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Staying in Dubai - dda
Sights and Attractions
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, standing at 828 meters, is the tallest building in the world and a landmark of Dubai since its opening in 2010. Located beside Dubai Mall, it features two observation decks: one spans the 124th and 125th floors, and the other is on the 148th floor, both offering panoramic city views. Inspired by the Hymenocallis flower and rooted in Islamic architectural traditions, the Burj Khalifa is a centrepiece of Downtown Dubai, surrounded by Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera, hotels, and dining venues. Visitors can access Burj Khalifa by metro via the Red Line at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station. It is also accessible by bus, car, or taxi.
Museum of the Future
Museum of the Future, inaugurated on 22 February 2022 under the Dubai Future Foundation, is one of Dubai’s most renowned landmarks. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the museum is designed as a platform to explore how science, technology, and innovation can shape the coming decades. Its striking torus-shaped structure is clad in steel and glass, with Arabic calligraphy featuring inspirational quotes from poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Inside, the museum offers an immersive experience across themed chapters, including space exploration, climate change, and future technologies.
Entry is free for children under three, Emirati senior citizens, and people of determination with one caregiver. To access the museum, visitors must pre-book time slots in advance. The museum is open daily from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm, with last entry at 7:00 pm. It is easily accessible by Dubai Metro (Emirates Towers Station, Red Line) or via key bus routes, and parking is available onsite.
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai’s most recognizable landmarks and among the world’s most luxurious hotels. Opened in 1999 on its own man-made island, the 321-metre sail-shaped building is often referred to as the world’s only “seven-star” hotel. The all-suite property is known for its gold-gilded interiors, fine dining restaurants, helipad, private beach facilities, and the expansive Burj Al Arab Terrace. It has hosted global celebrities and events, helping place Dubai on the international tourism map. In addition to exclusive stays, visitors can now join guided tours — Inside Burj Al Arab — to explore its atrium, Royal Suite, and exhibitions showcasing its legacy. Public views of the hotel can be enjoyed from nearby areas such as Sunset Beach and Madinat Jumeirah.
Global Village
Global Village Dubai is one of the city’s most popular seasonal attractions, open annually from October to April. First launched in 1997, it has grown into a multicultural hub featuring more than 90 cultures across themed country pavilions, 3,500 shopping outlets, 250 dining options, nightly shows, fun fair rides, and unique experiences such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. Visitors can explore authentic products from around the world, enjoy international cuisines, and attend concerts and stunt shows. Entry tickets start from AED25 online, with free access for children under three, senior citizens and People of Determination. Tuesdays are reserved for families and ladies. Easily accessible by bus from major metro stations or by car with ample parking, the destination remains a highlight of Dubai’s winter calendar for families, tourists and residents alike.
Dubai Frame
Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, offering panoramic views that capture Dubai’s past, present and future in a single frame. Rising 150 meters high and 93 meters wide, the structure allows visitors to look north towards the historic districts and south towards the modern skyline, with a Sky Deck featuring a 50-metre glass bridge that becomes transparent as you walk across. Inside, visitors can explore immersive galleries showcasing Dubai’s heritage through advanced technology, scents and sound, before entering the Future Zone, which envisions the city 50 years from now with flying taxis, underwater living and space missions. Tickets are priced at AED50 for adults and AED20 for children, with free entry for children under three.
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall, located next to the iconic Burj Khalifa, is the world’s largest destination for shopping, leisure and entertainment, attracting around 100 million visitors annually. Covering over one million square meters, it houses more than 1,200 retail stores, luxury outlets at Fashion Avenue, and diverse dining options. Visitors can explore unique attractions in Dubai Mall, including Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania, Dubai Dino, and a vast multiplex cinema. Easily accessible by metro, bus, and car, Dubai Mall remains one of the city’s most popular landmarks, situated close to Burj Khalifa, Souk Al Bahar and Dubai Opera. From there, you can visit Dubai Fountain, located at the base of the Burj Khalifa and in front of the Dubai Mall.
