Dubai, United Arab Emirates

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

United Arab EmiratesAsia
Introduction
Dubai is the most famous of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates — a city-state on the Persian Gulf that has risen from a creekside trading port into a global hub of superlatives: the world's tallest building, vast malls, man-made islands and a relentless appetite for the spectacular. For travellers it pairs the futuristic and the traditional — record-breaking towers, beaches and desert dunes on one side; the old creek, the souks and the wind-tower houses of Al Fahidi on the other — all wrapped in a year-round sunshine and a famously easy, cosmopolitan welcome.

Discover Dubai

Downtown Dubai is the city's modern heart and the obvious starting point. The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 828 metres, anchors it — the 'At the Top' observation decks on the 124th, 125th and 148th floors give vertiginous views over the city, the coast and the desert, best at sunset (book timed tickets ahead). At its base sprawls the Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest, which is far more than shopping: an aquarium with a walk-through tunnel, an Olympic ice rink, a digital waterfall and the VR park keep families busy for a day. Outside, the Dubai Fountain — the world's largest choreographed fountain — performs to music on the lake every evening, and the Dubai Opera and the new district around it add culture and dining. The whole area is walkable and air-conditioned, the easiest introduction to the city's scale and ambition.

Travel Types

Skyline & Superlatives

The Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, the Museum of the Future and Ain Dubai wheel.

Old Dubai

The Creek and abra ferries, the gold and spice souks, and the wind-tower lanes of Al Fahidi.

Beaches & Islands

The Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis, the Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and the JBR and Kite Beach shores.

Desert & Mountains

Dune-bashing safaris, camel rides and Bedouin camps, and the dam and trails of mountain Hatta.

Shopping & Dining

Tax-free megamalls and traditional souks, and dining from street shawarma to celebrity-chef tables.

Frequently asked questions

Three to four days covers the essentials — Downtown and the Burj Khalifa, old Dubai's creek and souks, the Palm and the beaches, and a desert safari. Add a day or two for theme parks, Hatta or a slower beach pace. Dubai is easy to navigate by metro, taxi and ride-hailing, and many visitors also use it as a stopover, where even a long layover takes in the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.

November to March is the season — warm, sunny days ideal for the beaches, desert and outdoor dining, plus the Dubai Shopping Festival and major events. Summer (June to September) is extremely hot and humid, often above 40°C, when life moves into the air-conditioned malls and indoor attractions (and hotel prices drop). Spring and autumn are warm shoulder seasons.

Dubai is liberal and cosmopolitan but still part of a Muslim country. Dress modestly in public places and markets (cover shoulders and knees), and more conservatively at mosques; beachwear is for the beach and pool only. Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and venues, public drunkenness and displays of affection are not acceptable, and during Ramadan you should avoid eating or drinking in public during daylight hours.