DUBAI EVENTS
Popular Annual Events and Exhibitions
January - February
- Arab Health
- Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF)
- Dubai Desert Classic (golf tournament)
February - March
- Dubai Tennis Championships
- Dubai International Jazz Festival
- Gulf Food Show
March
- Dubai World Cup (horse racing)
- Desert Rock Festival
May
- Arabian Travel Market (ATM)
June - August
- Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS)
- Holy Month of Ramadan
September - October
- GITEX
November
- Air Show
- Big 5
- Cityscape
December
- Dubai Rugby Sevens
- Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF)
Things to See and Do in the City
Dubai offers a myriad of attractions steeped in time honoured tradition, from desert safari excursions to camel rides, to boat trips along the Dubai Creek and outings to the pristine Jumeirah waterfront. Exciting development projects such the newly debuted Burj Khalifa, the largest building in the world, make this an opportune time to witness history being made in one of the most dynamic regions.
Burj Khalifa
At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 stories, the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building and considered by many as ‘a living wonder,’ in concept and execution. The 'At the Top Tour' at takes you to level 124 of the world's tallest building where you can be one of the first to experience first hand this architectural and engineering marvel.
Bastakiya Quarter
Considered one of the oldest residential areas in the country, the Bastakiya quarter features a collection of courtyard houses dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. Many of the houses have been restored and turned into shops and restaurants for visitors to enjoy. This historic quarter also features a barajeel (four-sided Arabic wind tunnel) and is considered one of the most scenic sites, offering visitors a chance to appreciate traditional Arabic architecture.
Desert Safaris
To experience a glimpse of Bedouin life, a trip to the desert is a must. The safari offers a number of unique moments from a thrilling roller-coaster type experience to a camel ride in the desert. To end the desert excursion, indulge in an authentic Arabic barbeque dinner while enjoying the playful tunes of oriental music and the artistic performance of a traditional belly dancer.
Gold Souk
There are a number of souks (markets) in the city, but the Deira Gold Souk is considered Dubai's best known market. Whether purchasing gifts for family and friends or just wandering past the many purveyors of fine jewelry, this is a must do during your stay in Dubai.
Heritage and Diving Village
Located near the tip of the Dubai Creek, Heritage Village offers tourists the opportunity to go back in time and admire ancient artifacts found at the archaeological sites dating as far back as 550 BC. The Diving Village, located adjacent to the Heritage Village focuses on Dubai's maritime history, pearl diving traditions and architecture. To end your excursion, enjoy freshly roasted coffee and Arabic bread prepared by local residents.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding
Located in one of the oldest heritage sites in Dubai (the Bastakiya area), the cultural centre was established to help visitors and residents understand the customs and traditions of the United Arab Emirates. Highlights of the programme's offerings include tours of Jumeirah Mosque open for non-muslims, walking tours of the Bastakiya area, Arabic courses and a number of cultural awareness programmes.
Aquaventure
Aquaventure Dubai is one of the largest water parks in the Middle East, spanning over 42 acres of slides, rivers, rapids, and children’s play areas. The Leap of Faith provides the ultimate adrenaline rush, from a 27.5 metre high slide into a shark-filled lagoon.
For an unforgettable experience, Dolphin Bay provides the opportunity to interact in close up encounters with dolphins. Located in the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah, Aquaventure offers a fun filled day for the whole family.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
Offering hours of fun to thrill seekers and families, Wild Wadi is one of the most advanced water theme parks in the world and is located just 15 minutes from the hotel. The park includes 24 sliding slopes, swimming pools and restaurants.
Ramadan - the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar and is a time of daylight fasting and abstinence. During Ramadan, you will find that some of the facilities within your hotel may be limited, including restaurants and lounges. Out of respect, guest are requested not to eat, smoke or drink in public places during the fasting “daylight hours” of Ramadan, which varies depending on the lunar calendar.
