How To Use This E-Book
Getting Around the e-Book
This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Dubai, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.
The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Dubai, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Dubai are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
Youll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Dubai. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.
2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Dubais Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
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Burj Al Arab
The seven-star hotel is the citys architectural icon. For more information, .
Top Attraction #2
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Sheikh Zayed Road
Its futuristic skyline is home to some of the worlds tallest buildings. For more information, .
Top Attraction #3
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The Gold Souk
Pick up a glittering souvenir of Dubai in this world-famous shopping quarter. For more information, .
Top Attraction #4
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Al Fahidi
Traditional wind-tower houses are the attraction in the citys restored historic quarter. For more information, .
Top Attraction #5
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Mall time
Max out your credit cards at Dubais dazzling array of shopping malls. For more information, .
Top Attraction #6
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Abras (water taxis)
Enjoy a ride between the traditional souks on either side of Dubai Creek. For more information, .
Top Attraction #7
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Desert safari
Head out into the desert for an exhilarating 4x4 ride across the dunes. For more information, .
Top Attraction #8
Dubai Tourism
Madinat Jumeirah
A fabulous re-creation of old Arabia, with souks, restaurants, cafs and canals. For more information, .
Top Attraction #9
Chris Bradley/ Apa Publications
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
This Abu Dhabi landmark is one of the worlds largest and most opulent mosques. For more information, .
Top Attraction #10
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Downtown Dubai
A clutch of record-breaking attractions centred on the extraordinary Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building. For more information, .
A Perfect Day in Dubai
9.00am
Gold and spices
After breakfast in your hotel, head to the glittering Gold Souk in Deira, exploring the gold shops and adjacent Spice Souk, perhaps combined with a visit to the nearby Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House.
11.00am
Along the Creek
Hop on an abra for the five-minute ride across the Creek to Bur Dubai, and walk along the waterfront to Shindagha for views of Old Dubai. Retrace your steps back through the souk to emerge by the Juma Grand Mosque and Dubai Museum.
12.00pm
Historical interlude
Spend an hour exploring the excellent Dubai Museum an essential point of reference for anyone interested in the citys past.
1.00pm
Wind towers
Head down to the atmospheric Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, with its marvellous old wind-towered houses, and grab a bite to eat at the beautiful XVA Caf and Gallery.
2.00pm
Into the new city
Catch a cab or take the metro for the short journey south to the spectacular skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road. Get out at the iconic Emirates Tower and walk down the strip, admiring the eclectic high-rise architecture en route.