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Overview
Why Visit Dubai?
Dubai is one of the most audacious cities ever built -- a metropolis that rose from desert fishing village to global hub in a single generation. The Burj Khalifa, the Palm, the Creek, the gold souk, the spice souk, the desert dunes an hour from downtown -- Dubai compresses a remarkable range of experiences into a city that takes ambition as its founding principle. It is also, increasingly, a genuinely interesting food and cultural destination.
Dubai culture is a fascinating collision -- the ancient Bedouin hospitality tradition of the Emirates, the mercantile multicultural energy of a city where over 85% of residents were born elsewhere, and a ruling family that has channelled oil wealth into infrastructure, culture and spectacle. The old Dubai of the Creek, the Deira souks and the Al Fahidi Historic District is as interesting as the new Dubai of the Marina and Downtown.
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Top Experiences in Dubai
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Desert Safari Dubai with Live Shows, Dune Bashing & BBQ Dinner
6h 30m
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Exclusive Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & Sandboarding
4 hrs
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Dubai: Morning Heritage Safari by Vintage G Class & Al Marmoom Oasis
4 hrs
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Desert Safari Dubai With High Speed Dune Buggy And Dinner in 5 Star Camp
5-6 hrs
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Small-Group Tour: Falcon 2—Dubai Falconry Safari
5 hrs
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Morning Desert Safari with Dune Bashing & Camel Ride
1-4 hrs
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Desert Quad Safari Tour with Sandboarding and Picturestopps
4 hrs
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Evening Desert Safari With Live Shows and BBQ Dinner
6 hrs
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Food and Drink
What to Eat in Dubai
Dubai food is genuinely one of the most exciting in the world -- not because of Emirati cuisine specifically, but because the sheer concentration of wealthy, food-literate expats from 200 countries has created a restaurant scene of extraordinary variety and quality. The Emirati food that does exist -- machboos, luqaimat, camel milk -- is worth seeking out. And the souks still sell the best dried fruits, nuts and spices in the region.
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Machboos
The Emirati national dish -- spiced rice with slow-cooked meat (lamb or chicken), dried limes, rose water and a complex blend of spices. The definitive local eating experience, best found in an Emirati home restaurant rather than a hotel.
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Shawarma
Dubai shawarma -- meat carved from a rotating spit, stuffed into flatbread with pickled vegetables and garlic sauce -- is a late-night institution. The Lebanese and Syrian versions found in Deira are the finest in the region.
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Luqaimat
Small fried dough balls, crispy outside and pillowy within, drizzled with date syrup and dusted with sesame. The Emirati equivalent of doughnuts and the most addictive street food in the old souk areas.
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Dates
The UAE produces extraordinary dates -- Medjool, Khlas, Sukkari -- and the date souks of Dubai are the best place to taste the full range. Presented with Arabic coffee, they are the opening gesture of every Emirati welcome.
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Camel Milk
Camel milk is consumed throughout the UAE and is increasingly available as chocolate, ice cream and lattes. It has a slightly sweeter, thinner quality than cow milk and is genuinely worth trying as a cultural experience.
Must-See
Highlights of Dubai
Desert Safari
The Dubai desert experience -- dune bashing in 4x4s, sandboarding, camel rides and a Bedouin camp dinner under the stars -- is touristy in the best sense. The Liwa desert further south, near the Abu Dhabi border, offers a quieter and more dramatic experience.
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Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building at 828 metres -- the observation deck on the 124th floor offers the most extraordinary urban panorama in the world. Book the At the Top SKY experience on the 148th floor for the full effect.
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Dubai Creek and Souks
Old Dubai -- the Creek, the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, the Al Fahidi Historic District -- is the city that existed before the skyline. The abra water taxis crossing the Creek, the smell of frankincense from the spice stalls and the sheer volume of gold are unforgettable.
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Dubai Marina and Palm
The man-made Marina -- 3km of waterway lined with skyscrapers and restaurants -- and the Palm Jumeirah are the defining images of new Dubai. A dhow dinner cruise through the Marina at sunset is one of the great Dubai experiences.
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Insider Tips
Travel Tips for Dubai
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Book desert safaris for the late afternoon -- the golden hour light on the dunes before the camp dinner is the defining image.
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Dress modestly in the old souk areas and malls -- covered shoulders and knees is sufficient.
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The Dubai Metro is excellent, air-conditioned and reaches most major attractions -- use it to avoid traffic.
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Alcohol is available in licensed hotels and restaurants but not in the souks or residential areas. Ramadan restrictions apply across the city.
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