Language · 11 published
Country guide
The United Arab Emirates has been one country since 2 December 1971, when seven emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah — federated. It covers 83,600 km² and held 11,027,129 people in 2024, of whom about 11 per cent are Emirati citizens; the rest came to work, and that shapes the food, the languages and the shape of a week more than any monument does. Abu Dhabi is the capital and Dubai the largest city, close enough to treat as one base. The northern emirates beyond them are quieter and far less built.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Tim Reckmann from Hamm, Deutschland · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · Валерий Дед · CC BY 3.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
57 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
برج خليفة
Burj Khalifa is the 828-metre tower that Emaar opened in Downtown Dubai on 4 January 2010, and what a visitor actually buys a ticket to is a small part of it.
دبي مول
Dubai Mall stands on Financial Centre Road in Downtown Dubai, at the foot of Burj Khalifa, and its operator Emaar describes it as the most visited retail and lifestyle destination in the world, welcoming over 100 million visitors a year.
نافورة دبي
The Dubai Fountain is a choreographed water and light show staged on the Burj Lake, the artificial lake that lies between the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar in Downtown Dubai.
متحف المستقبل
The Museum of the Future is a steel torus standing on a planted green mound beside Jumeirah Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road, with an oval void cut through its centre.
برواز دبي
Dubai Frame is a picture frame built at architectural scale in Zabeel Park, and it is run by Dubai Municipality rather than by a commercial operator.
Deira Gold Souk
Deira Gold Souk is an open-air jewellery market in Al Ras, at the northern end of Deira, a few hundred metres back from the Dubai Creek waterfront.
حي الفهيدي التاريخي
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood stands on the Bur Dubai bank of Dubai Creek, a few streets of low coral-stone houses left standing while the rest of the city went vertical.
سوق التوابل
Dubai Spice Souk is a traditional market in Deira, Dubai's historic commercial district. The souk forms part of the older trading quarter near Dubai Creek, where merchants have conducted business for generations.
Deira Clocktower is a prominent roundabout monument located in the Deira district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
دبي باركس
Dubai Parks and Resorts is a large integrated leisure destination in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It encompasses multiple theme parks and entertainment zones within one complex.
حديقة مشرف الوطنية
Mushrif Park is a major public park in Dubai, known locally as حديقة مشرف الوطنية. The park occupies a substantial green space in the eastern part of the city, offering a natural environment distinct from Dubai's urban core.
موقع ساروق الحديد الأثري
Saruq Al Hadid Archaeological Site is an important archaeological location in Dubai emirate. Finds from the site connect it with ancient metallurgy, craft production and trade.
متحف الاتحاد
Etihad Museum, known locally as متحف الاتحاد, is a cultural institution in Dubai dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the United Arab Emirates.
سوق دبي للمنسوجات
Dubai Textile Souk, known locally as سوق دبي للمنسوجات, is a traditional market located in the Bur Dubai district near the Dubai Creek.
Saeed Al Maktoum House is a historic Dubai residence associated with the Al Maktoum ruling family. The house offers a direct connection with the emirate’s pre-oil past and with the traditional architecture of the Gulf.
موقع جميرا الأثري
Jumeirah Archaeological Site is a place of archaeological and historical interest in Dubai’s Jumeirah area. It represents evidence of past human activity and settlement within a district now known for modern urban development.
مسجد دبي الكبير
Grand Mosque is an active Islamic place of worship and an architectural landmark in Dubai. It is different from a museum or a purpose-built visitor attraction because prayer and religious life remain its central purpose.
موقع الصفوح الأثري
Al Sufouh Archaeological Site is a heritage location in western Dubai, in the Al Sufouh area near the coastline between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
Sheikh Obaid bin Thani House is a heritage building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It represents traditional Emirati architecture and serves as a cultural landmark preserving the emirate's historical built environment.
