WHAT TO DO

What to do in Abu Dhabi
What to do in Dubai
What to do in Sharjah
What to do in Ajman
What to do in Umm al Qaiwain
What to do in Ra's al-Khaimah
What to do in Fujairah and on the East Coast
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Dubai

The emirate of Dubai is relatively small in size but large in ambition and drive. Dubai City is built along the edge of a narrow winding creek that divides the southern section of Bur Dubai, the city’s traditional heart from the northern area, Deira, a bustling commercial centre containing shops, souqs and hotels, as well as the emirate’s international airport.

The southern (towards ‘New Dubai’ and Abu Dhabi) and northern sections of the city (towards Sharjah and Ra’s al-Khaimah ) are linked by Al Shindagha tunnel and an ever-increasing series of bridges. Lined by distinctive skyscrapers and overlooked by Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Road leads south from the city centre, past the Dubai International Financial Centre towards ‘New Dubai’ and the Jumeirah Beach area with its host of upmarket hotels and leisure facilities.

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1. Weather permitting, walk along the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, soaking up the atmosphere of the hustling, bustling souk, dropping in at Dubai Museum in the old Fahidi Fort to get a flavour of life before oil. Ever since a branch of the Bani Yas confederation, the Al Bu Falash, settled here in the early part of the nineteenth century, the Creek has been the lifeblood of seafaring trade in Dubai. Relish the traditional buildings and art galleries in historic Bastakiya, and listen to the echoes of time gone by in Shindagha Heritage Village.www.dubaitourism.ae. Stop for refreshments at the delightful XVA Hotel in Bastakiya or try the delicious seafood at Bait al Wakeel overlooking the water

2. Transverse the Creek on an abra (a small wooden ferry) past the wooden dhows that ply their trade across the Gulf, to the goods-laden wharfs on the Deira side. Visit the Gold and Spice Souks here, revelling in the sights and smells of Arabia.

3. Take a trip on the Metro, Dubai’s super-clean futuristic public transport system. Much of the route is elevated, a good vantage point to see the city. The Red Line services the airport and stops at all the major malls, including Burjuman, Emirates Towers Boulevard, Dubai Mall underneath Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall. Although shopping is a much-favoured occupation, these malls are also great centres of entertainment.

4. For that top-of-the-world feeling, zoom up Burj Khalifa , the world’s tallest building, and certainly its most elegant, to the observation deck on level 124. Your reward will be an extraordinary view of the city and beyond. Back on terra firma, enjoy the spectacular Dubai Fountain extravaganza, an interplay of light, music and water in the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake

5. And don’t’ forget to visit Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in the centre of Dubai Mall, one of the largest of its kind in the world with a record-breaking acrylic panel and 270-degree glass walk-through tunnel. Best of all, go for a dive in the aquarium amongst the sharks, stingrays and enormous groupers. Definitely an unforgettable experience. /

6. Sip a cocktail at the top of the original seven-star hotel, the iconic sail-like Burj al-Arab www,jumeirah.com, probably the most photographed building in the UAE. Close-by Madinat Jumeirah, billed as the Arabian Resort of Dubai, has two first-class boutique hotels and the Souk Madinat offers delightful shopping and dining by the water’s edge.

7. Gain rare insights into Emirati life, culture and religion at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding , a non-profit organisation that seeks to encourage ‘open hearts and open minds’ by organising a range of activities, including walking tours, home visits and mosque visits.

8. Be entirely perverse and instead of soaking up the sun on the beach, go snowskiing or snowboarding at Sk Dubai in Mall of the Emirates. Alternatively, sit by the fire at the St.Moritz cafe, have a hot chocolate and just watch!

9. Revel in the delights of Atlantis at the tip of The Palm, Dubai’s man-made Island built in the shape of a palm tree. Here, in the Lost Chambers, you can immerse yourself in a maze of underwater tunnels teaming with fish, go helter-skelter through the extensive waterpark that is Aquaventure, or play with dolphins.

10. if your hotel isn’t on the Jumeirah Beach stretch, you can still enjoy the delights of Dubai’s sandy shores at a number of clean safe public areas along the coast. The beach between the Hilton and Sheraton hotels in front of the Jumeirah Beach Residences is particularly accessible, just a short walk from Jumeirah Lake Towers metro station on the Dubai Marina side of Sheikh Zayed Road. Sky and Sea Adventures will help you to enjoy the experience. The JBR Walk, between the high-rise buildings and the sea, lined by cafes and shops, is extremely popular with residents and tourist of all nationalities, especially in the evenings and at the weekend.

11. Experince the freewheeling marina lifestyle at Dubai Marina, in the heart of the region now known as ‘New Dubai’. This 3-kilometre stretch of water is not just a boat-lovers paradise and the home of Dubai Marina Yacht Club www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com, where you charter a motor cruiser, the paved palm-tree shaded walkways on both sides of the inlet are ideal for leisurely strolls, running and cycling. Here also shops, cafes and restaurants abound.

12. Venture out on a boat-trip along one of Dubai’s many waterways. You can take a sunset cruise, with or without dinner, on a wooden dhow along the Creek or at Dubai Marina. You can also enjoy a ride on the RTA’s streamlined ferries out to the tip of the Palm and the World. Catch the ferry at Dubai Marina adjacent to the Marina Mall or at the Al Seef station near Al Maktoum Bridge on the Creek.

13. Focus on the spectacular flocks of elegant flamingos that feed at the top of the Creek in the Khor Dubai Bird Sanctuary. During the migrating periods (Sept/Oct and March/April) enormous flocks of wading birds grace these shores. Dubai’s many green parks are also good bird-watching sites.

14.Discover the sleepy village of Hatta, its ancient watchtowers nestling amidst date palms by the side of a wadi (watercourse) at the foot of the rugged Hajar Mountains. Hatta is about a one-and-a-half hour drive east from Dubai past the sand dune known as the ‘Big Red’. The village has a few small shops and Hatta Fort Hotel is a good place to stop for lunch.
Explore the winding wadis nearby, and take a swim in the mountain pools. Most tour operators organise these trips, if you do not have your own transport.

15. Go to the races and enjoy world class horse racing and fine-dining restaurants at the Meydan Grandstand. The pinnacle of the season, the Dubai World Cup, is usually held at the end of March. Ladies, don’t forget your hats, this is a high-fashion affair!./

16. Explore Dubai at your leisure with a 24-hour ticket on the Dubai Hop-on Hop-off open-top tourbus. Create your own itinerary as you see the most popular sights of Dubai.

17. And when you have exhausted yourself on land, learn to dive underneath the warm waters of the Gulf. PADI courses are on offer at a number of centres.
Jumeirah's Pavilion Dive Centre and the Atlantis Dive Centre

18. Test your driving skills at Dubai Autodrome where the 1.2-kilometre international standard circuit at the Kartdrome features 17 corners. A tunnel and bridge adds to the excitement.

19. And if you are really feeling adventurous, try skydiving in the heart of Dubai near The Palm Jumeirah . The views must be spectacular!

20. The views are definitely breath-taking from the hot-air balloons that float over the desert near Al Ain. This is really in Abu Dhabi emirate but the company will pick you up from Dubai in the early hours of the morning so that you can catch the first rays of sun as it rises over the undulating dunes. Of course, you can also enjoy hot-air ballooning if you are based in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain.

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