Dubai is a place where I once only spent a brief time during a long layover. Honestly, the city never really caught my fancy and didn’t land on my list of top places to return to. But life is full of surprises, and I was back in Dubai. On this visit, things took a turn for the better. Maybe it was the fact that I had more time, but I got to discover a more human side to the “City of Bling.”
During my previous short stay, Dubai felt distant to me. However, this time, it was unlike the first. With more time on my hands during this trip, I strayed from the usual tourist paths. This led me down lanes less traveled, where everyday life happens. I felt a pulse through its neighborhoods. It was this Dubai—more personal and real—that shifted my opinion.
I was indifferent to Dubai, but now I actually like it. These are the top ten moments of my trip to Dubai.
Top 10 Things to Experience in Dubai
On my second trip to Dubai, the city felt fresh (even though it was over 40 Celsius!) and exciting, like stepping in for the first time. This visit gave me more days to explore, and my outlook was much brighter. Though familiar with the city, I felt ready to dive deeper into what it had to offer.
1. Climbing the Tallest Building in the World
In Dubai, the Burj Khalifa reaches up to the sky like a giant’s tower from a fairy tale. It would give any beanstalk a run for its money.
Standing proud at 828 meters (2,716 ft.), Burj Khalifa is officially the world’s tallest building. This steel, concrete, and glass monster dominates the Dubai skyline and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. It houses offices, residences, and the ultra-swanky Armani hotel.
I had previously been on impressive skyscraper lookouts such as the Top of Rock and the Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo. However, this was not just a skyscraper but the highest observation deck on Earth. While the skyline from the viewing platform isn’t as impressive as the ones in New York or Tokyo, the experience of climbing the Burj Khalifa was well worth it.
2. Watching Dubai Fountain
At the foot of the majestic Burj Khalifa lies what many consider the greatest attraction in Dubai.
It is the largest musical fountain in the world and one of the highest, too. On evenings, this huge funtain illuminates the Dubai sky every half hour with a musical show and water dancing to the brats, the music range can go from classical Arabic songs to Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
3. Exploring Dubai Souk and Old Town Dubai
In Dubai, a walk through the souk in Old Town (Bastakiya) offers a chance at a less shiny, more everyday life kind of scene. Here, the air buzzes with haggling voices over gold, spices, and textiles alongside small shops, inviting visitors for a peek.
This part of the city doesn’t flash like the skyscrapers, and that’s perfect.
4. Shopping at The Dubai Mall
In Dubai, shopping takes center stage—especially at the Dubai Mall. Here, shoppers are lost in a maze of more than 1,200 stores. Where else can you shop, ice skate, and gawk at giant aquatic creatures all under one roof? It’s a world where the phrase “shop till you drop” takes on a whole new meaning, especially if you’re trying to find your way back to one of the seemingly identical entrances.
5. Diving in The Dubai Aquarium
The Dubai Aquarium is an impressive sight, featuring a large tank filled with water and marine life that could rival the population of a small town. The Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest in the Middle East and offers the possibility of diving with sharks. It is located inside the Dubai Mall.
6. Enjoying Incredible Food
In Dubai, the restaurant list is as tall as the skyscrapers. Expect everything from top-tier chefs whipping up haute cuisine in glittery high-rises to street-side joints selling delicious shawarmas and incredible Lebanese, Syrian, and Indian places.
7. Staying at the Burj Al Arab
Dubai’s skyline owes much to the sail-shaped silhouette of the Burj Al Arab. Standing on an artificial island, this hotel stretches towards the sky, reaching for the stars with its lofty design. One of the world’s most luxurious hotels. Legend has it that it was the first hotel in the world to get a 7-star rating; however, official star ratings only go up to 5. Urban legend or marketing stunt, it is true that the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is an architectural landmark.
Built on its own artificial island, it is one of the tallest hotels in the world.
If your wallet feels light and staying here is just a dream, don’t worry. The Burj Al Arab is still enjoyable from the outside. You can walk near the beach and look up at this giant sail without spending a penny.
8. Marveling at the Jumeira Mosque
If there’s something Dubai doesn’t lose despite the bustle, luxury, and ostentation, it’s its spirituality.
Near the soft beaches, the Jumeira Mosque sits, a shining example of Islamic architecture. This landmark is much more than a pretty picture, though. It’s one of the few mosques welcoming non-Muslim visitors.
On the inside, the ceiling imitates the colors of the sky at sunset.
9. Embarking on a Dubai Creek Cruise (or Even a Ferry!)
Dubai Creek is a saltwater canal that acts as a river and divides the Old City area. On one side lies the working-class district of Deira, and on the other is the more upscale Bur Dubai area.
There are no bridges to cross the Creek in the old city. The good news is that there are some small motor boats that can take you from one side to the other. The barges are crammed with people and lack any visible security measures, so this experience can be a major adrenaline boost.
Another way of experiencing Dubai Creek is by an organized cruise. If you’d like to see the city from a different angle watching the skyline with its towering buildings while floating on calm waters is a top 10 must-do in Dubai.
10. Traveling to the Beginning at the Dubai Museum
Dubai’s past is displayed at Al Fahidi Fort, where the Dubai Museum finds its home. This spot shows life before skyscrapers and luxury cars, back when the desert city had not yet felt the oil boom.
As you would expect from Dubai, the fort you see today has been radically “restored and rebuilt.” It’s almost like peering through a window back in time – but that window is a clever recreation for tourists searching for a hint of history. It’s an open secret that in Dubai, even the echoes of the past have had a modern makeover.