Getting to know Dubai
With a clear development strategy in mind, you wouldn’t believe Dubai was just a desert land at the beginning of this millennium, when things started to take shape here. Dubai is the city of glamour, with impressive new shopping malls, commercial and residential buildings. Architectural speaking, Dubai is investing heavily in great projects, from artificial islands and marinas to tallest skyscrapers, making it a unique place for marvelous engineering. Supported by its airlines, Emirates and FlyDubai, the emirate has one of the most busy airports in the world, and at the same time is ranked in top 10 tourism city destinations.
What you can do for free in Dubai
The city of Dubai by its nature is anything but free, yet this does not mean tourists can’t wonder around and admire what Dubai has to offer. Among the most popular free things to do in Dubai, we recommend:
- Burj Khalifa Fountains
Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world (at the time of writing this article), at 828 m high, oversees the dancing fountains with amazing shows at every 30 minutes. This is similar to Belaggio fountains from Las Vegas, but with a much bigger repertoire. - Dubai Marina
Take a walk on the promenades of Dubai Marina, with artificial made canals, yachts parked, and surrounded by Dubai’s sky-scrapers. There multiple shopping centers and restaurants to stop and relax for a bit. - Go to the beach
Dubai has one of the best climates to enjoy sun and beach all year long. The beach from Dubai Marina is the most popular with tourists, but Jumeirah Beach, in close proximity of Burj Al Arab, is also a great place to go to.
Top spots to visit
- Business Bay
Business Bay is the area of Dubai where Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and fountains are located. Plenty of hotels, restaurants and activities are available in this area for both locals and tourists. - The Palm Jumeirah
This is an artificial island build close to Dubai Marina, under the form of a palm tree. There are both residential and hotel buildings here, with the Atlantis Adventure Waterpark located just at the top of the Palm. - Desert Experience
If you want to get out of the city, there are some daily tours to visit the desert. You can choose from multiple tour types, which may include Dune 4×4 Bashing, Sandboarding, Camel Safari and Dinner.
Hidden spots to visit
- The Coffee Museum
If you are a coffee lover, you will surely enjoy this stop at the Coffee Museum. It is located in the Al Fahidi Historical district. It provides both insights into coffee history and various products that can be bought. - The Farm, Al Barari
Located in the midst of Dubai’s desert landscape, this manmade oasis offers a relaxing dining experience in an environment with spectacular views. - The Rooftop Terrace
You are not done visiting Dubai if you don’t make a stop at one of the city’s many rooftop spots. Our choice is the rooftop bar at the One & Only Royal Mirage, overlooking the Arabian Gulf. With a comfortable interior, it offers Arabic bar snacks to accompany drinks.
Restaurants
Sea Food restaurant at Atlantis The Palm
While there are many restaurants to choose from, is no surprise the ones in tourist places will be more expensive. That being said, it costs nothing to check their menu available at the entry, along with their prices, until you find something that suits your budget and desires. Furthermore, a good choice of foods are available in the Food Courts of all shopping malls.
Recommended time of visiting
Dubai has a great climate for beaches all year long. While mostly arid, with hot summers, Dubai best times to visit are during the spring (February-March) and autumn-winter (October-December), since temperatures are at the most enjoyable levels.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Avg. temp. (°C) | 19 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 29 | 25 | 21 |
Travel enthusiast, always looking forward to the next adventure. Flying around the world, enjoying mostly sunny places, learning about new captivating cultures are some the main reasons driving me to travel.
