The city is renowned for its excess and luxury, but Dubai isn't just that, it's also a city full of unique and fascinating neighborhoods, each with its own particularities and history.
In this article, we'll guide you through Dubai's best neighborhoods, from historic districts like Bur Dubai and Deira, to modern districts like Downtown and Dubai Marina.
The best neighborhoods to visit in Dubai are:
- Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- Jumeirah
- Bur Dubai
- Deira
- Downtown Dubai
One of the places not to be missed on a trip to Dubai is Palm Jumeirah, a spectacular artificial island in the shape of a stylized palm tree, located just off Dubai Marina and JBR.
The island in question was built using advanced terraforming techniques between 2001 and 2007, and its shape (a palm tree) is a tribute to Dubai's origins.
Many people are unaware that the shape of Palm Jumeirah was not chosen purely for aesthetic reasons. In fact, it was a carefully considered decision that doubled the city's coastline, extending it by 70 km.
In fact, the particular shape of the palm tree has increased the number of plots with sea views, which has obviously increased its value exponentially.
Great, isn't it?
There are so many things to do and see on the famous island, here are just a few:
- The Palm Monorail: a high-tech monorail built to transport people around Palm Jumeirah. The monorail is an attraction because it offers spectacular views of the island.
- Aquaventure Waterpark: the world's largest waterpark, with over 100 activities for young and old, the park is located in the Atlantis The Palm complex.
- The Lost Chambers: a spectacular aquarium with dozens of exhibits on the theme of Atlantis, the lost city.
- The View at The Palm: the most beautiful rooftop terrace in Dubai. Its height is an impressive 240 metres.
- The Palm Fountain: this is the world's largest colorful dancing fountain. It is located in an impressive spot between The Point and the Atlantis The Palm hotel.
The best way to discover Palm Jumeirah is by monorail. The station is called "Gateway" and is located at the entrance to the island. To get there, first take the metro to Dubai Marina, then the inner tramway, which stops in front of the monorail.
- The island alone cost $12 billion to build.
- Palm Jumeirah also redefined the standard of what's possible with foresight and (a lot of) money
- To ensure that the shape was perfect, a satellite was used, enabling engineers to place the sand with millimeter precision.
Dubai's marina is undoubtedly the city's best-known district.
It is a residential and entertainment area, built between 2005 and 2010 to attract expatriates and Western tourists.
The design takes its inspiration from Vancouver's Concord Pacific Place, and it's no coincidence that the design was entrusted to the same team that worked on the Canadian project.
Dubai Marina features an inland canal/lagoon, surrounded by luxury palaces and skyscrapers, a port area and a coastal zone called Jumeirah Beach Residence.
And all, of course, enhanced by dozens of restaurants, hotels, boutiques, clubs and nightclubs.
Let's just say it's a veritable amusement park for adults (who want to spend).
- It's home to two excellent beaches, with plenty of restaurants, places to have a drink facing the sea and sporting activities of all kinds.
- The Walk is an Ocean Drive-style pedestrian zone, very pretty and ideal for walking, cycling or scooting.
- Ain Dubai: This is the world's largest Ferris wheel. It reaches a record height of 250 metres, almost twice as high as the London Eye.
- X-Line Dubai: a thrilling zip-line experience, and to be precise, it's the world's longest urban zip-line (over 1 km). You can jump from a height of 170 metres at a speed of 80 km/h!
To get to Dubai Marina, take the metro's red line to the Sobha Realty or DMCC stop. To access the inner area, you can then take the streetcar to Jumeirah Beach Residence.
Here are some interesting facts about Dubai Marina:
- Dubai Marina's tallest skyscraper is the Princess Tower, which rises to 413 meters.
- The Ibn Battuta Mall is just a short distance from Dubai Marina. It is inspired by the travels of the Arab explorer Ibn Battuta, retracing his adventures in Tunisia, Egypt, China, Andalusia, India and Persia.
- All the city's best nightclubs can be found here.
Let's turn now to Dubai's coastal district. Jumeirah encompasses a large part of the coastal area, from Old Dubai to Dubai Marina.
This includes the areas of Jumeirah 1, 2, 3 and Umm Suqeim.
This district is famous for its luxury beachfront hotels and for being home to some of Dubai's most iconic attractions. One example is the famous Burj al Arab, the city's most luxurious hotel and one of the ten most exclusive in the world.
- Take a guided tour of the Burj al Arab. Although spending a night in this hotel is an experience reserved for very few, the hotel has recently opened up the possibility of visiting it as part of a guided tour.
- Madinat Jumeirah: just a short walk from the hotel is this "fake" Arab quarter, built to resemble an old historic part of the city. Access is free, and the area is one of the best places to take great photos of the Burj al Arab.
- Wild Wadi Waterpark: a water park located opposite the Burj al Arab and below the other iconic hotel, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Wild Wadi was the first theme park to open in Dubai and is home to many interesting attractions, with a wide range of activities for adults and children, including bodyboarding, kneeboarding, surfing and rafting.
- The Mall of the Emirates is Dubai's second-largest shopping mall and home to over 630 stores, but the real reason I recommend a visit are the wacky attractions you'll see on your tour. Case in point? Ski Dubai, the world's largest indoor ski slope, complete with snow, snowfall and penguins!
- La Mer is home to Jumeirah's best and most beautiful beach. It offers spectacular views of the Dubai skyline, practical facilities such as sun loungers and parasols, stores, restaurants, a funfair, a children's playground and even a vast underground parking lot.
