There are countless reasons to visit Dubai. This exhilarating city reaches to the sky from the desert sands, cramming in a number of the world’s most spectacular sights and experiences. Renowned for its first-class shopping, gorgeous beaches and high-end resorts, it’s savoured by business travellers and holidaymakers alike.
The city’s energy, optimism and futuristic appeal make it a unique travel destination – so many have fallen in love with the place that 80% of the population are now ex-pats. Flights to Dubai bring in more than 15 million overnight visitors a year, making it the fourth most visited city in the world.
A desert metropolis
The city’s unique blend of restaurants, flourishing nightlife, world-class shopping, luxurious beaches and exciting entertainment offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for chilled-out relaxation or high-octane adventure. It has a blossoming cultural scene, with opera, theatre, ballet, museums and art all growing in popularity every year.
Spills, thrills and sun!
Dubai does beaches brilliantly. Golden sands and clear, warm waters offer a wide range of activities, from family fun to morning strolls. And if you fancy a go at jet-skiing, flyboarding, kite-surfing, diving or snorkelling, head to the coast for water sports galore. You’ll also discover plenty of beach clubs to relax on the sands in style.
Every year, new and exciting attractions are opening in Dubai. The world-famous Atlantis resort is home to the Aquaventure waterpark; complete with high-speed waterslides and immersive underwater experiences.
In 2016, Dubai Parks & Resorts opened its doors, a super-sized theme park bringing together LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND® Water Park), Bollywood Parks™ Dubai and MOTIONGATE™ DUBAI which features action-packed rides and five roller coasters!
IMG Worlds of Adventure is another sprawling theme park and leisure haven, with themed zones including Marvel, Cartoon Network and the Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventures.
Relax and indulge
Foodies visiting Dubai are spoiled for choice. The city’s many hotels provide a wealth of high-quality international cuisine and many of the world’s top celebrity restaurants are represented here – including Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay and Bollywood’s Asha Bhosle.
But Dubai isn’t all fine dining and theme parks – the beautiful natural environment which surrounds the city is also well worth exploring. As well as tackling sand dunes in a 4x4, visitors can travel to Hatta, 134km east of Dubai in the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, to enjoy its Heritage Village – a collection of restored traditional mountain homes – and take a cooling dip in the crystal clear waters of its lake and rock pool.
If you plan to fly to Dubai for sun, sea and sand, the best time to visit is in spring and autumn when temperatures aren’t too overwhelming. Soak up the rays by day and cool down on one of the city’s many rooftop bars. Whatever way you look at it, Dubai is a city that demands attention – you can be sure that the skyline you experience during your trip will be completely different in a year’s time. Things happen quickly here – so get ready for the ride.