Dubai is a city in the United Arab Estimates, which is one of the richest countries globally. Now more than ever, people are choosing Dubai as their destination of choice. So you might be wondering what this city is famous for, and what makes it so special.
Dubai is known for its wealth, amazing nightlife, beaches, skyscrapers, gold, desert, and luxury shopping. The country is also famous for its dolphins, waterparks, and museums. The architecture is beautiful, the culture is vibrant, and the crime rates are low.
This article discusses the top famous things Dubai is famous for, which include some of its top tourist attractions and desert experiences.
24 Things Dubai Is Famous For
From skyscrapers to underwater aquariums and Bollywood parks, these top tourist attractions make Dubai so famous.
The Burj Khalifa
Dubai is famous for its 828-meter-high skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. It is the tallest building globally, with the highest number of stories. This building also holds the record of being the tallest free-standing structure globally.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is a popular place tourists love to visit. It is next to The Walk on Jumeirah Beach Residence, where you can witness breathtaking views, eat at amazing restaurants, live in luxurious accommodations, and experience fantastic shopping facilities.
Dates
Dubai is well-known for its dates. Dates are a sweet edible fruit that forms a large part of Dubai’s culinary and cultural heritage. Dates also form a huge part of Dubai’s export market.
Aquaventure Waterpark
You will find one of Dubai’s biggest waterparks in the Atlantis hotel complex. The Tower of Neptune and the Tower of Poseidon are two key highlights of the Aquaventure Waterpark. You will find pools, flumes, shoots, and rides. There are also several restaurants and places you can buy souvenirs from.
Persian Rugs
Dubai is famous for its exquisite Persian rugs. These high-quality and durable rugs can take months to make and require real craftsmanship. You can find these rugs at almost any mall or market across the UAE and can even get one custom-made.
In fact, the world’s largest custom-made rug weighs an incredible 12 tonnes and was commissioned by the government of Abu Dhabi, capital city of the UAE, in 2007. The rug was laid to rest in the Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi to honor Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, former ruler of Abu Dhabi and founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates.
Dolphin Bay
Dolphin Bay in Atlantis Resort is a sophisticated dolphin habitat. The city is famous for its bottlenose dolphins that you can see up close. You also learn more about their biology and behavior with the various programs that are presented.
Dubai Museum
The oldest building in Dubai, the Dubai Museum features galleries and historic cultural exhibits that recreate historic Arab residences, mosques, souks, date farms, and scenes from the desert and marine life. It was built in 1787 to be used as a monarch’s base, residence, weapons arsenal, and prison. The building was reconstructed and opened as a museum in 1971.
Dubai Garden Glow
Dubai Garden Glow is a theme park made of millions of LED lights and unforgettable art. They have a Glow park, Dinosaur park, Magic park, an Art park, and a lovely natural park.
The Palm Island Group
The Palm archipelago refers to the three man-made islands off the mainland coast of Dubai. The islands are in varying states of construction, with only one being habitable as at the time of writing:
- Palm Jumeirah, fully developed and in use, with a x% occupation rate;
- Palm Jebel Ali, which was already in development when the 2008-09 financial crisis caused a critical amount of investors to withdraw from the project financially; and
- Palm Deira, which had barely begun development when the 2008-09 financial crisis began. The Deira Islands project was revived in 2023
Food
Dubai is known for its delicious food and elegant eateries and restaurants. Some of the most well-known Emirati food dishes include stuffed camel, shawarma, al harees, mehalabiya, ghuzi, matchbous, and esh hasarya.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo consists of a 10-million-liter tank consisting of thousands of aquatic animals, including 400 sharks and rays. There is an underwater walk-through tunnel where you can admire the variety of marine species. This famous Aquarium is situated in the Dubai Mall.
Global Village Dubai
The Global Village is a famous and top tourist attraction. At the Global Village, you will experience amazing cultures of over 90 countries, all in one place. Tourists can enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Desert Experiences
Dubai lies within the Arabian desert, and therefore the country boasts amazing desert safari experiences like dune bashing, camel riding, and desert camps.
