Dubai: 10 things to do for an unforgettable experience

Dubai is a city of superlatives; it has the biggest, richest and tallest of pretty much everything. Much of the city’s achievements can be attributed to its bright, optimistic people and its booming economy. Dubai is a fantastic place for tourists to visit, but there is so much to do that some people may be a little overwhelmed. To help, we’ve put together a brief guide of ten things to do in Dubai to ensure you have an unforgettable experience!

1. Go on a desert safari

For many visiting most cities in the Middle East, a visit wouldn’t be complete without venturing out into the desert. Well, the good news is that Dubai lies within the Arabian Desert and there are plenty of incredible excursions into the desert available. Grayline’s 4×4 desert safari allows you to race around the sand dunes and includes a buffet dinner, soft drinks, and camp entertainment. This is, without doubt, one of the best ways to experience the Arabian Desert and it’s sure to give you plenty of unforgettable memories. 

2. Visit the tallest building in the World 

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, standing a staggering 829.8 m (2,722 ft) high. The Burj Khalifa looks incredible from a distance and is well worth visiting even if you’re scared of heights and decide not to climb to the top. If you do climb to the top, however, you’re in for a real treat, as it has one of the World’s fastest lifts and the journey takes only a few seconds! To take all of the effort out of planning your trip, you can book our Burj Khalifa at the top ticket ahead of time.

3. Stay, or at least visit, the Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab refers to itself as “the only 7-start hotel in the World”. The building was designed to resemble a sail caught in the wind and it is one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to the levels of decadence and opulence of the Burj Al Arab, you can still visit the hotel bar for a drink or relax on the beach nearby and enjoy the incredible views.

4. Visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

If you’re Caprivated by Dubai’s fascinating mixture of Eastern and Western cultures, a trip to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is sure to satisfy your curiosity. The centre was founded by an Emirati man who had married a European woman, and it is a brilliant place to learn about Emirati culture and about the wider Muslim world.

5. Take a Tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Although the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is in Abu Dhabi, rather than Dubai, it is easy to jump on one of Grayline’s tour buses from Dubai, perhaps as part of our Abu Dhabi Mosque and Louvre Museum combination tour. The Grand Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in the world and its white marble exteriors make it one of the most pristine and decadent buildings in the modern World. 

6. Visit the Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi

Also part of our combination tour from Dubai mentioned above, you can visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi. This art gallery and museum was twinned with the famous Parisian museum in a 30-year agreement between the French and the United Arab Emirate governments. The museum has been built to establish the UAE as a meaningful contributor and stake holder in the global art world. The building itself, designed by French architect, Jean Nouvel, is perhaps even more impressive than the 35,000+ artworks exhibited inside.

7. Take a tour of Sharjah City 

Sharjah is the third largest city in the UAE, next to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. During your trip to Dubai, you will almost certainly take a trip to Abu Dhabi, but fewer tourists take the opportunity to visit Sharjah. However, it’s always good to visit some of the less-travelled paths through any country you visit, and Sharjah has its own sense of character and distinctive look that is as impressive and unforgettable as Dubai. Sharjah is sometimes referred to as the “Pearl of the Gulf” and a tour is the perfect way to explore the city’s architecture and history. You can book a Sharjah City Tour from Dubai with Grayline, making the excursion as easy and effortless as possible. 

8. Take a Dubai Shopping Tour

Despite Dubai’s rich cultural and historical heritage, it is, without doubt, the most advanced and Westernised city in the Middle East. When you combine this with Dubai’s extravagant wealth, you get one of the best cities for shopping in the World! Visit the Mall of the Emirates and shop at countless high-end shops. In the mall, you may even decide to pop on one of the in-door slopes for a spot of skiing! Alternatively, you can take Grayline’s Dubai Shopping Tour, which takes you around the city’s gold, jewellery, carpet, and spice souks (markets). 

9. Take a trip to Ferrari World and Yas Water World

While learning about the UAE’s history and culture is an important part of any visitor’s experience of Dubai, it’s also important to have as much fun as possible. That’s why you should take a trip to Ferrari World (the World’s largest in-door theme park) and Yas Water World (one of the biggest water parks in the World). Ferrari World has countless rides, including four rollercoasters, one of which is the fastest roller coaster in the World! Yas Water World has 40 different water rides and slides that make it one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a day in the UAE. The best part is that you can get both of these experiences in one, as they’re close together and are bundled into Grayline’s combination Ferrari and Yas Water World Day ticket deal.

(Image source: Marco Zanferrari via Flickr)

10. Take a tour of Dubai

Lastly, although it might not sound as dramatic or as exciting as some of the other options on this list, we highly recommend a tour of Dubai itself. Dubai is a fascinating city and taking a tour will help you learn as much about it as you can and it will allow you to discover streets and buildings you might not find on your own. One great option is to take our Dubai Full-Day Tour with Lunch at Fountains!  

We hope some readers have added one or two tours and locations from this list to your itinerary for a trip to Dubai. Dubai is one of the most exciting cities in the World for avid travellers and we’re sure you’ll have a fantastic time. Please get in touch if you have any questions about our vast range of Dubai tours and events. Plan your next big Dubai adventure today!