Find places in United Arab Emirates

Must-Haves

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Bur Dubai)
  Wind tower houses, small museums and shaded lanes that show Dubai before the oil boom.
• Museum of the Future (Sheikh Zayed Road)
  A striking ring shaped building with immersive exhibits on how we might live tomorrow.
• Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (Al Fahidi)
  Cultural meals and talks where Emiratis answer visitors' questions openly and warmly.
• Jumeirah Mosque (Jumeirah)
  One of the few mosques in Dubai with guided visits for non-Muslims.

Off the Beaten Path

• Alserkal Avenue (Al Quoz)
  Warehouse galleries, independent cinema and cafés in an industrial district.

Must-Haves

• Dubai Creek abra crossing (Bur Dubai and Deira)
  A wooden water taxi ride across the creek that costs almost nothing and is pure old Dubai.
• Burj Khalifa At the Top (Downtown Dubai)
  The view from the tallest building on earth, best booked for a sunset slot.

Fun for Everyone

• The Dubai Fountain (Downtown Dubai)
  Free evening shows of water, light and music on the lake below Burj Khalifa.
• Global Village (Dubailand)
  A winter cultural park of country pavilions, street food from around the world and evening shows.
• Dubai Mall Aquarium (Downtown Dubai)
  A huge viewing panel of sharks and rays you can see free from the mall.

Must-Haves

• Deira Gold Souq (Deira)
  Window after window of gold jewellery in a covered market that has traded for generations.
• Dubai Mall (Downtown Dubai)
  One of the world's largest malls, with fashion, an ice rink and the fountain on its doorstep.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dubai Spice Souq (Deira)
  Sacks of saffron, frankincense, dried lemons and dates in narrow lanes by the creek.
• Karama Market (Karama)
  Bargain clothes, bags and souvenirs in a busy residential district.
• Deira Waterfront Market (Deira)
  A big modern fish, fruit and spice market where you can have fish cooked on the spot.

Must-Haves

• Kite Beach (Umm Suqeim)
  A free public beach with Burj Al Arab views, food trucks and a running track.
• Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Margham)
  Protected dunes home to oryx and gazelles, visited with licensed conservation minded operators.

Fun for Everyone

• JBR Beach (Dubai Marina)
  A lively city beach backed by The Walk's cafés and restaurants.
• Dubai Miracle Garden (Al Barsha South)
  A seasonal garden of millions of flowers shaped into arches and sculptures.

Off the Beaten Path

• Al Qudra Lakes (Saih Al Salam)
  Desert lakes with birdlife and a long cycle track, magical at sunrise.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Al Ustad Special Kebab (Al Fahidi)
  A family run Iranian kebab house that has fed Dubai since the 1970s.
• Ravi Restaurant (Satwa)
  A legendary Pakistani canteen for curry and bread at any hour.
• Al Mallah (Al Satwa)
  A Lebanese street café famous for shawarma and fresh juice.

Must-Haves

• Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant (Al Fahidi)
  Emirati dishes in a courtyard house in the old quarter.
• Logma (Dubai)
  Modern Emirati comfort food, from chabab pancakes to luqaimat.

Must-Haves

• Tom and Serg (Al Quoz)
  An industrial style café that helped start Dubai's specialty coffee scene.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Filli Cafe (Dubai)
  A home grown chain famous for saffron tea and quick snacks.

Great for Date Night

• At.mosphere (Burj Khalifa)
  A lounge on a high floor of Burj Khalifa with sweeping evening views.
• Bahri Bar (Mina A'Salam, Madinat Jumeirah)
  A terrace bar overlooking the canals and Burj Al Arab.

Fun for Everyone

• Barasti (Dubai Marina)
  A huge, casual beach bar with live sport and sunset views.

Must-Haves

• Dubai Shopping Festival (Citywide)
  A winter festival of sales, concerts and fireworks across the city.

