Top things to do in Dubai this 2023
Top things to do in Dubai this 2023.
Once upon a time, the United Arab Emirates delivered little other than guaranteed sunshine and warm dips in the Gulf. That’s still on the agenda, but Dubai now takes aim at top contender status, with its we-can-do-anything entertainment package of amped-up water parks, desert safaris and superlative hotels and shopping malls that, frankly, few other places have the money to match. While the souks and old town aren’t quite as atmospheric as other Middle Eastern cities, this is an ambitious city that everybody should visit at least once.
1. See Dubai Creek for history
Head to historic Dubai Creek and hop from cab to quayside for a stirring trip into the past. Have a nostril-tingling snoop around musky Deira Wharf and its serpentine Spice Souk, before gawping at the more-than-bling Gold Souk — the jewellery and diamond ring emporiums assault the senses as much as the wallet.
2. Visit Bur Dubai for markets
Gliding on an abra river taxi is the classic way to arrive in Bur Dubai, passing overloaded junks on their way to the Gulf. Bur Dubai, the oldest part of the city, has a totally different feel to the valeted, pavement-free Downtown Dubai. You’ll love the area around this Hindu temple — the only one in Dubai — with its alleyways lined with fabric traders’ shops, stalls selling flower garlands and racks for worshippers’ shoes. You’ll emerge at the bank of the Dubai Creek, where wooden abra boats wait to ferry locals across. Haggle for a third off curly-toed slippers or a pashmina fresh at the Textile Souk, then explore the oak porticoes of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai’s turn-of-the-century core.
3. Take in the view from the Burj Khalifa
Make time to visit the world’s tallest tower — the Burj Khalifa. Instead of taking the standard lift option to the 125th floor, you’re going to strut in like a VIP for the heart-in-mouth ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa Sky’, the 148th-floor observation deck. It’s a splurge, but worth it; as well as the extra floors, you get the royal queue-jumping experience (essential for short stays) and such treats as pressed juices and plump dates to boot.
4. Have a morning dip at Jumeirah Beach
Start your day with a morning swim under holiday-blue skies at Jumeirah Beach — a dip in the gentle waves lapping those soft-sieved sands is the ultimate energiser after a flight. You’ve not come here to burn lobster-pink, though, so retreat next to the Lime Tree Cafe across the street: the za’atar-roasted pumpkin on sourdough shouldn’t be missed.
5. Shop at Dubai Mall
The largest indoor shopping centre in the world, Dubai Mall might not have a fully frosted ski run, like its neighbour Mall of the Emirates, but it’s much more of a pleasure to wander around. Its polished black-and-white hallways are lined with fashion designers, tech companies and gift shops, while creative displays of couture Arabic gowns and £1,000 shoes hang like artwork in the windows. With an aquarium bang in the middle and restaurants dotted around the edge, it’s also a good place to start or end for visits to the Burj Khalifa, Souk Al Bahar or the impressive Dubai Fountains that leap into life every hour or two.
6. Check out the seven-star Burj Al-Arab
No visit to Dubai is complete without eyeballing the Burj Al-Arab, the zeitgeist-shifting “seven-star” hotel that cemented Dubai’s we-can-do-anything reputation. Its sci-fi atrium is stunning — but you’ll need a reservation for the cafe or restaurant to be allowed inside.
7. Tour Jumeirah Mosque
Take a peek at the ivory-towered Jumeirah Mosque. Dubai may be shaping the future, but you shouldn’t overlook its time-honoured traditions: join a 75-minute tour, hosted by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, to learn about life beyond the veil in the Middle East. Non-Muslims need not be intimidated, as the Emiratis are eager to share it with you — just be modest in your dress (long-sleeve tops, covered legs) and take a few moments to absorb it all.
8. Go on a desert safari
The desert is just outside of town and although you don’t have to stay overnight, it’s absolutely worth the cash if you do. The way most people see it is on an afternoon/evening desert safari. You’re picked up in the early afternoon and driven out of town for some dune-bashing, wildlife-spotting or a falconry display, plus dinner in a (recreated) Bedouin camp.
9. View Gulf art at The Third Line
Long before Abu Dhabi opened its £3 billion Louvre, Dubai was the go-to place for Gulf art. You can see it at its most visceral a 20-minute cab ride away at Alserkal Avenue, a sprawling compound home to more than 20 galleries and workshops. Have a quick mooch around chief-draw, the Third Line, which first lit the torch for Gulf, Iraqi and Palestinian artists when it opened in 2005. Expect photos, prints and paintings from the region’s Warhols-in-waiting.
10. Take a Dubai Creek boat tour
Linking Dubai Creek to the Gulf, the canal is one of the city’s architectural highlights. Few realise you can take a ferry from one end to the other (buy tickets from any marine station) — and generally for much less than official boat tours. You’ll pass through the illuminated Sheikh Zayed Road waterfall and beneath the skyscrapers of the metropolitan district.
11. Splash out at the Palm Jumeirah
Head for that preposterous stretch of land you’ve heard everyone talking about: the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial, frond-shaped archipelago of beaches and super-luxe hotels. Past the double whammy of mega-yacht parties and lavish villas, you’ll be struck by an only-in-Dubai ripple of excitement. The wise move is to sidestep the dolphin and sea lion meet-and-greets and head straight to the hotel’s extravagant waterpark, Aquaventure. It’s quite a spectacle: locals insist on catwalk-style fashion while hurtling down wildly addictive rides that slide you through chutes — and a shark tank.
12. Hear the call to prayer in Old Dubai
Head to the Creek-side districts of Al Fahidi and Deira around 3pm or 5pm and you’ll hear the call to prayer echoing through the spice-scented alleys of its four specialist souks (textiles, perfumes, gold and spice). Though it is far from ancient — the oldest parts were built in 1850 — a wander here feels earthy, adventurous and exotic, particularly for kids. Get a taxi to drop you off at Dubai Museum, an 18th-century fort. From there, stroll to the textiles souk, then cross the Creek on an abra to see the other three. Dubai Museum is crude and dated with wax figures, so swap it for Dubai Frame, a 150m-high gold picture frame topped by a viewing platform.
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