Five Ideas for Guided Tours in Dubai

• Madinat Jumeirah

  To spend some time in a quiet place, go to this enclave built like an old Arab town with its souk, jewelers, antique shops, and all kinds of souvenir stores. You will be bordered by a 5-kilometer-long artificial river, itself surrounded by lush gardens.

  Sail quietly on abras, the traditional small boats of the country. The Madinat Jumeirah area is sublimely developed with exceptional hotels and restaurants serving all the cuisines of the world. A large private beach has been developed with lounges all around for nightlife.

• Dubaï Mall

  The Dubai Mall, located right next to the Burj Khalifa Tower, is not just another shopping mall. It is simply THE biggest in the world. It has 1200 stores spread over 800 000 m2. There are both prestigious stores but also more affordable brands with many discount periods.

  The complex also offers tourist attractions: an aquarium with 90 species of fish and sharks, an Olympic skating rink, a video game center for children, hundreds of restaurants and bars, a cinema center with 22 screens. Not to be missed, right at the entrance of the Mall, is the sound and light show of the water fountains which takes place every evening between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and which changes at each time slot.

• Tour Burj Khalifa

  You’ve probably heard of the tallest building in the world: the Burj Khalifa Tower where you’ll find offices of major companies, private apartments and the 5-star Armani Hotel spread over 11 floors. You can’t miss it during your trip to Dubai and although climbing it is quite expensive, climbing to the top is an extraordinary experience.

  The building opened in January 2010 after 5 years of construction. Its total height is 828 meters with the antenna and the highest floor is 585 meters. To admire the most beautiful views of the city, two belvederes have been built.

  Here are the different options:

  – Belvédère At the Top
  Access to the 124th floor
  Entrance from 8:30 am and 2:30 pm and from 7 pm until closing time.
  Price: 125 dirhams (about 30 euros)
  Entrance from 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm (better view and brightness)
  Price: 200 dirhams (about 50 euros)

  – Belvédère At the Top Sky
  Access to the 148th floor
  Entrance from 8:30 am and 2:30 pm and from 7 pm until closing time.
  Price: 350 dirhams (about 80 euros)
  Entrance from 3pm and 6:30pm (better view and brightness)
  Price: 500 dirhams (about 120 euros)

• The old districts of Deira and Bur

  Although Dubai is a future-oriented city, it has two very picturesque old neighborhoods full of history. They are located in the north of the city separated by the Khor Dubai River. To learn all about these places, take a local Dubai tour guide with you to discover the most authentic atmosphere.

  – Deira: the historical commercial place of the city. We will walk through small streets to reach two big souks: Spice Souk and Gold Souk where perfumes, colors and glitter are mixed.

  – Bur: Another square of the old city, it is here that you will have the exact image of the buildings of another time like the wind towers called barjeel or mosques with human size.

  Close to the creek appear the docks where you can see the unloading of goods brought on the dhows, the local barges that trade with neighboring countries.

• Jumeirah Beach Residence

  The new Dubai Marina is a residential complex composed of about 40 large towers overlooking the sea with luxury hotels. The almost two-kilometer-long promenade along the Jumeirah Beach Residence is the ideal place to stroll along the sea and stop on its fine sandy beaches and turquoise water.

  The JBR is where you will see the most emblematic image of the emirate: the Palm Jumeirah which is an artificial archipelago in the shape of a palm tree. On one of them is the Atlantis Hotel with Aquaventure Water Park: the largest water park in the Middle East.