متحف دبي للصور المتحركة
The Dubai Moving Image Museum is a cultural institution in Dubai dedicated to the history and evolution of moving images. It traces the development of visual storytelling from early precursors of cinema through to modern filmmaking technologies.
Coffee Museum
Dubai Coffee Museum is a compact cultural museum in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, housed in a traditional wind-tower building.
كنيسة القديسة مريم الكاثوليكية
St. Mary's Catholic Church is an active Catholic place of worship in Dubai. It serves the Catholic community through Mass, prayer and religious ceremonies.
المسجد الشيعي الإيراني، بر دبي
The Iranian Mosque, also known as the Shia Iranian Mosque, stands in Bur Dubai's historic district. This place of worship serves Dubai's Iranian Shia Muslim community and reflects Persian architectural influences.
حصن الفهيدي
Al Fahidi Fort, known locally as حصن الفهيدي, stands as Dubai's oldest existing building. Constructed in 1787, this coral-stone and mortar fortification served defensive purposes before later uses as a palace, garrison, and prison.
Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif is a historic majlis in Dubai’s Jumeirah area. A majlis is a traditional meeting or gathering space, and this building represents the social and architectural heritage of an earlier Dubai.
St Francis of Assisi Church
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali serves the Catholic community in Dubai's industrial corridor. The church operates under the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, providing spiritual services to a diverse congregation of expatriate workers and residents.
Dubai Municipality Museum is a cultural institution operated by Dubai Municipality, the government body responsible for city services and urban planning.
Hatta Heritage Village is a reconstructed traditional mountain settlement located in the Hatta enclave of Dubai, within the Hajar Mountains.
The Abrahamic Family House is an interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, inaugurated in 2023. It comprises a mosque, a church, and a synagogue designed to promote coexistence among the three Abrahamic religions.
Coins Museum
Dubai Coins Museum is a specialised numismatic museum focused on the history of currency. Its displays connect coins with trade, political authority, economic life and cultural exchange.
Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab
Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque is an active Islamic place of worship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is named after Omar Bin Al Khattab, an important historical figure in Islam.
Al Rahim Mosque
Masjid Al Rahim, also known locally as Al Rahim Mosque, is an active place of Islamic worship in Dubai. It belongs to the living religious landscape of the United Arab Emirates rather than functioning as a conventional museum or monument.
Women's museum
The Women's Museum in Dubai is a cultural institution dedicated to documenting and celebrating the contributions of women to the United Arab Emirates. Located in the historic Al Fahidi district, it occupies a renovated traditional house.
Jameel Arts Centre is a contemporary art institution on Dubai’s Jaddaf Waterfront. It is a place for exhibitions, commissions, research and public programmes, with a quieter atmosphere than the city’s large entertainment venues.
Al Ahmadiya School is a historic educational institution in Dubai, representing the emirate's early commitment to formal schooling. Established in the early twentieth century, it served as a pioneering centre of learning during a transformative period in the region's development.
Al-Oshoosh Archeological Site
Al-Ashoosh, locally known as the Al-Oshoosh Archeological Site, is an archaeological location in the Dubai emirate.
Al Marmoom Heritage Village is a Dubai cultural attraction set within the wider Al Marmoom desert landscape. It presents elements of Emirati heritage and the traditional way of life that developed before the emirate's rapid modern growth.
بحيرات القدرة
Al Qudra Lakes is a man-made desert oasis in Dubai’s Dubailand area, where interconnected bodies of water sit among open arid plains.
Al Seef Dubai is a waterfront destination along Dubai Creek, developed as a mixed-use leisure and retail precinct. The area blends contemporary architecture with design elements evoking traditional Emirati heritage.
Al Shandagah Watch Tower is a historic defensive structure in Dubai’s Al Shandagah area. It represents the watchtowers that helped protect coastal settlements and monitor movement along the Arabian Gulf.
Al Shindagha Museum is a cultural institution situated in the historic Al Shindagha district along Dubai Creek.
