Dubai is known for its sandy beaches, enormous luxury shopping malls and amazing hotels. But the City of Gold has so much more including impressive sporting centres, museums, water parks and stunning architecture (even if it can sometimes resemble something out of a sci-fi movie).
Below is our list of 10 random tourist attractions you should visit while in Dubai.
Wind towers, at the roof of each house, depict the opulence of its inhabitants with the level of richness that one proclaimed being measured by how many wind towers their houses had. The towers were used to trap the wind and funnel it down into the house as a way of air conditioning.
These families later moved to different parts of the city after the discovery of oil in the area. Some of the buildings have now been converted into cafes, art galleries and mini-shops making it a great place to spend an aternoon.
Wild Wadi has one of the largest water slides in the region with two gift shops.
Even the ride names are fun including falcon fury, tunnels of doom, rushing rapids, tumble falls and the thunder rapids. If you are in need of some fast free falling, be sure to visit the Wild Wadi park for your Dubai adrenalin experience.
The centre has 5 runs that vary in difficulty, height, and steepness with the longest run being 400 metres with an elevation of 60 metres, making it the first indoor black diamond run.
Guests visiting the centre are offered winter clothing, ski and snowboarding equipment. Professional instructors are also on location for the many residents of Dubai that were not raised with regular access to snow-capped peaks.
Situated just opposite Palm Street along Jumeirah Road, the Mosque forms a beautiful scene especially when lit up against evening skies. Built in the Medieval Fatimid tradition, the Mosque has a capacity for hosting 1,200 guests per tour. It seeks to offer visitors a deep understanding of the Islamic religion, to offset past misrepresentations.
The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding has been known for organizing a one and a half hour tour for visitors of different nationalities to take photos and take part in a question and answer session.
The museum was built in 1787 making it the oldest existing building in Dubai. It was opened by the ruler of Dubai in 1971 with the aim of showcasing the traditional way of life in the Emirate. It includes local antiquities as well as artefacts from African and Asian countries that traded with Dubai.
The museum uses the diorama, a 19th century mobile theatre device to explain how life was in Dubai before oil changed everything.
Of course, there are hundreds of other exciting activities in Dubai that we haven’t mentioned here. A full range of flavors is waiting to be tasted at Dubai’s vast array of fine and casual restaurants sprinkled throughout the city, while the shopping – from designer malls to street market stalls – is world-class.
Below is our list of 10 random tourist attractions you should visit while in Dubai.
1. Al Bastakiya
Located along Dubai Creek, Al Bastakiya is one of the oldest heritage sites in Dubai and the only wind tower residence in the Arab Gulf. It is marshalled by sophisticated rough-walled houses which were used to shield the privacy of the wealthy families that hailed in the area.
Wind towers, at the roof of each house, depict the opulence of its inhabitants with the level of richness that one proclaimed being measured by how many wind towers their houses had. The towers were used to trap the wind and funnel it down into the house as a way of air conditioning.
These families later moved to different parts of the city after the discovery of oil in the area. Some of the buildings have now been converted into cafes, art galleries and mini-shops making it a great place to spend an aternoon.
2. Wild Wadi
The Wild Wadi is a popular outdoor water park that is a constant if not slightly juvenile source of entertainment and fun! The water park has a wave pool together with several water slides and an artificial surfing machine.
Wild Wadi has one of the largest water slides in the region with two gift shops.
Even the ride names are fun including falcon fury, tunnels of doom, rushing rapids, tumble falls and the thunder rapids. If you are in need of some fast free falling, be sure to visit the Wild Wadi park for your Dubai adrenalin experience.
3. Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. The centre occupies 22,500 square metres which is covered with real snow all year round.
The centre has 5 runs that vary in difficulty, height, and steepness with the longest run being 400 metres with an elevation of 60 metres, making it the first indoor black diamond run.
Guests visiting the centre are offered winter clothing, ski and snowboarding equipment. Professional instructors are also on location for the many residents of Dubai that were not raised with regular access to snow-capped peaks.
4. Jumeirah Mosque
The Jumeirah Mosque is considered one of the most attractive mosques in the region and among the few that are open to non-Muslims for tours.Situated just opposite Palm Street along Jumeirah Road, the Mosque forms a beautiful scene especially when lit up against evening skies. Built in the Medieval Fatimid tradition, the Mosque has a capacity for hosting 1,200 guests per tour. It seeks to offer visitors a deep understanding of the Islamic religion, to offset past misrepresentations.
