The city’s high-rise buildings and shopping malls make it a top destination in the Middle East. Dubai may be famous for skyscrapers, gold souks, shopping malls, mosques, and desert tours but there is so much more the city has to offer and so many world class places to visit in Dubai.

A holiday hot spot, Dubai has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a must-visit destination. It has many cultural highlights and things to do as well as all the glamorous modern destinations.

Here are some of the 15 Top Destinations you need to tick off your list when you visit Dubai:

Table of Contents

1. Wild Wadi Water Park
2. Nikki Beach Dubai
3. The Dubai Mall Fountains
4. Burj Khalifa
5. M.A.D.Gallery Dubai
6. Zuma Dubai
7. Weslodge JW Marriott Marquis
8. Karaoke at Madinat Jumeirah
9. Waldorf Astoria Hotel Palm Jumeirah Dubai
10. Ravi’s Restaurant in Barsha
11. The Beach
12. Last Exit
13. Jumeirah Mosque
14. Deira
15. Dubai Heritage Village
16. IMG Worlds of Adventure
17. Downtown Dubai
18. Burj Al Arab
19. Al Fahidi Historic District
20. Legoland Dubai
21. Motiongate
22. Dubai Miracle Garden
23. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
24. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
25. Shindagha Historic District
26. How to Visit Dubai?

1. Wild Wadi Water Park

Located in Dubai and situated in front of the stunning Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi offers 30 rides and attractions for all the family. Wild Wadi is themed around the tale of Juha, a known character from the Arabian folklore.

It’s one of the UAE’s first waterparks, known for its iconic rides, including the Jumeirah Scarah and the lazy river.

2. Nikki Beach Dubai

This is one of the best beach clubs in Dubai for tourists to relax and enjoy music. The 150 entrance fee includes a bed, towel and softdrink.

3. The Dubai Mall Fountains

This is one of the must-see attractions in Dubai Mall – the world’s largest dancing fountains. It is an unforgettable experience that really just moves everyone because of its beauty and sychronized dance and song.

4. Burj Khalifa

This iconic tower is the tallest in the world. Needless to say, everyone needs to check it out. There’s an observation deck called “At the Top” where you can have a full glimpse of Dubai’s city skyline.

5. M.A.D.Gallery Dubai

The M.A.D.Gallery houses kinetic art by creative artists. The first M.A.D.Gallery opened in 2011 in Geneva and after great success, MB&F decided to launch the gallery in Dubai last January.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai

6. Zuma Dubai

Zuma is a top restaurant in the country. You can have full dinner or enjoy a beverage at the bar.

7. Weslodge JW Marriott Marquis

This is a great place to enjoy the views of the city is at the restaurant Weslodge Saloon. The theme is Canadian and American, and a popular dining hotspot for UAE residents.

8. Karaoke at Madinat Jumeirah

If you love to sing, you will enjoy Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Located in the heart of the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, K Lounge is a fun and happening Karaoke lounge. The fun and friendly atmosphere will let you enjoy a night out with friends.

9. Waldorf Astoria Hotel Palm Jumeirah Dubai

A perfect place to lay back and relax with your family – you can enjoy the Waldorf Astoria in Palm Jumeirah. This luxurious hotel has multiple large pools, a pristine white beach, and a family friendly atmosphere for a perfect way to spend a day on the palm islands.

10. Ravi’s Restaurant in Barsha

If you want to enjoy authentic Indian food in Dubai, you can include a dinner at this Pakistani – Indian restaurant in Al Satwa. Great food doesn’t have to cost a lot at all. This is a good alternative to fancy restaurants. Plus, you can enjoy the chicken mughlai and their delicious curries.

11. The Beach

Spend a day out under the Dubai sunshine at The Beach – an outdoor mall with great views of Arabian Gulf. From entertainment to shopping and fine dining to weekly markets, the Beach is definitely worth seeing.

12. Last Exit

On your way to Abu Dhabu, don’t forget to drop by Last Exit. It’s a cool unique food truck destination, inspired by roadside diners in the states. It has a wide variety of fresh and tasty street food.

