First Timer’s Guide to Dubai

The city of the future.

A place with endless possibilities of things to do, new things to try, and something record-breaking to see. It’s all so beautifully overwhelming to take in, and depending on the amount of time you’re in town, it could be hard to narrow down what to see but there are some majors to point out.

I’ve called Dubai home once upon a time during a year-long business school program. Since then, I frequently visit especially since my brother, SIL and nephew live there! With that said, I can confidently say I’ve gone enough times to definitely nail down all the must-see sights in Dubai for first-timers.

Madinat Jumeriah

Souk Madinat Jumeriah is a tranquil, outdoor mall offering a unique mix of traditional stores, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for the best views of Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeriah is it. This is where you can take that famous boat ride through the canals with the Burj as your backdrop - it’s so gorg!

I recommend checking out Shimmers, a beach bar and restaurant accessed from the hotel in Madinat Jumeriah. Go around sunset time and watch the Burj light up into different colors as the sun sets the horizon. It’s seriously such an amazing experience!

Full list of restaurants here

Full list of shops here

JBR - Jumeriah Beach Walk

Shop, dine, stroll and swim along a waterfront strip in Jumeriah. Jumeriah Beach Walk is filled with tons of restaurants to suit any flavor pallet with TONS of activities to do for friends, couples and families. You can even reserve a spot to dine in the sky, visit the Dubai Eye ferris wheel and have walking access to the neighboring island, Bulewaters Dubai.

Mall of the Emirates

A lot of people associate Dubai with having wild things. And 99% of it is probably true. Like the world’s largest indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert casually in a mall. But this mall is not just home to not just a ski field, but the world’s first 5-star cinema complex and 630 shops of the world’s best brands. Even if you’re not in the mood for shopping, there is so much fun to be had at this mall.

The last time we visited, we decided to check out this snazzy cinema. I legitimately don’t even remember the movie we watched, but I can tell you this: you have a chair the size of a twin bed, silk sheets and pillows, and butler service. I ate before the movie barely started and fell asleep in a dome of silk. Definitely worth it.

Old Dubai

Old Dubai is the ultimate escape from the crazy city. It’s a lot more traditional, conservative and home to the most famous markets in Dubai. This is where you’ll find the gold souk, spice souk, etc. There’s even a mattress souk…so this place literally has it all. Have fun bargaining for random goods here or just walk down the streets and people watch. Either way, you’ll have fun it and come out smelling like a pound of oud samples.

If you do check out old Dubai, be sure to head to the Dubai Creek. Not only is it an important landmark for the history of Dubai, but it has the best views!

DIFC - Dubai International Financial Center

DIFC is more than just a financial district, it’s a curated collection of the city’s best restaurants, bars art galleries and retailers. If you’re into crafty cocktails or Japanese food, then I highly recommend visiting Zuma Dubai. This place is one of the top cocktail bars in Dubai, so definitely show up early or make a reservation if you’re in a big group.

A full list of restaurants can be found here

Al Fahadi Historical Neighborhood Dubai

Okay this is hands down my favorite spot in Dubai. It’s a little area away from the hustle that takes you back to old Arabian times. It’s about a 15-minute drive away from Dubai Mall and super close to the Dubai Souk. I spent hours here just walking around, taking photos, and admiring the simplicity and beauty of older Arabian aesthetics. There’s a really cute boutique hotel called XVA Art Hotel that is designed with the same historic vibe in mind. Check out their photos and reviews, it’s an art lovers haven.

Dubai Miracle Garden

If you’re a flower lover like me, visiting Dubai Miracle Garden is a MUST when in Dubai. Known as the world’s largest flower garden, it's so hard to comprehend how this place stays thriving in the Dubai desert, but these guys got it down to a science, literally. Their unique irrigation system recycles wastewater via drip irrigation - meaning it avoids evaporation and saves up to 75% of water and energy. 4 for you, Dubai!

Dubai Miracle Garden Entrance Fee:

40 AED (~11 USD) adults, 30 AED (~8USD) kids

Dubai Miracle Garden Hours:

9AM-9PM (weekdays) 9AM-11PM (weekends)

*Important note: the garden is only open from October-April and closed during the summer months.

La Mer

La Mer is a development in downtown Dubai on the waterfront. Every time I come to Dubai I come across a crazy beautiful, new development and this one took the award for having the best vibes and options.

La Mer literally has it all. The cutest cafes, restaurants, dessert shops, water-front boutiques, and just all the summer vibes year-round. It’s built circulating the beach so there are also tons of water activities and beachside hanging to do too.

Dubai Marina

Endless skyscrapers and luxury yachts are what you can expect in Dubai Marina. This side of town has something for everyone, literally. You can take your kids to numerous playgrounds, cruise the canal, walk to the beach, eat at endless options of restaurants or bar hop in some of the most poppin’ areas in town ya’ll.

When in the neighborhood, I recommend going to Pier 7 for some of the best skyline views (especially at night!). The building can’t be missed - it’s 7 floors of restaurants and bars…just go.

City Walk

City Walk Dubai is an outdoor shopping, dining and residential district the heart of downtown. There are so many different things you can do here it’s almost overwhelming, especiallyyyy when it comes down to deciding where to eat. Fear not though because anywhere you end up choosing, you won’t go wrong. We’ve literally never had a bad experience anywhere at City Walk and there are SO many options. The entire design of this place is so out-of-the-box too (typical Dubai). A newer development in Dubai worth checking out!