Dubai Dancing Fountains
The Dubai Fountain is a famous fountain that shoots water up to 500 feet into the air.
On Burj Khalifa Lake, you will find this breathtaking choreographed fountain with 6,600 lights and colored projectors. There is also classical and contemporary Arabic and world music playing, while the fountains dance in tune to the background music.
Dubai Canal Walk
At Dubai Canal Walk, an extended waterfront, people can experience the beautiful and glimmering skyline, while admiring the man-made waterfall on Sheikh Zayed Bridge. Visitors can walk, run, or cycle alongside the waterfront. There are also ferry rides you can enjoy. The Dubai Canal Walk is also near luxurious hotels like the Hilton Hotel and V Hotel.
Oudh
One of the unique things to buy in Dubai is Oudh.
Oudh is an expensive fragrance oil that reminds you of the streets of Dubai. This fragrance oil is made from the wood of the Southeast Asian agar tree, Agarwood. Oudh is also available as wood-burning incense.
La Mer Beach
La Mer is one of Dubai’s most famous and breathtaking beach fronts. The beach features palm trees, art, and murals. There are also a variety of dining and leisure activities for visitors to enjoy.
La Mer South is currently closed to the public due to revamping and development. Once opened, the newly-renamed J1 Beach is set to become Jumeirah’s flagship beach resort destination.
Gold and Jewelry
Dubai is one of the best countries where you can buy gold jewelry, and the prices are lower than usual. Prices can also be negotiated with sellers. One such market is the Gold Souk, with hundreds of gold and jewelry sellers.
Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future is located in Dubai’s Financial Center, and is home to numerous exhibitions that showcase the future of technology and innovation. The exterior of the building features Arabic quotes by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In the garden stands the Sheikh’s signature hand gesture of prosperity. The museum opened to the public in 2022.
Pashmina Shawls
These famous Pashmina shawls are made with cashmere produced from goat hair and silk. You will find multiple stores selling these expensive but high-quality shawls.
The Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab is an iconic hotel built on its own man-made island so that its shadow will not block the sun shining on the beach sand.
Commonly referred to as the world’s first 7-star hotel due to its luxurious offerings, atmosphere, and service levels, the hotel has stated that it conforms to the only rating system in place globally, and therefore qualifies only as a 5-star establishment.
Shopping Centers And Nightlife
Dubai Is famous for its luxury shopping! There are so many malls and souks; there is something to buy for everyone. Some of the best shopping destinations include:
- Mall of the Emirates. This mall has more than 560 shops with a blend of high-street brands, boutiques, handicraft shops, and luxury stores.
- Dubai Mall. This mall is one of the world’s largest. There are a variety of stores, hotels, and even an aquarium.
- Bur Dubai Souk. If you’re looking for a traditional and cultural experience, this place is for you.
- WAFI Mall. This mall is a lifestyle complex and has high-end fashion. There’s even a spa inside the mall.
- Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Find high-end jewelry, fashion, and souvenirs at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, an authentic vintage mall.
- Dragon Mart. You will find a variety of Chinese products at Dragon Mart. The mall has 3,950 stores.
- Ripe Night Market. You will find local vendors and family-friendly activities at this market.
- Jumeirah Emirates Shopping Boulevard. This is one of Dubai’s most extravagant shopping destinations. This is where celebrities shop and people roam around to catch a glimpse of them.
Low Crime Rates
Dubai’s crime rate is quite low when compared to other countries. Naturally, you will find some people committing petty crimes. But in general, crime in the UAE is rarely an issue and cities in the region are listed among the safest destinations in the world.
Heat
Dubai is also known for its heat. It’s hot year-round, with the lowest temperature being 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
Conclusion
As you can see, Dubai is famous for a lot of things. The modern architecture, luxury shopping experiences, desert experiences, amazing culture, and low crime rates are all things that contribute to the city’s fame!