Must-Haves

• XVA Art Hotel (Al Fahidi)
  A boutique hotel and gallery in a restored wind tower house.
• Bab Al Shams Desert Resort (Dubai desert)
  A fort style desert resort for a night among the dunes.

Great for Date Night

• Madinat Jumeirah (Umm Suqeim)
  A resort of canals, souqs and beach hotels built around Burj Al Arab views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Al Seef Heritage Hotel (Al Seef)
  A heritage style hotel on the creek at a fair mid-range level.

Must-Haves

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi)
  A breathtaking mosque of white marble and inlaid flowers, free to visit with a booked slot.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island)
  World art and history under a floating dome that scatters light like palm fronds.
• Qasr Al Watan (Al Ras Al Akhdar)
  The presidential palace opens its grand halls and library, with an evening light show.
• Qasr Al Hosn (Al Hosn)
  The city's oldest stone building, a white fort turned museum.

Fun for Everyone

• teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island)
  Immersive digital art rooms that respond to people moving through them.

Fun for Everyone

• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
  Racing themed rides, including one of the fastest roller coasters on earth.
• Yas Waterworld (Yas Island)
  A big water park with slides for every age.
• SeaWorld Yas Island (Yas Island)
  A marine life park with a research and rescue focus.
• Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi (Yas Island)
  An indoor theme park of cartoon and superhero worlds, perfect in the heat.

Must-Haves

• Corniche Beach (Corniche)
  A long, clean public beach with lifeguards and city views.
• Saadiyat Public Beach (Saadiyat Island)
  Soft sand and clear water where turtles nest in season.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jubail Mangrove Park (Jubail Island)
  Boardwalks through mangroves full of crabs and herons.
• Liwa Oasis and Moreeb Dune (Liwa)
  A string of oasis villages beside some of the tallest dunes on earth.

Great for Date Night

• Eastern Mangroves kayaking (Eastern Mangroves)
  Paddle quiet channels at sunrise or sunset.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mina Zayed Fish Market (Mina Zayed)
  A busy market where you buy fish and have it cleaned and cooked next door.

Must-Haves

• Souk Al Qaryat Al Beri (Al Maqta)
  A modern souq on canals with views of the Grand Mosque.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lebanese Flower (Khalidiya)
  A beloved spot for grills, mezze and fresh bread.

Great for Date Night

• Li Beirut (Jumeirah at Etihad Towers)
  Modern Lebanese cooking with city views.

Must-Haves

• Emirates Palace café (Emirates Palace)
  Coffee and the famous camel milk treats in one of the region's grandest hotels.

Off the Beaten Path

• Café Arabia (Al Mushrif)
  A cosy villa café with Middle Eastern breakfasts.

Great for Date Night

• Ray's Bar (Jumeirah at Etihad Towers)
  A lounge high above the city with views over the sea.

Must-Haves

• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina Circuit)
  The Formula 1 season finale, with concerts after the race.

Fun for Everyone

• Sheikh Zayed Festival (Al Wathba)
  A winter festival of heritage, food and world pavilions.

Great for Date Night

• Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental (Corniche)
  A palace hotel of domes and gold leaf on a private beach.

Must-Haves

• Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort (Liwa)
  A remote desert resort deep among the dunes of the Empty Quarter's edge.

Must-Haves

• Al Ain Oasis (Central Al Ain)
  Shady paths among date palms watered by ancient falaj channels.
• Jebel Hafeet (Al Ain)
  A mountain road to the summit with views over the city and into Oman.

Fun for Everyone

• Green Mubazzarah (Jebel Hafeet)
  Lawns and hot springs at the foot of the mountain, popular with families.

Must-Haves

• Al Jahili Fort (Al Jahili)
  A graceful mud brick fort with an exhibition on the explorer Wilfred Thesiger.
• Qasr Al Muwaiji (Al Muwaiji)
  A restored fort telling the story of the ruling family.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Ain Palace Museum (Central Al Ain)
  Sheikh Zayed's former home, simple and moving.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hili Archaeological Park (Hili)
  A Bronze Age round tomb with carved figures, set in a quiet park.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Ain Zoo (Al Ain)
  A large wildlife park with Arabian oryx and a respected conservation programme.

