The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Vacation in Dubai

It's often too hot to walk in Dubai, and many districts aren't built for pedestrians — exceptions being the Al Fahidi Historical District, Deira, Dubai Marina and City Walk. Cycling is great fun here, too, as Dubai was the first city in the Middle East to implement a bicycle-sharing system. Dubai has that big-city feel, and you'll soon notice just how cosmopolitan this place is. It's a true melting pot of cultures.

If you're lucky to be there on a not-too-hot day, I highly recommend exploring the Al Fahidi Historical District around the museum. Also known as the Bastakiya Quarter, this area was built in the late 19th/early 20th century by merchants from the Persian town of Bastak.

Spend the afternoon strolling around the labyrinthine lanes admiring the nicely restored sand-colored houses topped with the ingenious wind towers, which helped against the scorching heat before the invention of central air conditioning. Enter one of the pleasant cafes, craft shops or art galleries if you need to cool down or are craving a snack.

The very lively Bur Dubai Souq is one of the city's oldest markets. Here you'll find all kinds of colorful fabrics, clothes, lamps, spices, perfumes, and other crafts and souvenirs. Another fascinating activity in Dubai is crossing the nearby Dubai Creek by "abra," a motorized traditional wooden boat. It's a thrill and gives you a new perspective of this amazing city.

I always send people planning a Dubai vacation to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. The organization teaches visitors and expats about the traditions and customs of the United Arab Emirates (Dubai is one of the seven). The center offers tours to places like the Jumeirah Mosque and informative Q&A sessions, but the best part is you can book a delicious traditional Bedouin-style Emirati breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner here.

While you can find restaurants with food from all over the globe in Dubai, finding traditional local food can, surprisingly, be a challenge. So this is a great chance to sample some balaleet (sweet spaghetti with egg), chabab (pancakes with cardamom) or machboos (rice with meat or fish). You'll finish with the special Gulf Arab coffee, tea and dates.

Shopping is kind of synonymous with Dubai, and your visit just wouldn't be complete without a shopping spree in one of the many, many malls. Even if you're not into shopping or don't need anything new, you'll probably end up in one of the malls sooner or later to explore as you escape the heat.

Opposite the Burj Khalifa is the Dubai Mall. With more than 1,200 shops, it's like an entire town, and until the Iran Mall near Tehran opened in 2018, it was the world's largest shopping mall. You'll find lots of clothes, household items and electronics but also a giant ice rink, indoor theme parks, cinemas and several food courts. Why not have a Pakistani, Palestinian, Somali and Filipino lunch all in one afternoon?

The mall's most interesting feature is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which was the largest aquarium in the world when it opened. You can watch thousands of aquatic animals up close in the 10-million-liter tank, comprising over 140 species, including no less than 400 sharks and rays. Come during ray, shark and crocodile feedings for a fun show!

Is Dubai expensive? That depends on where you spend your time. If you're looking for something special to do but don't want to spend a fortune shopping, take a taxi or bus to the Dubai Outlet Mall in the eastern outskirts. Here, you'll find bargains from both designer and international clothing brands. You can also visit the Outlet Village, a mall at an entirely different location, in the direction of Abu Dhabi and built in the style of an Italian village. After finding some discounted fashion deals, enjoy a tasty Italian coffee or some ice cream or pasta while you sit on the pretty square.

Another Dubai icon is the Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel shaped in the form of the sail of a dhow (a traditional wooden cargo vessel). The hotel opened in 1999, is built on a small artificial man-made island and was designed by British architect Tom Wright. If you have a reservation for cocktails, afternoon tea or a meal (up on the 27th floor), you can cross the bridge to the hotel. Marvel at the over-the-top interior: the gold-leaf, red, blue and green opulence of the huge lobby with crystal chandeliers and the most extraordinary fountain.

When you're all walked out and it's time for a refreshing swim (although, to be honest, Dubai's seawater is never quite cool), you can admire the gracious blue and white building from the wide, sandy beach. The beach is divided into Umm Suqeim Beach, Kite Beach and Russian Beach. Find a spot to sit and watch the sunset at the popular Umm Suqeim Beach, and stay well after sundown. There's even a floodlit section of the water, making it perfect for nighttime swimming, a wild experience.

Nearby, a little more south along the coast, you'll reach Madinat Jumeirah, also known as "Dubai's Venice." You won't regret visiting this luxurious resort village during your Dubai vacation. It has many exquisite international restaurants and four lavish hotels amidst colorful and lush bougainvillea, palm and banana trees. You can stroll around the winding waterways of this attractive contemporary interpretation of a traditional Arab village or take a traditional wooden boat water taxi (a trip by abra takes around 20 minutes).

In the heart of it is Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a maze-like bazaar with quality souvenirs, such as carpets, clothes and art. At night, the gardens are enchantingly lit, as is the Burj Al Arab hotel in the background. The complex is also one of the many popular nightlife locations, so come ready to mingle and enjoy the bass-thumping beats.

There are many more unique things to do in Dubai. It may surprise you, but you can even find lush nature in this big city. When you're ready to relax, wander around the Dubai Miracle Garden, a 20-minute taxi ride inland from Madinat Jumeirah and a true miracle in this arid desert climate. Covering approximately 17 acres (72,000 square meters) and home to no less than 100 million flowers, this surrealistic park is said to be the largest natural flower garden in the world. The huge Dubai Butterfly Garden next door is also extremely popular and offers fun for kids to explore.

For an entirely different type of nature, head further east to the desert, where you reach the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. The reserve was established in 2002 to reintroduce mountain gazelles, sand gazelles and Arabian oryx. A tour out of urbanized Dubai to this or another part of the Arabian desert is an impressive experience and definitely recommended if you have the time. Climb a few photogenic dunes and weathered mountains, join a traditional meal, and watch the countless stars as you reflect on your unforgettable trip to Dubai.