore one of the city’s architectural gems during a stop at the all-white Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque. Then get a taste for the history of Abu Dhabi during visits to the Heritage Village and Abu Dhabi Museum.

Top experiences

A destination for the whole family, Abu Dhabi invites you to discover the awe-inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, to have an adrenaline rush while challenging the world’s fastest roller coaster in the largest indoor theme park, to take a stroll in the relaxing Al Ain Oasis, to feed the animals in the emirate’s engaging zoos, or to have a great day out on the UAE capital’s landmark Corniche.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands out as one of the world’s largest mosques, and the only one that captures unique interactions between Islam and world cultures. Sheikh Zayed's vision for the Grand Mosque was to incorporate architectural styles from different Muslim civilizations and celebrate cultural diversity by creating a haven that is truly diverse and inspirational in its foundation. The mosque’s architects were British, Italian and Emirati, and design inspiration was borrowed parts of Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt among other Islamic countries, revealing a glistening architectural marvel with an astonishing capacity of 40,000 worshippers and visitors.

The world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park is home to a winning mix of Ferrari inspired rides and attractions, the biggest Ferrari Store and a range of authentic Italian dining options for the whole family. Beneath its iconic red roof, the entertainment destination houses 37 record-breaking thrill rides and an array of world-class cuisines.
The star attractions at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi include the new Flying Aces ride featuring the highest rollercoaster loop in the world, Formula Rossa which is the world’s fastest roller coaster with a top speed of 250kmph in 4.9 seconds, family-friendly attractions, state-of-the-art simulators, electric-powered go-karts, live shows and an inspiring collection of racing memorabilia. Open 365 days a year, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi offers a unique experience for visitors of every age in a refreshing, indoor, climate-controlled environment.

This futuristic waterpark spans across an area as big as 15 football pitches, with 43 rides, slides, and attractions – five of which are one-of-a-kind. Visitors at Yas Waterworld can experience the world’s first and largest hydro-magnetic-powered, six-person tornado waterslide that extends up to 235 meters in length. For adrenaline junkies, there are three-meter-high waves on Bubble’s Barrel, which has the world’s largest surf sheet wave for flow-boards and body-boards. The Bandit Bomber, a 550– meter coaster, is the first with onboard water and laser effects. Riders can shoot jets of water at targets, drop water bombs and trigger special effects, while people below can spray them with water as they pass.

The Corniche Road spreads across an impressive 8Kms of manicured waterfront that includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants, and the Corniche Beach - a lifeguarded beach park.

Corniche Beach

This lengthy stretch of beach extends along Corniche Road from near the Hilton Hotel to beyond Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, where you’ll find its main entrance. During the week you can usually find a beach umbrella, but during the weekend they may all go quickly. You can’t swim out very far; floating fences keep you within 40 metres of the beach, and there are plenty of lifeguards around.

The iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab World that translates the spirit of openness of cultures. As one of the premier cultural institutions located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, the art-lovers dream displays the works of historical, cultural and sociological significance from ancient times to the contemporary era. Designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi encompasses 9,200 sq. m of galleries including the Permanent Gallery and a Temporary Gallery that is enriched by loans from many notable French museums including Musee du Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou.

Located on level 74 of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Observation Deck at 300 is the highest vantage point in Abu Dhabi where visitors can soak in the uninterrupted birds-eye perspective of the city’s skyline, the Corniche, and Arabian Gulf. The café known for its afternoon tea offers tea blends or freshly ground coffee along with sweet and savory treats, all the while guests enjoy the panoramic views from Tower 2 at 300 meters above the nation’s capital.

Wadi Adventure is the Middle East’s first man-made white water rafting, located at the base of charming Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. The adventure park features three white water channels for rafting and kayaking and an aerial adventure course, which includes an 18 obstacle, two leveled challenging airpark, a 200-meter long zip line, vertical climbing wall and a 14-meter high giant swing.
Wadi Adventure also provides a variety of options to engage corporate events enhanced with great guest service, while the Summit Events Centre provides a versatile event space for corporate meetings and outings, team building activities and birthday celebrations.

Al Ain's remarkable zoo is the region's largest and most acclaimed. The spacious enclosures are inhabited by indigenous and exotic species such as the Arabian Oryx, the big-horned Barbary sheep, rhinos, hippos, tigers and lions and more. The well-respected conservation and breeding program protects and preserves the rare fauna from extinction. Highlights of a zoo visit include giraffe feedings, a fascinating walk-through lemur experience and the world's largest human-made safari, a 217-hectare landscape housing more than 250 African and Arabian animals.

