UltimateCity Guide Dubai
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Stories from Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Dubai City Guide, in one place.

Culture

Arts & Culture in Dubai

All of Arts & Culture

Galleries, design, opera and heritage: the old quarter of Al Fahidi, the warehouses of Alserkal Avenue, Dubai Opera and the Jumeirah Mosque.

Shaded lanes between the warehouse galleries of Alserkal AvenueThe back storyArt, architecture & cultureAl Fahidi, Alserkal Avenue, Downtown and Art DubaiJumeirah Mosque in the late-afternoon lightArts & CultureArchitecture & landmarksThe Jumeirah Mosque

Our advice

Morning, afternoon, evening

Give Alserkal Avenue a morning, Al Fahidi a late afternoon, and Downtown an evening at Dubai Opera. The back story

History

History & heritage

Bedouin and fishing communities, a pearling town settled in 1833, the free port that drew Persian and Indian merchants, oil in 1966, the UAE in 1971 and today’s global city.

Wind towers in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, DubaiHistory & heritagePearling, the Creek and the merchants: Dubai’s heritagePearls, the Creek and a global cityAbras moored on Dubai Creek at sunsetThe back storyDesert to skylineStart where the city started: an abra across the…

Areas

Dubai by neighbourhood

From the Creek to the Palm, each area has its own guide: Burj Khalifa and the Fountain, the Marina’s towers, Atlantis on the Palm and the abras and souks of Old Dubai.

Burj Khalifa and the towers of Business Bay reflected in the water at blue hourNeighbourhood guideDowntown DubaiBurj Khalifa and the FountainThe towers of Dubai Marina lit up at night around the yacht basinNeighbourhood guideDubai Marina & JBRTowers, yachts and the beachAtlantis The Palm and the monorail, seen from The PointeNeighbourhood guidePalm JumeirahAtlantis and the crescentMadinat Jumeirah’s waterways, with Burj Al Arab beyondNeighbourhood guideJumeirahBeaches, Madinat and Wasl 51A lane of traditional-style buildings at Al Seef on Dubai CreekNeighbourhood guideOld Dubai: Deira & Al FahidiThe Creek, abras and souks

From 1833 to today

Start in Al Fahidi, take an abra across the Creek to the spice and gold souks of Deira, and end the day at the Burj Khalifa.

  1. Neighbourhood guideDIFCGate Village and Luna
  2. Neighbourhood guideBusiness BayThe canal and The Lana
  3. Neighbourhood guideDubai Creek HarbourSkyline and flamingos
  4. Neighbourhood guideExpo City DubaiThe Expo site and the railway

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: entry, money and etiquette, the Metro, tram and abras, and four days for a classic first visit.

The arrivals hall at Dubai International AirportBefore you goDubai essentialsEntry, money, etiquette and getting aroundA Dubai Metro Red Line train beside Sheikh Zayed RoadGetting aroundGetting aroundMetro, tram, rail and abrasThree levels of shops inside The Dubai MallItineraryFour days in DubaiThe classic first visit
  1. Luxury guideLuxury DubaiThe finest addresses

Our advice

Beach or city first

Choose the beach or the city first, then the hotel. The grand hotels

Day trips

Beyond Dubai

The capital by train, the mountains, art in Sharjah and the desert: Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque and Louvre, the lake at Hatta and the dunes.

The “rain of light” falling through the dome at Louvre Abu DhabiBeyond DubaiAbu DhabiThe Grand Mosque and the LouvreThe green water of Hatta Dam between the Hajar MountainsBeyond DubaiHattaA lake among the peaksRestored coral-stone buildings in the Heart of SharjahBeyond DubaiSharjahArt and a UNESCO landscape
  1. Beyond DubaiThe desertDunes, oryx and desert lakes

In depth

In depth: Dubai, from pearling to the skyline

The grand hotels, Dubai cuisine, the MICHELIN year, the city’s story from desert to skyline, and where to buy.

The Dubai Fountain at dusk in front of The Dubai MallExpo City DubaiChristmas in DubaiWinter City under the dome, then fireworks down Burj KhalifaAn Arabian oryx walking over the sand in the Dubai Desert Conservation ReserveIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild DubaiFlamingos, oryx and the desertA mezze board: hummus, beetroot hummus, flatbread, pickles, jalapeños, a yoghurt dip and falafel, with whole spicesEatDubai CuisineMachboos, luqaimat and where to taste them

Desert to skyline

The old town in the cool of the morning, the towers after dark.

  1. The back storyThe grand hotelsThe Palm to the Creek

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