The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding has been known for organizing a one and a half hour tour for visitors of different nationalities to take photos and take part in a question and answer session.
5. Dubai Museum
Located in the Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum offers a snapshot of the social history of the Emirates as well as other parts of the UAE.
The museum was built in 1787 making it the oldest existing building in Dubai. It was opened by the ruler of Dubai in 1971 with the aim of showcasing the traditional way of life in the Emirate. It includes local antiquities as well as artefacts from African and Asian countries that traded with Dubai.
The museum uses the diorama, a 19th century mobile theatre device to explain how life was in Dubai before oil changed everything.
6. Seaplane
There is no better way to see Dubai than from above, where a bird’s-eye-view provides stunning panoramas of the superb infrastructure in a city under constant flux, with new and exciting architectural marvels being constructed throughout. Of course, the city’s famous azure coastline and scenic desert are prominent features to be seen on the plane ride as well. Try a 40-minute aerial tour in a privately-chartered seaplane that takes off and lands on the crystal waters of the Arabian Gulf, and gain a truly unique perspective on this one-of-a-kind city.
7. Atlantis Water Park
Thrill-seekers can get their kicks at this fun-for-all-ages adventure theme park, built over 42 acres. Wild water slides will catapult you through shark-filled lagoons, while water roller coasters will careen you through tunnels of mysterious darkness. High-intensity rapids surround the main park, which also act as a sophisticated (and super fun!) transport system for guests wanting to move on to their next ride. If time permits and desires allow, visit the adjacent Dolphin Bay, one of the world’s most sophisticated dolphin habitats, where it’s possible to interact with trained dolphins, some of the world’s most charismatic and gentle creatures.
8. Desert Safari
It wouldn’t be a true trip to Dubai without a desert safari. This is one activity you almost definitely cannot do back home – riding in a 4X4 through the hilly sand dunes of the Dubai desert. Most tours incorporate camel rides and a stop to observe the dramatic Dubai sunset over the hilly terrain. Some also incorporate a tasty barbeque filled with local delights and a traditional belly dancing performance around a campfire by starlight. This is a truly one-of-a-kind Arabic adventure that will immerse you in Arabian culture in a most thrilling, stimulating way.
9. Sandboarding on Big Red
For those who truly want to experience a thrilling desert adventure, sand boarding is a trendy new activity that is taking Dubai by storm. The notoriously-popular Big Red dune is 300 feet high and has runs reminiscent of black diamond ski runs on snow-capped mountains. Sand boarding is very similar to snowboarding in both technique and equipment, though most people who try it find it more difficult due to sand’s grainy texture, compared to the smoothness of snow. Due to the technical difficulties of building a mechanical chair lift in the desert, it’s necessary to hitch a ride with a dune buggy to the top of the hill once you've completed a run.
10. Cirque le Soir
Cirque le Soir is a unique clubbing experience for party-lovers in the UAE. With a secret entrance, guests will instantly feel like VIPs at this exclusive venue, frequented by celebrities and socialites alike. This is a nightclub unlike any other, with world-class circus performers, from burlesque dancers to sword swallowers, entertaining the crowd with mind-boggling stunts throughout the evening. International DJs pump out multiple genres of tunes to appease all musical tastes. Each night is colored with a different, captivating theme. Located in The Fairmont Hotel, Cirque le Soir is renowned as one of the top nightclubs in the world.
11. A Night in an Extravagant Underwater Hotel
It’s not finished yet, but the soon-to-open Water Discus Underwater Hotel will have 21 rooms at least 30 feet below the water’s surface, in a giant disc. But only the rooms are underwater, with another three discs above ground to host recreational facilities, including a spa, garden and swimming pool, as well as a diving center, helipad, and emergency flotation pods. The whole design concept, a brainchild of Poland’s Deep Ocean Technology, has a similar appearance to the Star Trek Enterprise.
Of course, there are hundreds of other exciting activities in Dubai that we haven’t mentioned here. A full range of flavors is waiting to be tasted at Dubai’s vast array of fine and casual restaurants sprinkled throughout the city, while the shopping – from designer malls to street market stalls – is world-class.