United Arab Emirates Things To Do

Enjoy Abu Dhabi’s waterfront with an evening stroll in summer or afternoon walk in winter. To savor The Corniche’s dramatic skyline from the water, board Le Royal Meridien’s sleek Shuja Yacht for a seafood dinner cruise.

Gain insight into pre-oil-boom life at the waterfront Heritage Village. While it’s pleasant to stroll the traditional souq, the barasti (palm frond) houses and mosque, the small Bedouin museum-fort is the highlight.

Abu Dhabi’s white fort palace, once the ruling family’s home, is the city’s oldest, most beloved building. Although its interior is currently undergoing restoration, it’s still possible to stroll the palm-filled courtyard garden.

The city’s main cultural space hosts art and photography exhibitions, plus vibrant performances like concerts, ballet, and theater. Visitors can also watch veiled Emirati women practice traditional crafts.

While the desert safari allows you to tick off some "must-do" experiences – edge-of-your-seat 4WD dune driving, camel ride, falconry, sand-boarding, Arabic feast, and belly-dancing – the best part is enjoying the sublime desert scenery and sunset.

The world’s very first indoor ski resort is the size of three football fields. Located in the center of the Mall of the Emirates, this 275-foot-high synthetic hill has several runs, as well as a snow park for children. Because no one expects you to bring ski clothes to Dubai, the resort provides all the amenities – even hot cocoa at the top of the "mountain."

Spend a few hours being scrubbed and pampered in a traditional Moroccan hammam. Several hotels and spas have them, but the city’s best is at the One&Only Royal Mirage.

If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of regional artists, head over to The Third Line, which has one of this city’s finest contemporary art collections.

This water park located next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel has dozens of attractions including surfing machines, waterfalls, and the biggest slide outside of the North America.

This former Iranian neighborhood, located on the banks of the Dubai Creek, is over 100 years old. Spend a day here touring this village’s narrow lanes, which snake around the collection of gypsum-colored traditional Emirati buildings constructed before the oil dollars rolled in the 70’s. Begin at the XVA Gallery, which is housed in the most impeccably renovated Bastakiya former home.