United Arab Emirates attractions

Part of Dubai’s luxe Madinat Jumeirah resort, the Souk Madinat Jumeirah is a modern re-creation of a traditional Arabian souk, with an upscale touch. In place of higgledy-piggledy stalls, a web of alleyways echoes a classic bazaar filled with boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés.

Built from white sandstone and crowned with a central dome and two towering minarets, Jumeirah Mosque is Dubai's main place of worship and arguably one of the most beautiful mosques in the United Arab Emirates. Aside from being an extremely popular photography site in Dubai, the landmark is also notable in that it's the only mosque in the city open to non-Muslim visitors—an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of Islam and its traditions.

The world’s biggest water park, Aquaventure World has something for thrill-seekers and young children alike. Part of the luxury Atlantis, The Palm hotel, the park offers more than 105 chutes, rides, and attractions, from the near-vertical Leap of Faith to coasters, a wave rider, splash pools, sea life experiences, and a private beach. Marine enthusiasts can combine their water park adventures with a visit to the Lost Chambers Aquarium.

The first national park in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) offers visitors a stunning landscape of sand dunes and desert fauna. The reserve is a must-visit for adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, with its rolling dunes setting the scene for fat bike riding, dune buggy trips, camel trekking, sandboarding, and falcon demonstrations.

Opened in 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi stands on Saadiyat Island near central Abu Dhabi. A collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and France, this museum’s stunning, filigreed metal dome draws visitors in to view a collection of artworks and artifacts designed to chart the story of the world’s civilizations.

Sheikh Zayed Road is Dubai’s main artery and carves through the city north to south, parallel to the coast, before continuing to neighboring Abu Dhabi. Extending for a total of 346 miles (558 kilometers), it’s best-known for the skyscrapers along its central Dubai section—creating a scene reminiscent of a sci-fi movie.

Featuring displays consisting of more than 150 million flowers, Dubai Miracle Garden is one of the UAE’s most original attractions. Branded the world’s largest natural flower garden, its seasonal gardens feature magnificent displays of blooms, including a heart tunnel, a floral clock, a fairy-tale castle, and even a flower-covered jumbo jet. Spread over an area the size of 14 football fields on the outskirts of Dubai, it’s an extravaganza of color and scent.

Jumeirah Beach is Dubai’s main beach: a 13-mile (21-kilometer) ribbon of sugar-soft sand and azure Gulf water. Jumeirah is divided into sections, including the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) beach and Kite Beach, which are interrupted by private beaches associated with hotels, such as the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab. The public stretches of beach offer perfect escapes from Dubai’s urban jungle. People flock here to sunbathe, swim, take boat trips, and participate in water sports, as well as relax in the parks, restaurants, and malls along its sands.

Set inside Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is one of the world’s biggest aquariums. Walk through the 270-degree glass Aquarium Tunnel, where you’ll be surrounded by colorful fish, sand tiger sharks, and sting rays; admire rainforest, coastal, and river creatures such as penguins and giant crocodiles at the underwater zoo; and immerse yourself in the aquatic environment with close-up animal encounters, boat tours, and diving experiences.

The Dubai Fountain is a spectacle of swaying sprays, multi-coloured illuminations, and booming music, rising from the vast Burj Lake beneath Dubai’s Burj Khalifa tower. Composed of multiple jet formations accompanied by dazzling light displays, the fountains reach up to 459 feet (140 meters) as the water sprays dance in time to classical, pop, and Arabian music. Locals and visitors gather at the lakesides for the free-to-view shows that run at regular times every afternoon and evening.

Situated on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Breakwater, the Marina Mall is one of the city’s leading shopping destinations, with five floors of stores and leisure venues. There are more than 400 shops, a movie multiplex, family entertainment hubs, and a mix of restaurants, cafés, and fast food options.

South of Dubai Creek, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood—sometimes referred to as the Bastakia Quarter—is comprised of wind tower (barjeel) houses, courtyards, and lanes dating from the late 1800s when Persian merchants first settled the area. As Dubai’s oldest district, it’s filled with museums and cultural attractions.

No place gives better insight into life on the Mekong Delta than the Cai Rang Floating Market (Chợ Noi Cái Rang), where hundreds of wooden rowboats showcase everything from rice and clothing to exotic fruits and vegetables. Located just 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the city of Can Tho, the market can be admired from dry land or during a boat ride.

A modern-day theme park where you can shop, dine, and be entertained all in one place, the Global Village is one of Dubai’s most unique attractions. Immerse yourself in the sights, cuisines, and creations of more than 90 different world cultures as you explore the themed pavilions, shop for traditional handicrafts, watch spectacular live performances, and have fun on the fairground rides.

