1. Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. Rising from the desert, Burj Khalifa honours the city with its extraordinary union of art, engineering and meticulous craftsmanship. At 828 metres (2,716.5 ft) and more than 160 floors, Burj Khalifa is 3 x taller than the Eiffel Tower.
You can visit this great architectural masterpiece on you own and book tickets online for the At the Top, Burj Khalifa. 1,821 ft high, At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY on Level 148 offers visitors the opportunity to soak up unmatched views of the city and beyond, from an outdoor terrace and a premium lounge. Enjoy a guided tour to Level 148, before heading over to levels 125 and 124.
2. Dubai Fountain
Whilst you are at Burj Khalifa, check out the Dubai Fountain. Choreographed to music, the Dubai Fountain shoots water as high as 500 feet. Designed by creators of the Fountains at the Bellagio in Vegas, the fountain is located on the Burj Khalifa Lake right outside Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa itself. Dubai Fountain Performances occur daily. Its amazing at night and we have witnessed it in action with the sound of Whitney Houston’s I will always love you…Absolutely mesmerising!
The show is completely free. Be sure to get there at least 15 minutes before the show time to ensure you get a good spot right at the front.
3. Dubai Gold Souk
Dubai Gold Souk (Arabic: سوق الذهب), is a traditional market (or souk) in Dubai. The souk is located in Dubai’s commercial business district in Deira. The souk consists of over 380 retailers, most of which are jewellery traders. Some of the shops are as old as four decades! The most popular items on sale are Gold, Platinum, Diamonds and sometimes also deals in silver. The souk offers visitors the chance to experience the culture of the UAE. There are no big Neon lights and LED screens here – It is pure Dubai culture with the true feeling of the Emirates. The traders we came across did want a sale but seemed genuine. Yes the shop owners may try to sell you products, but you won’t get scammed due to the strict laws protecting you. There are also some brilliant food outlets which serve Emirati cuisine at very reasonable prices. A lot less than here in the UK.
4. Bur Dubai Abra Dock
The Abra Dock in Bur Dubai, is an affordable 5-minute traditional wooden boat ride. Its really a taxi from Bur Dubai to Deira Old Souk which is across the creek. Take the Abra from the Bur Dubai side, look around the textile souk and the art galleries and end in the gold souk. Used by 15-20 million passengers each year, the Abra Dock in Bur Dubai is a memorable cruise in the water. The cost of this ride will set you back 1 Dirham (around 20p). Once you have finished visiting the Old Souk, just take another ride back from Deira to Bur Dubai – Its that easy!
The boats depart from their respective stations at the bank of the river. You just queue up and take your place on the boat. No advanced booking required, just turn up during the day. Have a Dhiram handy as they wont take card!
5. Water Parks – Wild Wadi Waterpark & Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Wild Wadi Waterpark – The Wild Wadi Water Park is an outdoor water park situated in Jumeirah, next to the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The water park is operated by Jumeirah International, a Dubai-based group of hotel chains so if you’re staying at either of these (or Jumeirah Emirates Towers) access to this park is usually included in your hotel booking so you won’t need to fork out the approximately £55 cost of a ticket. Our visit to the park lasted the whole day and was absolutely fantastic. The water park is clean and serviced well. Food is readily available (obviously at a higher cost than local shops) and there are water rides for all age groups. Definitely worth a visit!
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark – Located on the grounds of the The Atlantis Hotel, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark is Dubai’s largest Water Park. There are over 30 water slides and attractions to suit all age groups. If you wanted to relax, you can do so on their 500m of private beach. If you are staying at the Atlantis Hotel, access to this park is usually included in your hotel booking so you won’t need to fork out the cost of a ticket. If you are not staying at the hotel, ticket prices cost around £60. We spent a whole day here and it was fantastic. A very good water park and we recommend you check this park out if you like water rides!