Traversing a serene desert on the back of a camel? Scanning the skyline from the tallest building in the world? Or how about catching sun rays on a beach popular for kite surfing? You can do all of these things and more during a visit to Dubai.
In 2018, Dubai welcomed nearly 16 million international overnight visitors, according to Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The destination's popularity has been steadily growing as TripAdvisor named Dubai as one of the top 10 destinations in the world for 2019, among other accolades.
So if you plan to make Dubai your next stop, here are five things you won't want to miss:
Go up the tallest building in the world
A trademark on the Dubai skyline at 2,716 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper opened in 2010 and remains the world's tallest building. Visitors to the tower will find sweeping views from the three observation decks on the 124th, 125th and 148th floors or eat and take in views from its sky-high restaurant, At.mosphere, the tallest restaurant in the world.
Shop at the largest mall in the world
When visiting the Burj Khalifa, hit up the Dubai Mall, both of which are downtown. The mall is touted as the world's largest at 6 million square feet. There are 1,300 retail destinations, as well as 200 food and beverage spots and an opportunity to visit the a huge aquarium with over 33,000 animals and 140 species. There is also an Olympic-sized ice rink and indoor theme park within the mall.
Grab tickets to a world-class show
Dubai’s La Perle is a colorful, dramatic, acrobatic show with a Middle Eastern flair. Inspired by the culture of Dubai, the La Perle show takes place on a 2,820 foot "aqua stage" and features cascading waterfalls, along with acrobatics and stunts by performers. Seating wraps 270 degrees around the stage for an up-close-and-personal experience.
Embark on a camelback Bedouin experience
The nomadic Bedouin people traversed the region’s deserts for thousands of years with camels and livestock. Visitors can also take a peak into the ancient culture at the recently opened Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience. After a 30-minute camel ride through the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, the guides host a falconry show and organize a Bedouin-style dinner, which includes fare like camel meat, coconut rice, fresh chicken and lamb.
Soak up the sun or hit the waves at Kite Beach
The white-sand Kite Beach is 7.5 miles long and known for kite flying, and for water sports such as kite surfing, wake boarding and stand-up paddle boarding. For those interested in becoming more advanced in kite surfing, there is a kite surfing school on-site that runs throughout the summer months.