Top Things to Do in UAE

Towering at a height of 2,700 feet, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest tower in the world. With two observation decks, a Las Vegas-inspired fountain, nine of the city's best luxury hotels and multiple restaurants, this 21st-century architectural marvel must be your number one place to visit when in Dubai or even the UAE. Also, make sure to book your tickets in advance well to avoid last moment hassles.

A majestic structure nestled amid skilfully manicured gardens; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque serves as an impressive landmark to the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world. A key feature worth noticing is the world's largest loomed carpet in one of the prayer halls, which was completed in two years by a total of 1200 artisans.

The Louvre is the first art and civilisation museum of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. Located on the Saadiyat Island in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, this cultural landmark is a part of the Saadiyat Cultural District. With its strong emphasis of preservation and appreciation of culture, the emirate of Abu Dhabi is the ideal location for the Louvre.

Ferrari World is the world's first Ferrari 'themed' park offering adrenaline-pumping experiences to its visitors with its unique concepts in its rides. Apart from the thrilling rides, explore the state of the art simulators, live performances, electric go-karts and purchase some authentic Ferrari racing memorabilia.

The Dubai Mall, also known as the home of the Dubai shopping festival, is one of the world's largest shopping malls with an area of over 500,000 square meters! With more than 1200 stores, a large walk-through aquarium, a world-class ic rink, 14,000 parking spaces and more exciting experiences for shoppers, the mall was voted the best shopping experience in the world by Grazia Magazine in 2010.

Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters of the indoor ski area. It is the largest indoor ski park in the world. The park has a Snow Park, ski slopes, an ice museum and a skiing academy for those who wish to learn skiing. Apart from the regular facilities, Ski Dubai also hosts various events and concerts and a very cosy eatery called the Avalance Cafe which has a balcony that faces the ski slopes.

Situated in Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah is a luxurious 5-star resort built with the motto of ?staying different?. One of the largest resorts in Emirates, it has a private beach, several restaurants, ballrooms, an amphitheatre, fitness clubs, kids club, theatre rooms and a turtle sanctuary as well. Madinat Jumeirah has three grand hotels- Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Mina A’salam and Jumeirah Al Naseem, and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf which has summerhouses and villas. The resort also has its own Jumeirah Souk which has more than eighty shops, bars and restaurants. All the guests staying in the hotels of Madinat Jumeirah get a complimentary access to the private beach, wild wadi waterpark, kids club, Jumeirah souk, turtle sanctuary and talise spa and fitness centres.

Dubai being a favourite among the adrenaline junkies is a well-known destination for people who love skydiving as it provides a unique one-of-a-kind experience as adventurers get to skydive with the beautiful Pal Jumeirah below them. Many consider this a highlight of the city with many even claiming that no trip can be completed without this electrifying expedition. The Skydive at Dubai is regarded as one of the best skydiving service providers in the world.

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's magnificent artificial archipelago, is the epitome of beauty created by land reclamation, extending into the Persian Gulf. The archipelago resembles a palm tree with a circle when you take an overhead view of it. It was one of the first major tourism projects in the UAE and currently houses some of Dubai’s top tourist destinations like Atlantis, the Palm, Aquaventure Waterpark and the Lost Chambers Aquarium.

Dubai is famous not just for its deserts, adventure parks and resorts, but for its many shopping hubs as well. Dubai's famous gold souk happens to be the world's largest gold market! Situated in Deira, this golden souk is the most famous and highly visited tourist spot in Dubai because of its excellent quality and designs of gold. With more than 350 jewellery traders and retailers, Gold Souk is restocked with at least 10 tons of gold daily.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the United Arab Emirates which is located in a five-star luxury hotel Atlantis, The Palm. This aquarium is designed to the theme of the Lost City of Atlantis. With over 65,000 marine creatures from the depth of the Arabian Sea, UAE's largest aquarium is a must-visit for people of all ages, especially families with younger children.

Global Village Dubai is claimed to be the world's most significant tourism, leisure and entertainment project of UAE. It is the region's first cultural, entertainment, family and shopping destination. Every year, the place receives over 5 million visitors over an area of 17,200,000 sq ft. The compound has various pavilions that each

Staying true to the vision of the founders of the United Arab Emirates of expanding into modern horizons while sticking to its roots, Hatta is an amalgamation of adventure and culture. It is an exclave of the United Arab Emirates and is located high above in the Hajar Mountains. Cosseted in the mighty heights, it is landlocked by Oman, Ajman and Ras-Al-Khaimah. Popular for Kayaking and other adventure sports such as kayaking, hiking, climbing and camping - Hatta's economy mainly rests on tourism.

Best Time: September to March

Established in the year 1999, Burj Al Arab is one of the premium hotels of Dubai located on an artificial island off Jumeirah Road. Designed in the shape of a sail of a dhow, this iconic landmark houses an array of shiny chauffeur-driven limousines and a private helipad. Talking of luxury, the hotel features an attractive fountain, an admirable lobby and richness induced 203 suites. Standing tall at a height of 180 meters, the royalty factor of the hotel is brought out by its may interior elements adorned in real gold! A prior reservation (on its website) is required to get past the lobby security to visit its restaurant if you are not staying there.

