Dubai Tourist Attractions – A Comprehensive Guide to Visiting the City of Gold

Located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is known as the City of Gold or the Las Vegas of the Middle East. With its modern architecture, luxurious hotels, and world-class shopping, Dubai has become one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. It is a city that has something for everyone, from beautiful beaches, to desert adventures, to a vibrant nightlife.

History of Dubai

Dubai has a long and fascinating history. The city was founded in the late 18th century by a small group of Bani Yas tribesmen from the northern Arabian Peninsula. In the 19th century, Dubai became an important trading port, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia. By the early 20th century, it had become a major center for commerce, trade and shipping.

The modern city of Dubai was established in 1971 when the United Arab Emirates was formed. Since then, Dubai has transformed itself into an international destination, becoming a global hub for tourism, business and finance. Today, it is one of the world’s most prosperous cities and a popular tourist destination.

Facts About Dubai

Dubai is the second largest emirate in the UAE, with a population of over 3 million people. It is known for its modern architecture and luxurious lifestyle, as well as its vibrant nightlife and world-class shopping. It is also home to some of the world’s tallest buildings and the world’s only 7-star hotel.

The city has a hot desert climate with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C in the summer months. The winter months are quite mild with temperatures ranging from 20-25°C.

Things to Do in Dubai

Dubai is a city that has something for everyone. Here are some of the top things to do in Dubai:

Visit Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building and a major tourist attraction in Dubai. Located in Downtown Dubai, this 828-meter tall tower offers spectacular views of the city from its observation deck on the 124th floor. Visitors can also take a ride on At The Top, Burj Khalifa’s observation deck elevator, for an even better view of the city from the top.

Go Skiing at Ski Dubai

Located in The Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort that offers an unforgettable experience in the heart of the desert. The resort features five ski runs with varying levels of difficulty, as well as snowboard and tobogganing areas. For those who don’t want to ski, there is an ice rink, a snow park, and even a penguin encounter area.

Explore the Desert in a 4×4

For an unforgettable experience, explore the stunning desert landscape in a 4×4 vehicle. A 4×4 tour will take visitors on a thrilling off-road adventure through sand dunes and past traditional Bedouin campsites. The tour will typically include activities such as camel riding, sand boarding, and falconry.

Shop at The Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world and home to over 1,200 stores. It also features an aquarium, ice rink, virtual reality park and cinema. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes to explore.

Ride an Abra Across Dubai Creek

Take a traditional wooden boat across Dubai Creek on an Abra ride. This traditional form of transportation offers visitors stunning views of the city skyline and is an inexpensive way to explore the area.

Popular Tours in Dubai

In addition to exploring the city on your own, there are some popular tours that offer an even more immersive experience. Here are two popular tours that visitors can book on Viator:

Dubai City Tour

Explore some of Dubai’s most iconic attractions on a full-day city tour. This tour includes stops at some of the city’s most famous landmarks such as Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Al Arab. You will also have the opportunity to explore some of Dubai’s unique neighborhoods such as Deira and Jumeirah Beach. The tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and a knowledgeable guide who will provide extensive commentary about each destination. Book a Dubai City Tour here.

Desert Safari Tour

Experience an adventure into the desert on a Desert Safari Tour. This tour will take you on an off-road journey into the desert where you can experience activities such as sand boarding, dune bashing and camel riding. You will also get to experience traditional Bedouin lifestyle with a barbecue dinner under the stars. The tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and an experienced guide who will provide commentary throughout the journey. Book a Desert Safari Tour here.

In addition to these two popular tours, visitors can also book private tours such as hot air balloon rides and helicopter tours for an even more unique experience.

Popular Tours in Dubai on GetYourGuide

For visitors looking for even more unique experiences, GetYourGuide offers some amazing tours ranging from cultural tours to culinary tours. Here are two popular tours available on GetYourGuide:

Dubai Heritage Tour

Explore some of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks on this half-day heritage tour. This tour will take you to some of the city’s oldest attractions such as Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House and Bastakiya Quarter. The tour also includes stops at some of Dubai’s newest attractions such as Miracle Garden and Burj Khalifa. The tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and an experienced guide who will provide commentary throughout the journey. Book a Dubai Heritage Tour here.

Dubai Food Tour

Discover some of Dubai’s best dishes on this culinary tour. This tour will take you to some of the city’s best restaurants where you can sample local delicacies such as shawarma and hummus. The tour also includes stops at traditional souks where you can sample sweet treats such as halwa and lokum (Turkish delight). The tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and an experienced guide who will provide commentary throughout the journey. Book a Dubai Food Tour here.

There are also plenty of other tours available on GetYourGuide such as scuba diving, deep sea fishing, kayaking and more that visitors can book for an even more unique experience.

Conclusion

Dubai is an exciting destination that offers something for everyone – from luxury shopping malls to thrilling desert adventures. From taking in views from Burj Khalifa to skiing at Ski Dubai or exploring Dubai Creek by Abra, there is plenty to do in this vibrant city. There are also plenty of ways to explore the city with popular tours available on Viator and GetYourGuide that offer an even more immersive experience into what makes this city so special – its culture, heritage, food and people. Whether you are looking for thrills or relaxation, you are sure to find something that appeals to you in this City of Gold!