Atlantis Water Park

Water park for adults and kids…need I say more? If it’s a hot one in Dubai and you’re looking to cool off but do it in style, head to the Atlantis Water Park. There are so many different rides and you can easily spend an entire day there.

If you’re looking for an even larger water park experience, Yas Waterworld is the largest waterpark in the UAE and has more options than the Atlantis. I personally have never gone to Yas Waterworld, but hearing stories from people who have done both, each are equally as fun but Yas takes the win on size and waterslide options.

Tickets can be pricy, check them out here. It’s worth it though if you are into waterparks!

Desert Safari

A lot of people who come to Dubai want the experience of escaping the city and heading to the desert. There are so many different desert safari options for you to choose from in Dubai, I recommend using a booking site to find one that suits your needs and go from there. You can also check out Groupon Dubai and see if there are any companies providing packages to accommodate what you’re looking for. Some are different times of the day, some can include overnight stays, some include dinner…the world is your oyster.

If you’re really into the desert vibe, you could do a luxury desert stay that’s in Dubai but completely away from the city. It’s a really cool experience, check it out for yourself here:

Bab Al Shams

Bluewaters Dubai

Bluewaters Dubai is a newer property development across from JBR (you can walk right from the beach). This is where the breathtaking and new Caesar’s Palace is, home of Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen (totally worth a visit if you have a chance, SO good!). There’s also tons of new restaurants, cafes and shops. Yet, another cool destination in Dubai with amazing views!

Dubai Frame

The world’s largest picture frame. Literally. Dubai is always going the *extra* mile for everything and this was yet another amazing achievement of brilliant engineering. This place is literally a GIANT frame where the skyline of Dubai is at the heart of it. You get to take an elevator to the top where you can look out (or look down) to the city of new and old Dubai. Honestly, the walk getting in and out of the Dubai Frame is an entire experience within itself. You literally walk in and are taken through a time lapse of Dubai, virtually and visually. Up an elevator and then boom - you’re at the top seeing it with your eyes. Leaving, you go through a simulation that brings a virtual reality display of what Dubai will look like in 30 years and experts’ predictions of the future city and its growth. It’s all as insane as it sounds. Totally worth it - go right before sunset for the best views ever!

Dubai Frame Ticket Price:

60AED (16.50 USD)

Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque

Even though Sheik Zayed Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, it’s an absolute MUST see. The drive is about an hour (depending on where in Dubai you’re staying).

I have no words to even describe this magical place. Holding the status as one of one of the world’s largest mosques and ranked as the second favorite landmark to visit (literally beating beating places like the Taj Mahal and St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City - insane) you can’t NOT go here.

You’ve likely already caught a glimpse of this somewhere on social media. This is truly one of those places that take your breath away - every inch and corner is so undeniably beautiful. So much work and effort from all around the world was put together to create this mosque from the ground up and it seriously makes me gasp anytime I visit.

There are so many unbelievable facts about this mosque, too. For starters, it has a unique lighting system made in a way to resemble the different phases of the moon. Each light tower (there’s 22) project a blueish-gray color and every night, and the color changes according to the moon’s position. How cool is that?! Also, the carpet in the main prayer hall is said to be the largest single piece of handmade carpet in the world, taking approximately 2 years to create, using wool from New Zealand and Iran.

This place is free to enter and ladies, free abaya rentals so you won’t have to worry about covering up if you forgot to bring your own!

Men - No shorts. We were turned away once because the guys we were with were in short sleeves and shorts. So just plan accordingly for the time you’re there.

Dubai Mall

The largest mall in the world. There’s even an app you can download that serves as a directory and map to guide you around. The mall also includes the world’s largest indoor aquarium. As well as the world’s largest cinema. Located next to the world’s tallest building.

You get the point.

Burj Khalifa

World’s tallest building and the symbol of Dubai. Walking distance in and out of Dubai Mall, this thing is GIANT and literally goes wayyy into the clouds. For people looking to go to the top of Burj Khalifa, the entrance is on the first floor in Dubai Mall where you can also buy your ticket. There’s also a nightclub called Armani (flashback college nights where every Monday was hip hop night and I was there going hard on the fruit trays being served) and an upscale cocktail bar called Atmosphere. Be sure to make reservations for Atmosphere - keep in mind there’s a dress code as well.

Be sure to stick around and watch the fountain show when exploring the area. It’s every day starting at 6 pm and a new one starts every half hour until 11 pm. There are also two performances in the daytime; at 1 pm and 1:30 pm (1:30 pm and 2 pm on Friday).

Insider tip: for the best views of the Burj, go to the Apple store on the second floor and head to the balcony!

Souk Al Bahar

Souk Al Bahar is directly across from Dubai Mall and can be accessed from the mall, too. The architecture and vibe is traditional Arabian and it’s a lot like the souks in Madinat Jumeriah. You’ll find oud shops, sweet shops, restaurants, bars and even a grocery store here. If you’re at the mall already, it’s definitely worth walking through. There are also tons of restaurants in the souk located by the Dubai fountain. We love having dinner at any of the places there and watching the show happen right in front of us.

Check out my favorite Dubai Instagram accounts to see if there’s anything else that catches your eye not covered here:

Visit Dubai

Visit Abu Dhabi