Dubai is where east meets west, where traditional and contemporary jives along, where almost everything is made possible.
So, how will you spend your days in a city full of surprises? If you ask me, I got thousands of things-to-do running in my head. The city is known for its diversity; hence experiencing the culture and traditions, sampling authentic and exotic cuisines, and exploring the cosmopolitan metropolis are on the top of my list!
So, how will you spend your days in a city full of surprises? If you ask me, I got thousands of things-to-do running in my head. The city is known for its diversity; hence experiencing the culture and traditions, sampling authentic and exotic cuisines, and exploring the cosmopolitan metropolis are on the top of my list!
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Here are 100 Things To Do in Dubai in my point of view. Some I have already done. Some are still in my list waiting to be ticked off. Some are merely just wishes that I would definitely fulfill if I get enough Dirhams in my pocket!
1. window shop or buy a 24-carat gold in Gold Souk
2. stop and smell the spices at Spice Souk
3. cross the creek - ride an Abra, a traditional wooden boat in Dubai Creek for only 1 dirham
4. haggle and purchase a pair of Arabic Shoes or a stylish abaya at Dubai Old Souk or Textile Souk
5. savor international cuisine with an Emirati twist (e.g. French Toast with date jam) at Creekside Cafe
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| Gold Souk |
6. explore the Heritage Village, a well-preserved Arabian village in Al Shindagha
7. eat freshly-made Luqaimat (Emirati sweet dumplings) in a barasti at the Heritage Village
8. visit Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House - former residence of Dubai's visionary ruler from 1912 to 1958, now a museum
9. know Dubai's rich history at the Dubai Museum
10. get lost in maze-like alleys of Bastakiya
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| Luqaimat |
11. have a cultural meal at Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding
12. taste the exotic Camel Burger at Local House restaurant
13. watch a Blooming Tea bloom and savor its unique blend at the lovely courtyard of Arabian Tea House
14. have a romantic dinner on a Dhow Cruise along Dubai Creek
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| Afternoon tea at Arabian Tea House |
In Downtown Dubai
15. gaze at Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the world
16. see Dubai from up above at the 124th floor of Burj Khalifa (At The Top observation deck)
17. have a luxurious High Tea with a view at At.mosphere in Burj Khalifa
18. watch the Dubai Fountain dance gracefully to different tunes
19. have a shopping spree at The Dubai Mall
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| view from Burj Khalifa - At The Top observation deck |
21. meet the Dubai Dino - real dinosaur skeleton displayed at The Souk Dome in Dubai Mall
22. glide on ice in Dubai Ice Rink
23. gaze at The Waterfall, a stunning water feature with art sculptures of human divers
24. dine in a restaurant with a terrace facing the Dubai Fountain (e.g. TGIFridays, Katsuya)
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| Dubai Dino (previously at The Grand Atrium, now at The Souk Dome) |
25. explore Downtown Dubai on board the Dubai Trolley
26. dine al fresco at Souk Al Bahar (e.g. Urbano, Serafina)
27. walk along the picturesque entrance pathway of The Palace Downtown Dubai (and perhaps head inside the hotel for a lavish afternoon tea)
28. relax and see another Dubai Fountain show at Burj Park
29. join a Segway tour in MBR Boulevard
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| at Serafina in Souk Al Bahar |
In Jumeirah
30. visit Jumeirah Mosque, the most photographed mosque in Dubai (informative tours from Saturday to Thursday at 10 am)
31. shop while daydreaming about Venice in Mercato, an Italian-inspired shopping mall
32. Kitesurf, sun bath and eat SALT burgers in Kite Beach
33. have a seafood dinner in Bu Qutair, a popular seafood shack near Umm Suqeim public beach
34. swim with a view of the world's most luxurious hotel in Umm Suqeim Beach
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| Jumeirah Mosque |
36. enjoy a thrilling water adventure in Wild Wadi water park
37. catch a glimpse of the iconic Burj Al Arab from its gates
38. soak up the opulence of Burj Al Arab, stay in a luxurious suite or have a date night in one if the restaurants
39. stroll in the alleys of Souk Madinat, a shopping and dining destination that resembles a traditional market place
40. have an ultra-romantic dinner date over the water in Pierchic - Dubai's most romantic restaurant
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| Burj Al Arab |
in the Man-made Islands
41. take a private cruise to one of the islands in The World
42. ride the Palm Monorail in Palm Jumeirah
43. dine or stay in Atlantis The Palm, a majestic hotel located in Palm Jumeirah's crescent
44. spend a day splashing and sliding at Atlantis Aquaventure
45. swim with the dolphins at Atlantis' Dolphin Bay
46. see over 65,000 marine animals at the Lost Chambers
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| Palm Monorail to Atlantis |
in Dubai Marina
47. head to Skydive Dubai, conquer your fear and sky dive above Palm Jumeirah
48. stroll along Dubai Marina Walk and spot the Cayan Tower - the world's tallest twisted tower
49. walk at The Walk in JBR - a strip of shops and restaurants along the coast
50. get some tan, watch a movie and dine near the shore at The Beach in JBR
51. have a boat trip from Dubai Marina canal to the sea (e.g. The Yellow Boats, Captain Jack)
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| The Beach in JBR |
in Al Barsha
52. enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment at Mall of the Emirates
53. frolic in the snow, take ski lessons, meet the penguins at Ski Dubai
54. indulge in your favorite cheesecake at the largest Cheesecake Factory in the world at Mall of the Emirates
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| Mall of the Emirates |
in Al Quoz
55. chill and dine in Chillout ice lounge in Time Square Center
56. jump for joy, literally, at Bounce indoor trampoline playground
57. Artsy? check out the art exhibits at Alserkal Avenue
58. have a good casual meal at the trendy Tom and Serg cafe
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| Chillout Ice Lounge |
in Sheikh Zayed Road
59. spot the tallest hotel in the world - JW Marriot Marquis
60. have an authentic Thai meal fit for a king at Benjarong in Dusit Thani
61. walk beneath the skyscrapers from Emirates Towers to Financial Centre
62. enjoy a Levantine meal at the funky Zaroob
63. head further afield to Ibn Battuta Mall, a travel-themed shopping mall in Jebel Ali
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| Zaroob - Levant street eatery |
64. grab a delicious yet budget friendly Pakistani food at Ravi's
in Karama
65. devour home-cooked Goan cuisine at Eric's
66. drop by any cafeteria and buy a shawarma and avocado shake
67. enjoy a simple yet delicious Filipino meal at Pita restaurant (Order the best-selling Bulalo!)
