Known for its luxurious lifestyle, extremely modern architecture and luxury shopping, Dubai is a city which attracts a ton of tourists and businessmen every day. The city is a holiday hotspot of the United Arab Emirates. This former desert outpost has been rejuvenated and reformed as a perfect holiday destination. Tourists from all over the world come to this ultramodern city to go on a shopping spree or indulge in the excellent nightlife the city has to offer. However, the city has a lot of places and attractions which gives you a glimpse of the cultural as well as the modern aspect of Dubai. There are a lot more to Dubai than just the flashy veneer of this city which give way to some incredible holidays in Dubai. To get you started, here are three tourist attractions which you must visit during your trip to Dubai.
1. Burj Khalifa
The number one tourist attraction of Dubai, and also the most famous one is Burj Khalifa. At 829.8 meters height, it stands as the tallest building in the world and is the most important and recognizable part of Dubai’s skyline. A visit to the observation deck situated on the 124th floor is a must while you are in Dubai. The incredible vistas of the city’s skyline that you can see from here are simply jaw-dropping. You will get to see 360-degree views across the towering skyscrapers, with the desert on one side, and the ocean on the other. Visiting the observation deck at the night is particularly popular among photographers, as you will get to capture some beautiful panoramas of the famous city-lights of Dubai from a bird’s eyes’ point of view.
2. Bastakia (Old Dubai)
Built in late 19th century, the Bastakia Quarter or the Al-Fahidi neighbourhood were built to be the home of wealthy Persian merchants. These merchants, who mainly dealt in pearls and textile products, came to Dubai because of the tax-free trading, and also free access to Dubai Creek. You will get to see some of the most excellently preserved coral and limestone buildings, often with walls topped with wind-towers, while you are here. These wind-towers acted as an early form of air-conditioning, as the captured wind used to be funnelled down into the homes. This old neighbourhood which has a distinct Arabian influence shows you a bygone era of Dubai’s history, and that’s why it is a must visit attraction of Dubai.
3. Dubai Aquarium
Located on the ground floor of the famous Dubai Mall, Dubai Aquarium is one of the topmost tourist attractions of the city. The aquarium has over 140 species of marine life in a huge suspended water tank. You will get to walk through the transparent aquarium tunnels when you enter the Underwater Zoo and have a surreal experience of getting surrounded by the diverse marine life. You can also opt for a glass-bottom boat tour at the top of the tank. Cage snorkelling and shark diving are a few other activities which are quite popular.