Why We’ll Be OK Living at Business Bay in Dubai All Our Lives
I might be a notorious traveler and adventurer, but here’s a secret—I actually prefer sticking to one area at a time. I just can’t get behind those itineraries where you’re hopping 10 to 30 km to the next spot. Sorry, I can’t be a kangaroo in Dubai’s heat.
That’s why a few years ago, I hit up my friends and asked them about a place in Dubai that had it all. A bunch of them suggested Business Bay, and I was instantly curious.
Since then, my buddies and I have been to the financial district more times than we can count. We like it so much that we even made a handy travel guide for it below. Hope this helps!
What is Business Bay known for?
Business Bay is known for being a lively hub of upscale residential and commercial properties and leisure activities. It also offers gorgeous views of the city’s skyline and iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to Business Bay is 5:30 pm, giving you enough time to capture the sunset. You’ll see the sky change colors and the city lights twinkle as restaurants, cafes, and other establishments come to life.
Things to Know
How to Get Around
Trains: The city’s Metro’s Red Line serves Business Bay, with the Business Bay Metro Station offering easy access to the financial district.
Buses: A couple of bus routes serve Business Bay, connecting it to other important parts of Dubai. Be sure to check local schedules for routes and timings beforehand!
Taxis: You can easily grab a cab around the area via Uber or Careem. Otherwise, you can always hail one the old-fashioned way.
Car: Conveniently, there are plenty of parking spots around here if you prefer to drive.
What to Do in Business Bay
Admire the Architecture
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Business Bay is known for its stunning architecture! One of our top picks to marvel at is the O14 Base. This office skyscraper is dubbed “The Swiss Cheese” because of its unique open-concept exterior with 1,300 holes!
We’re also in awe of “The Opus” commercial tower designed by Zaha Hadid, an award-winning architect. Basically, we think it looks like a cube from which one curved section has been taken away from the middle—very sleek and modern!
Our eyes can’t help but notice the Iris Bay as well! It’s a futuristic tower shaped like a half-moon! We also adore the glass façade, which reflects the sky and nearby waters—we say this makes it look even more mystical!
See a Jaw-Dropping Show
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Website: https://www.laperle.com/en
Address: Al Habtoor City – 260 Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 437 0001, [email protected]
Does performance art fascinate you in any way? La Perle is the region’s first permanent show and is among Business Bay’s most popular attractions because of its daring aqua theme.
For us, the artists here are so talented and brave. You’ll see tons of stunts, acrobatics, and synchronized choreography throughout the show—we bet you’ll leave your mouth hanging open at some point!
And in our opinion, its amazing set design and backdrops take a lot of work to top. For one, the realistic-looking waterfalls and rain won’t just be on the back wall, but all over the stage!
Challenge Your Brains
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Website: https://brainscapegames.com/
Address: Unit 203, Bay Square, Building 12, Burj Khalifa District – Marasi Dr
Contact Details: +971 4 438 7724
Brainscape Games is where you and your friends can test your smarts while having fun! This escape room caters to different people, so we reckon you can experience casual levels to more difficult challenges.
For example, you’ll have 25 brain teasers (including some treasure hunting) that need to be done in 45 minutes. We love that it makes our brains think outside of the box—a great bonding activity with family and friends, we say.
Paint the Town Red at a Club
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Website: http://www.bludubai.ae/
Address: V Hotel Dubai, Al Habtoor City – 260 Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 56 940 0444
To end the night with a bang, BLU Dubai offers a 5-star clubbing experience on the 32nd floor of V-Hotel. We think it’s a real nightlife treasure with all the themed parties, live music, funky lights, and energetic DJs.
Sometimes, you can even experience surprise celebrity guest appearances! You can also relish the night out with a wide range of cocktails, which we think goes well with the pasta and mini tacos.
Just remember to book a reservation beforehand and follow the smart casual dress code. Denim, sportswear, flats, and sandals aren’t allowed!
Rejuvenate at a Spa
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Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbjw-jw-marriott-marquis-hotel-dubai/spa/
Address: Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 414 6754, Xxx
Saray Spa is a luxurious amenity at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai hotel. It offers 17 treatment rooms, private hammam (bathhouse) rooms, posh wellness facilities, and relaxation spaces.
Some of our favorite services are the body scrub, couples massages, facials, and therapy baths. Just keep in mind to set an appointment first. Since this place is open daily, we bet you won’t find it difficult to get a slot.
This place offers old healing techniques showcasing Arabian heritage too! We reckon you’ll bask in an authentic spa experience you won’t easily get anywhere else.
