Dubai city has ample treasure attractions in its store to offer its
visitors. Where else can you spend a vacation that combines sand dunes
and Middle East culture with breathtaking high rise hotels commanding
sparkling beaches and the warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Dubai is a shopper's paradise. It is a duty-free zone and during its
March Shopping Festival, two million visitors arrive looking for
discounts on gold, electronics, clothing, and Persian carpets. The city
of Dubai have numerous architectural mosques, museums and heritage
attractions. On the fun side, the Wild Wadi Water Park is well worth a
visit and Dubai land, when it opens, will add a whole new dimension to
the city. Desert Safaris in Dubai are an amazingly refreshing experience
and it is time to relish the desert feast. The tourists are served with
traditional Arabian barbeque under the star-lit night on the camps that
offers an unforgettable experience for a lifetime.
Places to See in Dubai
It is certainly beyond ones imagination what Dubai can offer. From enjoying a desert safari and a camel-ride on the sand dunes, adventure thrills on magnificent beaches to exploring the architectural heritage of Dubai and indulging in diverse shopping extravaganza, offered by the Dubai tourism. Take a sightseeing tour of Dubai city and explore the one of their kinds luxurious malls with unimaginable architecture, visit best and highest prized horse-races and experience the rich cultural heritage showcased in many ancient forts and royal palaces of Arab Sheiks and some of their treasures well preserved in city museums. You can also unravel the mystic Arabian cuisine, Lebanese and Iranian food delicacies besides enjoying all the other international food chains. Dubai has always lived up to its reputation of being the best and most visited city in the world with its eye on new exploration and a unique experience that it can offer to its visitors.
The Desert- A Mirage of Golden Sand
These vast stretches of golden sands are among the major attractions of Dubai. Covering the major part of the Dubai landscape, the desert holds its own unique charm and offers a mesmerising experience to the visitors of Dubai. Explore the remotest of the desert regions by taking up the desert safari that includes the Private Safari, Hajar Mountains Safari, Desert Wonder Safari, Hatta Safari and the Private Overnight Safari. It is very important to carry ample amounts of water during these desert safaris as fighting the heat & dehydration can be a major issue. Such safaris have since long been amongst the must-visited places in Dubai.
Monumental Heritage & Modern Architecture
Monumental Heritage
Amidst its high-paced growth and modernisation Dubai has still not forgotten it's rich ancient heritage and has preserved the same quite magnificently in the form of its monumental heritage.
Forts & Palaces
There are many forts & palaces around Dubai which are witness to the rich heritage of the city. These heritage sites offer a glimpse of the bygone era.
Most Important Heritage Sites in Dubai
'The Sheikh Saeed House', 'The Bastakiya', 'Hatta Heritage Village', 'Burj Nahar' and 'Bait Al Wakeel'. Visit one of the oldest and perhaps the most historical monument in the history of Dubai called the Al-Fahidi fort built in the year 1799. The idea behind constructing this fort was to protect Dubai from any enemy invasion via the sea. This royal structure was later converted into the 'Dubai Museum' and was open to the public for display. One can see a rare collection of coins, stamps and historic photographs which displays the proud heritage of the city of Dubai. This museum is open for visitors from Saturday to Thursday between 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and between 2.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on Fridays.
Modern Architecture
Dubai is a city with a rich blend of ancient & modern architecture. Some of the best known architectural marvels of this modern city include the Jumeirah Emirate Towers, Burj Dubai and the Burl Al Alam, the tallest commercial tower in Dubai. Also, the beauty of its modern architecture can be witnessed through some of the splendid structures in the form of its malls and official buildings.
Dubai Malls
The most-prized marvels of Dubai, are its Malls. Despite the reputation of having the most expensive retail shops around the world, these finest and architecturally stunning malls constructed on its soil are not to be missed. Visiting these beautiful Malls is one experience of a lifetime. Most of the malls are arrayed with shops, international shopping brands, entertainment zones, food courts and specialty restaurants. Some of the land marks that capture the essence of this well-planned city are 'BurJuma Centre', 'Mercato Mall', 'Lamcy Plaza', 'Wafi City Mall' and the'Deira City Centre.
