Dubai is big: to drive through all parts of the city would not be enough for me to take a few vacations. On another trip to Dubai, I rented a car and visited the most popular areas – from the Abu Dhabi border to the Sharjah border – during my two week vacation with my family. In this article I will tell you where I liked it and where I didn’t like it and why. I have marked all the places on the map:
Downtown and Business Bay
- Briefly: Downtown and adjoining Business Bay form a compact business district that is growing upwards rather than outwards
- Are there beaches: No
- More info: on Google maps
This area will interest tourists who want to live in maximum proximity to the skyscraper “Burj Khalifa” and feel the rhythm of business Dubai.
What to see. In my opinion, all Dubai attractions pale in comparison with the tallest building in the world – the 828-meter skyscraper “Burj Khalifa”. Climbing to the At The Top Burj Khalifa open-air observation deck on the 148th floor costs AED 399. You buy the ticket on the website. I regretted the money and did not go up there.
You can watch the singing fountain show in front of the Burj Khalifa for free. It takes place every day from 18:00 to 23:00.
If you have children, I advise you to go to the Souk section of the Dubai Mall: there is a skeleton of a giant diplodocus. The dinosaur is 155 million years old, 7 meters high and 25 meters long. It is shown for free, and we did not see any queues or crowds of tourists around it.
Architecture lovers will appreciate Opus Tower – a project by the famous Zaha Hadid – and the Dubai Opera building, which hosts tours of the world’s leading theaters.
Lodging. The cheapest option I found here is the Ramee Dream Hotel Downtown. Among the exclusive offers is the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa.
Beaches. The area doesn’t have its own beaches, you have to drive to neighboring Jumeirah. Mercato and J1, formerly La Mer, are about 17 minutes by car.
Food. Downtown is home to fine and expensive restaurants. Michelin-starred Armani and At.Mosphere are located in the Burj Khalifa. Reservations must be made in advance. A coffee at At.Mosphere on the 122nd floor will cost 100 AED, but with a view of the clouds.
I find it more interesting to have a snack with a view of the Burj Khalifa. I find Joe’s Cafe or the Italian restaurant Gia on the first floor of Dubai Mall ideal. In the same mall works the institution of the famous. You can also see the skyscraper and fountains from Public Cafe.
Transportation. The neighborhoods have great difficulty with parking, so we came here by subway to Burj Khalifa station.
There is a direct metro line from Dubai International Airport. From Al Maktoum Airport, it takes about an hour and a half: first take the F55 bus to Expo 2020 station, then take the metro.
Dubai Marina
- Briefly: Luxury coastal area with marina
- Are there beaches: yes
- More info: on Google maps
Dubai Marina is one of the rare places in the emirate where architects thought first of all about pedestrians rather than motorists. A friend who lives in Dubai advised us to stay here.
The district stretches along the giant harbor, where one of the world’s largest artificial marinas is located. On the shore, skyscrapers with hotels, apartments and offices have sprouted like mushrooms, connected by convenient pedestrian walkways.
What to see. The marina in Dubai Marina is one of the main attractions of the Emirate. It looks most spectacular after sunset, when the lights of skyscrapers are reflected in the sea water and expensive yachts sail by.
The area is home to the artificial island Bluewaters, where the world’s largest Ferris wheel, the Eye of Dubai, .stands In August 2024 it is closed for repairs. There is also the Madame Tussauds Museum, a branch of the London Wax Museum.
In my opinion, the island has the best view of the Marina skyscrapers. We also managed to see a drone show on the waterfront: it takes place during the shopping festivals in December and January.
Lodging. Hotel prices in Dubai Marina are high, but you can find cheaper options here.
I stayed at the five-star Voco Bonnington and the City Premiere Dubai Marina apartment hotel. From the first one you had to walk half an hour to the beach. The second one liked the location on the marina and the 100-meter apartments.
Beaches. There is a public beach in the neighborhood. It is a half hour walk from the furthest Marina Hotel.
