But this city has many cultural highlights as well as all the glamorous modern add-ons. Take a wander around the Bastakia district and you'll discover the Dubai of old, then cruise along Dubai Creek in a traditional dhow and you'll soon realise there's more to this city than its flashy veneer.If you are travelling for shoppings or touring,check these destinations out:
1 Burj Khalifa
Dubai's landmark building is the Burj Khalifa, which at 829.8 m is the tallest building in the world. For most visitors a trip to the observation deck
on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city. The views
across the city skyline from this bird's-eye perspective are simply
staggering. The slick observation deck experience includes a multi-media
presentation on both Dubai and the building of the Burj Khalifa
(completed in 2010) before a high-speed elevator whizzes you up to the
observation deck for those 360-degree views out across the skyscrapers
to the desert on one side and the ocean on the other. Night-time visits
are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai's famous
city-lights panoramas.
Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the building's beautifully designed gardens with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modelled on vegas famous Fountains of Bellagio.
Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the building's beautifully designed gardens with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modelled on vegas famous Fountains of Bellagio.
Hours: Daily 8:30am-1am
Admission: Observation Deck Entry: Adults 125AED (immediate entry 400AED), children 4-12 95AED, children under 4 free
Location: Entry from Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown
Dubai's excellent museum is housed in the Al-Fahidi Fort,
built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. The fort's walls are built out of
traditional coral-blocks and held together with lime. The upper floor is
supported by wooden poles known as "handels", and the ceiling is
constructed from palm fronts, mud and plaster. In its history, the fort
has served as residence for the ruling family, seat of government,
garrison and prison. Restored in 1971 (and again extensively in 1995) it
is now the city's premier museum. The entrance has a fascinating
exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai, showing the mammoth
expansion that hit the region after the oil boom.
The courtyard is home to several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirati wind-tower. The right-hand hall features weaponry and the left-hand hall showcases Emirati musical instruments. Below the ground floor are display halls with exhibits and dioramas covering various aspects of traditional Emirati lifestyle (including pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life) as well as artifacts from the 3,000-4,000 year old graves at Al Qusais archaeological site.
The courtyard is home to several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirati wind-tower. The right-hand hall features weaponry and the left-hand hall showcases Emirati musical instruments. Below the ground floor are display halls with exhibits and dioramas covering various aspects of traditional Emirati lifestyle (including pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life) as well as artifacts from the 3,000-4,000 year old graves at Al Qusais archaeological site.
Location: Al-Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai
3.Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek separates the city into two towns with Deira to the north and Bur Dubai
to the south. The creek has been an influential element in the city's
growth, first attracting settlers here to fish and pearl dive. Small
villages grew up alongside the creek as far back as 4,000 years ago,
while the modern era began in the 1830s when the Bani Yas tribe settled
in the area. The Dhow Wharfage is located along Dubai Creek's
bank, north of Al-Maktoum Bridge. Still used by small traders from
across the Gulf, some of the dhows anchored here are well over 100 years
old. You can visit here, watching cargo being loaded and unloaded on
and off the dhows. Dhow workers often invite visitors onto the vessels
for a tour, where you can gain insight into the life of these
traditional sailors. Many of the dhows here travel onwards to Kuwait,
Iran, Oman,
and down to Africa's horn. This tiny remnant of Dubai's traditional
economy is still a bustling and fascinating place to wander around.
To travel across the creek you can either take a trip on one of the many dhows that have been restored as tourist cruise boats or take an abra (small wooden ferry) between the ferry points on the creek's Bur Dubai and Deira banks.
4.Deira Souks
To travel across the creek you can either take a trip on one of the many dhows that have been restored as tourist cruise boats or take an abra (small wooden ferry) between the ferry points on the creek's Bur Dubai and Deira banks.
Deira is located on the northern bank of Dubai Creek
and the winding streets here unveil the melting pot of different
nationalities that have come to call Dubai home. On the shore, ancient
dhows load and unload with modern banks, hotels and office buildings for
a backdrop. For travelers Deira is most famous for its traditional souks (markets), which bustle with shoppers at all times of the day. Deira Gold Souq
is world-renowned as the largest gold bazaar in the world and the
reason that Dubai has received the name "City of Gold". Jewellery of all
kinds is available in a variety of designs from traditional to modern
and plenty of options to customise your own design.
