Welcome to Dubai
Dubai is gearing up to host World Expo 2020, but clued-in travellers know that this tiny powerhouse emirate has long been an exciting place to visit for foodies, fun seekers, shoppers, art lovers and desert rats. Whether it's the simple life or futuristic luxury, you'll be sure to find it in this peaceful outpost brimming with energy, optimism and openness.
Surfer on beach near Burj Al Arab HOLGER LEUE / GETTY IMAGES
DubaiTop Sights
Shaped like a deep-space rocket, the worlds tallest building also holds the records for the highest outdoor observation deck and the most floors.
BURJ KHALIFA, BY ARCHITECT ADRIAN SMITH / PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN HARPER / CORBIS
Dubai Top Sights
Marvel at the mythical old Arabian architecture of Madinat Jumeirah, with its mesmerising shops, entertainment venues and restaurants set around photogenic Venetian-style canals.
JEAN-PIERRE LESCOURRET / GETTY IMAGES
Dubai Top Sights
For a shot of Arabian Nights flair, plunge into this charmingly chaotic warren of souqs shaded by a wooden lattice roof and teeming with dazzling jewellery and gems.
GALLO IMAGES - FRANK MARITZ / GETTY IMAGES
Dubai Top Sights
This landmark luxe hotel, with its dramatic design that mimics the sail of a ship, floats on its own man-made island and has become the iconic symbol of Dubais boom years.
BURJ AL ARAB, BY ARCHITECT TOM WRIGHT / PHOTO CREDIT: MERTEN SNIJDERS / GETTY IMAGES
Dubai Top Sights
Housed in Al Fahidi Fort, the citys oldest surviving structure, this museum provides an excellent survey of Dubai's turbo evolution from desert settlement to 21st-century powerhouse.
MICHAEL DEFREITAS / ROBERT HARDING
Dubai Top Sights
Exploring this restored heritage area in Bur Dubai provides a tangible sense of historic Arabian architecture and culture. Some of the traditional buildings house museums, craft shops, galleries, guesthouses and cafes.
RICHARD NEBESKY / GETTY IMAGES
Dubai Top Sights
Hang on to those purse strings or give in to temptation at the world's largest mall, packed with such fun diversions as a giant aquarium, an indoor theme park and a huge dino skeleton.
FRASER HALL / GETTY IMAGES
Dubai Top Sights
Dubai's neighbouring emirate makes for a lovely day trip. Feast your eyes on the country's most ornate mosque, keep tabs on the upcoming Cultural District and relax on the sandy beaches.
WAEL HAMDAN / CORBIS
DubaiLocal Life
Insider tips to help you find the real Dubai
After checking out Dubai's top sights, here's how you can experience what makes the city truly tick. Connect with your inner glutton at a Friday brunch, keep tabs on Middle Eastern art on a gallery hop, or take a leisurely saunter along the marina. All are features that make up the locals' Dubai.
Sociable gathering
Diverse cuisine
Meeting friends for a gut-busting all-inclusive Friday brunch is a time-honoured tradition in Dubai. Restaurants, many of them in the five-star hotels, outdo each other with table-bending buffets of global delicacies, live cooking stations, cheese and dessert rooms, and enough booze to fuel a party in Vegas.
Selection of desserts on display at Al Qasr Hotel BRIAN BJELDBAK / ALAMY
Artistic inspiration
Urban landscapes
Tear yourself away from the beach or mall and find out why the art scene in Dubai is buzzing. Start by perusing the white cube warehouse galleries of Al Quoz, a gritty industrial area. It's a great way to familiarise yourself with an artistic vision still relatively unknown outside the Middle East.
Alserkal Avenue warehouse complex in Al Quoz COURTESY ALSERKAL AVENUE, DUBAI
Relaxed vibe
Family fun
Nobody walks in LA, and the same could be said about Dubai. Except, that is, at the scenic Dubai Marina where you can promenade along the waterfront amid sleek yachts and a phalanx of high-rises, perhaps stopping for coffee or a bite in a charismatic restaurant or