Off the Beaten Path

• Al Ain Camel Market (Al Ain)
  One of the last working camel markets in the country.

Must-Haves

• Jebel Hafeet Desert Park (Jebel Hafeet)
  Ancient beehive tombs, walking trails and simple camping.

Great for Date Night

• Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet (Jebel Hafeet)
  A hotel high on the mountain with views over the desert.

Must-Haves

• Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization (Corniche)
  Manuscripts, astrolabes and ceramics from across the Muslim world under a golden dome.
• Heart of Sharjah (Old Town)
  Restored coral stone lanes, courtyard museums and the old fort.

Fun for Everyone

• Sharjah Aquarium (Al Khan)
  Gulf marine life in an easy, family friendly aquarium by the sea.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sharjah Art Foundation (Al Mureijah)
  Contemporary art in restored buildings, mostly free to enter.
• Rain Room (Al Majaz)
  Walk through falling rain without getting wet in this art installation.

Must-Haves

• Central Souq (Blue Souq) (Al Majaz)
  Tiled arcades of carpets, gold and souvenirs.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souq Al Arsah (Heart of Sharjah)
  One of the country's oldest markets, under a palm frond roof.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Noor Island (Khalid Lagoon)
  A garden island with a butterfly house and sculpture.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mleiha Archaeological Centre (Mleiha)
  Fossil hunting, ancient tombs and desert stargazing.
• Khor Fakkan Beach (Khor Fakkan)
  A mountain backed beach on the east coast with a waterfall nearby.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Montazah Parks (Al Khan)
  Water park and amusement rides on a lagoon island.

Must-Haves

• Sharjah International Book Fair (Expo Centre Sharjah)
  One of the world's largest book fairs, every autumn.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sharjah Light Festival (Citywide)
  Winter evenings when landmarks are lit with projections.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Al Bait Sharjah (Heart of Sharjah)
  A heritage hotel in restored old town houses.

Must-Haves

• Jais Flight zipline (Jebel Jais)
  One of the longest ziplines in the world, over mountains.

Fun for Everyone

• Jais Sledder (Jebel Jais)
  A mountain coaster that winds down the slopes.

Off the Beaten Path

• Suwaidi Pearls (Al Rams)
  Boat out to a pearl farm and open an oyster yourself.

Must-Haves

• Jebel Jais viewing deck park (Jebel Jais)
  Wide views from the country's highest mountain.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Qurm mangroves kayaking (Ras Al Khaimah)
  Paddle among herons and flamingos.

Must-Haves

• Dhayah Fort (Dhayah)
  A hilltop fort with views over mangroves and date palms.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jazirat Al Hamra heritage village (Al Hamra)
  An abandoned pearling town of coral stone houses.

Great for Date Night

• 1484 by Puro (Jebel Jais)
  A restaurant near the summit with views over the mountains.

Must-Haves

• Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert (Al Wadi)
  Desert villas with falconry and wildlife walks.

Fun for Everyone

• Marjan Island resorts (Al Marjan Island)
  Family beach resorts on a man made island.

Must-Haves

• Al Bidyah Mosque (Al Bidyah)
  The oldest known mosque in the UAE, still in use.
• Fujairah Fort (Fujairah)
  A restored fort with mountain views.

Must-Haves

• Snoopy Island (Dibba)
  Snorkel with turtles and reef fish in calm water.

Off the Beaten Path

• Wadi Wurayah (Masafi)
  A protected mountain reserve with a year round waterfall.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Friday Market (Masafi road)
  A roadside market of carpets, pottery and fruit.

Must-Haves

• Dibba coast resorts (Dibba)
  Beach hotels with mountains and diving on the doorstep.