Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building, a slim glass-and-steel tower rising above Downtown Dubai. An observation deck high up gives sweeping views across the city, the desert and the Gulf.
Dubai
Beaches and desert safaris, the historic creek souks, the Burj Khalifa and huge shopping malls fill out this city.
Attractive locations
The Dubai Fountain
A large choreographed fountain on the lake beside Burj Khalifa, with jets of water shooting high to music and lights. Shows run in the evenings and draw crowds along the waterfront.
Dubai Mall
One of the world's largest shopping centres, at the foot of Burj Khalifa, with hundreds of shops, a large aquarium, an ice rink and the entrance to the tower's observation decks.
Dubai Frame
A giant picture-frame-shaped structure in Zabeel Park. A glass-floored bridge at the top gives views of old Dubai on one side and the new skyline on the other.
Burj Al Arab
A sail-shaped luxury hotel on its own island off Jumeirah Beach and one of Dubai's best-known landmarks. Most visitors see it from the beach or nearby promenades, as entry is mainly for guests and diners.
Museum of the Future
A striking oval building covered in Arabic calligraphy, with exhibits about technology, space and what daily life may look like ahead. Its design is as much a draw as its displays.
Al Bastakiya (Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood)
A quiet old quarter of narrow lanes, sand-coloured houses and wind towers beside Dubai Creek. It holds small galleries, cafes and courtyards that show the city's older character.
Dubai Gold Souk
A covered market in Deira lined with shops selling gold jewellery, from simple chains to elaborate wedding sets. Bargaining is common, and window shopping is a pleasure.
Palm Jumeirah
A man-made island shaped like a palm tree, lined with resorts, beach clubs and restaurants. A monorail and a road link it to the mainland, and the waterfront has views back to the skyline.
Jumeirah Mosque
One of Dubai's most photographed mosques, built in a medieval Fatimid style with twin minarets. Guided visits for non-Muslims, which include a talk on local culture, are offered on set days.
Jumeirah Beach
A long stretch of white sand along Dubai's coast, backed by hotels and promenades. Calm Gulf water makes it good for swimming, and the Burj Al Arab appears in the distance.
Dubai Miracle Garden
A huge flower park that opens in the cooler months, with arches, towers and sculptures covered in millions of blooms. It is an easy outing for families and garden lovers.
Airports
Dubai International Airport DXB
It is about 7 km in a straight line from Dubai.
Sharjah International Airport SHJ
It is about 22 km in a straight line from Dubai.
Al Maktoum International Airport DWC
It is about 44 km in a straight line from Dubai.
Getting around
From Dubai International
Dubai Airports says tickets for the Dubai Metro Red Line, which connects with Terminals 1 and 3, are available inside both terminals from ticket offices and vending machines. Taxis of the Dubai Taxi Company wait day and night at designated ranks in each terminal. Uber, Careem and Bolt are among the ride-hailing services that also operate, with airport signs leading to the pickup point. Holidays can alter Metro hours, so check the RTA website.
- Source: Dubai Airports: Dubai Metro at DXB (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Dubai Airports: Taxi at Dubai Airport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Metro, tram, bus and water
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority lists a metro that is fully automated, with a red line and a green line, city and intercity buses, and a tram running along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, linked to the metro and the Palm Monorail. The abra, the Dubai Water Taxi and the Dubai Ferry are among the marine services, and a single nol card works across all of these modes.
- Source: Roads and Transport Authority: Public transport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
The nol card
Taxi fares can also be paid with the nol card, which the Roads and Transport Authority says is accepted on the Dubai Metro, on buses, on the Dubai Tram and on marine transport. It is available from authorised sales agents, RTA customer happiness centres, ticket vending machines and ticket offices, and can be applied for online. Dubai Airports mentions Gold and Silver nol cards at the airport.
- Source: Roads and Transport Authority: About nol cards (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Dubai Airports: Dubai Metro at DXB (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi types in Dubai
Dubai taxis operate around the clock every day, public holidays included, with regular, family, female-only and people of determination options, plus limousines, says the Roads and Transport Authority. In UK advice, authorised Dubai taxis are cream with coloured roofs, and a pink roof means a woman driver. Canadian advice adds that street taxis use meters.
- Source: Roads and Transport Authority: Public transport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: United Arab Emirates, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: United Arab Emirates (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Message scams and reporting
The Dubai Police eCrime platform takes reports of scams and cyber-enabled financial crimes, while other fraud goes to the local police, according to the UAE government portal. In 2019 the UAE telecoms regulator warned about fake SMS and WhatsApp messages posing as banks or companies that ask people to ring a number and hand over card details. Do not ring numbers in such messages; get in touch with the organisation through its official channels.
- Source: UAE government portal: reporting economic crimes (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority: fraudulent links warning (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan21.3 °C25 mm
- Feb21.3 °C11 mm
- Mar22.9 °C19 mm
- Apr25.6 °C11 mm
- May28.8 °C3 mm
- Jun31.3 °C7 mm
- Jul33.1 °C0 mm
- Aug33.7 °C1 mm
- Sep32.7 °C2 mm
- Oct30.8 °C1 mm
- Nov27.5 °C12 mm
- Dec23.8 °C20 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Oct. Wettest months: Jan, Mar, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 63% of US prices (World Bank, 2024). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Dubai Shopping Festival
Hotels become full and prices rise for this event, one of the country's largest in a year, so plan early.
festival
New Year's Eve at Burj Khalifa
These fireworks are famous worldwide, and hotels in the downtown area sell out.
trade
Gulfood
A very large trade fair covering food and drink.
sport
Dubai World Cup (horse race)
Meydan hosts a horse race that ranks among the richest anywhere.
trade
Arabian Travel Market
In the Middle East's travel industry, this is the leading trade fair.
trade
GITEX Global
Dubai World Trade Centre hosts a technology show that ranks among the largest in the world.
festival
Dubai Shopping Festival
Hotels become full and prices rise for this event, one of the country's largest in a year, so plan early.
festival
New Year's Eve at Burj Khalifa
These fireworks are famous worldwide, and hotels in the downtown area sell out.
trade
Gulfood
A very large trade fair covering food and drink.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 999. Ambulance 998. Fire 997.
local government
UAE Police emergency number (999)
Helps with: The UAE government portal lists 999 for police, callable from anywhere in the country.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the UAE, including visitors, who needs police help in an emergency.
Phone: 999
local government
UAE ambulance (998) and Civil Defence (997)
Helps with: The UAE government portal lists 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire department (Civil Defence). This listing gives the ambulance number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the UAE, including visitors, who needs an ambulance.
Phone: 998
local government
Dubai Police Tourist Support
Helps with: Dubai Police have a tourist support service. The UAE government portal gives two different phone numbers for Dubai tourism police, so none is shown here; use the Dubai Police site for the current contact.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors who need help in Dubai.
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in the UAE (official directory)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. The UAE foreign ministry's directory lets you pick a country to see its missions' locations and contacts.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
See all information for United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)