Dubai Top Attractions

Bastakiya Quarter
In the days before electricity and air conditioning, the local houses alongside Dubai Creek used to be cooled by wind towers. These ecologically sound structures and the traditional courtyard houses they served can now be visited in the newly restored Bastakiya district. There is a modest museum, a sprinkling of cafés, some small art galleries and a new street market every Saturday in this quiet and Bohemian quarter of Dubai's city centre.

East of Dubai Souk on Al-Fahidi Street
Website: www.souqalbastakiya.com
Opening hours: Sat 1000-dusk (souq).

Burj Khalifa
At 828m (2,717ft), the Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building featuring the world's first Armani Hotel (opening 18 March 2010), a mall, restaurants, a fitness centre and the world's highest public observation deck, ‘At the Top', on the 124th floor, offering unparalleled views of the city. The skyscraper opened in January 2010 in Downtown Dubai and is Dubai's latest attraction.

1 Emaar Boulevard, Downtown Dubai
Tel: (04) 888 8124.
Website: www.burjkhalifa.ae
Opening hours: Sun-Wed 1000-2200, Thurs-Sat 1000-midnight.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO site: N.

Children's City
Housed in Dubai Creekside Park, Children's City is a big hit with both local and international youngsters. The 7,700-sq-m (82,882-sq-ft) development takes young minds on a journey through the human body, science and space, with the help of different ‘zones'. With plenty of hands-on action to keep even the most demanding children occupied, this is no dull old museum. All exhibits are in English as well as Arabic.

Creekside Park
Tel: (04) 334 0808.
Website: www.childrencity.ae
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0900-2030, Fri 1500-2030.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO site: N.

Dubai Museum
The building that houses the Dubai Museum, Al-Fahidi Fort, is an attraction in itself. The historic fort, dating back as far as 1799, was converted into a museum in 1970. The exhibits range from old weapons and pearl-diving outfits to an impressive range of military artefacts. Some of the most fascinating exhibits are those recovered from the 3,000- to 4,000-year-old graves at Al-Ghusais, while perhaps the most striking is the huge wooden sailing craft that is beached outside.

Al-Fahidi Road
Tel: (04) 353 1862.
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0830-2030, Fri 1430-2030.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N.

Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque was only rebuilt in 1998 and boasts the city's tallest minaret, at 70m (231ft). Located on the Bur Dubai side of the creek, near the Ruler's Court, the Grand Mosque consists of nine large domes and 45 smaller ones. This huge religious edifice can house up to 1,200 worshippers. Non-Muslims cannot enter but the mosque is worth visiting for its drama, scale and the special place it holds in the hearts of many locals.

Ali ibin Ali Talib Street
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours; entrance to non-Muslims is forbidden. 

Heritage and Diving Villages
These two recreations of former Emirati settlements are an attempt to weave in some local colour among Dubai's rapidly developing 21st-century skyline. The emphasis is on recalling the Bedouin way of life, with barasti housing, locals dressed in traditional garb, displays of traditional handicrafts and the paraphernalia of pear diving, once the mainstay of the Gulf. During winter months, the area comes alive with traditional song and dance, and local families sharing their heritage with their children. Local handicrafts are also available for purchase.

Near Shindagha Tunnel, Al-Shindagha Road
Tel: (04) 393 7151.
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-2200, Fri 0800-1100 and 1600-2200.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N. 

Jumeirah Mosque
The Jumeirah Mosque is the most photographed building in the city and an impressive example of modern Islamic architecture. Built along medieval Fatimid lines, entirely of stone, the mosque and its two minarets are unmistakable. It is particularly attractive at night, when subtle lighting increases its dramatic effect. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques in Dubai, although they can enter this one if on an organised tour. Visitors should call the tourist office to check if these are available.

Al-Jumeirah Road
Tel: (04) 353 6666.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours; access to non-Muslims through organised tours only.
Admission charge: Y (for tours).
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N.

Majlis Ghorfat Um-Al-Sheef
At the Majlis Ghorfat Um-Al-Sheef, it is possible to delve into the opulent world of the moneyed men of Dubai. The late ruler of Dubai, Ghorfat Um-Al-Sheef, used this building as his ‘home from home' but it is now open to the public. The building dates back to 1955 and its most impressive feature are the majlis gardens, which include a reproduction of a traditional Arab irrigation system.

17 Street, off Al-Jumeirah Road
Tel: (04) 394 6343.
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0830-2030, Fri 1430-2030.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N.

Palm Islands and the World
The three Palm islands, said to be visible from space, form the largest man-made islands in the world. The Palm Jumeirah, whose first residents moved in during 2007, boasts a number of hotels as well as private residences. Palm Jebel Ali will boat further leisure facilities, including an aquatic theme park, when it opens in 2012. The third of the islands, Palm Deira, will be more geared towards residential use with over 7,000 villas, and will be the largest of the trio when it opens in 2011/12. New bridges will connect the islands to the mainland in one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by man. The three islands are going to be accompanied by ‘The World', all very Dubai, an ambitious attempt to recreate the shape of the world on 300 offshore islands.

Websites: www.thepalm.ae; www.theworld.ae

Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum's House
Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum's House is one of the oldest houses in the city, as well as one of the best examples of traditional architecture. Built from sandstone in 1896, the house offers sweeping views out towards the sea - although the view has been slightly obscured by more modern development. The one-time ruler of Dubai used the house to monitor trade in and out of the country. The house was reopened as a museum in 1986; it also contains an exhibition illuminating Dubai's development from the 1940s to the late 1960s.

Near Al-Shindagha Tunnel, Al-Shindagha Road
Tel: (04) 393 7139.
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-2030, Fri 1530-2130.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N.

Souks (markets)
The souks, or traditional markets, are one of Dubai's greatest attractions. They are located on both sides of the creek, with the most impressive on the Deira side. The highlight is the colourful Spice Market, which abounds with exotic aromas and bustles with locals seeking bargains. Wandering around the atmospheric souks is a good way for visitors to get in touch with how life was in Dubai, before oil was discovered.

Bur Dubai Souk, Ali Bin Abi Talib Street
Deira Covered Souk, Naib Road
Deira Old Souk or Spice Souk, Al Abra Street
Deira Gold Souk, Sikkat al-Khali Street
Perfume Souk, Sikkat al-Khali Street
Electronics Souk, Al-Sabkha and Al-Maktoum Hospital Roads
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 0700-1200 and 1700-1900, Fri 1700-1900.