United Arab Emirates attractions

Located in Ai Ain, Al Jahili Fort is one of the largest forts in the UAE. It was built by Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan in the late 19th century as a summer residence and to control the area’s resources. Thoroughly renovated, the mud-brick fort is an important cultural attraction, and it houses permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Hugging the border of the United Arab Emirates and Oman, Jebel Hafeet is the highest peak in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the second highest in the country. Rising 4,068 feet (1,240 meters) above the barren desert landscape, the mountain offers vast and stunning views of Al Ain and the far-off Oman from its limestone peak.

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.

Unleash your creativity and explore the colorful world of LEGO® at LEGOLAND® Dubai, the first of its kind in the Middle East. With six themed lands, more than 50 LEGO-themed rides, shows, building experiences, and millions of LEGO bricks, this 73-acre (30-hectare) theme park offers a fun and educational day out for the whole family.

Experience the magic of Hollywood in the desert at Motiongate Dubai, the largest Hollywood-inspired theme park in the Middle East. Part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, Motiongate features five separate zones, 27 rides, interactive play areas, and plenty of live shows and entertainment inspired by 13 popular Hollywood blockbusters.

Located in the heart of the city, the Al Ain National Museum is the UAE’s oldest museum, and it charts the country’s history from ancient times. Its archaeological and ethnographic galleries house everything from 5,000-year-old pottery to traditional Emirati artifacts from the pre-oil era.

Located in the coastal village of Al Bidya, Al Badiyah Mosque (Al Bidyah Mosque) is the oldest standing mosque in the United Arab Emirates. Constructed of stone and mud, it features an unusual design of four irregular-shaped and layered domes. Thought to date from the 1400s, it remains a functioning mosque to this day.

Located in the Mirdif neighborhood of Dubai, iFly Dubai is a skydive center that lets you replicate the experience of a parachute drop in a controlled indoor environment. iFlyers—as they’re called—fly on air gusts created in an acrylic wind tunnel. You’ll get the sensation of a real skydive—without having to jump from a plane.

Fringing the Gulf of Oman on the UAE’s east coast, the sea port of Khor Fakkan is now also a peaceful beach resort. While its shipping port is still important to the country, its crescent-shaped, palm-lined beach and proximity to the rugged Al Hajar mountain range both draw visitors eager to experience a quieter side of the UAE.

Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping mall, is home to 370 stores and more than 60 dining and entertainment venues. Located on Yas Island on the fringes of the city, it offers everything from designer fashion houses to toy stores, all complemented by restaurants, a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema, and other family amusements.

Experience a tropical rainforest in the middle of the desert at Green Planet. Located in Dubai, Green Planet is a biodome and indoor rainforest experience. Spanning 60,000 square feet (5,574 square meters), Green Planet houses more than 3,000 plants and animals and the world’s largest artificial tree.

Located in Dubai Mall, KidZania Dubai is an educational theme park where kids can learn about different professions, money, and the real world in a safe, interactive, and fun environment. A kid-size scaled replica of a real city, KidZania Dubai offers more than 60 real-life role-playing activities that teach kids important life skills.

Bordering Al Ain’s UNESCO-listed Oasis in the city center, the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum—or Al Ain Palace Museum, as it’s also known—occupies the former home of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founder. Turned into a museum in 2001, the decorous setting provides a glimpse into his life and local culture up until the 1960s.

Perched on a hill in Fujairah, Fujairah Fort is considered the oldest and one of the largest forts in the United Arab Emirates. Built in 1670, it has played a vital role in defending the region. Occupied by Wahabbists in the early 1800s and partially destroyed by the British in 1925, the fort has been restored and is now open to the public.

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is the first and largest public institution in the United Arab Emirates that provides complete veterinary care to falcons. While a hospital for these birds of prey may seem unusual, falcons play an important role in Bedouin culture and Arabic tradition.

