Top 10 things to do in Dubai
5:08 pm
1. Go shopping in the largest mall in the world
If you love shopping, then you’ll love Dubai. The Dubai Mall has over 14 miles worth of shops, from ones you’ll find on the high street to high-fashion brands, as well as tons of different places to eat and snack with cuisines from all over the world.
2. Go dune-bashing and ride a camel on a desert safari
No visit to Dubai is complete without a trip into the desert. You can book an afternoon with a tour company, who’ll drive you out into the sand and take you dune-bashing in the afternoon, before going to a Bedouin camp in the evening to snack on some traditional Arabic foods, listen to local music and even ride a camel!
3. Visit one of the waterparks
Dubai has two different waterparks and there’s another one about a ninety-minute drive away in Abu Dhabi, so you’ve got plenty of choice. The parks are always a great day out, they have amazing rides and it’s ideal to be able to spend some time in the sun while also feeling refreshed by all of the cool water.
4. Take an abra across the creek to visit ‘old Dubai’
Dubai is seen as such a modern, up-and-coming city, but it can be great to step back and look at what it used to be like before they hit the big-time! For just 1 dirham (that’s about 20p), you can take a ride across the creek on an old-fashioned boat and explore the fascinating markets that line the streets of old Dubai.
5. Find bargains on ‘genuine fakes’ in Karama
Everybody loves a good bargain, and Dubai has just the place for you if you’re not up to spending the full prices on designer clothes, shoes and bags. Karama is a small district in Dubai, close to the creek and the old part of the city, jam-packed full of little shops selling genuine fakes for amazing prices.
6. Take a day off to relax by the pool/beach
Let’s not forget the amazing weather in Dubai! It’s pretty much sunny all year round; it only rains for a couple of days a year and, when it does, the city seems to lose its mind and all the schools close. Why not spend some time topping up on your tan, enjoying the pool and sunshine while you’ve got it?
7. Go shopping in a souk
A souk is a traditional Arabic marketplace, selling clothes, art, jewellery, perfumes and much more for bargain prices. If you’re looking to take home a little bit of culture as a souvenir, a souk is definitely the right place to go.
8. Visit one of the many food and craft park markets
Following on from the souks, there are many lovely parks in Dubai, some of which hold food and craft markets every week. My favourite of these is the Zabeel Park Ripe Market, where lots of independent craft stalls and healthy street food carts are set up every Friday for your perusal.
9. Have dinner watching the dancing fountains
Now, I’ve got a question for you. Where else in the world can you eat your dinner while watching dancing fountains? These fountains are world famous, choreographed to ‘dance’ to different tracks every half an hour throughout the evening. I know what you’re thinking – fountains? They’re just water! I know, I know, but there’s something about them that I absolutely adore, and there’s always hundreds of people watching them every night so I guess I’m not the only one!
10. Take an elevator to the top of the tallest building in the world
And, of course, the Burj Khalifa; Dubai’s pride and joy. At 892.9m, it’s the tallest building in the world – and you can go up it! Granted, it’s a little bit more costly, but definitely worth it as the view is incredible. I’d recommend going late afternoon; that way, you’ll be able to see the view in the daytime, at sunset and at night in just one viewing.
Originally published in Exeposé.
0 comments