Shopping in Dubai
Dubai is often coined as the 'City of Gold' truly symbolizing glittering malls, well-lit buildings and the shining Gold Souk, all catering to a wild shopping experience for its visitors. Dubai is a one-stop destination for shopaholics coming from all over the world to make there lifetime shopping. The Dubai shopping festival is one of the most publicized annual affairs and an event held to promote tourism in Dubai. Electronics, garments and jewelery constitute a major chunk of the displayed items in the shopping festival, besides the handicraft stalls of distinct countries. However, to capture the real Dubai one must head to its traditional souks (traditional markets), prominent souks in Dubai include the most visited Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Fish Market, Textile Souk, and the most anticipated annual event- 'The Dubai Shopping Festival'. Another of Dubai's well-kept secrets include the 'Satwa Souk', a street-shoppers haven. It is basically a shopping square full of delightful surprises especially for people who are fascinated with custom designed tailor made clothes.
Beaches of Dubai
Dubai is a city full of beautiful and eye-catching beaches. Dubai beaches can be enjoyed in the summer months in the morning and around sunset. During winter, the temperatures are pleasant and the beach sides are packed with visitors. The sandy beaches along the coast are some of the finest getaways for relaxation and sun bathing. Dubai offers a wide variety of entertaining and recreational facilities on its beaches. If you are a beach lover, then the 'Jumeirah Beach', 'Jebel Ali Beach and 'Mamzar Beach' would provide you with a perfect relaxation opportunity. Some of the prominent hotels of Dubai within close proximity of these beaches provide maximum comfort to its score of regular beach-going tourist population.
Must Visit-Hot Spots
Dubai is one city in this world which will surely leave an ever lasting impression on all its visitors with its ample surprises. There are plenty of 'Hot Spots' and must visit places and attractions that should not be missed while on your holiday trip to Dubai.
Ski Dubai
A Snow World in Dubai, it is perhaps the only place on this earth where snow meets desert. Ski Dubai is one of the largest indoor snow ski resorts in the world with amazingly reflecting the snow clad mountains of Himalayas. It is stretched on 22,500 square meters of area covered with snow all throughout the year. Snowboarders & skiers enjoy the varying slopes and freely perform their stunts over here. The temperature usually is around minus 7 degrees centigrade.
Wild Wadi Water Park
Its wet! Its wild! Its the 'Wild Wadi' Water Park of Dubai. Spread over an area of 12 acres, this water theme park offers you an unforgettable adventure. The park is designed around the ancient Arab tale of Juha and his seagoing friend Sindbad. Lot of attention to detail has gone into incorporating this amusement destination and ensuring it remains in sync with this folklore. Some of the popular rides include the Master Blaster, Flowriders, Juha's Dhow, Breaker's Bay and the Wadi Wash - a beautifully choreographed sound & light show a must watch.
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
The stakes are at their peak when it comes to horse-racing in Dubai, the most amusing pass time of the rich and famous. The Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is the host to the annual event of ‘The Dubai World Cup’. The American jockey Robbie Albarado riding on the champion horse Curlin won the newest edition of Dubai World Cup and bagged a whopping prize money of USD 6 million. So, if you want to be millionaire in an hour, try you luck on this Dubai Race Course.
The Grand Mosque
One of the most important and sacred religious structure in Dubai, a finest specimen of Persian architecture. This Grand Mosque accommodates about 1200 worshippers at the same time. In addition to the large 9 domes, it consists of 45 small domes. Non-Muslims are forbidden from entering this mosque but are allowed to capture photographs of this mosque from the minaret area.
Wadis in Dubai
As a result of the mild climate that this region enjoys, wadis in Dubai have become a perfect summer getaway for the people in Dubai. The lush valleys of Hatta are widely admired for providing the perfect Hadi environment. With the Hajar mountains as a backdrop and the endless sand dunes covering the region this is a must-visit region for the visiting population. The Hatta Fort 5-Star Hotel is strategically located near the Hatta oasis to provide maximum relaxation and comfort to its visitors.
How to Reach
Dubai is well-connected by Air to most of the international cities in the world. The national carrier is Emirates which flies round-the-clock. Getting around the city is also not a hassle with availability in abundance of Private cars, Buses, Taxis and Train.