Where to Eat in Business Bay
Prime68
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Address: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai – 68th – Sheikh Zayed Rd
Contact Details: +971 4 414 3000
Pricing: $$$
Prime68 is a steakhouse in Business Bay for foodies who are particular about their meat. It’s got big portions cut in thick chunks too, so we feel you can taste a lot of juiciness in every bite.
This spot offers a lot, from a 250g USDA Prime Black Angus filet mignon (tender, lean steak) to a 1.2kg dry-aged sanchoku (directly sourced) Wagyu Tomahawk with a high grade. If we’re geeking out, sorry—that only means this place has top-quality steaks!
To close with a bit of a sugary rush, we say go for the strawberry cheesecake! Or, the chocolate cherry trifle is our second favorite because of the sweet and tangy combo.
Miss Tess
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Website: https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/hotels/taj-dubai/restaurants/miss-tess
Address: Taj Dubai – Burj Khalifa St
Contact Details: +971 50 189 6089, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
For those who love Asian cuisine, Miss Tess is a vibrant venue that screams variety! It has Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese food. So if you’re unsure what to get, just show up and let the flavors surprise you!
When choosing your mains, we’re all in with the pepper sauce prawn and steamed Red Snapper from the extensive seafood selection. But meat lovers shouldn’t turn away yet! This spot’s got some nice black pepper sauce chicken too, in our opinion.
To wrap things up, we suggest going for the Crazy Rich Asian platter—it’s the chef’s selection of Asian sweets, so we think this is delightful for newcomers.
Basta!
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Website: https://www.basta-dubai.com/
Address: The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai – Marasi Dr
Contact Details: +971 4 512 5522, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
For us, among the most romantic places you can take your date is Basta!, an Italian restaurant with sparkling lights and trendy interiors.
We like the authentic Margherita pizza, as well as the beef lasagna and calamari. In our book, the braised short ribs and the roasted salmon are worth a try too!
Also, there aren’t many dessert options here, but we appreciate the long list of wines and cocktails. How about trying the Spiked Tiramisu (coffee-infused vodka) or the Japanese cocktail (floral blend with an herbal twist) for a change?
The Eloquent Elephant
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Website: https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/hotels/taj-dubai/restaurants/the-eloquent-elephant
Address: Taj Dubai – Burj Khalifa St – Business Bay
Contact Details: +971 4 438 3100, [email protected]
Pricing: $$$
If you’re coming in with your favorite crew, we think you’ll love a hip and classic British gastropub like The Eloquent Elephant.
The highlights for us are the pies with mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken tikka masala (boneless chicken curry), and the full English breakfast. We believe these options can really make you embrace the UK’s hearty cuisine.
And if you still can, we recommend finishing strong with a bite (or more) of the quintessential sticky toffee pudding or the Biscoff mud chocolate cake.
Boga Superfoods
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Website: https://bogasuperfoods.ae/
Address: Bay Avenue Mall – G-87
Contact Details: +971 4 575 3417, +971 58 585 8135
Pricing: $
Boga Superfoods is the place to be for health buffs and light eaters! We appreciate that it’s got many vegetarian and gluten-free options to make meals as healthy and guilt-free as possible.
Our go-to’s are the cheese broccoli soup, chicken club sandwich, and apple quinoa salad. For refreshments, we like the orange juice and avocado smoothie. Though there are only a few desserts, we bet the mixed fruit parfait can still sweeten the deal!
We also think you’ll appreciate the well-lit interiors with plants, as well as the beautiful views of “The Opus” building and the mini-dog park nearby.
Where to Shop around Business Bay
Bay Avenue
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Website: https://www.bayavenue.ae/en
Address: 57Q7+9FG – Vision Tower – Al Khaleej Al Tejari 1 St
Contact Details: +971 4 341 2210, +971 800 738245, [email protected]
Bay Avenue is a pleasant little mall for shopping, dining, health, and other essentials at Business Bay. It offers scenic views of Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa too!
In our view, this is an ideal place to get your hair done, dine with friends, get coffee, enjoy some retail therapy, and relax in a spa center—a whole day’s worth of fun itinerary!
But if you want a more casual hangout, we love that there’s also a nice outdoor area here. This includes a nice walking track and lots of greenery to encourage visitors to burn extra calories after meals.
Mumuso
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Website: https://www.mumuso.ae/
Address: Bay Avenue Mall
Contact Details: +971 4 395 5449
If your space lacks items and accessories with color, Mumuso provides plenty of lifestyle products from countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand you might like!
