Most cities rest on their reputation. Dubai builds new ones. Each season brings something unexpected to this stretch of coast, where over 17 million visitors arrived in 2023 alone – drawn by experiences that exist nowhere else. From a city that welcomed just 632,000 tourists in 1990 during its 'decade of change,' Dubai now sets global standards for what is possible.
Extraordinary Stays
Burj Al Arab
The iconic Burj Al Arab. The "seven-star" designation may be unofficial, but spending an evening in one of its duplex suites might lead one to wonder if seven stars are enough. The hotel's sail-shaped silhouette has become Dubai's most recognisable building, but it’s the smaller touches that leave the most lasting impressions – like the way the morning sun catches the 24-carat gold leaf adorning the grand staircase, or the butler who somehow anticipates needs before they are even formed.
Location: Jumeirah Beach, Private Island.
Bulgari Resort
The Bulgari Resort offers a calmer Dubai experience. Located on Jumeirah Bay Island, this Mediterranean-inspired hotel feels worlds away from the city’s gleaming towers. The resort’s collection of private villas, each with its own pool and garden, attracts an international crowd who value seclusion as much as luxury. In the 5,800-square-foot Bulgari Villa, artwork and furnishings create an atmosphere that feels more like a private estate than a hotel suite.
Location: Jumeirah Bay Island.
Cultural Heritage
Al Fahidi
Dubai’s oldest districts preserve centuries of trading heritage through careful restoration. In Al Fahidi, private morning tours wind through narrow sikkas between historic homes, their coral stone walls and wind towers revealing the beauty of traditional Arabian architecture. Guides, many from pearl trading families themselves, share intimate knowledge of the maritime era that first brought prosperity to Dubai. The district’s quiet courtyards have museums and cultural spaces where visitors learn the art of Arabic calligraphy and traditional coffee preparation.
Location: Dubai Creek.
Gold and Spice Souks
In the nearby gold and spice souks, family businesses have operated from the same buildings for generations. Master craftsmen still shape intricate jewellery by hand, while spice merchants blend their signature mixes of cardamom, saffron, and desert herbs. Evening walks through these lanes are filled with the aromas of spices and the sounds of bartering that have been part of Dubai’s trading heritage.
Location: Deira.
The Desert – Hot Air Balloon
Rather than traditional safari treks, experience the desert from a new perspective by waking before dawn to lift off in a private hot air balloon. Drift silently over endless dunes as the rising sun paints them in shades of amber and gold. Below, a master falconer prepares for a morning demonstration, while in the distance, gazelles move gracefully across the sand.
Location: Dubai Desert.
Dining at New Heights
Ossiano
At Ossiano, deep below the surface, guests dine as Chef Grégoire Berger presents ‘Metanoia’, a ten-course menu. Seasonal seafood from Mediterranean and Arabian waters shapes each dish, while tableside preparations add drama – from flame-seared blue lobster to caviar served on mother-of-pearl. Sommeliers pair wines from the cellar to complement each course.
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah.
Sonara Camp
Deep in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Sonara Camp puts a memorable spin on dining under the stars. This desert hideaway pairs top-notch food with a connection to nature. The menu draws from local flavours against a backdrop of untouched dunes.
The evening unfolds like a story—watch the sunset with a camel ride or sandboarding, then settle in as the desert comes alive with falconry shows, live music, and fire dancers under lantern-lit skies. Whether a romantic night out or a gathering with friends, Sonara Camp goes beyond the usual desert safari experience in all the right ways.
Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Sublimotion
The real revolution in Dubai dining comes from Sublimotion, where dinner becomes performance art. Projection mapping transforms walls between courses, plates appear to levitate, and each dish arrives with its own soundscape and scent. The $2,000 per guest price reflects the evening’s ambition – a theatrical production where food plays the starring role, and every course brings a new scene to the table.
Location: Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah.
The Art of Acquisition
Dubai Mall
Behind the grand doors of Dubai Mall is Fashion Avenue, where Style Concierges guide guests through private collections from the world’s most coveted houses. Cartier, Harry Winston, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton maintain their most exclusive pieces here, many never displayed on the main floor. Private styling suites offer discreet access to limited-edition collections, while personal shoppers curate experiences based on individual taste.
Location: Downtown Dubai.
Dubai Diamond Exchange
While Fashion Avenue caters to contemporary luxury, the Dubai Diamond Exchange presents an entirely different world of collecting. Hidden within the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, this is where $35 billion worth of precious stones change hands each year. By appointment, expert gemologists share the stories behind exceptional pieces – from newly unearthed rough diamonds to historic stones.
Location: Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT).
Adventure and Nature
Skydive Dubai
From 13,000 feet above Dubai, The Palm stretches into the Arabian Gulf below. During the 120mph descent, the city appears in stunning clarity – palm fronds reaching into blue waters, towers rising along the coast. On the viewing terrace below, families track each jump while professional videographers capture every angle of the freefall. Before take-off, experienced instructors guide small groups through safety essentials and flight techniques.
Location: Palm Jumeirah Drop Zone.
High-Performance Vehicles
The city’s relationship with rare high-performance cars manifests in exclusive driving experiences. Prestigious operators like Platinum Supercar have built entire collections around this passion, offering the keys to vehicles most people only see in magazines. There’s something uniquely Dubai about renting a Bugatti and taking it through its paces on Sheikh Zayed Road, where contemporary architecture and engineering excellence share the same space.
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road and surrounding desert roads.
Desert Conservation Reserve
Dawn at the Desert Conservation Reserve reveals another side of Dubai. As they track oryx and gazelles, scientists share their field notes. Visitors observe how native plants and animals survive in hot temperatures while learning about current breeding programmes and protection measures. The morning reveals lesser-known aspects of desert life, from the nocturnal traces of sand cats to the resilient desert plants taking root in protected areas.
Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Deep Dive Dubai
Sixty metres beneath the surface, Deep Dive Dubai is the world’s deepest diving pool, housing an abandoned city waiting to be discovered. Divers weave through flooded streets, past sunken supercars and arcade machines frozen in time. Technical instructors guide groups into hidden chambers, while film crews capture the swim down. Advanced divers can explore the deepest apartments, while first-timers perfect their skills among archways closer to the surface.
Location: Nad Al Sheba.
Sanctuary and Sunset
One&Only Royal Mirage
As evening approaches, the city’s spas offer moments of pause. The Oriental Hammam at One&Only Royal Mirage stands out not for its gold-infused treatments or high-tech therapies (though these exist in abundance) but for its commitment to ancient traditions. In chambers of hand-carved marble and intricate mosaics, traditional hammam rituals unfold as much as they have for centuries.
Location: Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina.
SAL
SAL's terrace at the Burj Al Arab frames the endless Arabian Gulf. The menu celebrates Mediterranean seafood and Provençal cooking, while the champagne selection includes coveted vintages from premier French houses. Each table offers clear views across the water, making sunset particularly spectacular.
Location: Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach
Dubai Marina Yacht Club
Dubai Marina Yacht Club honours maritime heritage in its modern waterfront setting. The menu brings together Mediterranean and Asian dishes, highlighting fresh seafood. Private dining rooms overlook the Marina's exclusive berths, where superyachts gather during season.
Location: Dubai Marina.
The Last Word
Dubai's rise from desert trading post to global capital of luxury defies expectations. Each visit brings something new – a restaurant that changes how we think about dining, a building that stretches architectural limits, or a fresh perspective on leisure. The city continues to astonish, no matter how many times one returns. Between sea and sand, what seems impossible elsewhere happens here daily, leaving everyone wondering what might come next.