Food: A glass of non-alcoholic Mojito at the Smoky Beach beach bar in the spring of 2024 cost 48 AED. To me, that’s expensive for a mint and a few ice cubes.
We went to eat in the Jumeirah Lake Towers neighborhood: the farther from the beach, the cheaper it is. I remembered the Asian chain bistro Wokyo Noodle Bar. We also went to McGettiganPub ‘s Irish on the first floor of the Voco Bonnington Hotel a few times – the prices did not scare us.
Transportation. In Dubai Marina perfectly developed public transportation. There is a streetcar running through the area, which goes almost to the beach – you need to get off at the Jumeirah Beach Residence stop.
From Dubai International Airport you can get here by metro to DMCC or Sobha Realty stations. DMCC is connected by a pedestrian bridge to Dubai Marina Mall. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Burj Khalifa by public transportation. Al Maktoum Airport is an hour and a half away by metro and bus.
The Dubai Ferry river ferries were the most memorable experience for our family. We used them as an inexpensive way to see Dubai from the sea. There are two routes: one ferry goes to Palma Jumeirah and back, the other takes you along the entire coastline to Deira and back. The schedule and prices are available on the website.
Jumeirah
- Briefly: a low-rise neighborhood with the largest selection of beaches in Dubai
- Are there beaches: yes
- More info: on Google maps
Jumeirah is a low-rise neighborhood stretching along the bay. Next to the villas of locals, there are several beaches to suit all tastes.
What to see. The main attraction of the area is the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in the shape of a sail. It is clearly visible from any Jumeirah beach.
Also in the neighborhood is the Jumeirah Mosque, one of the largest in the city. Every day, except Friday, it can be visited with a guide at 10:00 and 14:00. The excursion is paid. The mosque’s website says that registration begins 30 minutes before the tour starts.
One evening we made our way out to the City Walk shopping arcade, which is more like a promenade with a fountain and beautiful streets. There used to be themed fountain shows in the evenings, but they are not running in the summer of 2024. Follow the news on the website.
Lodging. Here you can settle in within walking distance of the beaches. By location I liked Beach Walk Hotel – it is three minutes from the beach “Kite”. Burj Al Arab is located on the territory of the Madinat Jumeirah hotel complex.
Beaches were the main focus of our visit to Jumeirah. There are a lot of them, but I didn’t notice much difference between them. Even the view of the Burj Al Arab Hotel is about the same at all of them.
For kitesurfing I recommend “Kite”, for tranquility and privacy – “Mercato”. The most expensive and prestigious beach vacation is available at the resort “Madinat Jumeirah”.
Food. Jumeirah restaurants have high prices, we didn’t eat there. I heard a lot of praise from acquaintances about the Syrian cuisine restaurant Orfali Bros Bistro. It has a Michelin star and is one of the 100 best restaurants in the world in 2024.
Transportation. From Dubai International Airport take the metro to World Trade Center, Emirates Tower or Financial Center stations. From Al Maktoum Airport take buses and subways to the same stations. From there, buses run to all of Jumeirah’s beaches. If you rented a car, you won’t have to worry about parking: even on the waterfront they are free, and there are plenty of them. Burj Khalifa can be reached from any Jumeirah beach by car in 15 minutes.
Jumeirah Palm
- Briefly: an artificial island with the Atlantis Hotel, which has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records several times
- Are there beaches: yes
- More info: on Google maps
This is the neighborhood-island. It looks interesting from the sky – like a palm leaf with 16 “fingers”. On the ground it’s not noticeable, so I wasn’t particularly thrilled.
What to see. If money allows, the Skydive Dubai parachute center will help you to see the Palm from above. The cost of tandem jumps with an instructor starts from 1899 AED. If I am going to go skydiving, I would like to do it here.