Al Sufouh Umm an-Nar Tomb is a Bronze Age burial monument in Dubai’s Al Sufouh area. The tomb belongs to the Umm an-Nar cultural tradition, which flourished in the third millennium BCE around the Arabian Gulf.
Aura Skypool is an elevated pool venue located in Dubai, positioned high above the city with panoramic views across the skyline and surrounding waters. The attraction functions as a swimming and leisure destination combining pool access with observation-level vantage points.
AYA is an immersive visitor attraction in Dubai, designed around experience-led entertainment rather than a conventional museum collection. The name identifies a contemporary stop within the city’s large portfolio of leisure destinations.
Bluewaters Island is a man-made island development off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. It is primarily known as the location of Ain Dubai, one of the world's largest observation wheels.
Dubai Crocodile Museum is a specialist attraction devoted to crocodiles and wildlife education. The museum offers a focused alternative to Dubai’s better-known skyscrapers, shopping centres and entertainment complexes.
حي دبي للتصميم
Dubai Design District, known locally as حي دبي للتصميم, is a purpose-built creative quarter in Dubai dedicated to design, fashion, and arts.
دبي جاردن جلو
Dubai Garden Glow is an illuminated theme park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The attraction features elaborate light installations and sculptures, creating a nighttime entertainment destination.
The Founder's Memorial is a permanent national tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the United Arab Emirates. Located on Abu Dhabi Corniche, the memorial encompasses a landscaped public park and cultural destination.
Heritage House is a cultural attraction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It forms part of the city's efforts to preserve and present traditional Emirati architecture and domestic life.
Jumeirah Mosque is a prominent Islamic landmark in Dubai, situated in the Jumeirah district. It stands as one of the few mosques in the United Arab Emirates open to non-Muslim visitors, offering structured cultural programmes.
متحف الغموض
The Museum of Illusions in Dubai is an attraction dedicated to optical illusions, visual tricks, and perceptual phenomena. It presents interactive exhibits that challenge visitors' understanding of reality through carefully constructed rooms, installations, and displays.
Wahat Al Karama
Wahat Al Karama is a war memorial and monument site in Abu Dhabi, situated opposite Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Its name translates to Oasis of Dignity.
Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi's oldest building, the ancestral home of the Al Nahyan family and the symbolic centre from which the city developed.
Surf Abu Dhabi is a controlled-wave surf venue on Hudayriyat Island, built around a bookable surf basin rather than an open beach break.
The National Gallery in Dubai is an art institution presenting collections and exhibitions to the public. It operates as a cultural venue within the city's developing arts landscape.
وو-هوو!
Woo-hoo! is listed as a visitor attraction in Dubai and is included in the city’s tourism landscape. Its name gives the place a playful identity, while the available description places it among Dubai’s broad range of visitor experiences.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Six to eight days is enough for roughly four days in Dubai and two or three in Abu Dhabi. Sharjah can be a separate museum day, while Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah requires dedicated road time rather than being treated as a quick urban extension.
UAE entry permission depends on nationality and may be arranged in advance or granted under a nationality-specific rule. Confirm the current position through the federal ICP service or the responsible UAE embassy, especially for a stopover itinerary.
Dubai combines metro, tram, buses, and marine transport; Abu Dhabi relies more heavily on buses and taxis. Travel between emirates remains road-based, so allow for an intercity bus, taxi, or rental car rather than expecting a passenger train.
November through March gives the most practical outdoor hours for this Dubai-Abu Dhabi route. In hotter months, schedule waterfront and heritage districts early or late and reserve the middle of the day for indoor museums.
The United Arab Emirates uses the dirham (AED). Cards are widely useful in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but retain an AED backup for smaller fares or deposits and check which currency a card terminal proposes.
Police in the UAE can be reached on 999 and ambulance services on 998. Type G sockets supply 230 V; tap-water guidance is not recorded here, so ask the accommodation for the building-specific position.
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