Dubai

Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House

Built in 1912, Al Ahmadiya School was Dubai's first school and has now been nicely restored. It would be a stretch to call the exhibits of old reed pens and diplomas fascinating, but they've tried pretty hard, and if nothing else, the air-con and clean toilets may come in handy. The attached heritage house is a traditional Emirati-style home built in the 1890s.

Sat-Thu 8AM-7:30PM, Fri 2:30-7:30PM·Free

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Bastakiya District

One of the last remaining pockets of Old Dubai, home to many reconstructed buildings in the traditional style. While information on the structures is slim here (see the museum in preference), the atmosphere is very evocative and there are plenty of delightful art galleries and cafes to explore.

Free of charge

Al Safa Park

A beautiful planned park and one of the oldest parks in Dubai. It is a favourite for sports enthusiasts, and many visitors enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, and soccer. Children love playing games in the video arcade, or riding the Ferris wheel and bumper cars. The park even has a maze to wander through. Barbeques and picnic areas are available for those who want to make a day of it. It has lakes where you can take a boat ride and a hill that offers panoramic views of this beautiful lush green park and the gigantic Dubai skyline. But as of 2017, infrastructure are old disused and it have construction work.

11:0–23:00·3 dirham

Burj Khalifa

Khalifa Tower

At 828 m and 160 floors this is the world's tallest structure by a long shot, over 300 m taller than the previous contender in Taipei. The observation deck at the 124th floor is the second highest in the world after the Shanghai World Financial centre. Dominating the Dubai skyline, the tower houses a hotel and a Las Vegas-inspired fountain system. The visitors' entrance is at the lower ground floor of Dubai Mall. Although the tour is called At the Top, it isn't! At 452 m it's just over halfway up the tower itself. Console yourself with the knowledge that most of the rest of the tower consists of service areas and the view below looks suitably ant-like.

Tickets cost 199 dirham for a timed-entry ticket, usually later the same day, or 400 dirham if you do not want to wait. The lines for tickets are often very long and at peak times, they can sell out several days in advance. It is strongly recommended to book tickets online ahead of your visit. For 500 dirham you can book a "SKY" ticket that includes a trip to level 148 of the building (which is relatively empty and exclusive) for 30 minutes, along with sweets and drinks. From there, you descend to the main observatory on levels 125 and 124 to join the masses waiting to go back down. The SKY ticket also includes a brief tour of the building's private areas. If you go for 'sunrise+breakfast' option for 140 dirham you can visit floor 124 at 05:30 and after, with floor 125 opening at 08:30 - this is a great way to avoid the queues and see the city during both night and day

Burj al-Arab

Tower of the Arabs

This huge sail-shaped hotel completed in 1999 is a symbol of Dubai and its ascent in the world. The self-proclaimed world's first seven-star hotel (actually a five-star deluxe hotel) was the first icon of Dubai and still stands out on the skyline from its location on an artificial island 280 m from the beach. Entry to the hotel is restricted to hotel guests, those with a restaurant reservation (minimum spend 200AED) or a guided tour (starting from 250AED for a 60-90min tour). A smart casual dress code applies but is not strictly enforced. Make restaurant reservations in advance.

Overnight stays over US$1800 per night after taxes/fees

Creek Park

A great place to hang out in the evening when the park is visited by people of different nationalities, all looking for calm place to enjoy the time. It has all the facilities of a modern park and is one of the best parks in Dubai. The cable car is closed.

Sun–Wed 8AM–10PM, Thu–Sat 8AM–11PM·5 dirham

Crossroad of Civilization Museum

Museum includes a lot of artefacts and old books, including a Gutenberg Bible and a curtain of the door of Kaaba from 1543 AD.

Sun-Thu 9AM–5PM, closed on Fri·30 dirham for 3 museums

Deira Clocktower

Dubai Clocktower

A landmark of Deira and important as a monument built before the independence of UAE.

Dhow Wharfage

The dhows ply the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, transporting goods between south and south-west Asia and east Africa.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Giant aquarium, 51 m long and 11 m high. The visit includes a crossing inside the walk-through water tunnel, behind the scenes, and several other experiences. The Underwater Zoo has 140 fish species, desert animals, penguins and also hosts "King Krok". Animal feeding hours are indicated in the zoo, and it's also possible to participate during feeding.

Sun–Wed 10:00–23:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–00:00·Researcher Experience for 100 dirham/person, Explorer Experience for 120 dirham/person, VIP for 300 dirham/person

Dubai Dolphinarium

The only indoor dolphinarium in the Middle East offers live shows of dolphins and seals. Swim with Dolphins is possible.

Several showtimes from 11AM to 7PM·Dolphin show 120–140 dirham/adult, 50–100 dirham/child

Dubai Fountain

At 270m (900 ft) in length and sporting a jet that shoots water up to 150m (500 ft), it is the world's largest dancing fountain and one with a very enticing display - a definite must-see. It's most easily accessed via the Dubai Mall. There are private entranceways from the Burj Khalifa if you're staying there.

Day shows are at 13:00 and 13:30, but night shows are the best - every 30 minutes 18:00-22:00 on weekdays and 18:00-23:00 on weekends.

Dubai Frame

Two towers of 150 m height connected by a 100-m² bridge, the Dubai Frame has a museum and gallery where you can see the growth of Dubai from a simple fishing village to the ultra-modern city it is today with the use of photos and advanced technology. After visiting the museum, you take the elevator to the bridge to get a view of the city.