68. sample scrumptious Indonesian fare at Betawi, one of the best budget and best Pan-Asian restaurants in Dubai (Don't forget the Nasi Pandang!)
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| Indonesian food at Betawi |
69. join Frying Pan Adventures' Little India foodie trail
70. have an authentic Iranian kebab for dinner at Special Ostadi Restaurant (I highly recommend Khorak Bahraini and the freebies - mint tea and dates with sesame.)
71. purchase electronic goods at a lesser price in Computer Street
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| Special Ostadi Restaurant |
in Oud Metha
72. explore WAFI, an Egyptian-inspired shopping mall and catch the Light and Sound show in Wafi's central courtyard during winter
73. taste the goodness of Turkish cuisine in Bosporus at Wafi (Thumbs up for Lamb Chops, Pide, and Kunefe.)
74. for Roman Catholics, give thanks and hear mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church
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| Turkish Kunefe at Bosporus |
in Deira
75. fine dine with a view of Dubai Creek at Boardwalk (Try the Boardwalk Seafood Platter.)
76. have an ultimate movie experience; watch, see, feel, and be a part of the movie at Vox 4DX in Deira City Centre
77. sip a glass of fruit juice and take tons of photos beside the fruit decors at Juice World
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| Boardwalk |
78. buy something for your home and eat Swedish meatballs in Ikea
79. get to know the Emirati cuisine in an outdoor barasti or in the inner courtyard of Al Fanar, an authentic Emirati restaurant in DFC
80. ride an electronic Abra and catch the sunset in the promenade of Dubai Festival City
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| Al Fanar Emirati Restaurant |
81. defy gravity at iFLY Dubai in Mirdif City Centre
in the great outdoors
82. take a trip to Ras Al Khor and see flamingos in their natural habitat
83. have a hearty breakfast amidst a lush surrounding at The Farm Al Barari
84. see the world in an hour at Global Village (open only during winter)
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| Global Village |
86. go on a mountain safari in Hatta, hike and dip in the natural pools
87. have a picnic in the park (e.g. Zabeel Park, Creek Park, Mamzar Beach Park)
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| Dubai Miracle Garden |
88. get an adrenaline rush while dune bashing in the desert landscape
89. ride a camel
90. watch a belly dance show
91. get a traditional henna tattoo
92. rent a quad bike and drive around the desert camp
93. see the hues of the desert sand from up above in a hot air balloon
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| camel ride in the desert |
explore the city on a budget via public transportation
94. ride the Dubai Metro, the longest fully automated metro network in the world (The two lines run along Dubai's major attractions.)
95. take the Dubai Tram when visiting attractions along Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh (e.g. JBR, Palm Monorail, hotels in Mina Seyahi)
96. ride an RTA Bus to attractions not covered by the metro and the tram (e.g. Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah)
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| Dubai Tram |
discover the city in a posh way
97. ride a Hummer Limo to your destination of choice
98. ride a seaplane and see Dubai in a different perspective
during holidays
99. celebrate with a grand fireworks display during Eid holidays, Dubai Shopping Festival, and New Year's Eve
100. Share a meal with the men in blue, the construction workers behind every astounding structure in the city! (Join Water for Workers by @thesamenessproject in Instagram and #FillingTheBlues by Moti Roti during Ramadan)
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| New Year's Eve Fireworks in Dubai |
That's it! That's my 100 Things To Do in Dubai!
Now, it's your turn. Tell me what on your list! :)
Now, it's your turn. Tell me what on your list! :)
5 Blogger Comments
I hope I can do all of these while I am still in Dubai. Inshallah! :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Hakeem!
DeleteI recently traveled to Dubai and loved the dolphin and seal show at Dubai Dolphinarium and the famous Dubai Frame.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I really love the layout of this website and how perfectly the information provided with the help of clear and clean images. I enjoyed reading the content and appreciate your effort in bringing the 100 things to do in Dubai. Also visit Football Clubs in Dubai
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