Attractions & tickets

Aquaventure or Wild Wadi, Which Water Park

Aquaventure or Wild Wadi? I compare Dubai's two big water parks on rides, small kids, beach access, queues and cabana costs to find which is worth a full day.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Everything you need to know about Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo inside Dubai Mall: the free walkway view versus the ticket, the tunnel, add ons, and visiting with kids.

Dubai Miracle Garden, and When It Is Open

Everything about Dubai Miracle Garden: when it is open, what the flower displays look like, the butterfly garden next door, and how to get there without a car.

Global Village Dubai, a Seasonal Night Out

Global Village Dubai is the city's best-value night out: country pavilions, street food and shows. Here's when it runs, what to eat and how much to budget.

Ski Dubai, Snow Inside a Shopping Mall

Skiing indoors in a Dubai mall sounds mad until you do it. Here is Ski Dubai explained: snow park versus slope pass, gear, penguins, beginners and how cold it gets.

Burj Khalifa Tickets Guide: At the Top, SKY and Best Times

How to choose Burj Khalifa tickets: At the Top on 124 and 125 versus SKY on 148, sunset versus day, prime-hour pricing, and every tip to book the tallest building in the world right.

Palm Jumeirah: The Island, the Monorail and Whether to Stay There

An artificial palm shaped peninsula with a trunk, sixteen fronds and a crescent of resorts: how it is laid out, what is open to visitors, and the trade off in staying on it.

Dubai or Abu Dhabi: Which One, or Both

They are ninety minutes apart and they are not the same city: one is louder, faster and built for visitors, the other is the capital and takes itself more seriously.

The Museum of the Future: A Building With No Corners

A silver torus covered in Arabic calligraphy, with an interior that is part exhibition and part immersive theatre: what is inside, why it sells out, and who it suits.

Top 15 Things to Do in Dubai (and How to Book Them)

The 15 attractions worth your time in Dubai, from the Burj Khalifa and the desert to Old Dubai and the waterparks, with honest tips on what to book ahead and what to skip.

The Dubai Frame: A Gold Picture Frame With a Glass Floor

One side looks at the old city, the other at the towers, and the bridge between them has a floor you can see through: what the visit is and whether it is worth it.

The Dubai Fountain: Where to Stand and When to Go

The free show at the foot of the Burj Khalifa runs every half hour into the evening: the good viewing spots, the ones that cost money, and how to avoid the crush.

First Time in Dubai: The Only Guide You Need

Planning your first trip to Dubai? Here is when to go, which area to stay in, how the visa works for your passport, how to get around, what to book ahead, and the local etiquette that saves you trouble.