One of the main attractions of the island is the Atlantis The Palm Hotel, the photos of which adorn all guidebooks. It is one of the first and most popular resort hotels in the emirate. The building is beautiful, but the best view is not close to it, but at the exit from the shopping center The Pointe. Another hotel in the complex, Atlantis The Royal., opened nearby in 2023
Lodging. Atlantis The Palm has Underwater Suites, where from the bedroom and bathroom windows you can admire passing sharks, rays and other inhabitants of the closed aquarium lagoon. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is cheaper, but it is also a luxury hotel with corresponding prices.
Beaches. The island has predominantly private hotel beaches. There are a few beach clubs. But I like open bays and depth, and on Palma Jumeirah near the shore is very shallow.
Atlantis has the world’s largest water park. If you buy a ticket, you can use the resort’s beach at the same time.
Food. Trèsind Studio, with two Michelin stars, has been ranked in the top 20 best restaurants in the world in 2024. It offers a tasting set for 895 AED.
The budget option was a food court at The Pointe, but as of 2023, the mall is undergoing redevelopment and restaurants have been evicted from there.
Transportation. We traveled around Palma by rented car: I thought it was the easiest way to get around here. The main public transportation in the area is the monorail: these are several small cars that travel on a single rail.
It is not connected to the city’s metro, so you have to pay a separate fare. The Palm Getaway stop is the closest to the streetcar stops – you can take it to Dubai Marina, transfer to the metro there and get to Dubai International Airport or other parts of the city. To Al Maktoum Airport, you will have to take the metro and change to a bus.
There is also a Dubai Ferry from Dubai Marina to Palma Jumeirah.
Al-Barsha
- Briefly: popular bedroom community with excellent infrastructure
- Are there beaches: no
- More info: on Google maps
My friends have lived in Dubai for years and think it’s the best neighborhood for expats. But tourists here may miss the beaches.
What to see. Al Barsha is home to Dubai’s Garden of Wonders with figures of animals, cartoon characters, castles – all made of flowers. The composition with the Emirates airplane was included in the Guinness Book of Records. The park is open from November to April, when there is no sweltering heat. I was there in December. I have never seen so many flowers, and also in a desert area – it was very impressive.
Next door is the Butterfly Garden, an indoor greenhouse with exotic flowers and 15,000 butterflies. The neighborhood also has Al-Barsha Pond, a classic park with a pond.
We have been to the Mall of Emirates .several times I am not a fan of shopping, but I liked it at Mall of Emirates. We bought most of our souvenirs, spices and sweets in the Carrefour hypermarket: I don’t like haggling in markets, I prefer fixed prices.
Also in the mall is Ski Dubai – it’s called the largest indoor ski area in the world.
Lodging. In my opinion, the best option in terms of price and quality is the Ibis Al Barsha Hotel. For my next trip, I have chosen the Al Khoory Atrium Hotel. There is also the chic Kempinski Mall of Emirates.
Beaches. Barsha does not have its own coastline. The closest beaches are Jumeirah: by rented car or cab – 15-20 minutes without traffic jams. Buses also go there.
Food. Mall of Emirates has a lot of restaurants from budget to luxury. We had a couple of burgers and fries there. Of the more interesting establishments, there is a chain of African restaurants called Tribes.
Transportation. Al Barsha has red line metro stations Mall of Emirates and Mashreq, from which it is convenient to get to Dubai International Airport. It takes only 13 minutes to reach Burj Khalifa on the red line. Al Maktoum Airport is accessible by metro and bus.
The area is separated from neighboring Jumeirah by the Sheikh Zayed Highway, which provides access to other parts of the city and the Emirates by car.
Bur Dubai
- Briefly: central area and the oldest part of the city
- Are there beaches: no
- More info: on Google maps
Dubai began to be actively built up since the 1990s, when oil prices rose sharply. Most of the modern architectural sights are newly built, but in the Bur Dubai neighborhood there is a fortress, built back in 1787. It is the oldest building in the city. Here you can get acquainted with the historical heritage of the emirate, which is not available in other areas.
