Dubai Travel Guide
Dubai is the city that proves ambition can physically reshape geography — an island of man-made palm trees, the world's tallest building, a ski slope inside a mall in a desert, and the most audacious hotel ever constructed. It is a place where nothing is done at half measure and where the sheer improbability of the whole project is part of the appeal. But beneath the spectacle is a more interesting city: Old Dubai along the Creek in Al Fahidi and Deira preserves the wind-tower architecture and spice souk culture of a 19th-century Gulf trading port; the international dining scene is now genuinely world-class; and the multicultural reality of the city (90% of residents are expatriates from over 200 nationalities) creates a social complexity that first-time visitors rarely expect.
Where to stay in Dubai
- Downtown Dubai
- The heart of the spectacle. Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera — all within walking distance. The most photogenic square kilometre in the city. Restaurants here tend to be hotel-based and expensive; go for the views, not the food.
- Dubai Marina
- A purpose-built marina district with a promenade walk, restaurants lining the water, and the closest thing to a European café culture Dubai has created. The JBR beach is here. Saturday brunch culture is at its peak in this district.
- Al Fahidi Historic District (Old Dubai)
- The only neighbourhood in Dubai that is genuinely old — wind tower architecture, narrow lanes, 19th-century merchant houses. The Dubai Museum, the XVA Art Hotel, and Arabian Tea House are here. Directly across the Creek from Deira's Gold and Spice Souks.
- Deira (Gold & Spice Souks)
- The oldest commercial district of Dubai. The Gold Souk is the largest in the world — over 10 tonnes of gold on display at any time. The Spice Souk next to it sells incense, dried limes, saffron, and frankincense. The abra crossing from the Al Fahidi side takes 3 minutes and costs 2 AED — one of the great travel experiences at any price.
- Palm Jumeirah & JBR
- The man-made palm island — a feat of engineering turned lifestyle destination. Atlantis The Palm (with Ossiano, Aquaventure waterpark) is at the top. The boardwalk around the trunk has good seafood restaurants. The Pointe at the tip has excellent food with Burj Al Arab views.
What to see in Dubai
- Burj Khalifa At The Top
- Book online at least 2 weeks ahead — same-day tickets are 2x the price. The viewing platform at Level 124 is plenty; Level 148 is for special occasions only. Sunset visits are the most spectacular but most expensive.
- Al Fahidi Historic District
- Walk through the narrow lanes in the late afternoon when the light is golden on the wind towers. The Dubai Museum inside Al Fahidi Fort (AED 3) is one of the great value museum experiences anywhere. XVA Café for lunch or tea.
- Gold & Spice Souks (Deira)
- Take the abra from the Al Fahidi waterfront (2 AED) across the Creek. Visit the Spice Souk first (evening is most atmospheric) then walk to the Gold Souk. Haggling is expected for non-fixed items; fixed-price shops are marked.
- Dubai Creek Abra Crossing
- A wooden traditional boat crossing Dubai Creek between Al Fahidi and Deira — the most authentic and cheapest experience in the city, operated by the same wooden boats that have carried passengers across for 150 years. Take it at dusk.