On Sir Bani Yas Island, the Arabian Wildlife Park is home to more than 10,000 free roaming animals and takes up more than half of the island. Visitors can now get up close and personal, at eye-level, with the island’s giraffes from a purpose-built viewing platform made completely from recycled materials.

Take a tour behind the scenes of one of the world's most technologically advanced motorsports circuits. The Yas Venue Tour is a must-do for those who want to see firsthand how much effort goes into running this large, multifaceted facility.

With over 1700 animals, including a majestic pair of white tigers, a 31-year-old, 300kg-plus Siberian bear, lions, cheetahs and dozens of zebras housed in the zoo’s ‘Predators’ and ‘Wild Animals’ enclosures, the Emirates Park Zoo in Al Bahia, a north-east suburb of the UAE capital features a park-wide ‘misting system’ which keeps animals and patrons cool in the summer months.
Connected to the zoo, the Emirates Park Resort features air-conditioned accommodation with balconies overlooking the zoo, cave or garden.

Rising 1,240 metres, Jebel Hafeet is the emirate’s highest peak, and UAE’s second. This towering rocky height, which stands guard over Al Ain and borders Oman, is forged out of craggy limestone that has been weathered over millions of years. Significant fossil discoveries have been made in the area, which are vital pieces in the jigsaw of the city’s ancient history.
Over 500 ancient burial tombs dating back 5,000 years have been found in the Jebel Hafeet foothills.

The historic oasis sprawls across 3,000-acre and provides a unique insight into the region's inhabitants who began taming the desert 4,000 years ago. The Al Ain Oasis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, but only now, with the construction of an educational Eco-Centre and an extensive system of shaded pathways that wind through some 147,000 date palms, is it open to the public. The site houses up to 100 different varieties of vegetation that surround the impressive oasis, with widespread plantations that are also working farms.

This flagship family entertainment destination in Al Ain has been a firm favourite since opening in 1985 when it became the Gulf's first theme park. Newly renovated, the park boasts 28 attractions for all ages, a family show amphitheatre, picnic and play areas. The all-inclusive price of AED 50 (US$ 13.61) Wednesday to Saturday and AED 45 (US$ 12.25) Mondays and Tuesdays covers entry to the park and 25 attractions. Admission is free for children of 0.89 metres (35 inches) and below.

One of the most eye-catching features on the Corniche Breakwater, the huge Marina Eye ferris wheel dominates the skyline in front of one of the capital's favorite shopping centers, Marina Mall.
Now officially in full operation, the Marina Eye provides an exciting new perspective of Abu Dhabi and gives those onboard unparalleled views of the city and Corniche. The Marina Eye observation wheel has 42 capsules, as well as a select number of luxurious VIP capsules for those wanting to take the ride to 'new heights'.

Nestled in the heart of the city on 15th Street between Airport Road and Karamah Street, Umm Al Emarat Park is one of the largest and oldest parks in Abu Dhabi.
Originally named just Mushrif Park and built in 1982 as a park for ladies and children, the newly renamed Umm Al Emarat Park has recently reopened after extensive renovation.
The new park features a variety of facilities including a Shade House, Animal Barn, Amphitheatre, Great Lawn, Botanic Garden, Children’s Garden and Evening Garden.

This entertaining children destination in Khalifa Park features no less than seven water-based attractions, all for children up to the age of 12. Its main feature - the ‘Water Play Structure’ - is a shallow pool with four small waterslides, a giant tipping bucket, a crawl tunnel, water guns, a water umbrella, small tipping buckets, a water wheel, and water showers.

BOUNCE Abu Dhabi - a world where the wall becomes the floor, a slam-dunk is within your grasp and the rules of gravity no longer apply.
Located in the heart of the city at Marina Mall, Bounce Abu Dhabi takes the rush of getting airborne and adds a whole host of new dimensions – from aerial manoeuvres to slam dunking, wall running and dodgeball warfare. With more than 100 interconnected trampolines housed within huge, colourful spaces, BOUNCE is a spring-loaded urban playground where hard surfaces are replaced with circus-grade sponge, giant air bags and springs.

A’L BAHAR is a vibrant beachfront community located on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The 80,000-sqm mixed-use development has a total of 48 dining, retail and leisure outlets in stylish units along a pristine length of beachfront.
Abu Dhabi visitors and residents can cool off at ‘AquaFun’, an inflatable waterpark concept new to the capital, as well as access public spaces for concerts and community events throughout the year, with a 500-metre promenade, directly on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.