Discover
UAE
A luxury oasis combining ultramodern aesthetics with deep Bedouin roots.
Top Destinations
Explore our curated selection of landmarks and cities you must visit.
Burj Khalifa
The tallest structure ever built, standing at 828 metres with 163 floors, an observation deck at 555 metres, and a pinnacle visible from 95 kilometres away. Designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and completed in 2010, it serves as the centrepiece of the Downtown Dubai development.
Best Time
October to April. Dubai's summer heat (45°C+) makes outdoor activities brutal. Book tickets online 2–3 weeks in advance as the observation deck frequently sells out.
Insider Tip
Book the 'At the Top...
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The largest mosque in the UAE and one of the six largest in the world, with capacity for 40,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and 107 domes. Completed in 2007, the mosque is built from pure white Macedonian marble inlaid with lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, and mother of pearl.
Best Time
October to April. The mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors from Saturday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and closed Friday mornings. The sunset-to-dusk transition when the lights activate is the most beautiful time.
Insider Tip
Arrive at blue hour (30...
Palm Jumeirah
The world's largest artificial archipelago, constructed from 94 million cubic metres of sand dredged from the seabed, extending 5.5 kilometres into the Persian Gulf in the shape of a palm tree with 17 fronds. The Palm is home to ultra-luxury hotels including Atlantis The Palm, the One&Only, and the Waldorf Astoria.
Best Time
October to April. The Palm is a year-round destination but the beach clubs and outdoor facilities are best in the cooler months.
Insider Tip
Visit 'The View' at the...
Burj Al Arab
The world's most recognisable hotel, built on an artificial island 280 metres offshore and designed to resemble a billowing Arabian dhow sail. At 321 metres, it was the world's tallest hotel at its opening in 1999 and is the only hotel with a helipad on the 28th floor.
Best Time
October to April. The outdoor terrace of 'Gold on 27' bar and the hotel's Assawan Spa rooftop pool are best enjoyed in the cooler season.
Insider Tip
Non-guests cannot enter without a...
Dubai Mall & Dubai Fountain
The world's largest shopping mall by total area, containing 1,200 retail outlets, a 10-million-litre aquarium, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a dinosaur skeleton, and the Dubai Fountain — the world's largest choreographed fountain system, situated on a 30-acre lake outside the mall.
Best Time
Year-round. The Dubai Fountain shows run from sunset onwards every 30 minutes. The best viewing position is from the waterfront promenade at the mall's lakeside boardwalk.
Insider Tip
Book a table at a...
Louvre Abu Dhabi
An art and civilisation museum designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, opened in 2017 on Saadiyat Island. The museum's centrepiece is a 180-metre geodesic dome that filters sunlight through 8,000 layered metal stars to create a mesmerising 'rain of light' effect inside.
Best Time
Year-round (air-conditioned). The outdoor waterfront promenade around the museum is best at sunset or evening when the dome lights are activated.
Insider Tip
Stand in the central plaza...
Desert Safari Dubai
An excursion into the red sand dunes of the Lahbab desert (Al Khayma) 70 kilometres south of Dubai, the highest natural dunes in the UAE at 100 metres, culminating in a Bedouin camp dinner with traditional entertainment under the stars.
Best Time
October to April. The desert summer heat makes afternoon tours (when temperatures can reach 45°C) genuinely dangerous. Evening tours with dinner at a camp are available year-round.
Insider Tip
Book a private 4x4 safari...
Dubai Frame
A giant picture-frame structure standing 150 metres tall and 93 metres wide, designed by architect Fernando Donis and opened in 2018. The frame is positioned at the edge of historic Deira to the north and modern Downtown Dubai to the south — its glass bridge offers simultaneous views of old and new Dubai.
Best Time
October to April. The 'Golden Hour' before sunset is the most photogenic time — the low sun illuminates the city and the frame itself is lit in gold.
Insider Tip
The Dubai Frame is best...
Dubai Creek & Gold Souk
The historic salt-water creek that gave Dubai its name, flanked by the oldest districts of the city: Deira on the north bank (home to the Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Perfume Souk) and Bur Dubai on the south bank. Traditional wooden abra water taxis still ferry thousands of passengers across the creek daily for 1 dirham.
Best Time
October to April (evenings). The souks are most active in the late afternoon and evening. Avoid Friday mornings when many shops are closed.
Insider Tip
Cross the creek by abra...
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
The world's first Ferrari-branded theme park, sheltered under the largest space frame structure ever built (86,000 square metres), on Yas Island near Abu Dhabi International Airport. The park is home to Formula Rossa — the world's fastest rollercoaster at 240 km/h — and 37 rides, shows, and experiences.
Best Time
Year-round (fully air-conditioned). October to April for outdoor portions. Weekdays are significantly quieter than weekends.
