Dubai Attractions and Tourist
Attractions in Dubai
Dubai has with its wealth built a number of “wonders”, not least in the form of skyscrapers such as Burj Khalifa (see image above). But Dubai has several facets, and experiences on the souks provide lasting memories!
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa (Arabic برج خليفة) is a very special skyscraper that you hardly think is real until you see it with your own eyes. For many, the big S skyscraper is known by the name of Burj Dubai, as it was named after the official opening in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) was made on January 4, 2010. The building is the tallest building in the world, we speak the whole 828 meters.
The Dubai Museum
The museum is located in Dubai’s oldest building, originally called the Al Fahidi Fort. The Dubai Museum has, among other things, an exhibition showing Dubai’s life before the oil was discovered and an archaeological collection.
Grand Mosque The
Grand Mosque is located in Bur Dubai and has the largest minaret in Dubai. It is located in Al Mussalla Street. The building style is typically Persian with, among other things, sky blue mosaics.
Jumeira Beach Park
Right on the beach, at Jumeira Beach, you will find a large water park and beautiful grassy shady palm trees. Here children of all ages can play, there are barbecue facilities, picnic tables and various kiosks and dining places. Sunday and Monday the park is open only for children and women.
Dubai Zoo
At Jumeirah you will find Dubai Zoo, which is a great zoo. It has approx. 250 different mammals, including hyenas, lions, cougars, jaguars, gorillas and bears. In addition, you will find more than 400 different reptiles. The main attractions are Bengal tigers and Arabian wolves.
Creek Park
This is a modern and beautiful park west of Dubai Creek. The park covers 96 acres, and you will find a variety of facilities for children and adults. The park has a golf course and arcade. On Wednesdays, the park is only open to women and children.
Burj al Arab
Burj al Arab is the world’s most famous hotel, the world’s only seven-star hotel and also the highest hotel in the world. It is actually higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You have to pay to see the reception area. Then you might be allowed to try the escalator up from the reception area. The address is Jumeirah Beach Road.
Sultan Bin Ali Al-Owais Cultural
Foundation The Al-Owais Foundation aims to promote Arabic and Islamic culture. The foundation’s building is located on Al-Rigga Road. It is a beautiful, postmodern building, and here is an exhibition of Islamic art, photographs and calligraphies. There are also performances here on a regular basis.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
In The Creek, not far from Bur Dubai, you will find Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, an impressive building from 1896. It was originally the residence of the rulers. Today, this is a museum.
The gold souk
Nowhere else in the world will you see the like – street upon street with shops filled to the brim with gold. And here we are talking about more than 20 carats. Gold formally glows in the street. The gold souk is located right by the harbor for the agra boats, in the old part of Deira.
The
Spice Souk Right at the gold rush you will find an exciting world of smells and sounds of traders as loudly discussing prices and quality. Here you get the feeling of experiencing Thousand and One Night. The address is Sikkat al-Khali Street.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
Right near the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj al Arab you will find the Wild Wadi Waterpark water park. Here are many different water slides for children of all ages, some of them are amazing. The water park has water with large, artificial waves. Remember proper swimwear.
Tourist in Dubai
Dubai deserves more than 48 hours, but you can experience an incredible amount in Dubai in two days as well. We have tried this ourselves more than once.
Day 1 in Dubai
After a better breakfast at the hotel, we recommend a trip to the Dubai Museum. It is a smart way to start the Dubai visit, as this museum easily gives you insight and overview of both Dubai’s history and development.
The museum opens at 0830 and is open for 12 hours every day except Fridays, when it opens at 1430. The museum building is one of the oldest buildings in Dubai. You can find the museum right by the river on the Bur Dubai side. It is close to where the abras (taxi boats) add.
After the museum visit, we recommend that you take a trip to Dubai World Trade Center. This is no longer the tallest skyscraper in Dubai, but it is still tall enough with its 39 floors. For a reasonable amount of money you get access to the top of the building. At the top you get a drink (preferably non-alcoholic). Here you have a fantastic view. The World Trade Center is open at 0930-1630.
Alternatively, visit Vu’s bar at the top of the Emirates Towers hotel. It is located west of the financial area in the city center. The address is Sheik Zayed Road.
