Dubai travel guide

Burj Khalifa

From the decks on levels 124, 125 and higher, the city looks like a model, with towers thinning into desert on one side and the Gulf on the other. At 828 metres, this has been the world's tallest building since it opened in 2010. Book a timed ticket online; the sunset slots cost the most and sell out first, while a morning visit is cheaper and often clearer.

Dubai Fountain

On the lake below the Burj Khalifa, jets of water rise as high as 150 metres and sway in time to Arabic, classical and pop music, lit from below after dark. Shows are free and run every 30 minutes from 6 PM to 11 PM, with a couple of early-afternoon shows too. The bridge to Souk Al Bahar is a good viewpoint.

Dubai Mall

Sharks and rays glide past shoppers behind a huge aquarium wall on the ground floor, and there is an Olympic-size ice rink a few corridors away, inside one of the world's largest malls. A direct walkway links it to the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station. Come for the air conditioning in the hot months and the fountain at night.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Here is the Dubai of before the towers: narrow sandy lanes between coral-stone and gypsum houses, topped with wind towers that once caught the breeze and sent it into the rooms below. The houses now hold small galleries, cafés and cultural centres, and the lanes are quiet enough to hear your own footsteps. Walk it in the morning or late afternoon, then head down to the creek.

Al Shindagha Museum

Where the creek meets the sea, a set of restored houses tells how Dubai lived before oil, from pearl diving and trade to the old ruler's home. One house is given over to perfume, with the oud, rose and amber Emiratis love. Open daily 10 AM to 8 PM.

Abra across Dubai Creek

Sitting low on a wooden bench with the water close by, you cross the creek among dhows loading cargo, with the old souks on one bank and Bur Dubai's wind towers on the other. These small water taxis between Bur Dubai and the Deira Old Souq station leave as soon as they fill. The crossing takes a few minutes and costs a dirham or two, paid in cash on board.

Gold and Spice Souks

Window after window blazes with gold necklaces and bridal sets, and a few lanes away the air smells of saffron, frankincense and dried limes heaped in open sacks, alongside dates of every kind. Both souks are a short walk from the Deira abra station. Prices are open to bargaining in the spice souk; gold is priced by weight at the day's rate.

Jumeirah Mosque

Built of white stone in 1979 in a medieval Egyptian style, this is one of the few mosques in Dubai that welcomes non-Muslim visitors. Guided visits run by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding include a relaxed talk on Islam and Emirati customs, with questions welcome. Dress modestly; women cover their hair. Check the current tour times before you go.

The desert

Less than an hour from the city, the towers give way to rolling orange dunes and a silence you won't find in town, and at sunset the sand turns copper. Evening trips with licensed operators usually combine dune driving, a sunset stop and dinner at a camp; quieter options trade the dune bashing for a walk or a falcon display.

Emirati breakfast

Among Dubai's thousands of restaurants, Emirati food is surprisingly hard to find, and breakfast is the easiest way in. Look for balaleet (sweet saffron vermicelli topped with omelette), chebab pancakes with date syrup, and cardamom coffee. Cafés in and around Al Fahidi serve it in the morning.

Shawarma and Satwa

Late at night, the pavement tables of Satwa and Al Dhiyafah Road fill with residents eating shawarma hot from the spit, grilled meats and South Asian curries for very little money. Shawarma is everywhere in the city, but here it is a local ritual.

Deira’s food streets

Old Deira is where the city's newcomers cook the food of home: Iranian kebabs over saffron rice, Iraqi and Levantine grills, and Indian curries in plain dining rooms around Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat. Go hungry in the evening and walk from one to the next.

Karak chai and luqaimat

Karak, strong tea boiled with milk, sugar and cardamom, is the city's everyday drink, bought for small change at cafeterias, often without leaving the car. Pair it with luqaimat, crisp dumplings drizzled with date syrup. Both are part of daily life here, especially after sunset in Ramadan.

Waterfront Market, Deira

Counters of hammour, kingfish, prawns and crab fill the city's big fish, fruit and vegetable market on the Deira waterfront. Pick your fish, have it cleaned, and have it cooked at the restaurants next door.

Best: December to January

Peak season: the Dubai Shopping Festival brings sales, concerts and fireworks, and hotel prices are at their highest.

Best: November to March

Warm, sunny days and cool evenings, the most comfortable months for the beach, the souks and the desert.

Harder: May to September

Very hot and humid, with daytime temperatures often above 40°C; indoor attractions are the focus.

How do you get around Dubai?

• Transit cardYou need a nol card for the Metro, tram and buses. Buy one at any Metro station: a paper Red ticket suits a short visit, a Silver card longer stays.
• MetroThe driverless Metro has two lines, Red and Green. No eating or drinking on board, and the Gold Class and women-and-children carriages are fined if you sit there without the right ticket.
• Taxis and airportLicensed taxis are cream coloured and metered; use the official rank at the airport, not offers from touts.
• AbrasWooden abras cross Dubai Creek between Bur Dubai and Deira Old Souq in a few minutes, for a dirham or two in cash.

Do you need cash in Dubai, and do you tip?

• CardsCredit and debit cards work at most hotels, shops, restaurants and taxis.
• TippingTipping isn’t required. Check the bill for a service charge; if there is none, around 10% is a kind tip, and small cash tips for drivers and porters are welcome.
• Small cashAbras, small cafeterias and some souk stalls take cash only, so keep a few small notes.

Useful phrases

• HelloMarhaba (مرحبا)
• Thank youShukran (شكراً)
• PleaseMin fadlak (من فضلك)
• YesNa'am (نعم)
• NoLa (لا)
• How much?Bikam? (بكم؟)

Local manners

• DressCover shoulders and knees in malls, souks and mosques; beachwear belongs at the beach.
• GreetingsA warm handshake is common; many Emirati men and women prefer not to shake hands across genders.
• Right handGive and receive things with your right hand, or both hands, rather than the left.
• PhotosAsk before photographing people, especially women and families, and never photograph government buildings.
• RamadanDuring Ramadan, expected to begin around 8 February 2027, don’t eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Many restaurants stay open, often screened.

Useful apps

• Uber: Rides, eats, and moreBooking taxis and rides around Dubai
• Careem: rides, food, groceryRide-hailing and food delivery across the UAE
• Google MapsNavigation, transit routes and offline map downloads
• RTA DubaiMetro, tram and bus routes and Nol card top-ups
• Google TranslateTranslating Arabic signs, menus and conversations
• talabat: Food, grocery & moreOrdering restaurant food and groceries for delivery

Download links for these are in the Dubai guide in the Journey app.

Before you book

Check your government’s travel advice before you book.