Museum of the Future

A desert city playground with a unique combination of Arabian culture, mega-malls and audacious architecture in a setting of year-round sun, sand and sea. Great family hotels and a ridiculous number of family attractions too.

The world’s tallest building. Head up to the world’s highest outdoor observation deck for exceptional views of the city and desert beyond, and learn Dubai history along the way.

A walk around ‘Old Dubai’ and an abra ride on the Creek offers a fascinating glimpse of the city as it would have been before the skyscrapers arrived.

Dubai’s extraordinary malls are a shopper’s heaven but so much more. They’re entertainment hubs, with cinema complexes, ski slopes, ice rinks, giant aquariums and regular live events.

Dive down into the world’s deepest diving pool, and discover a bizarre, imaginary sunken world. Snorkelling and kids’ experiences are available too.

An outdoor park featuring over 500 different displays and sculptures, illuminated by millions of lights. Highlights include famous monuments like the Taj Mahal, a Dinosaur Park with life-sized dinosaur models, the Underwater World, and the Magic Park, with interactive exhibits and optical illusions.

This observatory, sited on the top of 50-story dual towers, offers views across the skyscrapered Dubai skyline. Daredevils (age 12-65 years) can book in for a terrifying ‘Edge Walk’ along the rim, attached to harnesses; and/or slide 4m down a transparent glass tube on the building exterior.

A wonderful opportunity for non-Muslims to gain an insight into the Islamic faith. Public tours are on offer as part of the ‘Open Doors, Open Minds’ programme, inviting visitors to ask questions of their Emirati guides, enhancing their understanding of local culture.

One of the world’s largest malls, at the foot of the world’s tallest building – a veritable city within a city. The mall includes 1,300 shops, a vast aquarium, ice rink and cinema, and SEGA Republic. Next door is a modern souk and a lake with spectacular dancing fountains directly beneath the Burj Khalifa.