30 Best Sights in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The world's tallest building dominates the Dubai skyline like a scimitar pointing skyward. Designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Burj Khalifa houses a mixture of commercial and residential spaces, as well as the Armani Hotel. The 828 meter building, named after the ruler of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan, can be visited in the hotel public areas, and it is also possible to book a viewing "At the Top" for some spectacular 360-degree views. A high-speed lift will zoom you up 1,500 feet to the 125th floor, or, you may book the second rung "Burj Khalifa Sky," a VIP lounge experience on level 148. At.mosphere restaurant and bar on level 122 can be visited without an entry fee, but there is always minimum spend.

Without the creek, Dubai would not exist. This safe inlet, one of a few in the Gulf area, was the obvious choice for a commercial port for the sea trade that funds the region. Dubai port developed into the natural focus for ocean traffic around the Gulf, to the west, and for boats from India and Africa. The waterfront bears little resemblance to its early years, because it's been dredged and widened several times during the 20th century. On the Deira bank near the creek mouth are a series of low-rise merchant districts that include the major souks. Further inland at Al-Rigga and Garhoud, the Deira creek front is home to the first modernist architecture that transformed the city from local hub into worldwide style icon. Dubai's abras have been transporting people across the creek for as long as anyone can remember. These tiny engine-powered wooden boats provide a perfect outlook of the bustle of the creek, for just one dirham a crossing, and can deliver tourists from one souk to another in just a few minutes.

Winter in Dubai brings about many events, but none are more colorful than those at the Global Village. Every year, delegates from more than 75 countries and regions come together in this 17 million square foot venue for the largest cultural festival in the emirate. Each country holds a stand over 30 pavilions, and offer local handicrafts, retail specialties and ethnic food. Folkloric and fireworks displays take place every night, and a huge amusement park is on-site.

Take sunglasses when you visit the Gold Souk—no matter what time of day. The window displays shine with precious metals and cut stones that are so reflective they'll nearly blind you. The Gold Souk is one of the world's most important jewelry trading centers, catering to customers from the Gulf region and beyond. Jewelry is a portable method of storing wealth, and gold still makes up part of a woman's wedding dowry in many societies in Africa, the Arabian Gulf, and India. Citizens of these countries flock to Dubai to buy gold because prices are some of the most competitive in the world. There is a high proportion of very yellow gold, a finish popular in the region, but it's also possible to find gleaming metals and gems in almost any shape and color. If you can't find what you want, you can even have something made over a couple of days. Gold is sold by weight, a constantly shifting price that is consistent across the souk, with variations in price based only on workmanship.

Translating to Jumeirah City in Arabic, Madinat Jumeirah connects four five-star hotels around a central souk, theater, gardens, and waterways. Although constructed in recent years, it resembles an adobe brick oasis town, and is exceptionally well replicated. The complex looks especially appealing after dark when soft lighting illuminates the pastel stucco, barjeels, and cobbled courtyards.

Souk Madinat, a beautifully designed bazaar of winding alleyways, takes the best aspects of a traditional market with lots of small stalls piled high with tempting souvenirs, partners them with high-end boutiques and traders of exotic housewares, then adds an extra element of comfort—air-conditioning. Art, carpets, and furniture are high quality here, but the prices reflect this and are rarely negotiable.

Madinat Jumeirah's waterfront makes a great stop for a lazy lunch or long dinner. Restaurants and bars line both sides of the canal promenade and many have liquor licenses, so you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail as you relax in the balmy air and watch the abras putt-putt along the waterways.

Ski Dubai caused a wave of excitement to spread through the Gulf region when it opened in 2005. It's a mountain resort in miniature with two key runs and various spaces for learners and the more experienced who wish to do tricks. Entry includes all your ski or snowboard gear, and you can also book lessons. There's plenty to do if you don't ski; at the base is a snow park with toboggans, a giant ball run and some minirides for tots. Nonskiers may also take the chair lift for a spin to the top, or halfway to the "snow bullet," a fast-seated zip line. There are gentoo and king penguins living in the complex, and it's possible to see them on the hour, or book a meet-and-greet session. When you're ready for a break, relax at one of the two cafés in the complex, and appreciate the irony of needing a warming hot chocolate in the middle of the Arabian desert.