Expo City Dubai
Expo City Dubai is a sustainable, future-focused urban community that builds on the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, which welcomed 192 countries and over 24 million visitors. Open since October 2022, it retains iconic attractions such as Al Wasl Plaza, Garden in the Sky, the Surreal water feature, and the thematic pavilions—now repurposed as interactive educational and cultural spaces, including the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum. Easily accessible by Dubai Metro or major roads, Expo City offers free entry, with attraction tickets starting from AED 50 (free for children under 12 and People of Determination), and serves as a venue for events, innovation, and future residential communities.
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai, located inside Mall of the Emirates, is one of Dubai’s most distinctive attractions, offering real snow and winter experiences in the heart of the desert. It is maintained at -4 degrees all year-round. It features ski slopes, snowboarding, a snow park, zipline, chairlift, and family activities such as snowman building, zorbing, and bobsledding. Visitors can also meet king and gentoo penguins as part of global conservation efforts. With nearby dining options and entertainment venues, Ski Dubai combines sport, leisure, and education, making it a popular destination for residents and tourists alike.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is one of the world’s largest suspended aquariums, featuring a 10-million-litre tank with over 33,000 aquatic animals, including the world’s largest collection of sand tiger sharks. Located in Dubai Mall and rising across multiple levels, it offers immersive experiences such as walking through a 48-metre tunnel, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, and shark dives. Easily accessible by metro, bus, or car, the attraction is a major highlight for families and tourists, situated near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, and Dubai Opera.
City Walk
City Walk is a modern shopping, dining and leisure destination in Dubai that combines European-style boulevards with family-friendly attractions and entertainment. Opened in 2016, City Walk has quickly become one of Dubai’s most popular lifestyle hubs. Its location near Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah makes it a convenient spot for both residents and visitors. It features international boutiques, restaurants, and cafés alongside major landmarks such as The Green Planet indoor rainforest, Coca-Cola Arena, and NoWayOut Escape Rooms. Visitors can enjoy outdoor spaces, street art, and a calendar of live events, with easy access by car, bus or metro. Shops generally open from 10:00 AM to midnight and restaurants until 01:00 AM, with free parking for one hour and extended parking available upon purchase validation.
Ain Dubai
Ain Dubai, located on Bluewaters Island, is the world’s tallest observation wheel, standing at 250 meters high and offering an unparalleled 360-degree view of Dubai’s skyline, coastline and landmarks such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa. With 48 air-conditioned cabins that can accommodate up to 1,750 visitors per rotation, the 38-minute ride provides both day and night experiences of the city. Ticket options range from shared and family pods to luxury VIP cabins with dining and private events. Easily accessible by metro, bus, water taxi or car, the attraction is located near landmarks such as Madame Tussauds, Banyan Tree Dubai and Illusion City Dubai. Ain Dubai is open from 12:00 PM to 08:30 PM from Tuesday to Friday and 11:00 AM to 8:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday.
The Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain, located at the foot of Burj Khalifa within the Burj Lake, is the world’s tallest performing fountain, shooting water up to 140 meters high in choreographed shows every 30 minutes from 06:00 PM to 11:00 PM daily. Visitors can enjoy the spectacle from various vantage points, including the Boardwalk or Lake Ride for an even closer experience. The fountain is surrounded by Downtown Dubai’s top attractions, such as Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Burj Khalifa, KidZania, Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Opera, and Sky Views Dubai, with an array of restaurants, cafes, and hotels nearby to complement the visit. Performances feature a dazzling combination of water, light, and music, making it a must-see for families and tourists.
City Sightseeing Dubai
City Sightseeing Dubai provides a hop-on, hop-off bus experience covering major landmarks through two main routes: the Blue Route from Mall of the Emirates with 12 stops including Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Atlantis, The Palm, and the Red Route from Dubai Mall with 13 stops including the Museum of the Future and Dubai Frame. Both operate daily from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM every 40 minutes, with commentary offered in 11 languages. City Sightseeing packages are valid for one year and bookings are cancellable up to 24 hours in advance, and can be paired with additional experiences like Dhow Cruises, Aquaventure World waterpark or At the Top, Burj Khalifa.
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