Known For : Fujairah Fort and Fujairah Village Snoopy Island Al Bidyah Mosque

Calm and serene, the Emirate of Fujairah is a picturesque beach town tucked away from the fast-paced city life. A busy city lined with business skyscrapers and beautiful mountains and beaches, it is known to be a peaceful retreat for locals and travellers.

Best Time: September to December and January to March

19 Fujairah Attractions

Alserkal Avenue is an arts and culture district in Al Quoz, Dubai. Started as an industrial unit with several warehouses, the community has now been transformed into a significant art and culture forum. The Alserkal District accommodates several houses for local and global artists, art galleries, museums, performing platforms, design studios and exhibition halls. The place is a perfect amalgamation of engineering and creative spaces and at present has more than 94 warehouses.

Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah rests at 1,934 metres above sea level and is the highest peak in the UAE. The mountain offers stunning sunrise and sunset views. The 35 km long road to the top of the hill features eight hairpins and countless sharp corners, making it one of the best routes in the world. It is also home to the World's longest zipline which attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the globe.

If you wish to get a slice of Dubai’s history then a visit to Al Bastakiya is a must. A trip to Al Bastakiya or Al Fahidi district can quench your thirst for discovering the historical roots of today’s glamourous star town. Characterised by large buildings made in traditional materials like mud and wood, Al Bastakiya place oozes charm of its own.

One of the biggest water parks of Dubai, Aquaventure is located in the Atlantis hotel complex. This amazing water park offers a series of pools, shoots and flumes and a few thrilling rides. Adrenaline pumping Tower of Neptune and the equally exhilarating Tower of Poseidon are some of the key highlights of the park. Visitors can also relax at the Cabanas, have a nice meal at the various restaurants and shop some souvenirs at the many stores in the park.

Dhow Cruise is a must-try for those who are curious enough to know the rich heritage of the nation. Cruising past the Creek or the Marina, a Dhow cruise highlights how fishers would use the vessels for fishing and pearl diving. The Dhow cruises in Dubai exposes you to the other side of this magnificent city with a ride through the historical places. It is best experienced through a dinner cruise. With plenty of options at its disposal, you could explore the old Dubai creek or escape on a romantic dinner with your special someone. You can either witness the ultramodern episodes of a Cruise dinner or wonder at the sight of nature!

This Saltwater Creek is UAE’s one of the major port and divides the city into two parts and connects the trading port to the desert. Extended to the Persian Gulf and the wildlife sanctuary, this waterway acts as a commercial lifeline as it facilitates not just tourism but also harbours ships, trade and commercial activities. This is a popular place for an evening visit. Witness the lights and music shows, floating and moving dhows, yachts, boats and vessels to get a glimpse of old Dubai during the trade times. A delectable meal and a starry waterfront is all you need to end your journey and trip on a good note!

Dubai, mainly renowned for its great infrastructure, is also known for its adventurous streak. At the heart of Dubai is still its desolated desert. And so, to enjoy the desert a bit more effectively, the city presents various Desert Safari options. The experience is one of its kind and worth every penny spent! Visitors can experience desert camping with a delicious Arabian dinner, belly dancers and other traditional performers. Day safaris hold you in for an adventure as you get to try out Dune Bashing, sandboarding, quad biking, camel rides and more.

Not just a beachgoers hub, but a regular spot for watersports enthusiasts, Kite Beach, is the newest beach in Dubai to have a lasting impression on visitors. Wakeboarding, kitesurfing and paddleboarding are a few things that visitors try out when visiting Kite Beach. One can try their hand at volleyball too with the net set upright on the beach. Kite Beach is a local and tourists favourite beach destination with its clean sands, adventure and relaxing opportunities available at everyone's disposal.

Sharjah Arts Museum is the largest art museum in U.A.E. It is a perfect place for art lovers where one can relish the Arab culture and heritage through impressive artwork. The major focus of the museum is to portray the art of the Arab world. There are other artworks as well by 18th-century painters who were inspired by the culture, architecture and environment of the Middle East on their visit.

The Al Ain Zoo is a humongous 400-hectare park near the base of Jebel Hafeet is where visitors can see many beautiful species of animals in enclosures that closely resemble their natural habitats. Over 4,000 animals reside in the zoo out of which around 130 species are considered endangered. There are plenty of green public spaces for picnics alongside several playgrounds, a cafeteria and a train tour of the wildlife area. There’s also a bird show featuring predatory and night birds which occurs in the evening.

Covering a vast area, the Sharjah Desert Park is an edutainment zone comprising of three sections namely: the Natural History Museum, Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children's Farm. It helps its visitors to get a better understanding of the flora and fauna of U.A.E as well as scientific explanation of natural processes in the most fun way possible. Situated 28 km from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid, this amazing museum is a must-visit, especially for the nature lovers.