Overlooking the mouth of Dubai Creek, the Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum House was home to Dubai’s rulers during the early 20th century and is now a museum. Dating from 1896, the house is composed of wind towers (barjeel), courtyards, and rooms featuring exhibitions on Dubai and its ruling al-Maktoum clan from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

Tucked into Dubai’s Times Square Center alongside Sheikh Zayed Road, the Chillout Ice Lounge is the city’s—and the Arabian Peninsula’s—first ice bar. While outside temperatures can hit 118°F (48°C), this fun and beautiful venue lets visitors relax in an illuminated, ice-carved lounge—a novelty in the usually scorching metropolis.

Escape the heat of the desert at LEGOLAND® Water Park, the only water park in the United Arab Emirates designed specifically for families with kids ages 2 to 12. Enjoy more than 15 water slides, raft and tube slides, a toddler play area, and the opportunity to customize your own LEGO raft and build your own miniature boat.

Dubai Parks and Resorts has grown to become the region’s first integrated resort destination, comprising three theme parks, a waterpark, an entertainment district, and a Polynesian-style family resort. From Lego-building experiences to Bollywood-themed stunt shows and fireworks every Friday night, there is truly something for everyone.

Occupying a restored 19th-century fort in the old part of Ras Al Khaimah, the Ras Al Khaimah National Museum is a popular stop for newcomers to the emirate. Set around a courtyard, its air-conditioned galleries chart the region’s history from 5,000 BC to the present through various archaeological finds and historical treasures.

Spread out across 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares), Al Ain Oasis is the largest green space in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and offers a respite from the city’s crowds and heat. The oasis maintains its evergreen appearance year round with the help of wells and falaj—a traditional, underground irrigation system used throughout the country.

Looming from the eastern edges of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), the Uniter Arab Emirate’s (UAE) northernmost emirate, Jebel Jais is a group of mountains in the Al Hajar range along the country’s border with Oman. Forming the UAE’s highest peak at 6,345 feet (1,934 meters), the Jabal Al Jais region combines awe-inspiring scenery with exciting attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and thrill-seekers.

Located in Wadi Ham, west of Fujairah, Al Bithnah Fort is one of the oldest forts in the United Arab Emirates. Built in 1735 in response to tribal clashes, it played a crucial role in defending the important inland route to Fujairah. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the fort was most recently restored and opened to the public in 2012.

Located at the foothills of the Jebel Hafeet mountain, Al Ain Zoo is the largest zoo in the United Arab Emirates and one of the largest in the Middle East. It boasts nearly 200 species and more than 4,000 animals. The zoo is also home to the Sheik Zayed Desert Learning Center, and offers a range of interactive experiences.

Situated on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai’s Jumeirah 1 district, the Mercato Shopping Mall is hard to miss for its pastel-painted Italian-style design. Relatively small by Dubai standards, the mall accommodates around 140 shops—fewer than most of the city’s larger shopping centers—but scores highly for its upscale atmosphere and laid-back Mediterranean vibe.

Dubai has no shortage of magnificent views, but there’s no better place to admire the famous Palm Jumeirah island than the aptly named View at the Palm. Zip up to level 52 of the Palm Tower and walk out to the 360-degree panoramic observation deck, which looks out over the palm-shaped, man-made islands and the glittering waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Situated on the southern edges of Dubai, the Gurunanak Darbar Temple has been a place of worship for the city’s 50,000-plus Sikh population since its opening in 2012. This opulent temple is open to Sikhs for worship and ceremonies, as well as non-Sikhs keen to experience its interior and a slice of Sikh religion and culture.

While Dubai is known for its glitz and glamour, you still can find great deals in the city. The most famous place for shopping like a local is Karama Market, with its 300-plus shops selling everything from apparel to souvenirs. The market is also an excellent place for photography, with numerous colorful murals painted across area buildings.

Spread across 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) of shoreline flanking Dubai Creek, the Al Seef area offers a fantastic blend of old and new, with a mix of gorgeous old architecture linked by narrow alleys and contemporary structures. The area is also known for great shopping and dining. Highlights include a souk dating from the 1950s and a floating open-air market.

Crowning a hill below the Hajar Mountains in Ras Al Khaimah emirate, the 19th-century mud-brick Dhayah Fort is the United Arab Emirates’ last remaining hilltop fort. Built from the remnants of earlier fortifications, it’s famous for serving as a holdout for the local Al Qawasim peoples when they attempted—but failed—to resist British forces in 1819.