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Dubai is one of the world’s most popular stopovers. Our personal travel managers recommend you extend your stay for at least a few days and experience the best in Arab hospitality with our A to Z guide of must do things to see and experience in Dubai.
Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa
Part luxury spa, part eco-resort this unique haven provides one of the best excuses to break up your long-haul journey.
Burj Al Arab
This has to be one of the world’s most iconic hotels. To take a look inside you need to have a confirmed reservation at one of its nine bars and restaurants.
Camel racing
The annual camel-racing season runs from October to April.
Desert adventures
A four-wheel-drive through the desert dunes is a popular excursion. Safaris depart in the afternoon and include a spot of falconry followed by a Bedouin dinner and traditional dancing.
(Mall of the) Emirates
The place to shop and ski – 630 designer stores and an indoor ski slope located within the mall. With two slopes, a chairlift and a snow park for children, the entire family will be entertained.
(Dubai) Fountain
View the world’s largest choreographed fountain show. Every night colourful, illuminated jets sway in time to music, producing what has become the most popular show in Dubai.
Ginseng
Drinking in Dubai can be expensive, but the cosmopolitan Ginseng bar has regular two for one cocktail nights from 7pm to 10pm.
Highest building in the world
At 828 metres high the Burj Khalifa takes the title of the tallest building in the world
Irish Village
Every country needs a touch of Irish and Dubai is no exception. The Irish Village pub in Garhoud is as popular with expats as it is with tourists.
Jumeirah Beach Park
Dubai’s favourite park gets crowded at weekends so we recommend you visit on a weekday and share the palm trees, shady grassed areas and pristine beach with far fewer people
Karama Souq
Located in the city’s southwest the Karama Souq is a great place for finding cheap leather goods and designer gear.
Local Cuisine
Dubai may have a love of all things glitzy and glam, but traditional, street-style food is still very present. You’re never far from shawarma stands for tasty kebabs, delicious falafel, creamy dips and to-die-for avocado juice.
Madinat Jumeirah
The man-made canals of Madinat Jumeirah conceal some of Dubai’s most atmospheric bars and restaurants
New Developments
There is always something new being built in Dubai!
Old Dubai
It’s easy to overlook Dubai’s fascinating past. The city’s trading roots are best explored in the quiet Bastakia area.
Palm Jumeirah
The world’s largest man-made island, Palm Jumeirah is connected by a six-lane undersea tunnel and is home to the Middle East’s first monorail.
Qasr Al Husn
A two-hour drive along the picturesque coastline and you’ll discover Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Qasr Al Husn is its oldest building.
Real Estate
If you’re keen to buy in the Palm development, Posh and Becks could be your neighbours as celebrities aplenty call Dubai their second home.
Spice Souq
The best part of Dubai’s traditional Deira Souq (market) is the lanes selling fresh spices where you’ll experience a delicious sensory overload of heady natural aromas.
Theme Park
Dubailand is on track to be completed by 2020. Planned to be twice the size of Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort it will become the largest amusement park in the world.
Underground
In 2012, Guinness World Records declared Dubai Metro the world’s longest driverless, fully automated metro network with a route length of 75 kilometres.
Verre
Verre restaurant located at the Hilton Dubai Creek was celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s first overseas restaurant and consistently rates as one of the city’s best eateries.
Wild Wadi Water Park
Swim, dive and slide till you drop at Dubai’s outdoor water theme park. The Jumeirah Scirah extreme slide isn’t for the faint hearted.
XVA Gallery
There are regular exhibitions, and the courtyard café is a good place to go after a visit to the Dubai Museum in the nearby Al Fahidi Fort.
Yachting
Yachting off the shores of Dubai is rapidly growing in popularity. Dusail offers everything from fun catamarans to larger ketches and luxury yachts.
Za’abeel Park
This large public park boosts interactive themed areas such as a Technology Zone, a Barcode Garden, an Alternative Energy Zone and a Space Maze making it extremely popular with families.
For more tips and advice on travel to Dubai, ask your local personal travel manager or find one here.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
