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imran shahabuddin, CC BY 2.0

Dubai

Dubai is the Gulf city of the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah and the desert beyond. Check current UK travel advice for the region before you book.

Best things to do in Dubai

The one thing not to miss

Go up the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, and watch the Dubai Fountain show on the lake below.

Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain
  1. 1. Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain

    • 2 to 3 hours
    • Tickets needed
    • Families
    • Couples

    The world's tallest structure, 829.8 m high, in Downtown Dubai. The choreographed Dubai Fountain plays on the lake at its foot.

    133,899 readers a month

    Sources
  2. 2. Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi (day trip)

    • A full day
    • Check entry rules before you go
    • Couples
    • Families

    The UAE's largest mosque, and the art museum on Saadiyat Island run under an agreement with France.

    18,274 readers a month

    Sources
  3. 3. Palm Jumeirah

    • Half a day
    • No booking needed
    • Couples
    • Families

    An archipelago of artificial islands in the shape of a palm off the Jumeirah coast.

    14,744 readers a month

    Sources
  4. 4. Dubai Creek

    • 2 to 3 hours
    • No booking needed
    • Couples
    • No car needed

    A saltwater inlet reaching about 14 km inland, the city's traditional port for trade and transport.

    4,318 readers a month

    Sources
  5. 5. Museum of the Future

    • 2 hours
    • Tickets needed
    • Families
    • Rainy day

    A seven-floor museum about the future of science and technology, in a torus-shaped building in the Financial District.

    4,059 readers a month

    Sources
  6. 6. Dubai Marina

    • 2 to 3 hours
    • No booking needed
    • Couples
    • No car needed

    A district built around a 3 km artificial canal along the Gulf shore.

    3,578 readers a month

    Sources
  7. 7. Ain Dubai

    • 1 hour
    • Check entry rules before you go
    • Families
    • Couples

    The world's tallest observation wheel, 250 m high, on Bluewaters Island.

    Check that the wheel is operating before you go.

    3,517 readers a month

    Sources
  8. 8. Dubai Frame

    • 1 hour
    • Tickets needed
    • Families

    An observatory and museum in Zabeel Park, 150 m high, built as a giant picture frame.

    2,742 readers a month

    Sources
  9. 9. Global Village

    • An evening
    • Check entry rules before you go
    • Families

    A cultural destination with pavilions showcasing countries from around the world, plus restaurants and a carnival.

    It runs seasonally; check the dates.

    1,717 readers a month

    Sources
  10. 10. Dubai Miracle Garden

    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Check entry rules before you go
    • Families
    • Couples

    The world's largest flower garden, over 72,000 m², in Dubailand, opened in 2013.

    It opens seasonally; check the dates.

    1,528 readers a month

    Sources

Just missed the list: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (11th by readers); Dubai Aquarium (12th by readers)

How we ranked these

By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain leads with about 133,899 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.

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