Best of Dubai -10 Days Experience

Arrive at Dubai International Airport DXB where you will be welcomed by our Representative who will escort you to the exit gate before driving off in an air-conditioned private coach to Radisson Blu Deira Hotel for check in, dinner and overnight.

There are a variety of tours or activities that you may put on your bucket list at an extra cost of about USD 235 pp per tour for consideration from this second day up to the day of your departure. The most popular of these tours or activities include-

 1- Dubai’s Famed Cityscape at Burj Khalifa Tower

Dubai’s landmark building and major tourist attraction is the Burj Khalifa which stands at 829.8 meters and is the tallest building in the world thereby making it the most famous of the city’s points of interest.

For most visitors, a trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city. The views across the city skyline from this birds-eye perspective are simply staggering.

The slick observation deck experience includes a multimedia presentation on both Dubai and the building of the Burj Khalifa which was completed in 2010. Thereafter, a high-speed elevator whizzes you up to the observation deck for 360-degree views out across the skyscrapers to the desert on one side and the ocean on the other.

Nighttime visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai’s famous city-lights panoramas. Buy your Burj Khalifa at the Top Entrance Ticket in advance to avoid long line-ups especially if you are planning to visit on a weekend.

Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the buildings beautifully designed gardens, with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the Dubai Fountain which is the world’s tallest performing fountain that is modeled on the famous Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Official site www.burjkhalifa.ae

2- Shopping at Dubai Mall

Dubai Mall is the city’s premier mall and one of the best places to visit for a day of shopping and indoor activities to keep the kids busy. It provides entry to the Burj Khalifa as well as the Dubai Aquarium.

There is also an ice-skating rink, gaming zone and a cinema complex if you are looking for more entertainment options.

The shopping and eating are endless activities and there are nearly always special events such as live music as well as fashion shows within the mall. The most famous of these are the annual Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February and the Dubai Summer Surprises Festival in July andAugust.

Location Doha Road, just off Sheikh Zayed Road

Official site http://www.thedubaimall.com

 3- Discover UAE history at Dubai Museum

Dubai’s excellent museum is housed in the Al-Fahidi Fort which was built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. The fort walls are built out of traditional coral-blocks and held together with lime. The upper floor is supported by wooden poles, and the ceiling is constructed from palm fronds, mud and plaster.

In its history, the fort has served as a residence for the ruling family, a seat of government, garrison and prison. Restored in 1971 and again extensively in 1995, it is now the city’s premier museum.

The entrance has a fascinating exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai showing the mammoth expansion that hit the region after the oil boom.

The courtyard is home to several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirati wind-tower. The right-hand hall features weaponry whereas the left-hand hall showcases Emirati musical instruments.

Below the ground floor are display halls with exhibits and dioramas covering various aspects of traditional Emirati life that include pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life and artifacts from the 3,000- to 4,000-year-old graves at Al Qusais archaeological site.

Address Al-Fahidi Street, Al-Fahidi

4- Walk through History in Al Fahidi Quarter Old Dubai

The Al Fahidi Quarter was previously known and is sometimes still referred to as the Bastakia neighborhood. It was built in the late 19th century to be the home of wealthy Persian merchants who dealt mainly in pearls and textiles. These merchants were lured to Dubai because of the tax-free trading and access to Dubai Creek.

Al Fahidi occupies the eastern portion of Bur Dubai along the creek while coral and limestone buildings with topped walls and wind-towers have excellently been preserved.

Wind-towers provided the homes here with an early form of air conditioning - the wind trapped in the towers was funneled down into the houses. Persian merchants likely transplanted this architectural element common in Iranian coastal houses from their home country to the Gulf.

Lined with distinct Arabian architecture, the narrow lanes are highly evocative of a bygone and much slower age in Dubai’s history.

Inside the district you will find the Majlis Gallery with its collection of traditional Arab ceramics and furniture which is housed in a wind-tower and the Al Serkal Cultural Foundation including a shop, café and rotating art exhibitions that are located in one of the historic buildings.

5- View Traditional Architecture at Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum House

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum was the Ruler of Dubai from 1921 to 1958 and grandfather to the current ruler. His former residence has been rebuilt and restored as a museum that is a fine example of Arabian architecture.

The original house was built in 1896 by Sheikh Saeed’s father to enable him observe shipping activities from the balconies.

It was later demolished but the current house was rebuilt next to the original site staying true to the original model by incorporating carved teak doors, wooden lattice screens across the windows as well as gypsum ventilation screens with floral and geometric designs.

Thirty rooms are built around a central courtyard with wind-tower details on top. Inside are exhibits of the Dubai Museum of Historical Photographs and Documents with many wonderful old photographs of Dubai from the period between 1948 and 1953.

