Dubai in pictures

Besides being the largest cities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Along with innumerable plush hotels and resorts, they also house a bewildering array of restaurants, nightclubs and shopping malls.

Home to some of the world’s tallest buildings, Dubai is literally a city of skyscrapers. These include the world’s highest building, the Burj Al Arab, and the tallest hotel, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai.

Located at the southern end of the city, the Dubai Marina district is a cluster of artificial canals and skyscrapers. A recent addition to the city, it has numerous high-end resorts and scores of restaurants, bars and shops along its waterfront promenade. 

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s hotels are considered to be the final word in luxurious living. The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab (pictured here) is considered to be among the swankiest accommodations in Dubai. Perched on an artificial island near Jumeirah Beach, it is the fourth highest hotel in the world. Guests get access to a lavish spa, four swimming pools, nine restaurants, the Wild Wadi Waterpark and personalised butler service.

With a height of 828 metres, the 160 storey Burj Khalifa has broken several engineering records. It is the tallest building in the world as well as the highest free-standing structure. It also has the longest service elevator and the highest observation deck. Visitors can get a glimpse of the panoramic city views at the top with a ticketed tour to the observation deck on level 124 of the skyscraper. 

Considered to be the largest shopping mall in the world, the Dubai Mall has over 1200 stores, 200 eateries, a mammoth aquarium, an ice rink, an indoor theme park and a 22-screen movie multiplex. It’s also home to the Dubai Fountain, the biggest dancing fountain in the world, which shoots water jets to a height of 150 metres, accompanied by lights and music.

Dubai’s wealth and glamour have attracted a host of celebrity chefs from around the world. The city’s restaurants offer a wide selection of international cuisines and unique experiences. Burj Al Arab’s Al Mahara restaurant (pictured here) offers fresh seafood, accompanied by breathtaking views of marine life from its floor-to-ceiling aquarium. The vibrant dining scene is complimented by a buzzing nightlife, which is a mix of hip local clubs and glitzy international chains.

Thanks to its world-famous annual shopping festival, gold souk and massive malls, Dubai has earned a reputation for being a shoppers’ paradise. The Deira Gold Souk is crammed with glittering shops displaying gold and silver jewellery in a variety of designs.

While Dubai is famous for its outrageous engineering feats, visitors can still see glimpses of its past in some neighbourhoods. One of the oldest areas in the city, the Al Fahidi Historical District is dotted with old buildings with traditional wind towers, which have now been converted into cafés, art galleries and shops. This district also contains the Dubai Museum (pictured here), which is housed inside the 18th-century Al Fahidi Fort.