Easily accessed via the abra station that delivers tourists from the textile souk across the river, the Spice Souk is one of the most popular destinations in Deira for visitors. It's only a small market, but the rear edges spill toward a more generic market area, which in turn meets the gold and perfume souks. Spices, dried herbs, and flowers and resinous globs of frankincense are displayed in large baskets in traditional alleyways and allow for some excellent photography opportunities. If you want to buy, look for saffron in particular, which comes in various qualities that will happily be displayed by the vendors. Feel free to ask them about everything—there are plenty of unrecognizable and surprising products available. It makes great fodder for the budding chef or simply the curious.

A series of stores runs from the Old Souk abra station, through to the Al Fahidi district. It's loosely termed the Textile Souk, though it's also full of tacky souvenirs, touts, and eateries. Meandering from the wooden arch at the old souk end will take you past pashminas, table linen, and cushion covers. Farther out, past the wooden roofing framework, the stores sprawl into neighboring lanes and are filled with the raw materials. Most of the fabric comes from India and China, and includes quality cottons for the Emirati dishdasha, exotic silks, and sheer bejeweled fabrics and saris. You can order a full skein of cloth to take home, or have one of the tailors in the area construct something from your chosen fabric within a couple of days. Even if you're not buying, it's a worthwhile place to wander, a thriving marketplace full of photogenic aging architecture and colorful characters.

Dubai's premier water park, Wild Wadi covers 12 acres and abuts Jumeirah Beach in the shadow of the Burj Al-Arab hotel. There are 30 rides and other watery attractions here, including the Jumeirah Scierah (a 50-mph, high-adrenaline chute) and artificial wave rides (Riptide Flowrider and The Wipeout) that were designed by industry leader Thomas Lochtefel. Wild Wadi Water Park has its own artificial beach at Breakers Bay, and cabanas that can be booked to provide a home base for a large family. There is a good range of rides for all ages, including a large children's area suitable for very little ones.

A spit of land that protects the south side of the creek entrance holds a restored historic center that contains three key sites: the Diving Village, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, and the Heritage Village. The Diving Village explores Dubai's pearl diving industry, along with other traditional maritime activities—you'll be able to see boat building, net making, and other handcrafts in action. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House was built in 1896 and was the residence of Al Maktoum ruling family till 1958 and is now a museum displaying a rare photographic collection of the sheikhs and the changing times of Dubai. Most of the house can be explored, and its cool neutral interior is a reminder of life in the city before air-conditioning and designer labels. Heritage Village is a life-size diorama that takes visitors through the various buildings and traditions that have been historically common in the region. Walk through agricultural yards, stone buildings, barasti huts and tents, and observe traditional medicine, jewelry making, and blacksmithing. There are other monuments and buildings in the area to explore, and the creekfront is lined with Arabic restaurants.

In the historic Al Fahidi district, this alfresco only café is a perfect pit-stop while trawling the souks and Dubai Museum. Service is slow, but you might enjoy a bit of time-wasting while sitting in the traditional shaded courtyard on plump wicker chairs or browsing the local art and crafts they display for sale. Food is pan-Arabic, with the best dishes offered up until 12:30 for breakfast. Enjoy with a wide range of tea, juice, and smoothies. No alcohol served.

The building of the Burj Al Arab put Dubai on the map. The hotel has triumphed since its opening in 1999, and its eye-catching exterior has been featured in numerous design magazines. It was said to be the world's first seven-star hotel, but its owner (Jumeirah Hotels) insists that it's only five-star luxe—the highest possible quality under the current rating system. Designed by Thomas Wills Wright of Atkins Group, the metal and glass structure is perched on a small, artificial offshore island. The graceful curves, in classy blue and white, mimic the sail of a dhow billowing in the wind. The interior (designed by Kuan Chew of KCA International) by contrast is a riot of color, gilt, and finery. The atrium in particular is a sight to behold, with 590 feet of rainbow hues and curved interior terraces, tropical aquariums, and dancing water features. If you want to get inside, or even cross the bridge to the burj island, you'll need some form of booking. There are many restaurants with various offers, Sky Bar or Gold on 27 are at the top and provide the best views, or Scape on the terrace is perfect for some ocean-side dining. For those who want to study the interior, Sahn Eddar serve a lavish afternoon tea in the atrium. Some other Jumeirah hotels (e.g., the Jumeirah Beach hotel) may help you out with a tour if you are not interested in dining.

