Located on the UAE’s northwestern tip, Dubai is one of the most luxurious cities in the world, with a unique knack for erecting endless record-breaking landmarks, such as the world’s tallest building, the world’s largest choreographed fountain system, one of the world’s swankiest hotels, and one of the largest shopping malls ever.
Apart from its record-breaking landmarks, Dubai is lined with gorgeous beaches along the Persian Gulf and offers endless entertainment, adventure, food, and relaxation.
If you’ve never considered Dubai for a luxurious getaway, here are 9 reasons why you should.
1. Visit the tallest building in the world
Kissing the clouds at 2,717 feet, Burj Khalifa, known as the Burj Dubai, is the world’s tallest building.
If you’re even the slightest bit afraid of heights, you’ll probably want to opt out of visiting this world record-breaking building soaring 160 stories into the sky.
Not only is Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world, but it’s also the tallest free-standing structure in the world, contains the largest number of stories, has the highest occupied floor, the highest outdoor observation deck, an elevator with the longest travel distance, and the world’s tallest service elevator.
Click here to reserve your tickets to Burj Khalifa.
The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Unsplash / denis harsch
2. Palm Jumeirah
The tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah is best known for its luxury hotels, posh apartment complexes, and eclectic global restaurants. This iconic manmade island is another one of Dubai’s “world’s firsts,” constructed from reclaimed land and a series of artificial archipelagos.
Located within Palm Jumeirah are some of Dubai’s most luxurious resorts, including Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, and One&Only The Palm. These high-end accommodations are also home to some of Palm Jumeirah’s finest restaurants, including Nobu and 101 Dining Lounge.
Even if you’re not staying at any of these hotels, be sure to try 101’s renowned seafood platter or Nobu’s famous sushi.
Sailing around Palm Jumeirah on a yacht or speedboat is another popular activity on the island, and adrenaline junkies can even skydive above the island.
3. Palm Islands
An extension of Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s Palm Islands consist of Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island, and Palm Jebel Ali. Construction of the islands began in 2001, and although Palm Jumeirah is the only fully-completed island out of the three, Deira Island and Palm Jebel Ali still offer plenty of fun in the sun and exciting water sports.
Palm Jebel Ali is a large commercial port and business hub, and many travelers visit the island to lounge out on Jebel Ali Beach, a beautiful sandy beach near the island’s harbor. Golf resorts, dive centers with submerged wrecks, and polo are just a few activities to indulge in at Palm Jebel Ali.
The construction of Deira Island is projected to be complete around 2020, envisioned to create 80,000 jobs and featuring 16 residential buildings, two hotels, and two service apartment complexes covering an area of nine million square feet. The 20 towers will surround Deira Mall, a 6.5-million-square-foot shopping, dining, and leisure destination.
Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Islands. Wikimedia Commons
4. Dubai Marina
An artificial canal city and affluent residential neighborhood, Dubai Marina is a hip hangout area inspired by the Concord Specific Place in Vancouver, inviting visitors to lounge out at The Beach at JBR, one of the city’s best beach districts offering watersports, parasailing, wakeboarding, banana boating, and camel rides. The Beach at JBR even offers children’s and adult’s play areas.
Built along a two-mile stretch of Persian Gulf shoreline, Dubai Marina offers al fresco dining, smart cafes, and pop-up craft markets throughout its waterside promenade, Dubai Marina Walk. Travelers can spend an entire day walking up and down the more than four-mile pedestrian walkway that features 305 outlets and 69 restaurants.
5. Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek is a saltwater creek extending through the Persian Gulf, separating the city from Deira to the north and Bur Dubai to the south, passing through the heart of the city. There are endless activities to partake in at Dubai Creek, including hiking at the Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a wetland reserve renowned for attracting large numbers of migratory birds.
If you want to slowly absorb the beautiful surroundings of Dubai, Creek Cruises offer tourists a real taste of Arabia on traditional Arabic Dhows, winding through the city’s most celebrated landmarks and stunning skyline.
6. Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
Situated at the south of Dubai Creek, Dubai Museum located in Al Fahidi Fort is the oldest existing building in the entire city, constructed in 1787. About 200 years ago, the fort was built for the monarch and a port of defense, later being turned into an arsenal for artillery and weapons.
In 1971, the fort opened as an official museum, displaying the heritage and history of Dubai, illustrating the different environments of urban and rural lives. Rare authentic monuments, original samples, drawings, and diagrams are also on display, and audio and video exhibits are scattered throughout the wings of the museum.
7. Dubai Fountain
Yet another record-breaking landmark in Dubai, Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system, set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake.
This captivating water, light, and music spectacle is over 900 feet long, equivalent to more than two football fields. The fountain’s unique design comprises five circles of varying sizes, two arcs, powerful water nozzles, and over 6,600 WET Superlights and 25 color projectors. The result is a visual spectrum of over 1,000 different water expressions.
Check out the video below to see Dubai Fountain perform Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
8. Dubai Mall
Located within Dubai Marina, The Dubai Mall is the second-largest mall in the world by total floor area and the 21st-largest shopping mall in the world by gross leasable area, featuring a whopping 1,200 shops. In 2011, it was the most visited building on the planet, attracting more than 54 million visitors each year.
The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue serves up more than 200 of the most enticing luxury brands, including Cartier, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Armani, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and more.
Services at this world-class mall include free Wi-Fi, porter services, personal shopping experiences, valet parking, and delivery services.
9. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Arguably the second-most iconic building in all of Dubai next to Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is not only the city’s ritziest hotel, but it may be one of the most luxurious in the world.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is the fifth tallest hotel in the world, and its structure was designed to resemble the sail of a ship. The hotel is characterized by the finest hospitality and is repeatedly selected as one of the world’s most luxurious hotels by household names like Forbes and Reader’s Digest.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. Photo provided by Pexels
.jpg){kind=link}