The 10 Best Attractions in Dubai

The most authentic and cheapest experience in the city: a 1-dirham ride on a wooden abra water-taxi across Dubai Creek between the bustling Deira and Bur Dubai souks. Cross at dusk, then wander the Gold Souk and the fragrant Spice Souk, haggling firmly if you actually intend to buy. Vendors can be persistent and the lanes get hot and crowded, so go with patience and small cash, and keep an eye on the tourist-price abras that try to charge far more than the shared 1-dirham boats.

The Dubai Fountain is a spectacular choreographed fountain on the Burj Khalifa Lake, shooting water up to 150 meters in time to music and lights every evening. Shows run every 30 minutes after dusk and are free to watch from the promenade or waterfront restaurants. It gets very crowded at prime spots, so arrive early or watch from a bridge or an abra boat.

The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building at 828 meters, its tapering spire defining the Dubai skyline. Ride to the At the Top observation decks on floors 124-125 or the pricier 148 for dizzying views over the city and desert. Tickets are much cheaper booked online in advance, and sunset slots sell out fast, so plan ahead.

Jumeirah Mosque is one of the few Dubai mosques open to non-Muslim visitors, a graceful Fatimid-style structure whose twin minarets glow at night. Join a guided Open Doors, Open Minds tour run by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding to learn about Islam and Emirati customs. Tours run at set times with a modest dress code, and traditional attire is provided if needed.

The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls on earth, less a mall than a destination with an aquarium, ice rink, VR park, and hundreds of shops and restaurants beside the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain. Entry is free; individual attractions are ticketed. It is enormous and overwhelming on weekends, so pick a couple of targets and use it to escape the midday heat.

The Dubai Frame is a 150-meter golden picture-frame structure in Zabeel Park, designed so old Dubai lies on one side and the modern skyline on the other. Ride to the top for a glass-floored skywalk and views both ways, plus museum-style exhibits on the city's past and future. It is a quick visit and the theme is gimmicky, but the views and photo op deliver.

The record-holding waterpark at Atlantis The Palm, with a huge tangle of high-speed slides, a lazy river, private beach access and shark-and-ray lagoons. Go early to knock out the marquee drops like Leap of Faith and the Trident tower before queues build, and consider a locker and a shaded spot as a base. It's a genuinely world-class day out but expensive, and weekends and school holidays get very busy, so a weekday visit pays off.

Ain Dubai on Bluewaters Island is the world's tallest observation wheel at 250 meters, offering slow rotating views over Dubai Marina, JBR, and the Gulf from enclosed cabins. When running, it is a memorable ride, especially at sunset. Note that it has had repeated and prolonged closures for maintenance, so always confirm it is operating before planning a visit.

An indoor ski resort inside Mall of the Emirates with real snow, a proper 400m slope, tobogganing, and a colony of king and gentoo penguins. Buy the Snow Plus pass if you actually want to ski or snowboard rather than just play in the Snow Park, and book a penguin encounter separately if that's the draw. The rental gear and jackets are included but basic, and the slopes get crowded on weekend afternoons, so aim for a weekday morning.

A four-storey indoor biodome at City Walk recreating a tropical rainforest around one of the world's largest man-made trees, with sloths, toucans, snakes and free-flying birds. Time your visit for a keeper feeding or the flooded-forest sessions, and work top-down from the canopy for the best light. It's well done and great for kids but small, so plan on about an hour and don't expect a full-day attraction for the price.