Daily 09:00-21:00·Adult 49 AED, child (3-12) 39 AED

Dubai Marina

The Dubai Marina is to be the popular nightlife area of Dubai in the future. This multi-billion-dollar development is designed for tourists and water sport. The bars and cafés along the marina are popular gathering points for families and younger people. Most restaurants offer shisha and oriental food but food chains are fast entering too. The "Marina Walk" along the yachts is especially popular on Fridays and Saturdays. Yacht agencies offer services to explore the coastal region and Palm Islands.

Dubai Miracle Garden

A coloful and well maintained garden with more than 45 million flowers and numerous sculptures made out of flowers. Some visitors found it a bit too kitschy.

Mon-Fri 09:00-21:00, Sat Sun 09:00-22:00·55 dirham

Dubai Museum

A must-see for anyone interested in the social history of the Emirate (and indeed the country). Located in and under al-Fahidi fort. The fort itself has a few examples of the traditional reed houses and other artifacts, but isn't much to look at. The more interesting parts are the modern galleries beneath the fort, showcasing Dubai's history using the latest technology and culminating in a reconstructed souq from the pearling days, complete with authentic sights and sounds. It is quite fascinating to see the speed at which the transition from poor pearling village to modern metropolis occurred.

Sat-Thu 8:30AM–8:30PM, Fri 2PM–8:30PM·Admission 3 dirham

Emirates Towers

The Emirates Towers complex contains the Emirates Office Tower and Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel. The two towers, which rise to 355 m (1,165 ft) and 309 m (1,014 ft), respectively, stand as the 23rd and 47th tallest buildings in the world. The two towers are connected by a 9,000 m² (96,875 ft²) two-storey retail complex known as "The Boulevard". The Emirates Towers complex is located on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is a symbol of the city of Dubai. A curiosity of the design is that the towers have a similar number of floors; the taller office tower actually contains 54 floors, while the hotel tower contains 56 floors. This is because the individual floor heights of the office tower are greater than that of the hotel. The Emirates Towers complex is set in over 570,000 m² (42 acres) of gardens, with lakes, waterfalls and public seating areas. There is parking space for up to 1,800 cars.

Etihad Museum

Union House

Museum about the construction of the Union of the Emirates, after the withdrawal of British forces. Open in 2017, it features exhibits about the seven fathers, and the constitution. The Union House, where the treaty was signed, can be visited as well as the Guest Palace. It also hosts temporary exhibitions (e.g., philatelic in May 2017).

10:00–20:00 daily·25 dirham per adult

Gold Price Checking - Dubai Souq

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Open daily from 10AM to 10PM·Prices vary based on market rate

Grand Mosque

Its large minaret is the imposing feature of this large mosque. It is popular for being quite close to a Hindu temple and one can see followers of both Islam and Hinduism gathering at the same place for prayers.

Heritage Village

Home to the open museums of the Heritage and Diving Villages, and the houses of the late Sheikhs Saeed Al-Maktoum and Juma Al-Maktoum.

Imagine

Plays two different big water, fire and light shows: Stardancer and A Child's Dream. Have several world records.

Sat-Wed 8PM 9PM 10PM, Thu Fri 8PM 9PM 10PM 11PM, smaller shows play every 30&nbps;min from 6PM·free of charge

Iranian mosque

A very colourful and attractive tiled mosque; quite a contrast to the other much more plainly decorated mosques. Can be viewed from a carparking area off the north (creek) side of the street.

Jumeirah Beach

Dubai is known for its great beaches and this one is the best. It's the most popular and busiest beach of the country. Expect to see swimmers in bikinis and ladies in abaya cloaks; this beach truly encapsulates the Westernisation of Dubai culture.

Jumeirah Mosque

The largest mosque in the city, and a wonderful example of Islamic architecture. It was built in the medieval Fatimid tradition with the interior decorated with elaborate Arabic calligraphy. It is one of few mosques in the city open for visits by non-Muslims; the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding conducts special tours for non-Muslims to help promote understanding of Islam. Guided tours are available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday beginning at 10:00, followed by a question-and-answer session. The mosque is an especially great place to visit in the evening when it's dramatically illuminated by floodlights.

Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif

A restored traditional Emirati-style two story building used as a summer residence by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of the founders of UAE, and father of the present ruler of Dubai.

Sun-Thu 07:30-14:30·1 dirham for adults and children over 6 years

Mamzar Park

You can swim at Al Mamzar Beach or stroll in the park. Though less popular than other Dubai parks, it has its share of Dubai's greenery. Monday & Wednesday for women only.

Sun–Wed 8AM–10PM, Thu–Sat 8AM–11PM·5 dirhams/person

Museum of the Future

Branded as a "technology museum" many visitors consider it more of an expensive art exhibition. The building is outstanding though and looks particularly impressive in the dark.

Daily 10:00-18:00·145 dirham

Mushrif Park

Mushrif Park is 5.25-km² (1300-acre) desert-like park. It is in the eastern part of the city (near the suburb of Khawaneej), about 16 km (10 mi) from the traditional center of Dubai. The park was created in early 1980 by Dubai Municipality and was hugely expanded and refurbished in 1989.

Daily 8AM-11PM·entrance fee 10 dirhams per car; to use the swimming pool, adults pay 10 dirhams and children pay 5 dirhams

Old Weapons Museum

Large collection of swords, daggers, riffles, from several centuries.

30 dirahm for 3 museums