Dubai: 10 must-see attractions during your stay

The Burj Khalifa, the symbol of Dubai

At 828 metres high, the Burj Khalifa is both the world's tallest skyscraper and the tallest man-made structure ever built. Opened in 2010, it was named after its founder, Emir Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyane. While it has no less than 211 floors, you must stop at the 124th floor, where there is a glassed-in observation deck with an open-air terrace, perched 450 metres above sea level.

Burj-al-Arab Hotel

Easily recognisable by its curves in the shape of a giant sailboat, stretched over the turquoise water of the Persian Gulf, the Burj-al-Arab Hotel is the only self-proclaimed 7-star hotel. Everything about this skyscraper, built in the 1990s by architect Tom Wright, is breathtaking, starting with its dizzying height: 321 metres, at the top of which is a heliport. The prices are also dizzying: expect to pay just under 100 euros just to visit it.

Dubai Marina

For a boat cruise or a game of golf in an unusual setting, head to Dubai Marina, a city within a city located 30 kilometres from downtown Dubai! With a 100-metre long canal, around which buildings have been constructed, Dubai Marina is the perfect place to relax.

Palm Islands

Palm Islands refers to a group of three archipelagos, whose artificial islands off Dubai form giant palm trees. Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah and Palm Deira are home to the very luxurious homes of many celebrities.

The World

Off the coast of Dubai, nearly 300 artificial islands are supposed to represent the 5 continents. Very difficult to access, it is best to observe them from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa tower!

Dubai Fountain

The world's tallest water fountains can be seen for up to 30 kilometres and are located in Dubai at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, next to the Dubai Mall. A superb 5-minute water, sound and light show awaits you free of charge every night.

Dubai Mall

The world's largest shopping mall, covering some 800,000 square metres, is worth a visit even if you are not a shopaholic: in addition to the thousand or so shops in the mall, you can see waterfalls, an aquarium and even an ice rink! Every year in March, the Dubai Mall hosts the Shopping Festival, a major international fashion event.

Ski Dubai

Skiing in the middle of the desert? Welcome to Ski Dubai, where the temperature drops from an average of 30 degrees outside to -2 degrees on the indoor slope. Located in the heart of the Mall of Emirate, Dubai's second largest shopping centre, Ski Dubai offers activities such as snowboarding, bobsleighing and luge.

The Dubai desert

Fancy treading the mythical lands of Arabia? To discover the Dubai desert, you can rent a 4X4, opt for a quad bike or take a camel ride. The best part? Extend the experience by sharing a traditional barbecue under the stars, before spending a night in the desert. You can choose between a tent or one of the spa hotels that have been set up there.

The old city of Dubai

If you tire of Dubai's futuristic appearance, you can visit the old city, which is located on either side of an inlet called Dubai Creek: there you will discover traditional wooden boats, crenellated forts and souks. It's a trip back to the days of the Bedouin who lived in the heart of this small coastal village, originally renowned for its pearl fishing.

See also