Dubai: The World's Tallest Building, the Oldest Trading Creek, and Everything Between

The Burj Khalifa (828 meters, 163 floors, opened January 4, 2010) is the most ambitious single structure built since the medieval cathedrals — the world's tallest building, tallest free-standing structure, building with the most floors, and building with the highest occupied floor. Two observation decks are accessible to the public: 'At the Top' (124th and 125th floors, 452 meters — the standard experience) and 'At the Top Sky' (148th floor, 555 meters — premium experience, limited capacity). Book both online at burjkhalifa.ae well in advance — same-day tickets are significantly more expensive if available at all. The base of the Burj Khalifa features the Dubai Fountain — the world's largest choreographed fountain system, a 275-meter arc of water shooting to 150 meters, performing to Arabic and international music every 30 minutes from 6pm daily. The fountain is visible from the Dubai Mall boardwalk and from waterside restaurants — it is free to watch.

Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) is the historic heart of the city — a tidal inlet that has been Dubai's commercial center since the 18th century. The Deira side has the Gold Souk (over 300 shops of gold jewelry — the largest concentration of gold retail in the world, where prices are determined by international spot price and negotiated freely) and the Spice Souk (piles of saffron, frankincense, dried rose petals, and every conceivable spice from the Indian Ocean trade network). The Bur Dubai side has the Al Fahidi Historic District (wind-tower houses, the Dubai Museum, atmospheric narrow lanes) and the textiles souk. The abra (traditional wooden water taxi) crossing between the two sides costs AED 1 — approximately US$0.27 — and is the most authentic and cheapest experience in Dubai.

The Palm Jumeirah (an artificial palm-tree-shaped island of 17 fronds in the Arabian Gulf, built from 94 million cubic meters of sand and rock, visible from space) is where the Atlantis resort complex, the Palm Monorail, and dozens of luxury villas and apartments are located. The Nakheel Mall and the monorail connection from the metro (Nakheel Harbour and Tower station) provide access. The view of the Dubai skyline from the western end of the Palm trunk is the finest skyline photograph position in the city.

Dubai's restaurant scene has matured dramatically — from a city whose dining was dominated by hotel restaurants and fast food chains in the early 2000s, it has become one of the most diverse and most ambitious food cities in the Middle East. The Michelin Guide launched for Dubai in 2022 and has grown every year since — 11 Michelin-starred restaurants in 2025, plus dozens of Michelin-recommended establishments spanning every cuisine and price point.

The most acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants: Tresind Studio (modern Indian fine dining, the most creative Indian cuisine in the Middle East — two stars), Ossiano (underwater setting in the Atlantis, the most dramatically positioned fine dining in Dubai — one star), Heston Blumenthal's Dinner by Heston (the closest Dubai gets to London's molecular gastronomy temple — one star at the Atlantis Royal), and 3Fils (the most beloved fine dining in Dubai's local food community — one star, Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, no reservations, queues from the day it received its star). The Emirati food experience: Al Fanar Restaurant (the most authentic Emirati cooking accessible to visitors), machboos (spiced rice with meat or seafood — the UAE's national dish), and luqaimat (fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup and sesame — the most beloved Emirati street sweet).

The most practical food experience in Dubai: the dining floor of any major mall (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates) has more concentrated food diversity than most city districts in the world, at prices from AED 30 (street food kiosks) to AED 500+ (fine dining). The Al Seef Heritage District along Dubai Creek has the most atmospheric dining setting in old Dubai.