The Deira Spice Souq sells every imaginable spice with stalls overflowing with bags of frankincense, cumin, paprika, saffron, sumac and thyme as well as the fragrant oud wood, rose water and incense. The market was established in the 1830s and features restored wooden archways and wind-towers. For a much less touristy experience, head to the fish market where you'll find loads of local action.
The Deira Spice Souq sells every imaginable spice with stalls overflowing with bags of frankincense, cumin, paprika, saffron, sumac and thyme as well as the fragrant oud wood, rose water and incense. The market was established in the 1830s and features restored wooden archways and wind-towers. For a much less touristy experience, head to the fish market where you'll find loads of local action.
5. Sheikh Zayed Road
Sheikh Zayed Road is the main thoroughfare running through
Dubai's modern downtown business district. This wide, eight-lane highway
is rimmed with towering glass, chrome and steel highrises along its
length. Main attractions are along, or just off, the strip between the
roundabout and the first intersection. The Courtyard Gallery (6A Street) has an excellent permanent collection focused on contemporary art from Arab artists. Dubai World Trade Tower (Sheikh Zayed Road) has an observation deck on its top floor that offers visitors panoramic views.
The Gold and Diamond Park and Museum (Sheikh Zayed Road) is a one-stop shop for jewellery lovers with 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers all under one roof. The complex's museum presents the history of Arabic jewellery production and also offers short tours of the manufacturing plant.
6.Heritage and Diving Village
The Gold and Diamond Park and Museum (Sheikh Zayed Road) is a one-stop shop for jewellery lovers with 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers all under one roof. The complex's museum presents the history of Arabic jewellery production and also offers short tours of the manufacturing plant.
6.Heritage and Diving Village
Dubai's architectural, cultural and maritime heritage is showcased at the Heritage and Diving Village, with
displays related to pearl diving and dhow building - two of old Dubai's
historic economic mainstays. There are also recreations of traditional
Bedouin and coastal village life, with Persian homes, a traditional
coffeehouse and a small souk where potters and weavers practice
their handicrafts at the stalls. Local music and dance are performed
from October to April and visitors can get advice from practitioners of
traditional medicine.
7. Dubai Aquarium
One of the city's top tourist attractions, the Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall. As well as free viewing from the mall, if you enter the Underwater Zoo you can walk through the aquarium tunnels.
There are a myriad of activities where you can get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.
There are a myriad of activities where you can get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-midnight
Admission: Adults 70AED, Children 55AED
Location: Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road
8 Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is the city's premier mall and provides entry to the Burj Khalifa as well as the Dubai Aquarium.
There is also an ice-skating rink, gaming zone and cinema complex if
you're looking for more entertainment options. The shopping and eating
is endless and there are nearly always special events such as live music
and fashion shows within the mall. The most famous of these are the
annual Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February and the Dubai Summer Surprises Festival in July and August.
Location: Doha Road, just off Sheikh Zayed Road.
9.Burj al-Arab
The Burj Al-Arab is the world's tallest hotel, standing 321 m
high, located on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline.
Designed to resemble a billowing dhow sail, the exterior of the Burj
Al-Arab is lit up by a choreographed coloured lighting show at night.
Decadent in every way possible, it is one of the most expensive hotels
in the world with the most luxurious suites costing over $15,000 for one
night.
For those without unlimited credit, the way to experience the over-the-top opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater Al-Mahara restaurant where floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the dining room walls allow you to view sea life while you eat. Or, book afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar (a minimum spend is required) on the 27th floor with its amazing panoramic views of the city.
10.Mall of the Emirates
For those without unlimited credit, the way to experience the over-the-top opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater Al-Mahara restaurant where floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the dining room walls allow you to view sea life while you eat. Or, book afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar (a minimum spend is required) on the 27th floor with its amazing panoramic views of the city.
10.Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates is one of the city's most famous malls with the spectacular (and surreal) Ski Dubai
facility inside. The indoor ski slope is complete with chairlifts and a
penguin enclosure, all at a continuous temperature of -4 degrees
Celsius. There's also a cinema complex and a family entertainment centre
with a whole host of rides aimed at both the big and small. The
shopping opportunities are boundless as are the eating options, offering
every conceivable world cuisine.
Hours: Sat-Wed 10am-1am, Thu-Fri 10am-2am
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road
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