We find the stationery section adorable—nice to look at even if you’re not buying anything. And if you’re bringing the kids, we reckon they’ll love the lunch boxes, coloring items, bottles, and books—why not teach them to collect as a fun hobby?
Bike Shop Dubai
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Website: http://www.bikeshopdubai.com/
Address: Al A’amal Street – Shop R21 – Executive Bay
Contact Details: +971 55 287 5656
Bike Shop Dubai sells and rents bikes for active guests in Business Bay. We find its location handy, as it’s near the bus station—it’s only a 5 to 10-minute walk!
There are plenty of bikes here too—you’ll see your favorite models, colors, and designs in no time! We also recommend upgrading your safety gear, such as helmets, lights, phone holders, or other accessories needing replacement.
But what we love the most are the lockers! Make the most of them to keep your belongings safe while you bike around the canals.
Book Corner
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Website: https://funzone.ae/
Address: Bay Avenue Retail Business Bay G63, G64 & G65
Contact Details: +971 4 554 4816
Bookworms unite! Book Corner offers numerous options, from fiction and non-fiction to manga, graphic novels, and children’s books that we think are worth stopping by.
Apart from the literary items, we appreciate that there are many toys like cars and action figures for the kiddos—they probably won’t get bored!
If the little ones aren’t coming along though, we still recommend buying gifts in advance to save more. This shop provides wrapping services too, for your convenience.
Where to Stay near Business Bay
Park Regis
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Website: http://www.parkregisbusinessbay.com/
Address: ParkLane Tower
Contact Details: +971 4 574 2100, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Park Regis is a posh, 4-star apartment hotel in Business Bay that we believe is amazing for sightseers and shoppers. It’s only 3 km from the iconic Burj Khalifa and 5 km from the fancy Dubai Mall!
We’re also into how this modern hotel comes with kitchens and sitting areas besides the basics like Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV—more space to cook and rest!
There are several dining spots too. You may choose between a chic restaurant, a terrace cocktail lounge, and a deli. For those afraid of sunburn, we bet you’ll love the shaded infinity pool too! The kids may chill at the indoor or outdoor play areas as well.
Citymax Hotels
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Website: https://www.citymaxhotels.com/uae/dubai/citymax-hotels-business-bay/
Address: Al Amal Street – Al Khaleej Al Tejari 2 St – opposite Safeer Tower – 2
Contact Details: +971 4 571 3300, [email protected], [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Citymax Hotels is a luxurious 4-star accommodation that we reckon is made for travelers. It’s about 15 km, or about a 30-minute drive, from Dubai International Airport (this could be longer during traffic, though).
We think it has a scenic vibe, especially with its floor-to-ceiling windows, sofabeds, minifridges, and coffeemaking facilities. For us, the connecting rooms are also helpful for those wanting both privacy and more space.
But what we appreciate the most is the free beach shuttle services! You can chill out as you indulge in Asian cuisine, the all-day dining spot, the coffee shop, or the bar—no need to step out when you feel peckish, in our opinion.
Gulf Court Hotel
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Website: https://www.gulfcourthotelbusinessbay.com/
Address: Marasi Dr
Contact Details: +971 4 247 3333, [email protected]
Pricing: $$
Gulf Court Hotel is an elegant 4-star high-rise spot with more than just impressive city skyline views. It’s just 5 km away from the Dubai Fountain, where you can see spectacular light shows with loved ones!
We’re fans of this fresh hotel’s room options too. You can select from sophisticated rooms with marble bathrooms and minifridges to posh, bi-level penthouse suites with living areas, dining spaces, and even whirlpool tubs (like what a VIP would have)!
Oh, and if you’re coming with your grandparents, we recommend taking advantage of the ballroom amenities too. Alternatively, you may visit the trendy cafe, chill restaurant, or chic bar to treat yourself and your pals.
Tips When Visiting Business Bay
Now that you’re familiar with this sleek financial district, check out our tips to make your visit more productive and hassle-free:
Dress the part.
This area is filled with professionals, so we believe it’s wise to look sharp—you never know when you’ll need to do some networking.
Don’t forget to drink up.
The day can heat up fairly quickly, so it’s best to drink water throughout the day.
Bring a map.
Business Bay offers plenty of establishments. And for a traveler, it can get confusing to track them all! When your GPS fails, you’ll be thankful to have a physical map as a backup!
Arrive before or after rush hour.
Parking fills up quickly at Business Bay, so it’s best to be the early bird. Don’t go during the rush hours to steer clear of traffic peaks too!
Commute if possible.
We think it’s better to commute than to drive around the area to reduce traffic troubles. This way, you can focus on more productive tasks at hand!