SEE ALSO: 11 Things To Do in Dubai With Kids

13. Jumeirah Mosque

Jumeirah Mosque is by far the most beautiful of Dubai’s mosques. It is an exact copy of Cairo‘s Al-Azhar Mosque. It’s a great example of Islamic architecture.

Guide tours are available and organized by the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding, which runs a program of tours, lectures, Arabic classes, and cultural meals.

14. Deira

North of Dubai Creek lies the town, Deira. For travelers, Deira is most famous for its traditional souks (markets), which bustle with shoppers at all times of the day. Deira Gold Souk is the largest gold bazaar in the world; while the Deira Spice Souk sells every imaginable spice such as frankincense, cumin, paprika, saffron, sumac, and thyme. There are also fragrant oud wood, rose water, and incense.

15. Dubai Heritage Village

The Heritage Village showcases the cultural, maritime, and architectural history of Dubai. Tourists can spot displays of pearl diving and dhow building. These are two of Dubai’s economic mainstays. There are also recreations of traditional Bedouin and coastal village life, with Persian homes, a traditional coffeehouse, the famous AL Fahidi Fort and a small souk where potters and weavers practice their handicrafts at the stalls. Local music and dance are performed from October to April, and visitors can get advice from practitioners of traditional medicine.

Location: Shindagha, Bur Dubai

16. IMG Worlds of Adventure

The IMG Worlds of Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park. It’s situated in an area with a size of 28 football fields. It has more than 20 rides and attractions with four themed zones – Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard. Inside the facility, there are also 28 dining outlets.

17. Downtown Dubai

A development of Emaar Properties, Downtown Dubai is a city hub where you can eat, drink and be entertained. It is the home of some of the city’s largest landmarks including Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Fountain.

18. Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is an iconic landmark which is located on Jumeirah Road. It has its own helipad and a fleet of chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce limousines. It is the world’s most luxurious hotel. You don’t need to book a room to relish the view; you can simply go to the sea-side and enjoy this majestic view of the Burj Al Arab.

SEE ALSO: 35 Free Things to do in Dubai with Kids

19. Al Fahidi Historic District

Formerly known as the Bastakia Quarter, the Al Fahidi Historic District has narrow walking lanes filled with sand-coloured houses with wind towers on top of them which provide natural air-conditioning. The area has 50 buildings containing museums, craft shops, cultural exhibits, courtyard cafes, art galleries and two boutique hotels.

20. Legoland Dubai

The colourful theme park has 40 rides and attractions across 6 themed areas. Legoland is the ultimate year-round theme park destination in the Middle East for families with children from 2-12. Families can take part in a full day LEGO® themed adventures through interactive rides, water slides, models and building experiences.

21. Motiongate

Motiongate is a Hollywood-inspired theme park located in Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, showcasing themed areas and attractions based on DreamWorks Animation, Sony’s Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, and The Smurfs which opened its doors December 2016.

22. Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden has transformed the desert landscape of Dubai into the world’s biggest natural flower garden. Though it’s closed during summer, the garden contains around 70 flower varieties and holds the Guinness World Record for largest flower arrangement/structure forming the shape of Airbus 380.

23. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve renowned for attracting migratory birds in large numbers. The wetlands have large numbers of birds, crustaceans, small mammals, and fish.

24. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) aims to educate expatriates in the traditions and customs of the UAE. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to know more about Emirati culture and traditions.

25. Shindagha Historic District

The Shindagha Historic District was built by Sheikh Saeed’s father in 1896. The house displays a fascinating collection of stamps, coins, and photographs of Dubai throughout the 20th century. Simple pleasures are also to be found on the waterfront. You can sit in a café, sample traditional Emirati food and watch the dhows and abras sail by.

How to Visit Dubai?

Before you plan your vacation in Dubai, you need to be familiar with the visa regulations in the country. You also have the option to extend your visa or apply for a permanent residence visa in the UAE. Familiarize yourself with the public transport system in the UAE such as bus routes and Dubai metro routes and timings.

Do you know other must-see locations in Dubai? Share them in the comments below.