Dubai is one of the most famous and versatile cities in the world (yes it is a city, not a country!). There is so much to do in Dubai, I could never list it all in one post. However I have made a list of 10 best things to do in Dubai based on my recent visit.
If you do these, you are bound to have an unforgettable trip.
Go on an epic desert safari
I think this should be number 1 on your list if you want to visit Dubai. It doesn’t cost that much, and I recommend you buy the VIP version, since it’s only a little more expensive than the regular version. The arabian desert is an attraction you don’t want to miss. Dubai makes it so that your visit will be an unforgettable experience.
There are camels, quad bikes, belly dancing, fire shows, arab dancing, traditional arab clothes for you to try on, limitless food and drinks, camel shows, henna painting and so much more.
A Dubai desert safari can be booked on get your guide, booking.com, or desert safari Dubai.
Take a boat trip from Dubai to Oman (Musandam)
I promise you won’t regret this. This was one of the best experience of my life. I have talked about it before, but even on this 12 hour boat trip, there are many things to do. You can swim in the gorgeous waters of Oman, go on a banana boat ride, see dolphins (depending on your tour and time of year), see the amazing caves, go to the musundam beach, fishing and go on a speed boat.
Explore the Dubai mall
You could never explore the Dubai mall even if you had months. This is actually the biggest mall in the world, and it is so huge, full of so many things. There is a massive aquarium, a huge VR park, an ice rink, china town, a spacious book store, cinemas, an archade, Souk Al Bahar and go karting on the roof.
Explore other malls
The emirates mall and ibn batutta mall may not live up to the Dubai mall, but they are amazing in their own right. Emirates mall has ski Dubai – an indoor ski resort – built inside it. A ticket costs $60 and you can take a ski lift, go skiing, have a penguin encounter, go snowboarding, try a balloon ride, take skiing lessons, ride a zip line, go zorbing, sit on rides, sledding, play in the snow park and so much more. If you have children, you can take them to magic planet in the emirates mall which is an arcade combined with a mini amusement park.
Ibn batuta mall is a themed mall that has the sky zone, which is one of Dubai’s best trampolining parks. There is also bowling, pottery studios, pool tables and karaoke.
Other unmissable malls in Dubai include oasis mall, Dubai marina mall, Dubai festival city mall, madina mall, wafi city, burjuman, city centre mirdif, Dubai outlet mall, Al barsha mall and Al ghurair centre.
Stroll around in Dubai Marina
The Dubai marina is an amazing, beautiful place. There is so much to do there. The world’s largest ferris wheel is located in Dubai Marina. There are restaurents and shops open until 5am, a sandy beach, arcades, huge stores, a breathtaking skyline, river cruises, yacht rentals, jet skiing, cayan tower, zero gravity and much more. This is a place you can really get lost in and have the time of your life.
Go to the beaches
There are several beaches in Dubai where you can let loose and retreat for the day. The best one is JBR beach, which is located in Dubai Marina (see above point). This is a relaxing beach that has delicious cuisine, amazing shops, water sports, entertainment, camel riding, shoreline dining, a gym, roxy cinemas, beach clubs, long walkways, sea breeze and fine dining.
Other beaches in Dubai include kite beach, sufouh beach, la mer beach, mercato beach, al mazmer beach, black palace beach and jumeira wild beach.
Visit deira Dubai (downtown Dubai) –
Deira Dubai is less fancy than Dubai Marina, but you can really take in the casual vibes and experience the more down to earth side of Dubai. You will find many stores that are affordable, spice souks, gold souks, restaurant, ice rink, fish market, Dubai creek, al seed district, heritage village, naif souk, city centre deira mall, abraj shopping centre, al ghurair centre and much more.
Tour the global village
Th global village in Dubai is a very popular tourist attraction, especially in recent years. It is a huge park that is themed around 100 different cultures, making it a must-see on your trip. The global village is only open from October to April, tickets are cheap and can be bought for £5 or $7. You can taste food from all over the world and learn about cultures you never even heard of.
There are many carnival rides, delicious cuisine from around the world, cultural entertainment, a wide range of music, selfie spots, unique shopping, laser shows, violin shows, exo planet city, kid’s shows, stage performances, al mandoos show, bollywood dancing, stunt shows and much more.
Go to the Dubai Frame
The Dubai frame was built 7 years ago, and is an amazing tourist attraction. It is the largest frame in the world and considered to be an architectural marvel. You can enter either on a regular ticket or vip ticket. A regular ticket is usually $14 but you can find them for cheaper on GetYourGuide or Klook. A vip ticket is around $80.
The frame is incredible as you get to take on the views of both old Dubai and new Dubai, as it splits through both sides. There is a magnificent gift shop available inside, glass walkway that changes colours when you step on it, museum, digital gallery, social media wall, old Dubai artifacts, scents, projections, delicious meals, predictions about Dubai’s future and panasonic views.
Go skydiving
Dubai is a city that provides many incredible activities, but one of the best and most famous ones is skydiving. The best part is that you will be able to view the amazing palm Dubai landscape underneath. You can also skydive in the Dubai desert. It is safe and you will be jumping with an experienced skydiver, who will open your parachute for you. The fall will be for 60 seconds, and photographs will also be taken while you’re in the air. It can cost anywhere from $500-$1500, but is definitely worth it.
Visit Abu Dhabi
This may sound counterintuitive since it’s not inside Dubai, but Abu Dhabi is a city that is almost as famous as Dubai – or atleast should be. Both cities are amazing and both are located in the UAE. It takes approximately 1 hour and a half to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and you can make the trip via taxi, bus or the metro. A bus ticket only costs £5 or $7 each way.
There is a lot to do in Abu Dhabi and I will have to make a separate post on it. There is a desert safari, yas marina circuit racetrack, Ferrari world, seaworld, waterworld, Warner bros world, qasr al watan palace, louvre museum, Sheikh Zayed mosque, Mary the mother of Jesus mosque and much more.
There are also many islands near Abu Dhabi that you can visit, such as Al Mariyah Island, Saadiyat Island, Dalma island, Marawah Island, Zaya Nurai Island, Sir Bani Yas Island, happiness island and dolphin island.