This 221-acre green space is the largest in the downtown area and offers a 1.6-mile walk along Bur Dubai's creek side, by a botanical garden, manicured flower beds, and stretches of shady lawns where families gather on weekends for fresh air and a picnic. The park also contains a cable car, with a 20-minute one-way journey that gives you a bird's-eye view of the park and surrounding areas. Bicycles for hire, a minitrain, go-karts, and minigolf can also entertain the little ones. Accessible from only inside the park you will also find the Dubai Dolphinarium (with daily aquatic shows), and Children's City, a science-themed children's museum.

It might be the age of container ships, but, as can be seen toward the mouth of the Dubai creek, old wooden dhows are still very much a part of Dubai's thriving import/export industry. It's still possible to view the manual building of these vessels along the banks of Dubai Creek. Each dhow builder eyes the length and width of wooden planks needed to create the curving shape of the bow, then produces it with no plans and few modern tools. Be sure to watch your step if you visit the yards. They aren't common tourist attractions and construction materials and equipment are often left lying around. Those who wish to play it safe can view from the other side of the creek. At sunset, the terrace bar of the Intercontinental Festival City provides a contrasting silhouette of the dhow skeletons set before the spiky skyscrapers of the DIFC. While culturally significant, this area tends to be dangerous.

Cooking oil heading for Somalia, refrigerators for Iran, and used cars for countries around the Gulf—all of these goods and more are piled high on wooden dhows at the commercial wharf. A stroll around the wharves highlights Dubai's continued importance as a merchant city and offers insights into the low-tech trade that supplies much of the region, from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Indian subcontinent. This is not a primped-up tourist attraction; it's a workaday dock, so be aware of trucks and lifting equipment operating in the area.

The tiny Al Fahidi fort was built in 1787 to protect the port from marauding landward tribes and seafaring pirates. During the 20th century the fort fell into disrepair, but the coral stone and stucco walls were restored, and today it hosts Dubai's national museum. Upon entering the museum, you step back in time to before the discovery of oil and the arrival of container ships. A series of cleverly designed subterranean spaces take you through the daily life of Dubai's past. For instance, you can stroll through a life-size re-creation of the creekside wharfs and souks, where lifelike figures include fishermen, pearl traders, spice merchants, and metal workers. The sights and sounds of different trades come to life in original sound tracks that play in the background, and with the help of projected images, life-size figures appear as though they're performing tasks. Here, you can feel the excitement and energy of what was once one of the Arab world's most exciting port towns. The final series of galleries, before the gift shop and museum exit, holds cases of artifacts found on archaeological digs around the emirate. The earliest ones date from the 3rd millennium BC, and include human remains from ritual burials and such grave goods as spearheads.

Hunting with falcons and keeping birds of prey is a common pastime in Arabic desert culture. This center is the only place in Dubai where birds may be legally sold. It's also a one-stop shop for all a falconer's needs, including dietary supplements, books, hoods, and lures. Most of the 20 or so stores in the center also have a range of birds on show, and you can learn about them from the knowledgeable store owners or at the small on-site museum.

Although not open to the general public, this mosque, also known as the Iranian mosque, is worth visiting to see the exquisite enamel and ceramic decoration blanketing the dome and facade. The Islamic style is displayed in Persian influences of flower motifs and an onion-shaped dome, contrasting with the Jumeirah Mosque, which is only a few blocks to the west.

The largest single-building project on the seaward side of Dubai Marina the biggest single-phase construction project in the world, this residence offers 6,500 apartments in 36 high-rise blocks. At the base of the rather dour-looking towers, lies The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, a 770,000 square foot outdoor mall that holds such community facilities as gyms, restaurants, and spas. Friday afternoon to evening often provides a study in Dubai automobiles, as traffic jams of parading Ferraris and Lamborghinis get stuck trying to make their way down the single lane to the strings of five-star hotels. The Beach is another mall area with some very pretty restaurants and a cinema complex. In front of both is the public beach, bounded by the private sands occupied by hotels. There is an excellent water play park here, with a wet play area for toddlers and giant inflatables offshore for older kids.

The finest masjid (mosque) in Dubai, Jumeirah Mosque pays homage to the classical architectural style favored by Cairo's Egyptian rulers during Islam's first Golden Age at the end of the first millennium. The sandstone dome and minarets feature detailed carvings, while the interior is covered with ornately painted panels on robin's egg blue backgrounds. Jumeirah Mosque is the only one in Dubai open to non-Muslims, but to gain entrance you must take a guided tour organized by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Bur Dubai. Wear conservative clothing that covers the shoulders, midriff, and legs to the knees.

