The Most Iconic Landmarks to See in Dubai
Dubai is a city made for exploring with multiple landmarks here and there ready for discovering! If you’re ready for some amazing sights, this city has a lot to offer.
So, put on your most comfortable shoes and let’s start going through these famous landmarks that should be in your Dubai travel itinerary!
Burj Khalifa
Website: https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/
Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd. – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 888 8888
Operating hours: 24 hours daily
Price:
- AED 224 – At The Top Adult
- AED 132 – At The Top Child
- AED 459 – At The Top Sky Adult and Child
- Children below 4 years old go FREE
Towering high above everything else in Dubai – and the rest of the world – is the majestic Burj Khalifa, the city’s most iconic landmark.
This building was designed to break records and put Dubai on the global map, and it was able to achieve those goals pretty well.
Standing at a staggering 2,722 feet, it was declared by the Guinness Book of World as the tallest building and the tallest freestanding structure in the world.
Not only that, Burj Khalifa also holds these records:
- The highest occupied floor in the world
- The highest number of stories in a building in the world
- The tallest service elevator and the elevator with the longest distance travel in the world
- The highest outdoor observation deck in the world
But Burj Khalifa isn’t just for admiring from the outside. This mixed-use structure also lets you enjoy the views from up top with the At The Top and At The Top Sky experiences.
If you have the budget, you can book a room at the Armani Hotel, the first one designed by Giorgio Armani himself.
Pro tip:
If you want to try the At The Top and Sky experiences but you want to save money, try booking during non-peak hours when tickets are cheaper.
Book your tickets in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the winter season to guarantee a spot and avoid the long queues.
You can book seats at the building’s restaurant to enjoy a great dinner with a view.
Dubai Frame
Website: https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en
Address: Zabeel Park Jogging Track – Za’abeel – Al Kilaf – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 900
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM – Daily
Price:
- AED 50 – Adults
- AED 20 – Children 3-12 Years Old
- Infant, People of Determination and 2 Companions – FREE
One of the city’s most unique landmarks has to be the Dubai Frame.
In its endless pursuit for things that will make it different, the Dubai government launched a design contest and the frame designed by Fernando Donis won.
Located in the Zabeel Park Jogging Track, the Dubai Frame is perfectly positioned where it frames the old Dubai on one side and the new Dubai on the other.
At 150.24 meters high and 95.53 meters wide, it’s the largest frame in the world and the only one of its kind, making it a must-visit when you’re in the city.
The Dubai Frame also holds an observatory where you can see the entire city and a museum where you can learn about Dubai’s past, present and future.
Of course, you can’t miss taking a selfie at this famous frame and admire its magnificence, especially when it’s hit by the sun.
Pro tip:
Book your tickets online to take advantage of discounts and skip the queue, especially during peak season.
Don’t bring any food or drinks to the Dubai Frame. Make sure to eat first, especially if you’re visiting with children.
If you’re visiting during the summer, try to go in the afternoon when the sun’s not too hot anymore, so you can still take photos outside.
Burj Al Arab
Website: https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/dubai/burj-al-arab-jumeirah
Address: Umm Suqeim 3 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 31 7777
Operating hours: 24 hours daily
You can’t talk about Dubai and not think about the majestic Burj Al Arab.
Although many world-class resorts and hotels have sprouted in the city over the years, this hotel remains to be an icon.
Located off Jumeirah Beach, Burj Al Arab is famous for its unique shape that was inspired by the sail of a ship to pay homage to Dubai’s humble beginnings as a fishing village.
It’s also built on an artificial island with its own private bridge adding to its exclusivity and charm.
Burj Al Arab stands at 1,053 feet and it has 199 private suites, each with a 24-hour butler service and a staff of eight to cater to the needs of guests.
Staying at the Burj Al Arab means getting the royal treatment from the moment you land in Dubai.
If you book a suite here, you get picked up by a Lamborghini or Rolls Royce at the airport. You can also land in style at the hotel’s helipad if you want a more grand entrance.
Each suite in the hotel is also designed for luxury living, from gold fixtures to lavish beddings.
But if you can’t afford a suite yet, you can dine at one of its six famous restaurants including SAL, Al Muntaha by Chef Saverio Sbaragli and Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara by Chef Andrea Migliaccio.
Pro tip:
Since Burj Al Arab is an exclusive hotel, you need a dining reservation at one of its restaurants to get inside the premises if you’re not a hotel guest. If you’re on a budget, you can book for afternoon tea, which is the cheapest option to get inside the hotel.