The marine wing of the museum has photos of fishing, pearling, and boat building. Throughout the building there are many letters, maps, coins and stamps on display showing various developments of the Emirate.

Nearby is the Sheikh Obaid bin Thani House which is stored with displays of traditional interiors.

Address Al Khaleej Road, Bur Dubai

6- Delve into Maritime Heritage at Dubai Creek Al Seef District

Dubai Creek separates the city into two towns with Deira to the north and Bur Dubai to the south. The creek has been an influential element in the city’s growth for attracting settlers here to fish and pearl dive.

Small villages grew up alongside the creek as far back as 4,000 years ago while the modern era began in the 1830s when the Bani Yas tribe settled in the area.

The Dhow Wharfage is located along Dubai Creeks bank which is north of Al-Maktoum Bridge. Still used by small traders from across the Gulf, some of the dhows anchored here are well over 100 years old.

You can visit here to watch cargo being loaded and unloaded on and off the dhows. Dhow workers often invite visitors onto the vessels for a tour whereupon you can gain insight into the life of these traditional sailors.

Many of the dhows travel onward to Kuwait, Iran, Oman, India, and down to the horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia). This tiny remnant of Dubai’s traditional economy is still a bustling and fascinating place to wander around.

On the Bur Dubai side of the creek rubbing up against the Bastakia neighborhood, the waterfront has been regenerated as the Al Seef district with a waterfront promenade backed by traditional coral-block, limestone buildings, a floating market and shops selling crafts. It is a great place for a stroll with excellent water views.

To travel across the creek, you can either take a trip on one of the many dhows that have been restored as tourist cruise boats or take an abra small wooden ferry between the ferry points on the creeks Bur Dubai and Deira banks.

7. Tour Jumeirah Mosque

Jumeirah Mosque is considered by many to be the most beautiful of Dubai’s mosques.

An exact copy of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque which is eight times its size,  Jumeirah Mosque is a fine example of Islamic architecture.

This stone structure is built in the medieval Fatimid tradition with two minarets that display the subtle details in the stonework. It is particularly attractive in the evening when lit with floodlights.

The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding which also runs a program of tours, lectures, Arabic classes and cultural meals organizes guided tours of the mosque designed to try to foster a better understanding of the Muslim faith.

Tours begin at 10am daily except on Fridays.

Address Jumeirah Road

8- Haggle in the Souks of Deira
Deira lies on the northern bank of Dubai Creek, and the winding streets here unveil the melting pot of different nationalities that have come to call Dubai home.

On the shore, ancient dhows load and unload with modern banks, hotels and office buildings as a backdrop.

For travelers, Deira is most famous for its traditional souk markets which bustle with shoppers at all times of the day.

Deira Gold Souk is world-renowned as the largest gold bazaar in the world.

The Deira Spice Souk sells every imaginable spice where stalls overflow with bags of frankincense, cumin, paprika, saffron, sumac and thyme as well as the fragrant oud wood, rose water and incense.

The fish market provides a much less tourist experience.

While in the district, culture lovers shouldn’t miss two of Deira’s finely restored architectural gems.

Heritage House was built in 1890 as the home of a wealthy Iranian merchant and later became the home of Sheik Ahmed bin Dalmouk a famous pearl merchant in Dubai. Today, it is a great chance to see the interior of a traditional family home.

The Al-Ahmadiya School which was constructed in 1912 is the oldest school in Dubai and is now a museum for public education.

9- Snap Sunset Pics at Dubai Frame
Sitting slap-bang between Dubai’s older neighborhoods clustered around the creek and the city’s modern sprawl, this ginormous 150-meter-high picture frame is one of Dubai’s latest sights.

Inside, a series of galleries whisk you through the city’s history and explore Emirati heritage before you travel up to the Sky Deck where there are fantastic panoramas of both old and new Dubai to be snapped on the viewing platforms.

Afterwards check out the Future Dubai gallery which imagines what a futuristic vision of the city will look like.

Address Zabeel Park, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road

Official site https://www.dubaiframe.aeen

10- Stroll Sheikh Zayed Road

Sheikh Zayed Road is the main thoroughfare running through Dubai’s modern downtown business district.

This wide eight-lane highway is rimmed with towering glass, chrome and steel high-rises along its entire length. It is one of the best on-the-ground vantage points for Dubai’s famed skyscraper views.

Main attractions are along or just off the strip between the roundabout and the first intersection and most of Dubai’s famous malls are located along the roads route.