You take the elevator to the 43rd floor, and then take a new lift another nine floors. Through large glass surfaces in the bar you have a fantastic view of Dubai.
Safa Park in Dubai
Safa Park is one of the oldest parks in Dubai. The park, which opened in 1975, has play areas, computer games, bike boats, artificial waterfalls and lakes, barbecues and much more. Safa Park is located on Sheikh Zayed Road. The park is an oasis and provides recreation and a welcome break. It does not cost many kroner per day. person in entrance fee.
You should definitely try to make time for a visit to the gold souk and spice souk. You can take the bus there; most hotels have a shuttle to and from. But it is even better to take a boat, that is, water taxis.
In the gold souk you will find shop after shop with gold rings, gold bracelets, gold chains, gold bars and everything else you can think of in gold. Gold is priced by weight, and it is possible to buy wonderfully crafted gold jewelery at very low prices by Norwegian standards. But be aware that it is possible to be fooled too.
The spice souk is located just off the gold souk. The place is exotic and here you will really get to experience the mystery of the East.
The life of the Khor Dubai River gives you the best opportunity to understand Dubai and its culture and geography. The typical Arab boats that collect clothes, spices and other products from the golf area into Dubai are small, single-masted boats, called dhows. For a few bucks you get the opportunity to run a boat up and down the river for half an hour. The taxi boats are called abras and are small wooden boats.
The taxi boats go mainly in traffic in two places: Most boats go between Bur Dubai Abra Dock and Deira Old Souq Abra Dock. The other place they go is between Dubai Old Souq Abra Dock and Sabkha Abra Dock. You pay in the boat.
In the evening, try one of the many wonderful restaurants in Dubai. Be aware that only bars and restaurants in the hotels can serve alcohol. We recommend local dinner at Bastakiah Nights. Here you can dine in rooms that are hundreds of years old or on the roof terrace. The restaurant is located in Bur Dubai (tel. +971 4 353 7772), the address is Building # 2, Al Fahidi Street, 12th Street.
Day 2 in Dubai
If you have the opportunity (and is it a Thursday or Sunday), you should visit a mosque. The Jumeirah Mosque has a modern architecture and is considered the most beautiful mosque in Dubai. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques in Dubai, but the Jumeirah Mosque is an exception provided that you participate in an organized tour. Definitely worth the trouble. Contact your hotel for more information.
Shopping is a must when in Dubai and Dubai has made shopping a popular sport. The malls are tourist attractions in themselves. We recommend that you bring your credit card and visit the Deira City, Wafi Shopping Mall and Mall of Emirates malls. The latter also has a downhill slope for those who are really tired of the sun.
Most hotels have buses that run to and from these malls. Also visit Souk Madinat (bus 8) where an old-fashioned market has been moved into modern buildings with air conditioning.
If you prefer to go shopping before returning home by plane, visit Dubai City Center. This mall is on the way to the airport and has many well-known brands at low prices. Many local residents of Dubai choose this center.
Also remember that the beaches around Dubai are great. Why not take Dubai’s cosiest hike? Head down to Jumeirah Beach (for example, at the Hilton Hotel) and stroll up the beach. Among other things, you will have the world’s only seven-star hotel (Bur Al Arab) as the landmark furthest away from the beach.
Desert Safari in Dubai
If you have the opportunity and time, we recommend that you end the evening with a desert safari. Desert safaris can be booked at most hotels. A half-day tour normally runs like this: You will be picked up at the hotel between 1530 and 1630 and driven to the desert just outside Dubai. Driving in the desert is in itself a fun experience and can in many ways remind a bit of mountain-and-valley track driving at the amusement park.
The sunset in the desert is an amazing sight. After sunset, the trip goes to a Bedouin camp, where lots of different barbecue dishes are served. Then the trip goes back to the hotel. It is also possible to spend the night in the desert and have breakfast served before returning to the hotel.
An alternative might be a dinner cruise with a dhow on the river. Many view this cruise as a highlight of the Dubai visit. You get a full Arabic buffet as well as a full bar. There is live Arabic music and you can relax and watch the river life. One such cruise is called Al Mansour Dhow Dinner Cruise, and reservations can be made by phone. 04 205 7333 or at the information booth in front of Hotel InterContinental in Deira.