What to see. The main attraction is the historic Al Fahidi quarter. Locals call it Al Bastakiya. It is located on the bank of the artificial canal Dubai Creek.
I used to work in Egypt, and ever since then I have had a special weakness for Arab traditional architecture. In Al Fahidi, I felt like I was in an Arab country for the first time during my time in Dubai: the narrow streets with cafes, boutique hotels and galleries are very colorful. There you can see traditional wind towers: before the invention of electricity, they served as air conditioners for the locals, cooling them down in the heat.
The Al Fahidi Port Fortress houses the Dubai Museum, but it is closed for renovation in the summer of 2024. I’ve been there before: the exhibition is devoted to the life of the indigenous people of Dubai – pearl fishermen and Bedouins.
But still, most of the buildings in the neighborhood are new, which slightly spoiled the impression. They seemed to me polished and perfect, as if they were movie sets.
From modern sights in Bur Dubai Dubai Frame. I advise you to visit a skyscraper in the form of a 150-meter frame, which is so called – It is located in the park “Zabil”. At the very top of the building there is an observation deck, but we did not go up there. Nearby is a park of luminous figures Dubai Garden Glow. We enjoyed spending one of the evenings there.
Lodging. There are several boutique hotels in the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood, such as the XVA Art Hotel. Outside it, you can find cheaper and more spacious hotels, such as the three-star Rove Trade Center near the metro.
Beaches. The area does not have its own beach: the entire coastline is occupied by Rashid Port, where cruise ships dock. The nearest beaches are in neighboring Jumeirah and Deira. They can be reached by metro or cab.
Food. Friends recommended going to one of the traditional cafes in Al Fahidi – they offer Arabic cuisine. We chose Arabian Tea House.
The teahouse turned out to be a full-fledged restaurant. In addition to karak tea, which is popular in Arab countries
In neighboring Deira, it costs twice as much, but the interior here imitates a hut. In neighboring Deira, it costs twice as much, but the interior here imitates a hut. The well-mannered staff also justify the prices, and we left satisfied.
Other notable establishments in the historic quarter include the Michelin-starred Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant.
Transportation. From the area it is convenient to get to the Burj Khalifa, the Golden Market in Deira and Dubai International Airport by metro. There are several stations: World Trade Center, Max, ABCD. Sheikh Zayed Highway also passes through the area. I was in a car and did not notice any problems with parking.
The area is not conveniently accessible from Al Maktoum Airport: the journey by public transportation can take two to three hours.
Jebel Ali
- Briefly: industrial neighborhood overlooking the cargo port on the beach
- Are there beaches: yes
- More info: on Google maps
Jebel Ali is primarily an industrial area with an oil refinery and one of the largest cargo ports in the world. The port is remote from hotels and attractions, but it is clearly visible from any beach in the area.
What to see. I did not consider Jebel Ali for a vacation because of the industrial glory of the area – I was passing by and saw only warehouses and desert. But in fact, there are quite a few tourist attractions here. The most famous is the Dubai Expo 2020 international exhibition. It closed on March 31, 2022, but several pavilions and the Surreal Fountain are still in operation. Tickets to the operating pavilions are bought on the website, the fountain can be viewed for free.
Jebel Ali has a giant amusement park complex called Dubai Parks and Resorts. It includes Motiongate for fans of cartoons and extreme rides, Legoland Park and Waterpark for families with children, Riverland – a location for beautiful photos. Soccer fans will be interested in Real Madrid World, dedicated to the Spanish soccer club. It is better to buy tickets in advance on the website: it is cheaper than at the box office.
There’s also a residential neighborhood called Jebel Ali Village with Orthodox, Catholic and Sikh temples in the area.
In 2024, an artificial island called Palm Jebel Ali is being built here. It should be twice as big as Palm Jumeirah, which was created in 2006. It is planned to open complexes of villas and hotels, shopping centers and restaurants.