Museum of the Future
Website: https://museumofthefuture.ae/en
Address: Sheikh Zayed Road – Trade Center – Trade Center 2 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 2071
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM – Daily
Price: AED 149 – General Admission
One of the newest additions to Dubai’s iconic landmarks is a place dedicated to the future.
Launched in 2022, the Museum of the Future highlights different technological innovations and how our future will look like with science and technology.
The structure itself is already astounding with its torus shape and windows designed in the script of the poem that H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wrote.
But what really makes this landmark unique is that it’s designed to be a living museum with interactive exhibitions.
Spread over five floors are different themed exhibits talking about Future Heroes, Tomorrow, Today, Al Waha, HEAL Institute and the Orbital Space Station Hope.
The museum also hosts different temporary exhibits that showcases various technological advancements.
Pro tip:
The museum can get crowded during the weekends. So, if you don’t want a lot of people, opt to visit on weekday mornings when the museum is less crowded.
Dubai Mall
Website: https://thedubaimall.com/
Address: Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 3822 46255
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM – Daily
Whether you like shopping or not, the Dubai Mall is a must-visit landmark when you’re in the city.
This massive mall is the biggest of its kind in Dubai and the largest in the world with a total land area of 1,124,000 square meters, a size as large as 50 football pitches.
The Dubai Mall is home to more than 1,200 stores ranging from local shops to international designer brands.
One of its newest additions is the Fashion Avenue that now holds 200 of the best luxury brands in the world.
This part of the mall also offers a VIP chalet and personal shopper service that adds to the experience of customers.
Here, you can shop for brands like Moynat, Valentino, Armani, Cartier, Dior, Chanel, Prada and Hermes.
The mall is also home to the first Galeries Lafayette in the Middle East and Bloomingdale’s.
But more than retail, the Dubai Mall also has attractions like the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and the Dubai Ice Rink.
Pro tip:
Allocate a day to visiting the Dubai Mall, so you can explore all the attractions that it offers. Aside from shopping, you can also see the Burj Khalifa and enjoy the Dubai Fountain Show while you’re in the area.
Atlantis The Palm
Website: https://www.atlantis.com/dubai
Address: Crescent Road – The Palm Jumeirah – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 426 2000
Operating hours: 24 hours daily
It’s hard to miss the massive resort in the crescent of Palm Jumeirah. Atlantis The Palm is a five-star resort that’s designed after the Lost City of Atlantis.
It was the first resort to open on Palm Jumeirah with over 1,539 rooms and suites including two underwater to really let you experience Atlantis as it is.
Atlantis The Palm is also home to different attractions including the Ambassador Lagoon, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark and Dolphin Bay.
You also have the Lost Chambers Aquarium where you can see more than 65,000 marine animals including sharks and stingrays.
Atlantis the Palm also has several world-class restaurants on its turf including the famous Nobu Dubai that’s now in its formal Royal Bridge Suite.
Enjoy great steak at Seafire Stonehouse and Bar, dine with a view at Ossiano Underwater Bar and Restaurant and sample Chef Ramsay’s beef wellington at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Bar.
Pro tip:
Whether you’re checking in or visiting Atlantis the Palm for a day, make sure to book everything ahead since the resort is a top tourist destination in Dubai. You should also make reservations ahead if you want to dine at one of its restaurants to get a good seat and make the most of your experience.
Dubai Opera
Website: https://www.dubaiopera.com/
Address: Sheikh MOhammed bin Rashid Blvd. – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 440 8888
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM – Daily
Price:
- AED 75 – Adults General Admission
- AED 40 – Children General Admission
- AED 100 to AED 1,000 AED – Opera Ticket Prices
Rounding up this list is a landmark dedicated to the city’s art and culture.
The Dubai Opera is a performing arts center located in the Opera District of Downtown Dubai that can accommodate up to 2,000 people for shows and events.
But unlike other opera houses around the world, the Dubai Opera can be converted into a traditional theater, exhibition space, banquet area and concert hall to cater to different needs.
This opera house is designed to resemble the shape of a dhow or a traditional Arab sailing vessel to honor the city’s rich maritime history as a fishing and pearl village.
The Dubai Opera has hosted different world class operas and shows over the years with its longest running production being the Phantom of the Opera.
Its inaugural show features the great Placido Domingo and it continues to be the venue for some of Dubai’s top concerts, operas and events.
Pro tip:
If you just want to admire the Dubai Opera from the outside, you can come here after sunset to capture the building with all the lights on, which makes it perfect for taking photos.
If you want to watch a show, make sure to book your tickets ahead since they can easily get sold out. Booking early will also help you take advantage of discounts and special offers, especially if you’re booking for a group.