Come face-to-face with 65,000 marine creatures, dive with sharks, and walk underwater at the Lost World Aquarium in Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm hotel. This state-of-the-art aquarium is themed around the mythical Lost City of Atlantis and consists of illuminated underground chambers brimming with sea life from across the world.

Smack dab in the heart of modern Dubai, the Mall of the Emirates is more than the city’s second-largest mall. The multilevel center, one of Dubai’s most popular destinations, draws visitors with a huge array of international stores and leisure attractions, from fashion outlets and restaurants to theaters and an indoor ski resort.

Covering an area of 28 American football fields, IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai is the world’s biggest indoor theme park. Situated on the edge of the city, this destination offers six adventure zones—Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley, IMG Boulevard, The Haunted Town, and IMG Kids Zone—all based on the fantasy worlds of movie superheroes.

Perfect for escaping Dubai’s heat, Ski Dubai is one of the world’s biggest indoor ski centers. Housed inside the city’s Mall of the Emirates, this snow-laden complex boasts runs for all skiing levels and is kept at a constant sub-zero temperature to replicate real-world Alpine conditions. As well as skiing, there’s also a massive Snow Park offering family-friendly toboggan, tube, and other rides, plus snowboard runs, a chairlift, cozy cafés, and even penguin encounters.

Fly over Dubai or get an aerial view from one of its many skyscrapers, and you’ll notice something unusual about the shoreline: Hundreds of small manmade islands have been created along the coastline, fashioned into elaborate shapes that can only be admired from above. The palm tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah is most famous, followed by the larger but less developed Palm Jebel Ali and the World Islands, shaped like a map of the world.

A man-made isle north of Abu Dhabi, Yas Island is a multi-attraction destination offering family entertainment, sports, and shopping. The biggest draws to the 9.5-square-mile (25-square-kilometer) island include Ferrari World, the Yas Marina Formula I race circuit, Yas Waterworld aquapark, and the indoor Warner Bros. World complex.

Explore the world of illusions and test the limits of your perception at Dubai’s immersive Museum of Illusions. Spanning around 4,845 square feet (450 square meters), the museum features more than 60 interactive exhibits, mind-bending optical illusions, stereograms, and holograms, as well as a playroom with puzzles to challenge the mind.

Slated as the home of Abu Dhabi’s culture, the Cultural Foundation is a hub for art, film, music, and theater, shining a light on the city’s creative spirit. Featuring multiple art galleries, a children’s library, and auditorium for world-class music, theater, and dance performances, the Cultural Foundation embraces its traditions while moving towards the future.

Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, Warner Bros. World is a massive indoor theme park dedicated to the shows and movies of the giant entertainment company. Inside, you’ll enter a parallel universe filled with characters fromBatman andThe Flintstones, explore their movie-set towns, and enjoy rides and interactive family attractions.

Yas Waterworld sits on Yas Island just outside Abu Dhabi and attracts families, thrill seekers, and water lovers of all ages. Alongside five one-of-a-kind rides, the park serves up an additional 40 slides, experiences, and adventures. This attraction also stages entertainment events and offers restaurants, cafés, and shops.

Prepared to be amazed at Dubai’s first permanent show,La Perle by Dragone. A feast for the senses,La Perle is an immersive theater experience that features thrilling aerial displays, aquatic stunts and acrobatics, and cutting-edge special effects and illusion, all unfolding in a purpose-built “aqua theater” that includes an on-stage pool.

Fringing the town of Hatta in the eastern United Arab Emirates’ Hajar Mountains, the Hatta Heritage Village is a restored mountain village that showcases life as it was before the country’s oil boom. Comprised of the reconstructed houses of what was once a working village, the village illustrates different aspects of traditional life, from customs and crafts to agriculture.

Overlooking Dubai Marina, Dubai Marina Mall is one of the city’s smaller and more understated shopping and entertainment destinations. Opened in 2008 with a central domed atrium and around 140 outlets spread across four levels, the mall exudes a calm and unhurried atmosphere in keeping with its waterside location.

One of the most recent additions to Dubai’s skyline, this museum serves both as an architectural landmark and a fascinating glimpse into our changing world. Housed in a gigantic silver “eye” adorned with Arabic calligraphy, the futuristic museum certainly looks the part. Inside, interactive exhibitions and experiences invite visitors to explore the future of humanity, science, travel, and technology.

Overlooking the Burj Al Arab hotel on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, Wild Wadi Waterpark boasts 30 water attractions and draws almost a million visitors annually. Adrenaline-junkies, water lovers, and families wanting a fun day out flock here to enjoy everything from white-knuckle chutes to lazy rivers, play pools, surf waves, and more.

Sitting northeast of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island is one of the city’s emerging tourist and cultural hotspots. Covering 10.5 square miles (27 square kilometers), the low-lying island is characterized by state-of-the-art art cultural centers, 5-star hotels, and white-sand beaches.