Cheap flights to Dubai from RON259*

Dubai is a city of the future you can visit today. It’s full of superlatives and seems to strive for them – the world’s tallest building, the largest indoor theme park and the biggest shopping centre. But Dubai is more than a row of tourist attractions, it’s a bustling multicultural metropolis that offers insight into local as well as world culture. Stop into souks for gold, perfumes or spices, or spend hours shopping amid singing fountains. Ride a camel in the desert or see the latest street art. Take in the view from the 148th floor or tour a mosque whose turrets and minarets are no less impressive. All this in a desert climate offering sandy beaches and swimming pools, year-round sun and indoor oases when you need to escape the heat.

 

A visit to the future

Dubai is constantly innovating, as if it didn’t already have enough awe-inspiring feats of engineering and creativity, from artificial islands through skyscrapers to souks, beaches to shopping, indoor skiing and skating to street art and marvellous museums.

 

Entertainment options that scrape the sky

Where to begin? Well, the Burj Al Arab, with its glittering curved façade rising on its own island, the symbol of the city. It’s meant to evoke the curve of a traditional dhow trading boat. Stroll down to the harbour wharf to see the real thing unload goods for the souks as they’ve done for centuries. Next is of course the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building with observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. Dubai offers much more than futuristic architecture though – it’s an entertainment hub offering two aquariums (aquaria?), one of which brings to life the lost city of Atlantis as well as the world’s largest indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure, Legoland Dubai and Hollywood-inspired Motiongate, plus virtual-reality and 3D heaven Hub Zero. To explore the more traditional side of Dubai, visit the Al Fahidi historic district of sand-coloured houses, cafés and art galleries, and take a guided tour of the beautiful Jumeirah mosque. Or explore Madinat Jumeirah, a new development based on a traditional Arab village with souks, palm trees and gardens, narrow stairways and stunning vistas. Choose among myriad museums and galleries dedicated to contemporary art, fine art, photography, coins and coffee, cartoon art and calligraphy, or stroll City Walk and 2nd December street to see now-iconic international street art. Then perhaps head to Kite Beach, with water sports and food trucks, The Beach at JBR for family fun, Sunset Beach with Burj Al Arab as a backdrop, or Night Beach for a floodlit post-sunset swim.

 

A culinary smorgasbord

Dubai is a trip around the globe in terms of cuisine. Gaia and The Galliard compete to serve the finest Mediterranean fare, or for French, visit miX by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. For innovative Asian in a jungle, head to Mama Zonia and soak up the view over the Dubai Marina. Ibn AlBahr is famed for serving the best seafood in town, with Lebanese flair. Masti is something really unusual in Indian fusion, while for Japanese, Zuma is always buzzing. At Höseki, you’ll get your own private chef who will cook Japanese dishes from the day’s best produce. In Dubai, you can indulge in a proper English afternoon tea, an American-style brunch, savour dim sum or teppanyaki, share tapas or cheese fondue, eat al fresco or atop a roof, have a vegan meal or a camel steak… The options are endless. For drinks, you’ll also have to make tough decisions starting at happy hour – rooftop, poolside or beachside? Classy cocktail bar or craft brewery? Belgian beer hall, British pub or Boston bar reminiscent of Cheers? Note the drinking age is 21 and you need a special licence to purchase alcohol to consume at home. Perhaps the latter is why Dubai has it all when it comes to bars.

 

Shopping heaven and starry nights

Welcome to shopping paradise. Dubai Mall is the world’s largest, with 1300 shops, an ice rink, aquarium, dinosaur skeleton and 150 food outlets. Mall of the Emirates is its main rival, which offers “just” 630 shops and an indoor ski slope, luxury brands and a 24-screen cinema. Ibn Battuta Mall is interesting for its architecture as well as shopping, since it traces the path of 14th-century Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta in six areas – China, Persia, Egypt, India, Tunisia and Andalusia. Dubai is dotted with more traditional souks as well. See all that glitters at Gold Souq, savour the scent of saffron and cardamom at Spice Souq or the oil-based aromas of Perfume Souq, and explore the labyrinthine Meena Bazaar of local textiles and crafts. Speciality shops include bespoke tailor-to-the-stars Threads & Tailors (Roger Federer and Shah Rukh Khan are customers), Fabindia and Ritu Kumar for colourful Indian fashion, and Ajmal offering perfumes in bejewelled bottles. At night in Dubai, there’s something for everyone – rooftop terraces such as The Penthouse, beach clubs like the ultra-fashionable Nikki Beach Dubai, seaside bars including the gorgeously eclectic SoBe or craft beer havens such as Black Tap, plus superswanky Gold on 27. To take you further into the night, dance at Lebanese bar 961LB, sing karaoke at Lucky Voice, catch live music at Jazz@PizzaExpress or soak up the atmosphere at outdoor rooftop venue Iris.

 

Abu Dhabi and desert adventure

It’s hard to see everything in Dubai, and nearly impossible to get bored in the city, but there are plenty of day trip options for even more excitement. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, occupies an island in the Persian Gulf, just an hour away. Another glittering city of skyscrapers and opulence, here you can see the Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers and explore the marble courtyards and prayer hall at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which accommodates 40,000 worshippers. Drive the palm tree-lined Corniche Boulevard and spend even a day at Louvre Abu Dhabi, a 64,000 square-metre museum complex created by the UAE with the French government to showcase art from around the world. To delve into local history, head to the UAE Heritage Village. Ready to venture into the desert? There are many tour options where you’re whisked to a Bedouin camp to zoom across the sands in a quad bike, ride a camel, see sand and henna art (do get a tattoo), and feast on grilled meats while watching traditional belly dancing or spinning tanoura dancers. Last but not least, visit vast Ferrari World, an indoor theme park near Abu Dhabi that’s about much more than cars – it’s got roller coasters, rides and shows.

 

Dubai airport

Dubai World Central is 30 minutes south of the centre by taxi or bus. Dining choices at DWC include fast food, a café and bakery and a restaurant. For shopping – from gifts to travel essentials – head to Dubai Duty Free.

 

Dubai weather

Dubai is in the desert, but moisture from the Persian Gulf contributes humidity to the heat. Winters are warm, making it a fantastic destination to escape the European chill. It’s 20°C on average in January, and 30°C is not unusual in winter. In July and August, the average climbs to a steaming 37°C, and highs can reach a scorching 48°C. Never fear – with its theme parks, shopping centres, swimming pools and skyscraper dining options, Dubai is equipped to entertain you fully indoors when it’s just too hot outside.