Insider Tip
Buy the 'Unlimited Thrill Pass'...
Yas Island
Abu Dhabi's premium leisure and entertainment destination, a 25-square-kilometre artificial island hosting the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and the Yas Mall — all within walking or shuttle distance of the island's luxury hotels.
Best Time
October to April. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend (November) requires bookings 6–12 months in advance.
Insider Tip
Book the Yas Marina Circuit...
Al Fahidi Historic District
The oldest surviving neighbourhood in Dubai, a labyrinth of restored coral-stone and gypsum buildings with distinctive wind towers (barjeels) dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The district houses the Dubai Museum, over 50 heritage buildings converted into art galleries, cafes, and boutique hotels.
Best Time
October to April. The narrow alleyways provide natural shade, making the district walkable even in mild heat. The district is most atmospheric at dusk.
Insider Tip
Visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre...
Hatta Mountain Reserve
An exclave of Dubai emirate in the Hajar Mountains 130 km from the city, featuring the UAE's only mountain cycling trails, turquoise Hatta Dam lake for kayaking, ancient mud-brick heritage village, and a luxurious tented resort. The dramatic rocky landscape is utterly unlike the flat desert coast.
Best Time
October to April. The mountains are 10°C cooler than Dubai in summer. The Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Centre is open year-round but is most pleasant in the cool season.
Insider Tip
Book a kayak on Hatta...
Museum of the Future
A futuristic museum and innovation hub opened in 2022, housed in a torus-shaped building clad in 1,024 stainless steel panels engraved with Arabic calligraphy poetry — described by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful buildings on earth. The museum explores emerging technologies and potential futures of humanity.
Best Time
Year-round (air-conditioned). The museum is most stunning when photographed from across Sheikh Zayed Road at night when the calligraphy is fully illuminated.
Insider Tip
The building is more impressive...
Jumeirah Beach
A 14-kilometre stretch of open public beach running along Dubai's west coast, offering white sand, warm Persian Gulf waters, and the iconic backdrop of the Burj Al Arab. The beach is divided into numbered sections with lifeguards, facilities, and beach volleyball courts.
Best Time
October to April. Dubai's beach season coincides with the cool winter months. Summer sea temperatures exceed 33°C and the beach is dangerously hot.
Insider Tip
Section Kite Beach (near Umm...
Abu Dhabi Corniche
An 8-kilometre waterfront promenade stretching along Abu Dhabi's northern coast, lined with manicured gardens, cycling paths, pristine white-sand public beaches, and the towers of the capital's financial district. The Corniche is the social heart of Abu Dhabi and the most pleasant urban waterfront in the Gulf.
Best Time
October to April. The Corniche is most beautiful at sunrise and sunset. The cycling track is open and popular on weekends.
Insider Tip
Rent a bicycle from the...
Dubai Marina
The world's largest man-made marina, a 3.5-kilometre canal dug from the Arabian Gulf lined with 200 residential towers, luxury yachts, waterfront restaurants, and a 7-kilometre walking and cycling promenade. The Marina skyline at night — towers of glass reflected in still water — is one of Dubai's most iconic images.
Best Time
October to April for outdoor enjoyment. The Marina Walk is pleasant year-round in the evening after 6:00 PM.
Insider Tip
Take the Dubai Marina Tram...
Liwa Oasis
A vast crescent of oasis settlements at the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) — the world's largest sand sea. The Liwa dunes, reaching 300 metres in height, are the tallest in the Arabian Peninsula and among the highest dunes in the world.
Best Time
November to March. Summer temperatures in the Empty Quarter reach 50°C — genuinely life-threatening. Winter nights drop to 10°C.
Insider Tip
Stay at the Anantara Qasr...
Al Ain Oasis
A UNESCO World Heritage-listed oasis city 160 km east of Abu Dhabi, containing the largest traditional oasis in the world — 147,000 date palms irrigated by a 3,000-year-old falaj (underground irrigation channel) system still in active use. Al Ain is the only UNESCO-listed city in the UAE.
Best Time
October to April. Al Ain ('The Spring' in Arabic) is 100 km inland and slightly cooler than the coast in winter.
Insider Tip
Take the cable car up...
Global Village Dubai
The world's leading multicultural festival park, open seasonally from October to April, featuring 90 country pavilions presenting food, culture, entertainment, and products from around the world. Over 7 million visitors attend each season, making it one of the most visited attractions in the Middle East.
Best Time
The park opens in late October and runs to late April. Weekday evenings are significantly less crowded than weekends. Opening night and closing weekend are the most festive.
Insider Tip
Go hungry on a Wednesday...
Travel Tips for UAE
- 1.
Dress modestly in public areas
- 2.
Weekends are Friday-Saturday
- 3.
Use the efficient Dubai Metro