Dubai

The world's tallest building at 828 metres — an engineering marvel of aerodynamic bundled tubes rising from the Desert into the sky above Downtown Dubai. The 'At the Top' observation deck on the 124th and 148th floors delivers a panorama that encompasses the entire Arabian Gulf coastline, the Palm Jumeirah, the desert dunes, and 90 kilometres of city sprawl in every direction. The sheer scale of modern Dubai is incomprehensible from ground level.

The best-preserved example of pre-oil Dubai — a labyrinth of narrow lanes and sand-coloured courtyard houses built from coral, gypsum, and sea rock, dating from the 1890s to 1950s. The distinctive wind towers (barjeel) rising above the rooflines were the world's first air-conditioning system, channelling sea breezes into the rooms below. Now housing art galleries, the Dubai Museum, and the XVA cultural complex.

A 150-metre-tall picture frame of steel and glass — literally a frame for two very different Dubais. The south-facing side looks over old Dubai, Deira, and the creek; the north-facing side frames the glittering skyscrapers of Downtown, Marina, and JBR. A glass-floored sky bridge connects the two towers at the top, offering the most dramatic juxtaposition of old and new Dubai available from a single viewpoint.

Dubai's most photographed mosque and one of the few in the UAE open to non-Muslim visitors — an exquisite white stone structure in the Fatimid style with twin minarets and an elaborate central dome, set against a lawn on Jumeirah Road. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding runs guided 'Open Doors, Open Minds' tours that include a detailed explanation of Islamic faith and practice.

A beautifully serene café-restaurant in a restored 100-year-old house in the Al Fahidi neighbourhood, with courtyard seating under bougainvillea vines. Serves traditional Emirati and Levantine breakfast and lunch dishes — khamir flatbread with date molasses, balaleet sweet vermicelli, stuffed vine leaves, and excellent Arabic coffee with cardamom. One of the most atmospheric spots in old Dubai.

A modern Emirati fast-casual restaurant that serves traditional Emirati food in a contemporary format — luqaimat (honey-drizzled pearl dumplings), karak chai (spiced milk tea), chicken machboos (spiced rice), and fresh-pressed pomegranate juice. One of the most accessible, affordable, and authentically local food experiences in the city for visitors.

One of Dubai's most acclaimed Emirati restaurants — a refined celebration of authentic Gulf cuisine using traditional recipes from old Dubai families, served in an elegant dining room at the Raffles Hotel. The menu spans slow-cooked lamb ouzi, saffron-scented harees (wheat and meat porridge), fresh hammour fish in tamarind sauce, and the finest Emirati desserts including om ali and luqaimat.

A legendary no-frills Iranian kabab restaurant in Deira that has been feeding Dubai since 1978 — the city's most beloved institution for charcoal-grilled koobideh (minced lamb) and barg (fillet) kebabs served on giant flatbreads with fresh herbs, grilled tomatoes, and saffron rice. Cheap, extraordinary, and always packed with locals.

A Dubai institution since 1978 and one of the city's most beloved restaurants — a simple open-fronted Pakistani diner in Satwa where locals, taxi drivers, and in-the-know tourists pile in for extraordinary dal makhani, charcoal-grilled seekh kebabs, lamb karahi, and freshly baked naan delivered to the table every few minutes. Utterly unpretentious and among the most authentic meals in the city.

The world's highest restaurant and bar, occupying the entire 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa at 442 metres — a sophisticated space with floor-to-ceiling windows framing an extraordinary panorama of the Gulf coast. The bar menu features international cocktails, premium spirits, and a curated selection of wines. A minimum spend applies but the view is unmatched on earth.

A glamorous poolside rooftop lounge at the Grosvenor House hotel in Dubai Marina, with sweeping views across the Marina skyline and Arabian Gulf. Known for sophisticated cocktails, an East-meets-West ambience, and an impressive evening atmosphere. One of Dubai's most photogenic bar settings.

A rooftop sky lounge on the 63rd floor of The Address Downtown hotel, with a 270-degree panorama that frames the Burj Khalifa, Downtown skyline, and the Burj Khalifa Lake from a single sweeping terrace. Sophisticated cocktails, excellent wine list, and one of the most dramatic views available from a bar in the world.

The historic Dubai Creek that divides Deira and Bur Dubai is crossed by traditional wooden abra water taxis — the oldest form of public transport in the city, still costing AED 1 per crossing (25 cents). The creek waterfront on both banks is lined with traditional dhow boats, gold souks, and spice markets, preserving a slice of what Dubai looked like before oil was discovered in 1966.

The Dubai outpost of the legendary Kyoto-based specialty coffee brand — a minimalist white-and-chrome café serving what many consider the finest espresso in the city, using single-origin beans roasted in-house and baristas trained to obsessive precision. Located on the ground floor of Dubai Mall near the aquarium entrance.

Dubai's most vibrant and accessible public beach — a 1.7km stretch of powdery white sand backed by the glittering JBR residential towers and The Beach retail complex, with the Ain Dubai observation wheel rising behind it. The water is warm year-round, the beach is clean and well-managed, and the promenade has dozens of restaurants, cafés, and beach clubs directly accessible.

Dubai's favourite local beach — a long crescent of soft sand in Umm Suqeim facing the iconic Burj Al Arab silhouette on the horizon, consistently named the city's best public beach. Popular with Dubai residents for its clean water, excellent food trucks (the best in the city), paddleboarding and kite surfing schools, and a completely relaxed, non-resort atmosphere.

Two of the most sensory and spectacular traditional markets in the world, side by side in old Deira. The Gold Souk houses over 300 shops displaying an estimated 10 tonnes of gold jewellery at any one time — bangles, necklaces, and ornaments in 18k, 21k, and 24k. The adjacent Spice Souk is a riot of saffron, frankincense, dried rose petals, and towers of cinnamon sticks spilling onto the narrow lanes.

The world's largest mall by total area — 1,200 shops, a full-size Olympic ice rink, a 10-million-litre aquarium with whale sharks and rays, a dinosaur skeleton in the entrance atrium, and a cinema complex. Outside, the Dubai Fountain performs a choreographed water-and-light show on the Burj Khalifa lake every evening — the world's largest dancing fountain system and completely free to watch.

The quintessential Dubai experience: a late-afternoon 4WD convoy into the red dunes of the Arabian Desert 60km from the city, featuring adrenaline-pumping dune bashing in modified Land Cruisers, sandboarding, camel riding, and a traditional Bedouin camp dinner under the stars — with live Arabic music, belly dancing, falconry display, and unlimited food and non-alcoholic drinks.

A 2-hour dinner cruise aboard a traditional wooden dhow along historic Dubai Creek — gliding past the illuminated old town waterfront, the gold and spice souk districts, and the skyline of modern Deira. Includes a buffet of international and Arabic food, live Arabic music, and spectacular views of Deira at night from the water. One of the most atmospheric evening experiences in Dubai.