Dubai

A city of the future in the desert: the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab and dune bashing, with 19.5 million international visitors in 2025 and ranked third in the world on TripAdvisor.

Dubai lies on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf. It is one of the seven emirates of the UAE and the Middle East's most cosmopolitan city, with a population of about 3.7 million, nearly 90% of them expatriates. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is only 5 km from the city center and is one of the world's busiest international airports, with direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou and other cities taking 8–9 hours; Chinese citizens can enter visa-free for 30 days. The climate is tropical desert: November to March, with temperatures of 20–30°C and plenty of sunshine, is the best season (the Dubai Shopping Festival runs December–January, when prices and crowds are both at their highest); April–May and October are hot but bearable; June–September is scorching, often above 45°C and humid, so outdoor activities are practically limited to early morning and night, but hotel prices are at their lowest. The city stretches in a band along the coast, and its core areas, from north to south, fall into four parts: first, the old town on both sides of Dubai Creek (Deira and Bur Dubai), with the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, the Al Fahidi Historical District and the Dubai Museum, where you cross the creek on a 1-dirham abra wooden boat; second, Downtown, with the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, plus the nearby Museum of the Future and the Dubai Frame; third, Jumeirah's waterfront, with the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Mosque and public beaches; and fourth, in the south, the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and the JBR Walk, home to Atlantis and its water park. Around the city you can take a half-day desert dune-bashing trip or a day trip to Abu Dhabi (1.5 hours by car) to see Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Plan on staying 4–5 days. Getting around: the Metro Red Line runs through the main attractions (driverless, with women-only carriages); buy a Nol card; taxis start at about AED 12, and Careem and Uber are available; many attractions are still a taxi ride from the nearest metro station. Tips: in malls and the old town, cover shoulders and knees, while swimwear is fine on the beach; drinking alcohol in public is prohibited (it is served only in licensed hotels and restaurants); during Ramadan, eating and drinking in public during the day is not allowed; most attractions open late on Friday mornings; for popular attractions (the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future), book tickets online at least a week ahead.

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Itineraries