Lodging. There is a small selection of hotels in Jebel Ali, but you can find budget options. To avoid wasting time traveling to the amusement parks, you can stay in one of the hotels on the territory of the complex. For example, in Rove at The Park.
There are also luxury beachfront hotels in Jebel Ali. JA Resorts consists of several hotels and villas with their own beach, golf course and swimming pools. JA Beach Hotel offers rooms with sea views and half board.
Beaches. There is a public beach in the area, but rest on it will suit those who are not embarrassed by the view of huge tankers. In other cases, you should consider the beaches of neighboring areas, such as Dubai Marina or Jumeirah.
Food: Budget-friendly snacks can be found in the food court of Ibn Battuta Shopping Center. Expo City has a chain restaurant serving Emirati cuisine, Al Fanar.
Transportation. Jebel Ali is the western outskirts of Dubai, the area borders the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is traveled here by the red branch of the metro. At the exit from Ibn Battuta station there is a shopping center of the same name. If you plan to visit Expo City, it is convenient to get off at Expo 2020 station.
It takes about 30 minutes from Jabal Ali Metro Station to the Burj Khalifa in Downtown, and about an hour to Dubai International Airport.
Deira
- Briefly: old expatriate neighborhood bordering the emirate of Sharjah
- Are there beaches: yes
- More info: on Google maps
This colorful district is located on the opposite bank of the Creek Canal from Bur Dubai. There is no usual glitz there, but the real life of visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East, uncovered by beautiful skyscrapers, is boiling. Native Emiratis come here to visit the huge Gold Market.
What to see. The neighborhood seemed like one continuous market to me. The gold one flows smoothly into the perfume and spice market. There’s a giant fish market on the coast. And there are also countless shops with Chinese appliances and clothes.
We have never seen so much gold as at the Gold Market and most likely will never see it again. We had a practical interest in the fish market: we wanted to get fresh seafood for dinner. Here you can buy, clean and cook any sea fish around the clock. Connoisseurs advise arriving at the catch, early in the morning or late in the evening, when you can get a big discount.
In 2024, an artificial island called Dubai Islands is .being built in Deira A number of first-class hotels are already located here.
Also in the area is the Heritage House, which was built in 1890. It is dedicated to the life and livelihood of pearl fishermen, who were the traditional population of the emirate. The museum is temporarily closed in the summer of 2024.
Lodging. Among affluent tourists and natives Deira is considered an unpretentious area, but there is a wide choice of five-star chain hotels with favorable prices. For example, in high season a room in Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga is cheaper than a room in a hotel of the same chain in Jumeirah.
There are beach hotels in Dubai Islands, such as Rui Dubai and Centara Mirage Beach Resort.
Beaches. Al Mamzar beach is divided into a paid and free part. It can be reached by cab, car or bus.
If you’re looking for something a little more secluded, I suggest heading to Dubai Islands public beach. It is the only beach in the city where you can come with your dog. As a dog person, it makes me happy to see such spaces opening up.
Food. The authentic Al Bait Alqadeem restaurant serves traditional appetizers, shawerma and kebabs. But it’s more expensive there than average in Deira. We had lunch at one of the random Pakistani eateries near Baniyas Square metro. I didn’t remember the name. We had biryani with chicken – the Asian equivalent of pilaf. It was delicious, and the portions were large. It was also surprisingly clean. But I would hardly repeat the experiment with untested cafes in the area.
At the fish market, we bought a red snapper weighing about three pounds and two smaller fish. Everything was the freshest and tastiest. They also sell fruit at the market.
Transportation. Golden Souq and Al Ras green line metro stations are located almost at the entrance to the Golden Market. From the red line metro station City Centre Deira to Dubai International Airport is only 13 minutes. Al Maktoum Airport takes almost two and a half hours to reach.
From Bur Dubai to Deira we got by water, on a traditional abra boat, which serves as a river streetcar. The boat has no sides, and passengers take free seats on wide wooden benches, practically hanging their feet into the water. Not the safest public transportation, but it was a memorable trip.
