Dubai Highlights
A curated tour of Dubai's most iconic landmarks — from record-breaking skyscrapers and golden souks to desert dunes and palm-shaped islands.
Trip Stops
- 1
Start your Dubai journey in the oldest surviving quarter of the city. These 19th-century wind-tower houses (barajeel) were ingeniously designed to funnel sea breezes indoors — Dubai's original air conditioning. The neighbourhood once housed Persian merchants and is now home to small museums, art galleries, and traditional coffee houses.
📍 Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 2
This natural saltwater inlet is the birthplace of modern Dubai. Before skyscrapers, it was bustling dhow trading routes connecting Dubai to India, Iran, and East Africa. For just AED 1, hop aboard a traditional abra (wooden ferry) and cross the creek — one of the best bargains on Earth. The creek splits the city into Bur Dubai and Deira.
📍 Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 3
Dubai's legendary Gold Souk in Deira is one of the largest gold markets in the world, with over 380 retailers. The UAE has some of the lowest gold taxes globally, making this a shopper's paradise. The souk's roof is designed to look like a traditional Arabic dhow sail. Fun fact: in 2013, Dubai set a world record by displaying the largest gold ring here, weighing over 63 kg.
📍 Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 4
Just steps from the Gold Souk, this aromatic marketplace has been trading exotic spices, frankincense, dried fruits, and herbs for centuries. Walk narrow alleys filled with sacks of saffron, turmeric, and rose petals — many sourced from Iran, India, and East Africa. The souk is a sensory time capsule of old Arabian trade culture.
📍 Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 5
A 150-metre-tall picture frame standing between old and new Dubai — quite literally, with a view of historic Deira on one side and the gleaming Downtown skyline on the other. The sky bridge connecting the two towers has a transparent glass floor for a thrilling walk 150 m above the ground. It was named the world's largest picture frame by Guinness World Records.
📍 Za'abeel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 6
Opened in 2022, this torus-shaped silver building is frequently described as one of the most beautiful buildings on Earth. It has no columns — the structure is entirely self-supporting through a steel exoskeleton engraved with Arabic calligraphy. Inside, immersive exhibitions explore life in 2071, covering AI, space, climate, and human evolution. The building itself emits zero carbon.
📍 Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 7
The world's tallest building at 828 metres (2,717 ft), with 163 floors. It took 22 million man-hours and 330,000 cubic metres of concrete to build. On a clear day, the observation deck on the 124th floor offers views stretching 95 km. Fun fact: the building sways up to 1.5 m at the top in strong winds — and elevators travel at 10 m/s, among the fastest in the world.
📍 Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 8
The world's largest choreographed fountain system, stretching over 275 metres on the Burj Khalifa Lake. It shoots water up to 150 metres into the air — as high as a 50-storey building — accompanied by a rotating repertoire of Arabic, classical, and pop music. The fountain is illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 colour projectors, and is visible from space.
📍 Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 9
One of the largest shopping malls in the world by total area, with over 1,200 retail outlets. Beyond shopping, it houses the Dubai Aquarium (with the world's largest acrylic panel), an Olympic-size ice rink, a virtual reality park, and a dinosaur skeleton on display. The mall attracts over 80 million visitors per year — more than the entire population of France.
📍 Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 10
Shaped like a billowing sail, Burj Al Arab is one of the world's most recognisable hotels and one of its most luxurious. Standing on its own artificial island, it rises 321 metres and is often (though controversially) called the world's only 7-star hotel. Its helipad has hosted a tennis match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, and a golf shot by Tiger Woods.
📍 Umm Suqeim, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 11
The world's largest artificial island, shaped like a palm tree and visible from space. It was built using 94 million cubic metres of sand dredged from the Arabian Gulf — no concrete or steel was used in its base. The island added 520 km of beaches to Dubai's coastline. At its tip sits the iconic Atlantis resort. It took five years and 40,000 workers to build.
📍 Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 12
One of the largest man-made marinas in the world, stretching 3.5 km and lined with over 200 skyscrapers. The Marina Walk promenade is perfect for an evening stroll, with yachts, restaurants, and a buzzing waterfront vibe. At night, the reflections of the towers on the water make for one of Dubai's most photogenic scenes.
📍 Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 13
The world's largest natural flower garden, boasting over 150 million blooms arranged in extraordinary sculptures — including a life-size Emirates A380 aircraft made entirely of flowers. Open only from October to May (flowers can't survive Dubai's summer heat), the garden covers 72,000 sq metres and uses a drip irrigation system that recycles all waste water.
📍 Al Barsha South, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- 14
No Dubai trip is complete without venturing into the Arabian Desert just 45 minutes from the city. The vast golden dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve are home to Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, and falcons. A classic desert safari includes dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, and a Bedouin-style camp dinner under the stars with live entertainment.
📍 Al Marmoom, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Discover More Trips
Download Guyde and create personalized travel guides