Highlights
The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall has the distinction of being the world’s largest shopping and entertainment complex, boasting more than a thousand stores, including a Bloomingdales, The Souk and Fashion Avenue, housing over seventy designer brands, such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Cartier. This giant centre truly is a shopper’s paradise!
Jumeirah Beach
One of Dubai’s biggest assets is Jumeirah Beach, a swathe of white sand trimmed on one side by aquamarine seas and on the other side by some of the city’s most luxurious hotels and resorts, including the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Located south of the Historic District, the beach area offers an array of leisure activities for all the family and has its own Beach Park. Stroll along The Walk, a bustling waterfront boulevard, packed with swish restaurants and pavement cafés, as well as designer shops, a small-sized Covent Garden Market and open-air cinema. Look out for local artwork and street entertainers.
Dubai Marina
The impressive skyline of Dubai Marina is in-keeping with Dubai’s reputation for over-indulgence and is, reputedly, the world’s largest man-made marina. Nestled alongside the Persian Gulf, this upmarket area comprises a network of canals flanked by exclusive amenities. Dubai Marina Mall is open from 10am daily until late at night and boasts around 130 internationally recognised retail outlets, including high street fashion brands, designer boutiques, a Waitrose supermarket, alfresco restaurants and über-cool nightspots. There’s also an open-air ice rink, Skate Zone, six-screen cinema and tours of the waterways by boat.
Ski Dubai
Escape the heat and venture indoors at Ski Dubai, a unique, alpine-themed attraction, with real snow 365 days a year! Enjoy skiing and snowboarding on five runs catering for all abilities – the lengthiest being 400m long and the first indoor ‘black’. There’s a quarter pipe for snowboarders and an interactive snow park with tobogganing, bobsledding and space for building snowmen – great for little ones. There are even resident penguins. Food, drinks, plus a full range of equipment and professional tuition are available.
Dining
Sensational cuisine from the four corners of the globe can be enjoyed in amazing venues across Dubai. Among the ever-growing list of show-stopping venues are Al Muntaha atop the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Blue Jade at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai and Nobu at Atlantis, The Palm. All our hotels offer a tantalising line-up of places to eat and drink, whether you fancy gourmet, buffet-style spreads, tented, toes-in-the-sand lunches, or elegant fine dining in sophisticated settings. By law, alcohol can only be served within the confines of a hotel. If your stay takes in a Friday (the first day of the Arabic weekend), you may witness a Friday Champagne Brunch, with free-flowing fizz.
Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain
Visit the tallest building in the world and allow us to pre-book you a slot on the observation deck, aptly named ‘At The Top’, offering incredible 360° views of the gulf coast and desert. Look out for the Dubai Fountain on Burj Khalifa Lake, which magically dances to music and dazzling lights.
Family Fun
Does your child want to be a pilot, racing driver, chef or police officer? Just some of the ‘careers’ listed at Kidzania, an award-winning creation for children aged 4 to 12 to experience education, entertainment and role-playing in a realistic, ‘mini-city’ environment. SEGA Republic is the Perfect place for adrenaline-fuelled family fun throughout the day and into the night, SEGA Republic is a thrilling, indoor theme park, comprising nine attractions, including a rollercoaster and family freefall experience, plus five themed zones and over two-hundred amusement games.
Desert Adventures
Fancy a thrill? Then head to the dunes for a 4WD safari. Morning, evening and overnight safaris are available, often including a short session of dune bashing with perhaps quad-biking, camel-riding and/or sandboarding thrown in for good measure. Less thrilling but utterly fascinating is the chance to be a conservationist for the day, learning more about the region’s natural beauty and wildlife.
Traditional Dubai
Wedged between the Dubai Creek and Bur Dubai district, the Bastakia Quarter is home to original wind-towered buildings, some of which have been transformed into cafés and art galleries – great for picking up contemporary art from around the gulf. Take a water-taxi 'abra' ride across the Creek, visit the textile souk filled with swathes of beautiful fabric, or call into the Dubai Museum to see how oil and ambition built this contemporary oasis.