Dubai

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and is a popular destination - whether it's a specific trip or for a few days combined with somewhere else. Whilst its wealth is built on trade and oil, tourism has become a major feature in its more modern growth with a range of things to do in the city and surrounds.

Our list is drawn from review sites, visitor numbers, and our own visits. 

Where relevant we've included some links for booking the following highlights - just use the underlined text.

Burj Khalifa

This building has been the tallest in the world since 2009. It's a staggering 2722 feet (829.8 metres) tall - just over half a mile. Built over five years, it is named after the former president of the United Arab Emirates and is a stunning tower amongst a city of towers. You can visit the top via the 504 metres of lifts

Dubai Fountain

In the centre of downtown Dubai, and overlooked by the Burj Khalifa, you will find a man-made lake. 6600 lights and 25 coloured projectors combine with a host of waterjets that perform a show to a mix of Arabian and World music, with some water fired over 150 metres into the air and (at times) 83000 litres of water airborne at any one time. You can take a Burj Lake ride during the fountain show!

Atlantis Aquaventure

There are waterparks and then there is one of the largest in the world! Situated on the famous Palm, the waterpark covers a huge area. There's a beach area, a winding lazy river with rapids that covers the whole site, and a number of themed areas. Some of the rides are truly breathtaking. Atlantis Aquaventure.

Dubai Mall

There are a lot of malls in Dubai but this is the biggest by far, the second largest in the world, with 1200 shops and a host of attractions. It's a day trip just to get from one end to the other! It's a haven for top brands, has a giant supermarket and numerous food options for all tastes and is connected by an 820 metre air-conditioned footbridge to its own Metro station.

Miracle Garden

Dubai is a hot country that has mostly been created out of desert lands so the large flower-filled oasis at the Miracle Garden is a real surprise. If making your own way, it's an easy bus ride to the large site where you will find flowers in a range of colours and designs spread over a fully enclosed area. Miracle Garden.

Lost Chambers Aquarium

This aquarium is close to the Aquaventure water park and can be visited on a combined ticket with that attraction. It is an imagining of a discovered Atlantis and is home to 65000 sea creatures. In particular, it has one giant tank that is mesmerising and some of the nearby hotel rooms have windows directly onto it! For something a little different you can go Snorkelling at Lost Chambers Aquarium.

Burj al Arab

This is one of the tallest hotels in the world with a distinctive sail shape. It is on a man-made island at Jumeirah and is reached by a private curving bridge. The hotel is the epitome of exclusive with large numbers of staff dedicated to each suite. You can visit the building via a Guided Tour.

Ski Dubai

If you are in one of the hottest countries in the world, why wouldn't you want to ski? Although snow in Dubai is as close to impossible as weather gets, there is a ski attraction right in the heart of the Mall of the Emirates (that's a different mall to the one mentioned above.) Ski Dubai.

Dubai Aquarium

Within the Dubai Mall is another of Dubai's impressive aquariums. Of note is its walkable tunnel that goes under a giant tank and in total there are about 35000 marine creatures on display. Dubai Aquarium.

Abu Dhabi

If there's not quite enough for you in Dubai, the capital of UAE is within easy reach. There's a host of things to do there too such and lots of these can be combined on a combination tickets such as combining the Grand Mosque, Etihad Towers and Qasr Al Watan.

Desert Safari

With the desert just on the edges of the city there are some great ways to explore the desert areas whether you want to go in a 4x4, on a quad bike or a camel! This is one example, with a camel ride, barbecue dinner and show, of the Desert Safaris.

Need more information about Dubai airport? Just click the image below.