The Dubai World Trade Tower has an observation deck on its top floor which offers visitors panoramic views at a cheaper option than the Burj Khalifa whereas the Gold and Diamond Park Sheikh Zayed Road is a one-stop shop for jewelry lovers with 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers all under one roof.

11- Explore Local Culture in the Heritage and Diving Village

Dubai’s architectural, cultural and maritime heritage is showcased at the Heritage and Diving Village with displays related to pearl diving and dhow building - two of old Dubai’s historic economic mainstays.

There are also recreations of traditional Bedouin and coastal village life with Persian homes, a traditional coffeehouse and a small souk where potters as well as weavers practice their handicrafts at the stalls.

Local music and dance are performed from October to April and visitors can get advice from practitioners of traditional medicine.

12- Visit an Underwater World at Dubai Aquarium

One of the city’s top tourist attractions is the Dubai Aquarium which houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall.

Besides free viewing from the mall, if you enter the Underwater Zoo, you can walk through the aquarium tunnels.

Different activities help you get a closer look at sea life. Glass bottom boat tours on top of the tank are particularly popular.

Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.

Address Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road

Official site http://www.thedubaiaquarium.com

13- Take Afternoon Tea in the Burj al-Arab Hotel

The Burj Al-Arab is the world’s tallest hotel standing at 321 meters high on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline.

Designed to resemble a billowing dhow sail, the exterior of the building is lit up by a choreographed colored lighting show at night.

Decadent in every way possible, the Burj Al-Arab is one of the most expensive hotels in the world with the most luxurious suites costing more than USD 15,000 per night.

For those without limit to credit, the way to experience the over-the-top opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater Al-Mahara restaurant. At this restaurant, floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the dining room walls allow you to view sea life while you eat. Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy lunch at California-style fusion restaurant Scape.

For the ultimate panoramic views over the city, book your afternoon tea at the Skyview Bar where a minimum spend is required on the 27th floor.

Address Jumeirah Road, Dubai

14- Soak up the Sun at Jumeirah Beach

This strip of sandy white bliss is the number one beach destination for Dubai visitors.

Hotels are strung out all along its length with this being one of the most popular places to stay for tourists.

The beach has got excellent facilities with plenty of sun loungers, restaurants and water sports operators offering jet skiing.

While in the area, brush off the sand for an hour and visit the Majlis Ghorfat Um Al-Sheef which is just a short hop from the beach. Built in 1955, this was the summer residence of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum.

The residence which is made out of gypsum as well as coral-block has been restored and maintains much of the original beautiful décor giving you a better understanding of the opulent lifestyle of Dubai’s rulers.

The Majlis Gardens feature a reproduction of an impressive Arab irrigation system and many shady date palms.

Address Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai

15- Spot Flamingos at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

You don’t have to go too far away from the skyscrapers to soak up a more natural vista.

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary incorporates the mangrove forests and wetlands of Dubai creek.

An important stop-off on the migration routes, it is a prime place to spot flamingos in winter when massive flocks of these majestic pink birds wade through the lagoons backdropped by soaring high-rises.

Various hides in prime spots have been set up within the park to allow bird-watchers good views of the birdlife.

Address Ras Al Khor Street, Dubai

Official site http://wildlife-ae.herokuapp.com

 16- Ponder Ancient Trade Routes in the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum

This museum explores the United Arab Emirates historic role as a trading center between Asia, Africa and Europe long before oil became this region’s most prominent industry.

Located inside the old residence of Sheikh Hashr bin Maktoum Al Maktoum who was a member of Dubai’s ruling family, the exhibits trace this coastal area’s history as part of the global trade routes with displays of artifacts and manuscripts.

Also on-site is Rare Books and Manuscripts Museum as well as the small Armory Museum.

Address Al Khaleej Road, Dubai

Official site www.themuseum.ae

17- Ski then Shop at Mall of the Emirates

Mall of the Emirates is one of the city’s most famous malls with the spectacular and surreal Ski Dubai facility inside.

The indoor ski slope is complete with chairlifts and a penguin enclosure all at a continuous temperature of -4 degrees Celsius.

There is also a cinema complex and a family entertainment center with a whole host of rides aimed at both the adult and young visitors.

The shopping opportunities are boundless as are the eating options which offer every conceivable world cuisine.

Address Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Official site http://www.malloftheemirates.com

18- Fuel up on Thrills Spills in IMG Worlds of Adventure

This theme park which near Global Village is an immersive entertainment at its finest and has thrills as well as spills for children mostly.

With one zone devoted entirely to Marvels iconic characters and another to dinosaur-themed rides plus a zone where the Cartoon Network takes the helm with gentler rides and activities for younger children, there’s something here for every age.