Sightseeing tours, activities and excursions:
- Aerial Tours (seaplane, helicopter Ride)
- At The Top experience - tour at the Observation Desk on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa
- Camel and horse back riding
- Camel riding and camel racing
- City Tour (by land and sea)
- Desert and overnight safaris
- Dune Buggy Safari or Quad Biking
- Dhow and dinner cruises - Deira Creek and Dubai Marina
- Diving
- Golfing
- Falconry
- Cultural Breakfast and Lunch - by Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding
- Jumeirah Mosque Tour - every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10am
- Yacht Cruising and Fishing at the Arabian Gulf
- Ice Skating
- Hot Air Balloon Tour
- Skiing
- Sand Skiing
- Sky Diving
- Karting, Dubai Autodrome
- Paintball - Wonderland Aqua Park
- Tours and excursions to other Emirates
- Bar hopping and nightclubbing
- Shopping
Shopping / Souks
- Burjuman
- Deira City Center
- Dubai Festival City
- Dubai Mall
- Dubai Marina Mall
- Dubai Outlet Mall
- Dragonmart
- Gold and Diamond Park
- IBN Battuta Mall
- Karama area (or known as "little India")
- Mall of the Emirates
- Mercato Mall
- Mirdiff City Center
- Naif Souk, Deira
- Souk Al Bahar, Downtown, Dubai
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Gold and Spice Souk, Deira
- Old Souk, Bur Dubai
- Textile Souk, Bur Dubai
- Khan Murjan at WAFI and WAFI Mall
Golf Courses
- Al Badia Golf Club
- Arabian Ranches
- Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
- Emirates Golf Club
- Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa
- The Els Club
- The Montgomerie Golf Course
Cultural and Historical Venues
- Abra or water taxi (old form of transportation)
- Bastakiya (old houses by the creek)
- Dubai Museum - Old Al Fahidi Fort, Bur Dubai
- Heritage and Diving Village, Bur Dubai
- Jumeirah Mosque - open for non-muslims
- Majlis Al Ghorfat
- Old house of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, Bur Dubai
- Al Farooq Omar bin Khattab Mosque - largest mosque in Dubai - open for non-muslims (opened on 29 July 2011)
- Pearl Museum - National Bank of Dubai, Bur Dubai (by appointment through Department of Tourism Commerce and Marketing)
Attractions
- Aquarium, The Atlantis Hotel and Dubai Mall
- Aquaventure - The Atlantis Hotel Palm Jumeirah
- The Palm Jumeirah - Palm Island
- At The Top, Burj Khalifa, Downtown, Dubai
- Dolphin Show (Dubai Dolphinarium, Dubai Creek)
- The Dubai Fountain Show, Burj Dubai Downtown
- Dubai Ice Rink and Galleria Ice Rink - Dubai Mall and Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Dubai Zoo - Jumeirah Beach Road
- Entertainment Parks
- Global Village (country-themed pavilions) - only during Dubai Shopping Festival in the winter season
- Ice lounge - Times Square Mall
- Indoor sky diving (iFly Dubai, Mirdiff City Center)
- Indoor Wall Climbing - WAFI Mall and Mirdif City Center
- Jumeirah Beach Park and Public Beach
- Magic Planet - Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Center
- Modhesh World - Dubai Airport Expo (only during Dubai Summer Surprises in the summer season)
- Sega Republic and KidZania - Dubai Mall
- Ski Dubai - Mall of the Emirates
- Stargate Edutainment Park - Zabeel Park, Gate #4
- Wild Wadi Water Park
- Wonderland Amusement Park
Restaurants
Arabic
- Al Iwan - Burj Al Arab
- Al Khayal - Jumeirah Beach Hotel
- Al Mijana - Le Meridien Hotel (near the airport)
- Al Nafoorah - Emirates Towers Hotel
- Al Qasr - Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
- Al Tannour - Crowne Plaza Hotel
- Awtar - Grand Hyatt Hotel
- Café Arabesque - Park Hyatt Hotel
- Khan Murjan restaurant - WAFI
- Mawal - Al Bustan Rotana Hotel
- Yeldizlar - Fairmont Dubai
Chinese
- Noble House - Raffles Hotel
- Chi'Zen - Dubai Festival City (licensed to serve alcohol) and Mall of the Emirates
- Lan Kwai Fong - Oud Metha
- Shang Palace - Shangri-la Hotel
- Zheng He's - Mina A'Salam Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah
Contemporary European
- Glasshouse - Hilton Dubai Creek
- Al Muntaha - Burj Al Arab Hotel
