10 Cool Things to Do in Dubai

Dubai’s ambition has enabled it to become one of the world’s most dynamic city-states and a key regional hub in just a few years. One of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it’s continuously rebuilding and re-inventing itself out of what is basically a limitless desert. So you’ll never run out of new things to do and unique places to go in Dubai.

The list is almost limitless, but TRAVELIFE Magazine picks the top 10 things you should definitely not miss.

1

WATCH THE DUBAI FOUNTAINS

Watch mesmerized as water comes to life in the world-famous Dubai Fountains. With an estimated 10 million visitors a year, the Dubai Fountain is the largest musical fountain show in the world and one of the city’s top attractions. Located at the center of a man-made lake in the upscale Burj Khalifa district, It shoots approximately 22,000 gallons of water into the air, up to 150 meters, at regular intervals the entire evening.

That’s about as high as a 40-storey building, complete with fantastic effects made up of 25 color projectors and over 6,000 lights to create 1,000 artistic views. The Dubai Fountain is truly one spectacular aquatic show.

2

GET UP IN THE AIR WITH iFLY

Experience an entirely different thrill from Dubai’s fantastic duty-free shopping: zero-gravity via a few minutes on iFly Dubai. It’s basically indoor skydiving through a 10-meter long acrylic glass wind tunnel -- the first double vertical tunnel in the world.

And if you’re worried about the free fall, don’t be. Friendly and experienced iFly instructors take you through a 10-minute training session before your flight, teaching you a variety of flying positions and hand signals. And then you’re ready to jump and screaming “to infinity and beyond!”

3

GO ON A DESERT SAFARI

A Dubai vacation is not complete without a desert safari through Dubai’s so-called “barren region,” that is actually one of the most dramatic places on earth. There are various tour packages available including day trips, night expeditions and even an overnight stay on the sand and under the sky.

While camped out on desert, enjoy a variety of Bedouin past times or sports activities such as dune bashing, camel riding, sand ski boarding and al fresco evenings of eating, drinking and belly dancing. www.knighttours.co.ae/

4

SPEND A DAY AT WATERWORLD

Take a break from Dubai’s heat and have a gigantic splash at the Wild Wadi Water Park. Known for their marvelous architecture and fantastic entertainment infrastructure, Wild Wadi Water Park is yet another of Dubai’s world-class innovations. It’s ideal for families and friends; you can simply chill in a luxurious cabana or enjoy an adrenaline rush on one of their extreme water rides. Wild Wadi Water Part ensures a day well spent for everyone.
www.jumeirah.com

5

TAKE A DHOW CRUISE ALONG DUBAI CREEK

Delight yourself with a night of romance and enchantment as you cruise on a traditional wooden Emirati boat along Dubai Creek. This is one of the most enjoyable ways to see the sights of Dubai and also experience Dubai’s rich culture in a single tour. You’ll see key landmarks in the districts of Deira, Bur Dubai and Dubai Creek, while dining on local cuisine and being entertained with lilting Arabic music and dancing. www.knighttours.co.ae/

6

GO UP THE BURJ KHALIFA

If you can’t get enough of Dubai’s many world records, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper is another magnificent example. It surpasses Taipei 101, previously the world’s tallest building at 508 meters, and the builders of Burj Khalifa certainly made sure that their new world record would be difficult to overtake.

At over 160 stories, Dubai’s pride stands 828 meters tall. Feel like you’re on top of the world as its high speed elevators take you up to the 124th floor in minutes; and there a breathtaking view awaits on the sky deck. Built using over 330,000 cubic meters of concrete and 103,000 square meters of glass, the Burj Khalifa is truly a majestic modern-day wonder that shouldn’t be missed. www.burjkhalifa.ae

7

STAY AT THE ARMANI HOTEL

Giorgio Armani’s first hotel project in the Middle East is crisp and sophisticated – the ultimate modern hotel with luxurious interiors and high-tech facilities, created and operated exactly as the international designer envisioned. Armani reportedly takes a very hands-on approach regarding his pet project. Located within the Burj Khalifa, it’s a superb vacation getaway that exceeds expectations in terms of sleek lavishness. Stay, dine and unwind in very fashionable luxury. www.dubai.armanihotels.com

8

BRUNCH AT ATLANTIS

Emiratis and Dubai expatriates love to dine and get together; and a relaxing, heartwarming brunch on Fridays and Saturdays is a well-loved Dubai institution that can go on for hours. Taking advantage of this, Dubai’s hotels and restaurants offer brunch buffets that are literally gastronomic feasts. Each brunch venue has its own character and unwritten dress code – there are fancy brunches and casual eat-in-shorts brunches, so there’s one for every budget and fashion inclination.

With over 200 dishes and a spacious relaxing atmosphere, the brunch at the Saffron restaurant of the luxury Atlantis hotel on the man-made Palm Jumeirah island is among the best in the city-state. And here’s a tip from the brunch veterans in Dubai: make sure to have breakfast so you don’t gorge in the first inning and find yourself out of the game before half-time. A Dubai brunch is all about staying power and smart eating.

www.atlantisthepalm.com

9

VISIT THE DUBAI MUSEUM

Ditch the shopping and fine dining for a couple of hours and head on to the Dubai museum for a comprehensive glimpse its rich culture and history. It’s a fascinating museum with excellent exhibitions and recreations of Dubai life in the olden days, and an impressive collection of antiquities that will surely entertain the young and old.

Housed in the former 17th century Al Fahidi Fort, which is the oldest building in Dubai, it also contains remnants of excavated graves, and African and Chinese artifacts that exemplify Dubai’s early trade. www.dubai.ae

10

STROLL AROUND BASTAKIYAH

Dubai may be in the middle of a modern boom but it’s still managed to retain a charming and antiquated feel in Bastakiyah, one of its oldest residential areas. Take a tranquil stroll down the cobbled stones paths and examine the russet wind towers of this circa 1859 neighborhood.

Packed with locals and tourists, you’ll find old-fashioned coffee shops, art galleries and flea market stands; as well as isolated, hidden areas that bring a little calmness to the chaos around. It’s certainly a different side of Dubai that will just about round out your stay.

FAST FACTS ON DUBAI

Size: 4,114 sq. km.

Population:2,262,000

Religion: Islam

Embassy of UAE in the Philippines:

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Philippine Embassy in Dubai:

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