Open Beach sits at the northern end of the Jumeirah strip. As its name suggests, it's an open area, meaning there are no gates or entry fees. A long asphalt track is great for jogging and rollerblading. You can rent sun beds and umbrellas from kiosks, and there's a lifeguard on duty. There are often food trucks around for a casual bite. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (paid); showers. Best for: walking; solitude; swimming.

The landward side of Dubai Marina has a 7-mile-long waterside promenade that brings outdoor living to the area. European-style boutiques, cafés, and restaurants—great for daytime browsing—become a see-and-be-seen atmosphere at dusk. Think the passeggiata in Italy or the paseo in Spain. The Dubai Marina community holds regular events such as weekly craft markets on Friday and Saturday morning throughout the winter (October–April).

Dubai's first foray into large-scale coastline extension, Palm Jumeirah caught the world's attention when plans were announced in 2001. The development was Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's solution to the area's shortage of beachfront and was created by taking land from the seabed to build new communities. Shaped as a date palm tree, the 1.2 mile-long trunk protrudes from the mainland and its 17 palm fronds sit in a shallow lagoon surrounded by a protective outer crescent. Palm Jumeirah is a self-contained residential district that combines private villas and apartments with luxury hotels, shopping, and entertainment districts. As a visitor you can't access the residential areas, but the monorail can take you down the trunk and drop you at Atlantis hotel. From here you can see the sun set over the Arabian Gulf from the boardwalk on the outer crescent. There are food trucks there in nice weather if you want to stroll and make an evening of it, or you might want to dine in one of the many hotel restaurants.

Scents play a significant role in Arab traditions. Burning herbs and incense fill a room or tent with fragrance, and natural essential oils are mixed to create perfumes for the body. Traditionally were a luxury for the affluent, perfume oils are still stored in ornate bottles with tops fashioned from cut glass and semiprecious stones. Even with today's international fragrance brands, you can still have your own scent mixed at the Perfume Souk, which is more a dispersion of similarly themed stores along a street rather than a formal market area. Avoid the commercial brands (they may not be genuine anyway), and instead allow the perfumers to advise you on which oils are most suitable for your skin and lifestyle. They'll pack it all up in a unique bottle that doubles as a souvenir of the experience.

As the only remaining expanse of natural creek-side landscape in the emirate, Ras al Khor (meaning "head of the creek") is an important desert wetland habitat. The sanctuary covers only 2.4 square miles, and its tidal wetlands, mudflats, mangroves, reed beds, and stretches of sabkha (salt-encrusted flats common to the coastline) are the last refuge for many native plants and animals. The area is an important overwintering ground for more than 250 bird species, with overall bird numbers reaching 30,000 between December and March. Most famous in the area is the small year-round population of flamingos, often shown on publicity images touting Dubai's eco-credentials. Three hides, or camouflaged shelters, have been erected at points around the park, and allow closer views of the wildlife. Entry to the rest or the park is not allowed without a permit.

Umm Suqeim Beach, which has incredible views of the Burj Al-Arab Hotel offshore, is a favorite of touring groups that briefly step onto the sand to snap pictures before climbing back on the bus for the next stop on the itinerary. Umm Suqeim Park isn't exactly a beach park, as it has no sunbathing facilities or direct beach access, but it's just across the road from Umm Suqeim Beach and has play areas for children and a café.

Amenities: lifeguards. Best for: surfing; sunset; swimming.

Zabeel Park is located between the Trade Centre and the highly populated Karama district. It opened in 2005 and spans 116 acres of the northernmost part of Sheikh Zayed Road, and is broken up by the same arterial. One side is touted as a technology-themed park, and is broken into different zones, for example, alternative energy, technology, and communication. Standard park attractions include walking and cycling paths, tennis courts, cricket pitches, and ballparks. Other visitors just sit and enjoy the ornamental gardens and ponds, or have lunch at the lakeside restaurant. In the cooler season, there are often markets on the weekend, with food trucks, local crafts, and live music. On the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road (Zabeel B, entry at gate 6), entry is more expensive, but the areas have amusement-park features, such as Dubai Garden Glow and Dinosaur Park.