Dubai is a city built on ambition — where record-breaking architecture, world-class shopping, and desert adventure sit within a short drive of some of the finest beach resorts in the world. It’s a destination that works equally well for a short luxury break or as the perfect stopover extension to a longer Indian Ocean holiday, offering a genuinely different pace and energy to the beach-and-spa destinations elsewhere in our collection.
Burj Khalifa — At the Top
The world's tallest building is, unsurprisingly, one of Dubai's essential experiences — the observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors offers views stretching across the entire city and out to the Gulf. Book a sunset slot if you can; watching Dubai's skyline light up from that height is genuinely spectacular.
Desert Safari & Dune Dinner
A few hours from the city's towers, the Arabian desert offers an entirely different Dubai experience — dune bashing by 4x4, camel rides, and a traditional dinner under the stars at a desert camp, often with live entertainment. It's a proper contrast to the skyscrapers, and one of the most popular excursions for good reason.
Dubai Mall & The Dubai Fountain
Beyond simply being one of the largest shopping destinations in the world, Dubai Mall sits directly beside the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain — a choreographed water, light, and music show that runs every evening and is free to watch from the promenade. Worth timing your dinner reservation to catch one of the shows.
Palm Jumeirah & Atlantis Aquaventure
The Palm itself is worth seeing simply for the audacity of it — a man-made island shaped like a palm tree, visible from space. Atlantis The Palm's Aquaventure Waterpark, one of the largest in the region, makes for a genuinely fun day out if you're travelling with family, with record-breaking slides and a marine habitat alongside the rides.
Old Dubai — Gold & Spice Souks
For a glimpse of the city before the skyscrapers, the Gold and Spice Souks along Dubai Creek offer a completely different, low-key atmosphere — narrow lanes packed with spice stalls and glittering jewellery windows. Cross the creek the traditional way, by abra (a small wooden ferry, and one of Dubai's most budget-friendly experiences), for one of the best-value, most atmospheric outings in the whole city.
November to March offers the most comfortable weather, with warm, sunny days and cooler evenings — this is peak season. Summer (June to September) brings intense heat, often above 40°C, though hotels and malls are, unsurprisingly, very well air-conditioned.
No — UK passport holders receive a free visa on arrival, typically valid for 30-90 days depending on current entry rules, with no advance application needed.
Yes — alcohol is served in most hotels, licensed restaurants, and bars, and can be consumed freely within those venues. Public drinking outside licensed premises is not permitted, and it's worth being mindful of local customs generally, particularly during Ramadan.
Lightweight, breathable clothing works best given the heat, and dress is generally relaxed within hotels, resorts, and tourist areas. In public spaces, malls, and when visiting religious sites, it's respectful to dress a little more modestly — shoulders and knees covered is a sensible default.
Very much so — its central location between Europe, Asia, and Africa, combined with excellent flight connections, makes it an easy and worthwhile way to break up a longer journey, particularly if you're continuing on to somewhere like the Maldives or Sri Lanka.
Where to stay
From sculptural icons to understated seclusion, here are four of Dubai's most celebrated addresses.
Atlantis The Royal
Dubai's newest and most talked-about address, Atlantis The Royal has quickly become one of the most photographed hotels in the world — a striking, sculptural building on Palm Jumeirah with an extraordinary collection of celebrity chef restaurants, including outposts from some of the biggest names in global dining, plus a genuinely spectacular sky pool suspended between two towers.
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Consistently one of the highest-rated properties on the Palm, the Waldorf Astoria pairs classic, understated grandeur with a genuinely serene west-crescent location — slightly removed from the busier stretches of the island, offering sweeping views back across the Dubai skyline.
One&Only The Palm
A quieter, more residential-feeling alternative to the Palm's bigger, splashier resorts — low-rise Moorish-inspired architecture spread across manicured gardens, with a real sense of privacy that appeals particularly to couples wanting a more understated luxury break.
Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Set slightly off the Palm on Jumeirah Beach itself, this is a strong choice for anyone wanting beachfront luxury with easier access to the city centre — consistently excellent reviews, a genuinely lovely private beach, and the kind of polished, reliable service Four Seasons is known for worldwide.