Dubai Bucket List: Things To Do in Dubai
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Dubai is a strange and unexpected city with loads of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Here’s a quick list of must-see attractions.
We used the wonderful Go City Pass to save loads of money on attractions in Dubai. Check it out by clicking this affiliate link: Go City - Dubai
The Dubai Frame
A great thing to do in Dubai at night is to visit The Frame. The glow of the city lights is mesmerizing from the top of The Frame.
Bridging old Dubai with new Dubai, this unique observation tower is worth a visit for its stunning skyline views of Dubai.
Completed in 2018, it claims to be the largest picture frame in the world. For about USD$13 an elevator whisks you to the top of the structure. Inside are floor-to-ceiling windows, a small cafe, and a glass floor for those without a fear of heights.
Souk Shopping in Dubai
If you’re looking for the best things to buy in Dubai, you will find one of a kind souvenirs at the numerous souks in the city.
With Dubai’s explosive growth over the last two decades, it can be difficult to find anything that feels authentically Middle Eastern in the city. The closest we came was shopping in the various Souks in old Dubai. A Souk is an Arab market or bazaar with various goods for sale where price haggling is encouraged.
We enjoyed looking at the gold in the famous Gold Souk. People say that this is one of the best places to buy gold in the world. You don’t have to worry too much about getting ripped off here because gold prices by weight are regulated by the government.
We also loved seeing (and smelling) the Spice Souk with barrels of various spices on display.
Go to the Dubai Desert
If you’re looking for a crazy thing to do in Dubai, book a dune-bashing excursion in the desert.
Dubai is on the coastal edge of The Arabian Desert, the second-largest desert in the world. Find something fun to do in the desert. We had a great day riding camels followed by a desert dinner and show. We also took a dune-bashing jeep ride, which was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Go to the World’s Biggest Mall
There is so much to do at the Dubai Mall you could fill days. It’s some of the best places to shop in Dubai mixed with unbelievably cool Dubai attractions.
The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world. It’s filled with almost any store, brand, or restaurant you can imagine. Days, if not weeks could be spent poking around all the stores.
The mall has so much more to offer than shopping. There is an aquarium, an indoor zoo, a go-kart track on the roof, an enormous beautiful waterfall fountain, a full-sized ice rink, cinemas, a sports center, an art gallery, and more.
Read our post about Things to do at the Dubai Mall.
The mall truly has something for everyone.
Ski Indoors at Ski Dubai
One of the most cool things about Dubai is the way they go big. There’s no better way to go big than to ski indoors in the middle of a desert.
Speaking of unique indoor experiences, Ski Dubai is absolutely the only place in the world where you can ski in the desert. Located at the Mall of the Emirates the indoor ski hill is a full-sized indoor mountain with manufactured snow and a chairlift.
If skiing isn’t your thing, you can also go snow tubing or roll down the snow in a giant inflatable ball. They also have a small penguin colony that you can see. Or if you just want to see the hill; for a small fee you can take a quick ride on the chairlift.
Don’t worry if you didn’t pack your snow gear. Boots, jackets, gloves, and thick socks are included in the admission price.
Ride the World’s Tallest Ferris Wheel
A fun thing to do as a couple in Dubai is to ride the wheel at sunset or after dark.
Located in the Marina District, the Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel is the world’s largest Ferris wheel. The skyline views from its location on an island in the Persian Gulf are to die for.
Try to ride the wheel at night for the most stunning city light views.
Despite being on an island, the wheel is easily reached by public transportation and ferry boats.
Visit One of Dubai’s Theme Parks
The numerous area theme parks offer some of the best family things to do in Dubai.
There are four premium theme parks located in Dubai. IMG Worlds of Adventure is a completely indoor theme park with lands devoted to Marvel characters, Cartoon Network shows, and dinosaurs.
Motiongate is a Hollywood-themed park with areas devoted to DreamWorks Cartoons, The Smurfs, and movies from Columbia Pictures and Lionsgate Films.
Bollywood Parks is a theme park totally devoted to the Indian movie industry, Bollywood.
There’s also Legoland Dubai for younger kids and a great selection of World-class waterparks.
Read our full post about the Theme Parks of Dubai.
Visit the Museum of the Future, Dubai
One of Dubai’s newest attractions is this museum.
One of Dubai’s newest attractions is the Museum of the Future. Filled with interactive displays inside an architectural marvel, the museum is sure to please many visitors.
The museum is extremely busy at the moment, so you will likely need to plan well in advance to book your tickets online.
Go to the Top of the World’s Tallest Building, the Burj Khalifa
The most famous thing to do in Dubai is to go to the viewing decks of the Burj Khalifa.
Towering over the city is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world. While it’s most impressive to stand below the building and look up, a visit to the top is something that you simply must do while visiting the city.
A small fee will get you to the observation deck, where you can proudly say that you are at the highest possible place in the world. From so far up, the views of the city are not so great, but being up there is such a thrill, it’s worth it just to gaze down below.
Back on the ground, a nightly colorful fountain and light show is also a great way to celebrate the beauty of the building. Make sure to get there early.
Go to The Global Village
An amazing cultural thing to do in Dubai is to see the Global Village. It showcases the culture of nearly every country in the region.
Our favorite stop in all of Dubai was the Global Village. It is a huge park that has a pavilion dedicated to practically every country in the world. Each pavilion is a little bit different, but all sell different products and foods from the respective country.
It was so much fun to go through all the different countries, especially countries that don’t typically get a lot of representation in the West like Iraq or Pakistan. It was a cultural experience that we really enjoyed. Plus admission was under US$5.
Things To Do in Dubai:
The Dubai Frame
Souk Shopping in Dubai
Go to the Dubai Desert
Go to the World’s Biggest Mall (Dubai Mall)
Ski Indoors at Ski Dubai
Ride the World’s Tallest Ferris Wheel (Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel)
Visit one of Dubai’s Theme Parks (e.g., IMG Worlds of Adventure, Motiongate, Bollywood Parks, Legoland Dubai)
Visit the Museum of the Future, Dubai
Go to the Top of the World’s Tallest Building, the Burj Khalifa
Go to The Global Village
