What to do on a short stay in Dubai

Dubai loves to shop. It’s home to Dubai Mall, the largest in the world; Mall of the Emirates, where global brand showrooms sit beside an indoor ski slope; and a warren of traditional souks which sit in laneways beside Dubai Creek selling jewels, spices, perfumes and more. And that’s just the start. Dubai has dozens of malls, with more being constructed each year, and is well-established as one of the world’s top destinations for designer retail.

It’s been a few years since brunch replaced afternoon tea as the most decadent meal in the diary, and nowhere does it quite like Dubai. Friday and Saturday are the big days for an indulgent brunch, but late-morning banquets are available in the best Dubai hotels every day of the week. Bottomless bubbles and mimosas, or whatever your favourite tipple, are served alongside feasts filled with treats of every kind. Oh, and don’t worry, high tea is still around if you get peckish between lunch and dinner.

Open since late 2016, Dubai Parks and Resorts™ is home to five theme parks offering thrill rides for visitors of every age. Motiongate™ Dubai, Riverland™ Dubai, Legoland® Dubai, and Legoland® Water Park sit beside Neon Galaxy indoor playworld halfway between Dubai Downtown and the neighbouring city of Abu Dhabi. Nearby hotels and multi-day passes make this one of the most accessible and exciting family attractions in the UAE.

From the iconic branches of Palm Jumeirah to the shoreline stretching from the mouth of Dubai Creek to the Port of Jebel Ali, the Dubai coast is lined with luxury resorts and their meticulously manicured private beaches. Even if you choose an inland hotel, public beaches and Insta-worthy beach clubs are found across the city to provide you with that sand-between-your-toes feel whenever you choose to lie back and soak up the sun at the edge of the Arabian Gulf.

Brunch isn’t the only meal served in Dubai, and 14 Michelin-star restaurants are ready to show you why the city is a culinary jewel of the Middle East. Every hotel, mall, and location is filled with unforgettable venues, and the quality of both food and service is exceptional across the board. Designer dining experiences available to visitors include the 122nd-floor bistro of At.mosphere at Burj Khalifa, where haute cuisine is served in the world’s tallest tower, underwater fine dining in Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm, and gastronomic theatre at Krasota Dubai on the ground floor of the Address Downtown. Believe us when we say that’s just the entrée.

Speaking of the Burj Khalifa, no visit to Dubai is complete without standing 456 metres in the air on the 125th-floor observation deck of the tallest building on Earth. From this cloud’s eye perch, you’ll spot the other marvels of architecture and engineering ready to be discovered once you have your feet back on the ground. Make time to visit Burj Al Arab, the world’s only seven-star hotel. Walk through the captivating Dubai Frame museum, gallery, and observation platform. See the striking Dubai Opera, the twisting Cayan Tower, and the futuristically intricate Museum of the Future. And, of course, you can’t miss the dancing sound and light spectacle of The Dubai Fountain.

In addition to the attractions of Dubai Parks and Resorts™, Dubai is home to two of the world’s biggest and most exhilarating waterparks. Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm and Wild Wadi Waterpark™ beside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel offer a vast array of slides, pools, and more to keep kids and adults entertained for hours. Ever slipped at high speed through a shark-filled splash pool? Well, in Dubai, you can.

Reclining and relaxing might be all you wish for on a visit to Dubai, but if you choose, there are plenty of things to get you out and about. Join a 4x4 desert safari to ride the everchanging dunes like a natural roller coaster. Settle for the evening at a Bedouin camp for a sizzling barbecue complete with traditional entertainment and camel rides. Enjoy a three-course floating dinner during a sunset dhow cruise on Dubai Creek. Or marvel at the wonders of human physical achievement with a night at the magnificent circus show of La Perle.