From destinations with jaw-dropping, heart thumping views to out-of-this-world experiences, panoramas made for the ‘gram, glimpses into the future and dare devil dives, there are so many super fun, super cool just generally thrilling attractions in Dubai.
So don’t save all the fun stuff until you’ve got visitors in tow – get busy now.
Ain Dubai
Dubai continues to shatter world records and achieve world firsts in spectacular fashion. In the latter stages of 2021, the much-anticipated Ain Dubai added to that list as the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel completed its first revolution.
If you haven’t yet been transported 250m into to sky and taken a 38-minute turn around that giant wheel than you absolutely should – the views are absolutely magnificent. Out to impress? Why not hire an entire pod, so that you and the gang can have your very own private party (drinks and music included) while you ride.
From Dhs130 per person. Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Dubai aindubai.com.
Atlantis The Royal: The Resort
Does a hotel deserve to be deemed an attraction in its own right? It does when the hotel in question is Atlantis The Royal: The Resort, the sister property to the already iconic Atlantis, The Palm.
Due to open in the last quarter of the year, the stats surrounding this place are seriously impressive, so let us wow you with a few numbers to begin with: the hotel will be home to some 795 rooms and 102 suites, 44 of which will be equipped with private infinity pools, which brings the total number of pools found at the resort up to a not-too-shabby 90 (including the noteworthy Cloud 22 sky pool).
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal might be the restaurant that draws the crowds initially, but guests have plenty of dining options to choose from, with 18 restaurants and bars in total (including eight helmed by celebrity chefs).
The 2km beach here is the longest stretch of privately owned sand in Dubai, the vast spa is of course world class, the fountains breathe fire and 4000 jelly fish glide around one of the world’s largest jelly fish tanks in the lobby. Yeah, not exactly a run of the mill kinda spot.
www.atlantis.com/dubai/atlantis-the-royal
Burj Khalifa
Never let it be forgotten that you live in the same city as the world’s tallest tower. When it’s been a minute seen you’ve stood in awe of the 828m record breaker, consider doing something about that.
Whether you set sail on an abra cruise around the Dubai Fountain lake, enjoy dinner and drinks with Burj Khalifa views (our handy guide to the best bars for doing so is here), take it all in from the bridge between Souk Al Bahr and Dubai Mall or travel 148 floors up and make for observation deck At The Top, the options for Burj Khalifa admiring are plentiful.
www.burjkhalifa.ae.
Deep Dive Dubai
From the dizzy heights of the Burj Khalifa to waaay down low. And when we say low, we mean low; plunging more than 60 metres down, scuba and free diving facility Deep Dive Dubai is the deepest diving pool on planet Earth. Thanks to a submerged underwater city and various have-to-be-seen-to-be-believed attractions (bicycles, sports cars, street art and arcade games included) it might just be the most impressive too.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete beginner, PADI-certified or a soaring, free diving pro, this place is seriously impressive.
deepdivedubai.com.
Dubai Frame
It glitters and it gleams and you’ve no doubt admired it in passing, but have you really done the world’s largest picture frame justice? By that we mean captured snaps of the standout landmark from the ground in Zabeel Park, taken the elevator up to the sky deck and clocked old Dubai to the North and the new part of town to the South, strutted across the glass bottomed 93-metre bridge that joins the two 150-metre towers, snaffled a Minions sweet bread from Yamanote Atelier (just us?) and considered the Dubai of the future back down of the ground floor.
Dhs50 (adults), Dhs20 (kids ages three-12), free (kids under three; people of determination with two companions). Open daily 9am-9pm. Gate 4, Zabeel Park, www.dubaiframe.ae (800 900).
Dubai Hills Mall
The build-up was massive, the expectations were sizeable and now that we’ve been for a nosey around, we can confirm that the new Dubai Hills Mall might just be the emirate’s most exciting retail-based opening for 2022 (impressive stuff, given that it’s still only February).
Think we’re getting ahead of ourselves? Let us convince you otherwise. Whether you’re a fashion-fiend or a foodie, a film buff or a thrill seeker, there are brilliant shops, top cafés, tasty restaurants, quick fix salons, thrilling rides (yes, rides) and adventure experiences for everyone.
A shopping trip here is certainly never going to be boring, but here’s the big question: do you dare test your nerve and take on the twists and turns, deep dives and vertical drops that make up the massive indoor roller coaster The Storm?
Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Hills Estate www.dubaihillsmall.ae
Dubai Opera House
When was the last time you got properly dressed up? We’re talking slick suit, glad rags, designer bag, the lot. If it’s been a while, let’s change that immediately: you’re a Dubai dweller after all, it’s your duty to go glitzy every so often.
A trip to the opera always warrants a fancy frock and the beautiful dhow-shaped Dubai Opera House is no different, even if you’ve got no intention of watching an actual opera (this state-of-the-art performing arts venue welcomes world-class musicals, ballets, musicians, comedians and ballets too). Head to the official website for the current schedule of events.
www.dubaiopera.com.
Infinity des Lumières
Being so taken by a piece of art that you feel entirely immersed in it is one thing, but Infinity des Lumières at The Dubai Mall takes the idea into a whole new, quite frankly jaw dropping league.
The unique-to-the-UAE art exhibition experience covers some 2,700 square metres and features over 130 projectors, 58 speakers and 3000 HD digital images that seamlessly work together to produce soundtrack-accompanied moving artworks of some of the most famed masterpieces in the world.
What’s more, the popular Dreamed Japan, Verse and Van Gogh exhibitions that have been running since the exhibition opened last July have this year been joined by the space-themed Cosmos, which sees visitors taken on an all-encompassing journey into outer space. Go now.
The Dubai Mall; open 10am-9pm, Monday to Thursday; 10am-11pm, Friday to Sunday; tickets cost Dhs75 for children aged 3 to 13, Dhs125 for visitors over 14 years in advance, Dhs150 for visitors over 14 years on-site; www.infinitylumieres.com.
Madame Tussauds
With a star-studded ensemble of over 60 incredibly lifelike wax works (you will do a doubletake at some point) and seven themed zones to explore, the first Madame Tussauds in the GCC more than delivered on the hype when it opened its doors for the first time in October.
From striking a pose with Kylie and Kendall Jenner in the Fashion Room (as well as seeking Anna Wintour’s sartorial approval over your outfit choices), to joining Tom Cruise on a motorbike chase in the Film Room, getting active in the sports zone and shooting pens with Ronaldo and Messi and strutting your stuff and debuting some serious dance floor moves at the Music Party, a visit to the legendary Madame Tussauds’ delivers selfie gold and brilliant fun to boot.
Book tickets online fromDhs135 (adults), Dhs110 (kids aged 3-11). Free (kids under three). Opening Oct 14 Sun-Thu noon-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm. Bluewaters Dubai, madametussauds.com/dubai
Museum of the Future
While we’re all going to have to wait until Tuesday 22nd (not long now) until we can finally see exactly what’s inside Dubai’s much anticipated Museum of the Future, the awe-inspiring exterior structure (National Geographic have already listed it as one of the world’s 14 most beautiful museums) and teaser videos shared on Instagram by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai suggest that place is going to be very special indeed. Don’t dally, book your advance ticket now.
Dhs145. Opening Tue Feb 22. Open daily 10am-6pm. motf.ae.
Sky Views Observatory
Got a head for heights? Love nothing more than an uninterrupted vista? Consider yourself a bit of a thrill seeker? Don’t wait until you’ve got visitors staying to hit the Sky Views Observatory.
Once you’re there it’s up to you how you approach the three-part attraction: keep it (relatively) sedate and take in those above-the-cloud views from the level 53 observatory area, go all out (literally) with the white-knuckle edge walk experience or glide down the tallest glass slide in town.
Dhs65 (general admission adults), Dhs60 (general admission children aged four-12). Dhs699 (Edge Walk). Open daily 10am-10pm. Address Sky View Hotel, Downtown Dubai.
Time Out Market Dubai
A who’s who of the city’s finest chefs and its coolest food concepts, three great bars, an outdoor terrace with ace views, brilliant live music and one of the best private dining tables in town (the Editor’s Table), the Time Out Market Dubai is a 43,000 square foot celebration of local, homegrown talent offered up for your eating and drinking pleasure.
You might think we’re being a tad biased when we sing the praises of this place, but then you’ll visit and see that we merely speak the truth.
Mon-Thu noon-12am, Fri noon-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-12am. www.timeoutmarket.com/dubai
