Stand on the deck of an abra as it crosses Dubai Creek at dusk, the water dark below you and the lights of Deira and Bur Dubai coming on either side, and you have the city in one frame: a working waterway that predates the towers, with the towers rising behind it. That crossing costs almost nothing and takes minutes, and it tells you more about how Dubai grew than any drive down a highway.
Dubai suits travellers who want contrast in a single day — a creek crossing in the morning, a dune camp at night — and who are comfortable with heat, salt water and long stretches of concrete broken by pockets of green. It rewards planning more than wandering, because the distances are real and the best moments are timed: sunset, race day, the cool hours.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, drawn from what the city's travel sources actually describe, followed by a one-day plan that strings the strongest of them together.
Top things to do in Dubai
1. Burj Khalifa
The tallest building in the world is the centrepiece of modern Dubai, and the source material is direct about what surrounds it: hotels, shopping destinations and entertainment options, so you can build a half-day around it without travelling far.
Treat it as an anchor rather than a standalone stop. Pair it with the shopping and dining in the same complex, and go when you want the view rather than squeezing it between two other commitments.
2. Abra ride
An abra is the small boat that crosses the Creek, and the sources recommend it as a ride best done at night, in the cool weather, to enjoy the city lights. Abras can also be hired for a private tour, for a price negotiable with the driver, usually very cheap.
It is a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver enlivens the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek. Make the purpose of your hire clear at the outset — otherwise you are in for a very expensive cross-river trip or a crowded private tour.
3. Dubai Creek cruise
Dubai Creek is the foundation from which the city grew, built as a port for trading vessels plying to and from India, Africa and the Middle East, and a bit of the old shipping culture remains. In and around the Creek you can see some of the original buildings that served as customs houses and defence structures.
You can book a ride, usually four hours, or rent a private boat for an hour-long ride up and down the Creek. Combine it with the abra crossing rather than treating the two as alternatives.
4. Desert safari or dune bashing
Head out in an SUV with specialist desert drivers who take you over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point, then bring you to a traditional Arabic Bedouin campsite with a barbecue buffet dinner, music and belly dance. The tour usually runs around five hours.
Stay clear of the dune bashing if you get carsick easily. If you are an extremely experienced driver holding an international driving licence, renting or buying a 4x4 and joining one of the UAE's growing 4x4 clubs is another option; Dubai-based clubs charge no membership fee and run regular beginner trips into the desert.
5. Dubai Museum
The sources call this a must-see for a first-time traveller to the Emirates, providing a glimpse of the old life of Dubai, its people and their culture and heritage. It is the clearest counterweight to the city's modern skyline.
Note that a number of other museums are located in nearby Sharjah, so if museums are your priority you can extend the day beyond the city. Build the visit into a Creek-side morning rather than a separate trip across town.
6. Beaches and sea
Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world, with endless water sports opportunities. Ocean temperatures range from 22 °C in winter up to 35 °C in summer, there are few wave breaks, and strong winds can make swimming difficult; the water is also very salty, so many prefer their hotel swimming pool.
Diving has been severely affected by offshore construction work for the Palms and The World, so long boat trips are now necessary to reach wreck sites. Alternatively, make the 90-minute road journey to the East coast Emirate of Fujairah or the Sharjah enclave, Khor Fakkan, for top-class diving on coral reefs supporting extensive marine life.
7. Meydan Racecourse
Horse racing has a long tradition in the Arab world, and Meydan Racecourse is one of the most famous venues in the world, holding races for both Thoroughbred and purebred Arabian horses. Gambling is illegal, so there are no on-site betting facilities.
The grandstand is a marvel of modern architecture and is particularly spectacular when lit up at night — go for the building and the racing rather than the betting.
8. Camel race track
One of the more unusual attractions, with races held on Thursday and Friday in the winter. You can watch the races and visit the paddocks.
Vendors sell everything from beads to rugs and blankets, so you can pick up souvenirs while you are there. Winter race days are the only time this works, so plan your trip around them if it interests you.
9. Yacht charter
Chartering a yacht is an easy way to explore the man-made Palm Islands and the coastal skyscrapers. Fleets are available for hire from Dubai Marina through many yacht charter agencies.
This pairs naturally with an evening on the water, and gives you the sea-level view of the coastline that the abra gives you of the Creek.
10. Safa Park
Dubai has a justified reputation as a concrete jungle, but there are nice pockets of greenery within the city, such as Safa Park. The city parks are modern and very well-maintained, with the most popular located in Jumeirah.
Use it as a slow hour between bigger sights rather than a destination in itself.
11. Golf
It may be a desert, but a lot of money and water is spent on irrigating opulent golf courses. For a more local flavour, try sand golf.
Book around the cooler hours, and treat the sand golf as the more distinctive of the two options.
12. Natural outdoors
Although the outdoors may at first glance seem dull, uninteresting or even dangerous due to desert conditions, there are amazing natural destinations in the Emirate of Dubai, which extends into Hatta. There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils, and even freshwater lakes.
This requires a dedicated trip out of the city rather than a spare afternoon, so give it a full day if you go.
13. Dubai International Film Festival
The city's not-for-profit cultural event. As a major festival for Arab cinema, it showcases a selection of films from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Check whether your visit coincides with the festival before you build an itinerary around it, since it is a dated event rather than a permanent attraction.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Dubai Museum for the old life of the city, then walk the Creek and take an abra across — the crossing is quick and cheap, and it puts you among the original customs houses and defence structures. If you want the longer version, book a Creek cruise instead.
Afternoon. Move to the Burj Khalifa, with its surrounding hotels, shopping and entertainment, and take your time there. If the heat is getting to you, Safa Park is the nearest green pause.
Evening. Head out on a desert safari for the dune drive, the sunset from a vantage point and the Bedouin camp dinner, which runs around five hours. If you would rather stay in the city, take an abra at night in the cool weather to see the lights, or charter a yacht from Dubai Marina to see the Palm Islands and the coastal skyscrapers from the water.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to take an abra ride?
At night, in the cool weather, to enjoy the city lights. Sunset on a clear day is also popular, particularly if the driver tells you about the structures on either side of the Creek.
Can I swim at the beaches?
Yes, but be aware that there are few wave breaks and strong winds can make swimming difficult, and the water is very salty, so many people prefer their hotel pool. Ocean temperatures range from 22 °C in winter up to 35 °C in summer.
Can I bet at Meydan Racecourse?
No. Gambling is illegal, so there are no on-site betting facilities. The grandstand itself is worth seeing, particularly when lit up at night.
When are the camel races held?
Races are held on Thursday and Friday in the winter. You can watch the races and visit the paddocks, and vendors sell souvenirs including beads, rugs and blankets.
Decide which of these fits your dates — a winter race day, a festival screening, a dune camp at sunset — and start building the trip around it.