- At.mosphere Grill - Burj Khalifa (122nd floor)
- Majlis Al Bahar - Burj Al Arab Hotel
- The Ivy - Emirates Towers Hotel
- Rhodes Mezzanine - Grosvenor Hotel
International
- Spectrum On One - Fairmont Dubai
- Al Iwan - Burj Al Arab
- Beach Bar & Grill - One and Only Royal Mirage Hotel
- The Market Café - Grand Hyatt Hotel
- Saffron - Atlantis Hotel
- Sezzam - Kempinski Hotel
- Teatro - Towers Rotana Hotel
- The Boardwalk - Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht
- Vu’s - Emirates Towers Hotel
Indian
- Nina - One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel
- Asha’s - Pyramids at the WAFI
- Indego - Grosvenor House Hotel
- Options - Convention Office Tower next to Novotel Hotel
- Ashiana - Sheraton Dubai Creek
- Iz - Grand Hyatt Hotel
- Hashi - Armani Hotel
French
- Café Chic - Le Meridien Hotel (near the airport)
- La Petite Maison - DIFC (Dubai International Financial Center)
- Verre - Hilton Dubai Creek
- Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire - Intercontinental Hotel
- Traiteur - Park Hyatt Hotel
- Rostang, The French Brasserie - The Atlantis Hotel
- Margaux - Souk Al Bahar, Downtown, Burj Khalifa
German
- Brauhaus - Jumeirah Rotana Hotel
- Der Keller - Jumeirah Beach Hotel
- Hofbrauhaus - JW Marriott
Italian
- Andiamo - Grand Hyatt Hotel
- Bice - Hilton Hotel Jumeirah
- Bice Mare - Souk Al Bahar, Downtown, Burj Khalifa
- Bussola - Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Spa
- Capana Nouva - Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
- Casa Mia - Le Meridien Hotel (near the airport)
- Cavalli Club - Fairmont Hotel
- Frankie’s Italian Bar & Grill - Oasis Beach Tower
- Medzo - Pyramids at the WAFI
- Ronda Locatelli - The Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah
- Segreto - Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Seafood
- Al Mahara - Burj Al Arab Hotel
- Amwaj - Shangri-la Hotel
- Aquarium - Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
- Fish Market - Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Creek
- Ossiano - The Atlantis Hotel
- Pier Chic - Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah
- Seafood Market - Le Meridien Hotel (near the airport)
Steakhouse
- The Exchange Grill - Fairmont Dubai
- Asado - The Palace Hotel, Downtown
- Fire & Ice - Raffles Hotel
- JW’s Steakhouse - JW Marriott Hotel
- Manhattan Grill - Grand Hyatt
- Rib Room - Emirates Towers Hotel
- Rivington Grill - Souk Al Bahar, Downtown
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse - Monarch Hotel
- Seafire - The Atlantis Hotel
- The Meat & Co. - Souk Madinat and Souk Al Bahar
Persian
- Anar - Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Pars Iranian - Al Dhiyafah Street, Satwa
- Shabestan - Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Creek
- Shahrzad - Hyatt Regency Hotel
Japanese
- Café Sushi - Fairmont Dubail
- Hashi - Armani Hotel
- Nobu - The Atlantis Hotel
- Okku - Monarch Hotel
- Sho Cho’s - Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
- Tokyo @ the Towers - Emirates Tower Hotel
- Zuma - Dubai International Financial Center
Mediterranean
- Cascades - Fairmont Dubai
- Finz - IBN Battuta Mall
- Kaleidoscope - Atlantis Hotel
- Mediterraneo - Armani Hotel
- Mosaico - Emirates Towers Hotel
- Olives - One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel
Thai
- Benjarong - Dusit Hotel
- Blue Rain - Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC (Dubai International Financial Center)
- Mango Tree - Souk Al Bahar
- Pai Thai - Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah
- Thai Chi - Pyramids at the WAFI
- Thai Kitchen - Park Hyatt Hotel
- Thiptara - The Palace Hotel, Downtown
- The Blue Elephant - Al Bustan Rotana Hotel
Asian / Fusion
- Buddha Bar - Grosvenor House Hotel
- Asiana - Raffles Hotel
- Beachcombers - One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel
- Junsui - Burj Al Arab Hotel
- Ping Pong - Dubai Mall
- Wok In - Movenpick Hotel Deira
Turkish
- Topkapi - Taj Palace Hotel
- Ottomans - Grosvenor House Hotel
- Kosebasi - The Walk @ The Jumeirah Beach Residence