- The Jumeirah Mosque, located near La Mer, is one of Dubai's most beautiful mosques and one of the few open to non-Muslims. During a guided tour, you can learn about the history and principles of Islam, attend a prayer and admire the interior of the mosque. You'll also have the chance to have your photo taken with a falcon, the symbol of the United Arab Emirates.
Jumeirah is not served by the metro network, but is easily accessible by buses 7, 8, 9, 81 and 88.
Interesting facts about Jumeirah
- Jumeirah is home to one of the oldest and most important archaeological sites in the United Arab Emirates. It dates from 800 to 1000 A.D. and includes relics such as gold coins, vases, porcelain and tools. There are also the ruins of a small town with buildings and the governor's palace.
- Burj al Arab, Dubai's most exclusive hotel, allows guests to choose from 17 types of pillow!
Did you know that Dubai isn't all skyscrapers, luxury and beaches?
On the other side of town, a stone's throw from the airport, lies the oldest part of Dubai.
If you're looking for a totally different experience and want to discover the origins of the emirate, this is the place to go.
Bur Dubai is home to attractions linked to the pre-oil era, when Dubai was little more than a village of fishermen and pearl gatherers.
- The Dubai Museum is located in the former Al Fahdi Fort, Dubai's oldest building, and offers an overview of the city's history. The museum illustrates the customs and traditions of Emirati society before the discovery of oil, offering an immersive experience through film footage, audiovisual effects and scale reconstructions. The visit is very interesting and should be one of the first attractions to visit in Dubai.
- The Al Fahdi rhistoric quarter is the old quarter of Bur Dubai, originally founded by Iranians and known as Bastakiya. The district, restored in the 1980s, is characterized by its stone and sand houses and characteristic ventilation towers that served as natural air-conditioning. The district includes some 40-50 typical houses, museums, stores and restaurants, as well as guided tours organized by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
- Bur Dubai's textile souk is the city's oldest market. Here you can buy fine fabrics and traditional clothing, beautiful silk scarves and garments typical not only of Emirati culture, but also of other traditions. Of course, don't forget to haggle over the price!
You can get to Bur Dubai by taking the red or green metro line.
Old Dubai is divided into two parts. The first is Bur Dubai. If you cross the creek, the river that divides the city, you arrive in Deira.
This district was founded in 1841 and quickly became Dubai's most important commercial area. Numerous souks have sprung up here, including those for gold, pearls and textiles.
Today, Deira preserves this tradition with its many souks. It is also one of Dubai's most cosmopolitan districts. For over a century, Iranians, Emirates, Indians, Pakistanis and people of other ethnicities and nationalities have lived here in peace.
- First of all, the Gold Souk, a major market that has been active for decades, where you can buy gold at very attractive prices. In fact, it's not just a tourist attraction, but a market that brings in billions of euros every year.
- The Spice Souk, located in Deira's Grand Souk, is a market not to be missed for its unique atmosphere, colors and smells. It offers a wide selection of spices, medicinal herbs and natural cosmetics, including incense, which it is highly recommended to bring along with a perfume burner and incense holder.
- The Souk des Parfums is another must-see destination in Deira, just a short walk from the Souk de l'Or. Here you can buy brand-name perfumes, reproductions and personalized products. It is advisable to have a personalized perfume created, which takes around 15-30 minutes.
- The Heritage House is a museum. It is an Emirati house built for a wealthy pearl merchant in 1890. During the tour, you can see rooms arranged around the patio that show traditional Emirati life through detailed exhibits.
To get to Deira from other parts of Dubai, the best way is to take the metro, particularly the Red Line and the Green Line. Get off at the Gold Souk stop in front of the Gold Market. The Al Ras stop takes you to the Spice Market, and the Al Rigga stop to the Dhow Wharfage.
Interesting facts about Deira:
- In the past, the cove was the center of trade in the Emirate of Dubai. The sailing boat known as the Dhow was the main means of transporting goods to the various emirates, as well as to countries as far away as Iran and Somalia. If you visit the Dhow Wharfage, you can climb aboard one of these boats for a very small fee.
- Dubai's first bridge, the Maktoum Brige, was built in 1963 over the creek. It linked the two districts of old Dubai.
Downtown Dubai is the emblem of the modern, wealthy and forward-looking emirate.
The district was created to be the new "center" of Dubai and was built at record speed between 2005 and 2010. The aim was to create a mixed urban area with tourist and office buildings.
Over the past 15 to 20 years, the district has added super-interesting attractions almost every year.
Not surprisingly, this is where Dubai's most important monuments and landmarks are concentrated.
- Burj Khalifa: Standing 828 meters high, it has 163 floors. As well as being the world's tallest building, it has broken several other records, including the fastest elevator and the highest observation deck. Tourists can visit an interactive museum on the construction of the Burj Khalifa and climb to the basic or VIP observation deck. Prices vary according to the time of day.
- Museum of the Future: one of the most interesting museums. This is an incredible interactive exhibition on the future of humanity in the next 50 years, covering topics such as climate change, health, future travel and medicine.
- The Dubai Mall: Home to over 1,200 stores, it's so big you need a map to get around! In addition, the mall houses an aquarium, an ice rink, art installations and much more.
- The Dubai Frame is an immense 150-meter-high golden frame located in Zabeel Park, symbolically uniting old Dubai and the modern city, framing them with its silhouette. During your visit, you'll have access to an interactive museum on the history of Dubai and climb onto the observation deck, which offers a breathtaking view of the old city on one side and the new city on the other.
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