You’ve heard about all the crazy and amazing things to do in Dubai like the indoor ski slope, the giant aquarium in a shopping mall, the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future, and countless other attractions. But we’re here to tell you about some great places in Dubai that a lot of visitors miss — and why we think they should be at the top of your list of things to do in Dubai.
One Of The World’s Great Libraries
Who doesn’t love a great library? A library is a wonderful introduction to a city and the perfect place to spend a few hours if the weather is unkind. Hand on heart, Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is one of the world’s best. Shaped like a rehl, the traditional wooden book rest used to hold the Quran, it’s an amazing looking building, inside and out.
Its cavernous interior has millions of titles spread across seven levels, and you’ll easily find a spot where you can pull up a comfy chair for some quiet contemplation. The library has a lovely café and courtyard, and an awesome children’s section complete with storytelling robots and play equipment for kids aged five and over.
But the real attraction for visitors is the top-floor Treasures exhibition containing rare books, manuscripts and cultural artifacts from around the world. Its staggering array of first editions and great literary works includes everything from Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species to a first edition of The Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1931), a second edition 17thcentury folio of Shakespeare’s work, a 1493 edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, and a first edition of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1862), just to name a few of the treasures on display.
For anyone who loves books, this exhibition will take your breath away. It’s free to enter and rarely crowded but online reservations are recommended.
Experience Old Dubai
It’s easy to think of Dubai as just a long strip of high-rises but visit the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood then cross Dubai Creek to the gold and spice souks in Deira and you’ll see a very different side to Dubai.
The winding alleyways and heritage buildings of Al Fahidi are filled with galleries, shops, restaurants and cafés. You can even sit down on cushions and enjoy an authentic Emirati meal at the Sheik Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (bookings required).
After you’re done, cross the creek on an abra, a traditional boat that takes just a few minutes and costs around AED 1 per person (about 50 cents AUD). Be sure to have some coins ready.
As soon as you alight on the Deira side, you’ll be immersed in the intoxicating colours and aromas of the spice souk. The alleyways will lead you on to the gold souk past stores crammed with all manner of goods, and heritage buildings like the beautiful Museum of the Poet Al Oqaili.
If you want to see more of the city from the water, book a dhow cruise to venture further down the creek.
Old-Time Elegance On The QE2
In the 1960s and ’70s, Cunard’s QE2 set the standard for luxury afloat. Wealthy passengers could even bring their vehicles on board as they travelled the world in style.
Today the ship is permanently docked in Dubai’s Port Rashid, close to the city’s main attractions yet a world away in its quiet ambience.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy an elegant afternoon tea in the Queen’s Grill, sunset drinks on the deck, or a heritage tour offering insights into the ship’s storied past.
You can even stay if you wish: the ship is fitted out as the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, managed by Accor. This historic gem is an oasis of calm in a city on steroids.
Learn How The UAE Was Created
Most travellers transit through Dubai without any real understanding of the United Arab Emirates and how this federation of seven emirates came into being. Through photos, films and other exhibits, the Etihad Museum will take you on an interactive journey outlining the chronology of events leading up to the declaration of the UAE in 1971.
You might even be able to go into Union House where the Constitution was signed. It’s outside in the grounds of the Etihad Museum. We enquired about it during our visit, and a museum official kindly showed us inside. For lovers of Modernist architecture, Union House is like taking a step back straight to the ‘70s.
Designed by Canadian architects Moriyama and Teshima, the Etihad Museum’s curved white roof was inspired by the shape of the UAE’s Constitution parchment. Its seven golden columns symbolise the pens used to sign the unification agreement.
Be Dazzled At The Dubai Opera
Just as pretty much every new build in Dubai dazzles in its design, so too does the Dubai Opera. Located in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa but certainly not overshadowed, this stunning building is an architectural masterpiece.
It hosts some of the world’s most renowned stars in music, theatre, and the performing arts, including magnificent productions like festive classic The Nutcracker, performed by the Astrakhan Theater Opera Ballet Company.
Earlier this year we booked balcony seats to see The Limitless Orchestra performing the music of Hans Zimmer, with a guest appearance by the great composer himself.
If you’re planning a trip to Dubai, check out the calendar of events to see what’s on during your visit. Even if you don’t attend a performance, you might enjoy the Dubai Opera Grand Tour which goes backstage and unveils the stories behind the building’s architecture and artworks.
And even if you don’t do the tour, at least take a walk around the building at night, when it is particularly dazzling. It’s a short walk from the Dubai Fountain and a nice thing to do in conjunction with the Fountain’s music and light show.
Getting Creative At Alserkal Avenue
Dubai might be flashy but like any big city it also has warehouses and industrial zones. Also like any big city, those spaces are increasingly being used by hipsters and creatives to show their work and collaborate with other creatives.
Alserkal Avenue, in Dubai’s Al Quoz industrial zone, has been transformed into an arts and culture district with galleries, cafes, performance spaces, studios, community ventures, and even a cinema showing indie films.
Even if you’re not drawn to the arts, it’s worth a stroll around Alserkal’s 70+ galleries for a very different impression of Dubai. Check the calendar for exhibitions, film screenings, pop-ups, and regular events such as What The Food, a weekend of conversations and curated experiences exploring the future of food.
Fascinating Forts
A great way of learning about UAE history and culture – and experiencing the desert landscape outside Dubai’s commercial strip – is to visit some of the region’s many historic forts.Beautifully restored and often with a small museum or a guide to enhance the experience, the forts and watchtowers are part of a string of buildings erected over hundreds of years for defence and power.
Start in the heart of Dubai at the city’s oldest building, Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 on the banks of Dubai Creek. Up the road in Sharjah City, Al Hisn Fort dates from 1820 and was once the largest and most significant building in the area.
On the other side of the peninsula, Fujairah Fort stands proudly on a hill above the city of Fujairah as it has done for nearly 400 years. The UAE’s oldest fort, it is surrounded by a small heritage village and makes for a great day trip from downtown Dubai, giving you an opportunity to see the UAE from a completely different perspective.
Flamingoes – Who Would Have Thought?
I’m leaving the most surprising and fun thing till last. Very close to downtown Dubai, thousands of pink flamingoes flock to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. The city’s skyscrapers form a backdrop for this spectacle, which you can admire from three bird hides overlooking the wetlands.
From Europe, Asia and Africa, the flamingoes fly great distances during winter to take refuge in wetlands and coastal areas like Ras Al Khor. Other birds can often be spotted too, like herons, egrets, cormorants and osprey. But it’s the flamingoes that captivate us, and it costs nothing to see them. And unlike the penguins waddling around the ski slope in the mall, these delightful creatures are in their natural habitat, enchanting us with their quirky flamboyance.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy our post on The Crazy, Beautiful Dubai Miracle Garden.