Whether you want to help the Avengers battle Ultron, scare yourself silly in a haunted house or you just want to join Spider-Man as he swings through the city, this is a haven for families which are looking for a fun-filled day out.

Address Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Dubai

Official site www.imgworlds.com

 19- Enjoy World Class Theater at Dubai Opera

For night time attractions, look no further. Opened in mid - 2016, Dubai’s classy new opera building is the centerpiece of the waterfront Opera District in downtown Dubai and is set to become the city’s major cultural hub besides taking over as the main entertainment venue.

The Dubai Opera hosts a year-round program of famous musical theater productions, concerts by world-class musicians, opera, ballet plus classical music as well as smaller productions, comedy nights and concerts.

The 2,000-seat theater building itself is an astonishing piece of architectural mastery and one of Dubai’s new landmarks with its highly-contemporary glass as well as steel walls which jut out over the waterfront that are built to resemble the curves of a traditional dhow.

Address Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road

Official site www.dubaiopera.com

20- Take to the Water at Kite Beach

This long stretch of white-sand beach which lies south of Jumeirah beach is not just a top destination for sunbathers looking to lap up a lazy day of swimming and soaking up the rays on the sand.

Kite Beach is renowned as Dubai’s premier destination for kite surfers and is home to an array of water sports operators.

This is where you come to get out on the water kitesurfing or try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding with equipment hire and lessons all easily arranged on the beach.

21- Browse Cutting-Edge Art in the Alserkal Art District

Part of the old Al Quoz industrial district that is centered on Alserkal Avenue has been regenerated to become Dubai’s main arts hub and is home to some of the city’s most important contemporary art galleries.

Established gallery names such as the Green Art Gallery, The Third Line and the Ayyam Gallery have made their home here while a host of smaller gallery start-ups have also moved in.

The district’s program of rotating collections focuses both on the work of major artists as well as highlighting new Middle Eastern talent.

This emerging district is also the place to come for fashion and accessory boutiques by local designers, pop-up restaurants and café life. This district also showcases the energetic and youthful buzz of a city which is usually more noted for its corporate face.

Address Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz Industrial district

22- Plan Family Time at Dubai Parks and Resorts

At Dubai Parks and Resorts, your entertainment needs are rolled all together into one location. The only problem here is choosing what you want to do.

This mammoth project incorporates a swag of world-class theme parks providing something for everyone regardless of age.

Motiongate takes its theme from Hollywood productions with rides based around movie blockbusters. Bollywood Parks bring the world of India’s famous movie industry alive on its rides and Legoland Dubai together with Legoland Waterpark provide younger visitors with a fun-packed day out with interactive rides, water slides and wave pool.

The district’s attached Riverland Dubai dining hub means that there’s no need to leave after you have exhausted yourself with theme park pursuits because there is plenty of evening entertainment here too.

Address Sheikh Zayed Road, Jebel Ali

23- Splash About at Aqua venture Waterpark

This water park which is based at Atlantis and at The Palm on Palm-Jumeirah (Dubai’s famous man-made island development) is a great place to cool off after a few days of hectic shopping and sightseeing.

The waterslide action here is excellent and world-class with the Aquaconda (the world’s longest water slide) at a nine-story-tall slide that is aptly named the Leap of Faith and water coaster ride.

There are underwater safaris too wherein people use Sea TREK helmets, a dedicated water play area for smaller children with slides and a 700-meter sweep of white sand beach.

Address Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Official site www.atlantisthepalm.com

24- Wander Through Colorful Dubai Miracle Garden

This is the zaniest garden ever.

Not content with constructing the world’s largest buildings and malls, Dubai has created the world’s largest flower garden which spans about 2,000 square meters and is home to a reputed 100 million flowers.

Everything that can be covered with flowers has been covered with flowers from twee English-style cottages to windmills and trucks. There’s even a flower version of the Burj Khalifa Tower.

Stroll the walkways and enjoy the riot of color as well as the wacky flower displays.

Address Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd, Al Barsha

Official site www.dubaimiraclegarden.com

25- Savor a Nature Break in Dubai Butterfly Garden

Escape the city’s skyscrapers for an afternoon here. For a slice of nature, this vast butterfly garden with around 15,000 butterflies flitting under the domed enclosures cannot be beaten.

It is a great chance for kids to get close-up views of butterflies as they often land on visitors shoulders and hands.

There’s a museum here too with plenty of information on butterfly varieties, their habitats and life cycles.

Address Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd, Al Barsha

Departure from DXB International Airport

Assisted check-out, air-conditioned private coach to Dubai International Airport coupled with mementoes or souvenirs and goodbyes of a lifetime