Districts:

Deira

The old financial centre, today a bustling commercial–residential district with old souks, including one specializing in spices

Bur Dubai

A historical district on the south side of Dubai Creek, with attractions from abras to souks to floating restaurants to the famous Creek

Jumeirah

A diverse mix of residents and tourists at the beach. It is a mixed Little Europe, Karachi and Manila. Jumeirah is much favoured by Europeans due to easy access to the beach. Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Mosque are the top attractions. Dubai Marina is a mega-development full of skyscrapers. Also covering the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa

Jebel Ali

Mega man-made port, location of the new airport, Dubai World Central, the venue for Expo 2020, and the entry point to the Palm Jebel Ali

Suburbs & Hatta

Suburban Dubai inland from the coast and Hatta, the exclave at the border to Oman

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Dubai is a mixture of old and new, traditional and modern. From old traditional souks and historical buildings (now being preserved for cultural reasons or already part of the national heritage) to modern Dubai’s overwhelming shopping malls, incredible artificial islands and giant modern skyscrapers that include the world’s tallest building, Dubai is a world in itself and offers plenty of wonderful attractions.

The city has numerous museums and historical buildings, but Dubai Museum is a must see for a first-time travellers to the Emirates. It provides a glimpse of the old life of Dubai, its people and their culture and heritage. A number of other museums are located in nearby Sharjah.

Dubai has a justified reputation as a concrete jungle, but there are nice pockets of greenery within the city, such as Safa Park. The city parks are modern and very well-maintained, with the most popular located in Jumeirah.(…)

See in Jumeirah:

1 Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs). This huge sail-shaped hotel completed in 1999 is a symbol of Dubai and its ascent in the world. The self-proclaimed seven star hotel was the first icon of Dubai and still stands out on the skyline from its location on an artificial island 280 m from the beach. (…)

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2 Burj Khalifa (Khalifa Tower). At 828 m and 160 floors this is the world’s tallest structure by a long shot, over 300 m taller than the previous contender in Taipei. The observation deck at the 124th floor is the second highest in the world after the Shanghai World Financial centre. Dominating the Dubai skyline, the tower houses a hotel and a Las Vegas-inspired fountain system. (…)

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3 Dubai Fountain, Dubai Mall. (…) At 270m (900 ft) in length and sporting a jet that shoots water up to 150m (500 ft), it is the world’s largest dancing fountain and one with a very enticing display – a definite must-see. (…)

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4 Dubai Marina. The Dubai Marina is to be the popular nightlife area of Dubai in the future. This multi-billion-dollar development is designed for tourists and water sport. The bars and cafés along the marina are popular gathering points for families and younger people. Most restaurants offer shisha and oriental food but food chains are fast entering too. (…)

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6 Jumeirah Beach. Dubai is known for its great beaches and this one is the best. It’s the most popular and busiest beach of the country. Expect to see swimmers in bikinis and ladies in abaya cloaks; this beach truly encapsulates the Westernisation of Dubai culture. (…)

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7 Jumeirah Mosque. (…)The largest mosque in the city, and a wonderful example of Islamic architecture. It was built in the medieval Fatimid tradition with the interior decorated with elaborate Arabic calligraphy. It is one of few mosques in the city open for visits by non-Muslims; the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding conducts special tours for non-Muslims to help promote understanding of Islam. (…)

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8 Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif. (…)A restored traditional Emirati-style two story building used as a summer residence by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, one of the founders of UAE, and father of the present ruler of Dubai. (…)

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9 Palm Islands. The Palm islands are the best symbols of the boom and bust construction cycles in Dubai. The “oldest” Palm called Palm Jumeirah is completed and is host to the gigantic Atlantis Hotel on its top. Several marinas, hotels and condo are along the palm leaves. The development of the other two Palms will depend on the financial situation of the construction business but someday Dubai will have the three largest artificial islands in the world on its coastline. (…)

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10 Al Safa Park. (…)A beautiful planned park and one of the oldest parks in Dubai. It is a favourite for sports enthusiasts, and many visitors enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, and soccer. Children love playing games in the video arcade, or riding the ferris wheel and bumper cars. The park even has a maze to wander through. Barbeques and picnic areas are available for those who want to make a day of it. It has lakes where you can take a boat ride and a hill that offers panoramic views of this beautiful lush green park and the gigantic Dubai skyline. (…)

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12 Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Dubai Mall (…) Giant aquarium, 51 metres (167 ft) long and 11 metres (36 ft) high. The visit includes a crossing inside the walk-through water tunnel, behind the scenes, and several other experiences. The Underwater Zoo has 140 fish spices, desert animals, penguins and also hosts “King Kroc”. Animal feeding hours are indicated in the zoo, and it’s also possible to participate to feeding.(…)

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16 The Lost Chambers Aquarium and Ambassador Lagoon, Atlantis. (…)An Atlantis-themed aquarium with a lot of fish species and jellyfishes. Don’t miss the giant chamber with numerous sharks and rays. (…)