United Arab Emirates attractions

Set inside the 18th-century Ajman Fort—a former residence of Ajman’s rulers—Ajman Museum casts a spotlight on the history of the emirate. Distinct for its cannon-flanked gateway, sand-colored ramparts, and antique wooden doors, the museum chronicles Ajman’s ancient and recent past with everything from an early excavated cemetery to tribal weaponry, replica dhow boats, and dioramas of traditional Emirati domestic life.

Unfurling around 10 miles (16 kilometers) of silky sands, baby-blue seas, and palm-lined promenades, Ajman Beach is a serious crowd-puller. Sunbathers and sports enthusiasts flock to its open-to-all public sections, laze on the sun loungers of its private hotel zones, and enjoy the different activities available, including parasailing, camel rides, and kayaking.

Tucked below the UAE’s highest mountain, Jebel Hafit, on the outskirts of Al Ain, Wadi Adventure—also called Al Ain Adventure—is the Middle East’s first purpose-built water adventure park. Near Jebel Hafit’s natural hot springs, it offers a host of outdoor aquatic sports and family-friendly fun, from white-water rafting to ziplining and aerial ropes.

Located in the Emirati city of Sharjah, the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum features more than 100 vintage cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles dating back to 1915. Explore the evolution of the automobile, learn about different types of designs and engines, and admire meticulously restored vehicles across makes and models.

Built in 1991 and revamped twice since, the BurJuman is one of Dubai’s oldest shopping malls but still popular for its ultraconvenient location in Bur Dubai, just south of Dubai Creek. Extending across four levels, the mall offers luxury and speciality stores, restaurants, and entertainments for all tastes.

Fun and learning come together at the Children’s City in Dubai. Designed for kids between 2 and 15 years old, this science-themed center is both educational and entertaining for youngsters. Here, they can unravel the mysteries of the universe at the planetarium, tackle interactive challenges at the Earth sciences and technology galleries, and learn about wildlife at the nature exhibitions. Hands-on workshops, a kids’ theater, and toddler play zones provide colorful finishing touches.

Crack puzzles, climb horizontal ropes, and chase clues in one exciting mission at TEPfactor Dubai. A maze of indoor cave-like cells and obstacle courses, this escape-room-style park aims to test the wits and agility of anyone aged 8 or over. Players work in teams to navigate 21 tasks and games and enjoy a lot of fun while at it.

Skydive Dubai is Dubai’s only skydiving operator and boasts two of the world’s most impressive drop zones: one over the Dubai desert and the other above the Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands. Adrenaline seekers can experience a tandem skydive, take a thrilling gyrocopter flight, or even complete a solo skydiving course.

Set amid the bustling souks and historic quarters of Old Dubai, a short stroll from the waterfront of Dubai Creek, Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant has earned itself a reputation as one of Dubai’s top-rated dining destinations. Visitors go for a traditional Emirati experience, with a menu of time-honored local cuisine, staff dressed in conventional robes, and live entertainment.

One of Dubai’s most famous seafront neighborhoods, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) is a 6-block stretch of luxurious high-rises, home to some of Dubai’s most glamorous hotels, shops, and restaurants. At the heart of Dubai Marina, it sits between the Dubai Marina Canal and the glittering waters of the Arabian Gulf, looking out over a white-sand beach.

Billed as the world’s largest year-round inflatable water park, AquaFun Waterpark in Dubai stretches for 253 feet (77 meters) along the Persian Gulf waters of the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) neighborhood. Water-loving kids and adults come to splash and tumble over its inflatable obstacles, and play on its big bouncy castle, wobbly bridges, trampolines, and slides.