Where To See the Best Architecture in Dubai

Presiding serenely over Dubai’s skyline, the Burj Khalifa has dominated the cityscape since its completion in 2010. Soaring 2,177 feet (828 meters) over Burj Lake—home to the Dubai Fountain—this supersized scraper is the world’s tallest structure and a favorite photo stop on Dubai guided tours.

While its exterior is spectacular, its observatory views steal the show. Buy tickets in advance to absorb the sweeping panoramas from Levels 124 and 125; upgrade to visit Level 148, the world’s highest observatory; or book a Dubai tour that includes a ticket and return transport for the ultimate ease.

The Burj Al-Arab hotel remains one of Dubai’s signature landmarks, despite its 1999 opening making it a relative antique in the city’s architectural arsenal. Rising 1,053 feet (321 meters) from a purpose-built island, this 5-star hotel is renowned for its palatial interiors and high-end eateries.

Admire its spinnaker shape with a Dubai sightseeing pass, hop-on hop-off bus route, or speedboat or yacht cruise—the latter often feature generous onboard buffets. Alternatively, lap up its extravagance over afternoon tea in its towering atrium, or during a guided interior tour and dinner at one of its world-class restaurants.

If there was ever a building that pushed the boundaries, even for Dubai, the Museum of the Future is it. Overlooking the rushing Sheikh Zayed Road, this stunning, stainless-steel ovoid is carved with swooping Arabic calligraphics that are not only striking but form the windows of its shining facade.

Inside, exhibitions envisage life, society, and technologies in 2071, immersing you in possibilities both thrilling and scary. Snag a ticket online to secure your slot, view its spaceship-like exterior on a Dubai city tour, or compare it with Dubai’s traditional sites on a tour covering the best of the old and modern city.

Another in the long list of Dubai architectural landmarks, the Dubai Frame more than warrants a visit. Standing like a giant picture frame in Zabeel Park near Bur Dubai, it boasts a glass Sky Bridge that links its two towers and offers sky-high views over old Dubai one way and new Dubai the other.

Use the frame as a backdrop for your photos during a tour of Dubai’s highlights; or prebook entry to cross its bridge and explore its tower exhibitions independently. Otherwise, consider a tour that combines a self-guided visit with other must-sees, such as nearby Dubai Creek.

Hidden amid the sea of modern architecture in Dubai, Jumeirah Mosque is often overlooked due to its traditional looks and suburban location near Jumeirah Beach. That said, the medieval-inspired design of this 1979-built mosque makes it one of Dubai’s most beautiful, with highlights including an intricate main dome, ornate minarets, and a calligraphy-adorned hall.

Admire the latter on the mosque’s twice-daily in-house tours (excluding Fridays): Join either the 10am or 2pm tour by registering 30 minutes prior at the mosque’s majlis sitting area. Alternatively, check it out on select Dubai sightseeing tours, some of which also include a Burj Khalifa visit.

Rising imperiously from the outer ring of the Palm Jumeirah—Dubai’s artificial, palm-tree-shaped archipelago—Atlantis, The Palm is a staple of Dubai landmark tours. For good reason: Its peach-hued heft, spire-topped towers, and central Arabian archway lend it a Disney®-esque look which, combined with its Aquaventure Waterpark and ocean-themed Lost Chambers Aquarium, makes it a serious crowd pleaser.

Clock it on a half-day guided city tour; experience it inside and out with an Aquaventure and Lost Chambers combo package; or appreciate it from the ocean on an exhilarating speedboat ride.

Composed of 795 hotel rooms, 90 swimming pools, and 17 restaurants and bars, Atlantis The Royal does everything on a grand scale. Its architecture is no exception: angular blocks stacked high on the Palm Jumeirah’s perimeter.

One of the newest additions to the top architectural sites in Dubai, this postmodern colossus is only now appearing in Dubai tour itineraries. That said, guided excursions that visit the neighboring Atlantis, The Palm serve up views of the Royal as a matter of course. Better yet, book a yacht cruise to cast your eyes over it, and other Palm landmarks, from the Persian Gulf.

You can’t scan the skyscraper forest around Dubai Marina without screeching to a visual halt at the Cayan Tower. Pivoting on its axis along its full 1,004-foot (306-meter) height, this is the world’s tallest twisting tower—a feat achieved by rotating each of its 75 stories in turn during construction.

Stroll the Dubai Marina Walk to comprehend its full top-to-toe twist, or check it out on a high-speed boat tour. Alternatively, see it sparkling with lights from the deck of a traditional-style dhow boat during a Dubai dinner cruise.

Overlooked by many city tours and Dubai architecture guides, the O-14 Base is one of Dubai’s offbeat creations. Plum on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal—dhow and yacht cruises take you right past it—this 22-story commercial block is nicknamed the “Swiss Cheese” or “Cheese Building” for the 1,300 holes in its outer wall, a design feature that makes it stand out amid the surrounding geometric phalanx.

Admire it at night—with its holes beautifully illuminated—on a canal dinner cruise that also showcases canal landmarks including the neon-lit Tolerance Bridge, Sheikh Zayed Waterfall Bridge, and Dubai’s Design District D3.