Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai in 2026

An evening desert safari from Dubai involves 45 minutes of white-knuckle dune bashing in a 4x4, camel rides over the ochre sands of the Lahbab Desert, and a Bedouin camp dinner under stars so bright they feel performative.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood's wind tower architecture and the abra water taxis crossing Dubai Creek into the gold and spice souks offer the closest thing to pre-oil Dubai that remains intact, and entry to most of it costs nothing.

The public stretch of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) offers the famous framed view of the Burj Al Arab sail against blue skies, along with a kilometre of fine sand, warm water, and beachside restaurants that stay busy until midnight.

This 150-metre picture frame at Zabeel Park frames Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai on the other through its sky bridge glass floor — a genuinely clever metaphor that also happens to be terrifying and thrilling in equal measure.

The torus-shaped building inscribed with Arabic calligraphy houses immersive exhibits about climate futures, space colonisation, and AI societies that are more thought-provoking than any theme park and set the agenda for what museums could be.

An early-morning hot air balloon flight over the red dunes of Lahbab, 60 kilometres from Dubai, offers perspectives that no camera fully captures — oryx tracks in the sand, camel herds below, and the sun igniting the dunes in shades of copper and crimson.

Open from November to April, the Miracle Garden plants over 150 million flowers into structures including a life-size Emirates A380, a Smurfs village, and a Disney castle — an exercise in horticultural excess that Dubai does better than anywhere.

The revamped La Mer district on Jumeirah's seafront combines a free public beach with surf simulators, Laguna Waterpark, street food from around the world, and a nightlife-friendly boardwalk that stays animated until 2 AM in winter.

The world's largest choreographed fountain system fires jets 150 metres high over Burj Lake at 6 PM and 8 PM every evening, synchronized to everything from Whitney Houston to Arabic classics — and watching from the Souk Al Bahar bridge costs absolutely nothing.

An evening desert safari from Dubai involves 45 minutes of white-knuckle dune bashing in a 4x4, camel rides over the ochre sands of the Lahbab Desert, and a Bedouin camp dinner under stars so bright they feel performative.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood's wind tower architecture and the abra water taxis crossing Dubai Creek into the gold and spice souks offer the closest thing to pre-oil Dubai that remains intact, and entry to most of it costs nothing.

The public stretch of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) offers the famous framed view of the Burj Al Arab sail against blue skies, along with a kilometre of fine sand, warm water, and beachside restaurants that stay busy until midnight.

This 150-metre picture frame at Zabeel Park frames Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai on the other through its sky bridge glass floor — a genuinely clever metaphor that also happens to be terrifying and thrilling in equal measure.

The torus-shaped building inscribed with Arabic calligraphy houses immersive exhibits about climate futures, space colonisation, and AI societies that are more thought-provoking than any theme park and set the agenda for what museums could be.

An early-morning hot air balloon flight over the red dunes of Lahbab, 60 kilometres from Dubai, offers perspectives that no camera fully captures — oryx tracks in the sand, camel herds below, and the sun igniting the dunes in shades of copper and crimson.

Open from November to April, the Miracle Garden plants over 150 million flowers into structures including a life-size Emirates A380, a Smurfs village, and a Disney castle — an exercise in horticultural excess that Dubai does better than anywhere.

The revamped La Mer district on Jumeirah's seafront combines a free public beach with surf simulators, Laguna Waterpark, street food from around the world, and a nightlife-friendly boardwalk that stays animated until 2 AM in winter.

The world's largest choreographed fountain system fires jets 150 metres high over Burj Lake at 6 PM and 8 PM every evening, synchronized to everything from Whitney Houston to Arabic classics — and watching from the Souk Al Bahar bridge costs absolutely nothing.