There a multitude of ways to discover everything Dubai has to offer. With its multicultural, cosmopolitan DNA, no one knows Dubai quite like its residents, who are a great guide to help you discover hidden gems, experience local culture, and immerse yourself in local customs and expectations. Read on for the best local recommendations of things to do in Dubai.
Do in Dubai
• One of the best ways to gain an appreciation of Dubai’s culture and customs is by making your way to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). Visit the centre for an authentic Emirati meal, heritage tours, or just to see the beautifully restored wind tower house in the historic Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Be sure to ask plenty of questions!
• Calligraphy is one of the highest art forms of the Arab world and a primary form of Islamic visual expression and creativity. Tucked away in the heart of Alserkal, you can find eL Seed studio, home to the ‘calligraffiti’ artist’s intricate compositions and public art projects that fuse traditional Arabic calligraphy with the style and colours of graffiti. eL Seed’s work can be found across prominent international public spaces, galleries and institutions, including his first public-art project in Dubai at the Green Planet and a commissioned sculpture at the renowned Dubai Opera.
• True to the traditions of the Middle East, henna is another art form that has been developed into a skilled craft. As one of the first beauty products ever developed for natural body art, henna painting continues to be a popular beauty treatment in Dubai today and plays an important role in the lives of many Emirati women. This ancient art form has been perfected by several henna artists across the city, including Heritage for Henna, and Rachna Salon, pioneers in Arabic henna design.
• For a truly unique souvenir of your visit to Dubai, you can create a custom gold pendant with your name in Arabic. Places like Cara Jewellers and other shops in Dubai’s glittering Gold Souk or Gold & Diamond Park offer reasonable prices for 18K gold with a quick turnaround so you can have your custom-made piece of jewellery ready before the end of your stay. Or perhaps you’re getting ready to pop the question, in which case you can design the perfect engagement ring.
• While Dubai is home to a plethora of clothing stores and shopping malls, why not make your own outfit? Satwa, one of the city’s most diverse neighbourhoods, is home to many of Dubai’s tailors and haberdashers, with all kinds of fabrics: within a few days, you can have your own tailor-made dress or suit.
• Dubai’s coastline is packed with beautiful beaches, but you can never find two that are alike. Each coast has its own personality. The Black Palace Beach is perfect for those looking for the city’s most serene – and secret – shorelines. This reclusive stretch of public beach is nestled between Dubai Media City and the royal summer palaces at Al Sufouh, with crystal blue waters perfect for splashing and paddling, and stunning sunsets featuring views of Palm Jumeirah.
Dine in Dubai
• The Deira Waterfront Market replaced the long-standing Deira Fish Market in 2017, and is one of the best places to buy fresh fish and produce in the city. Here, you can purchase fresh catch all day (and even haggle for the best price), or head out to one of the waterfront restaurants and have it cooked for you for as little as AED 15.
• Immerse yourself in Dubai’s authentic flavours and stories with Frying Pan Adventures, in parts of the city that few tourists and newer expats visit. Be it a walking food trail, an interactive cooking demo or an experiential meal, Frying Pan Adventures curate intimate and unadulterated experiences for residents and visitors to Dubai. Their latest offering is called Dubai Food Tour on Wheels, where visitors hop aboard a bus to enjoy four iconic food tastings, lively stories and vibrant street art across four Old Dubai neighbourhoods. A passionate guide will provide insight on Dubai’s meteoric rise from a small coastal town, as you savour foods from Emirati, Arabic, Indian and Iranian communities.
• Dubai’s legendary Lebanese bakery, Al Reef Bakery is famed for serving up some of the best manakeesh in town (Arabic snack of freshly baked dough bread topped with cheese and other fillings). You can still get your hands on one for less than AED 10! Try za’atar (a Middle Eastern thyme and sesame-based paste), spicy tomato, spinach or gloriously gooey cheese – whatever you choose is made right before your eyes in a blistering hot brick oven. Whether you stop at the Al Safa or Karama branch, expect to find cars pulling up out front and shouting an order out of the window, before making off with their breakfast, lunch or (very) late-night snack.
• While Gahwa (Arabic coffee) is the ultimate expression of Emirati hospitality, there’s no bigger hit among the young generation than milky and sweet Karak Chai. Traditionally boiled on a low flame and made with a combination of black tea, milk, sugar and Indian spices like cardamon, cloves, ginger and cinnamon for a richer infusion, Karak is the star of low-key outings or gatherings with family and friends. A great place to sample a steaming brew of Karak is at Filli Tea & Café, one of the first franchises to pioneer a home-grown Karak chai café concept. However, locals will swear by smaller cafeterias across Satwa and Bur Dubai, where you can pick up a cup of chai for only AED 1 or 2.
• If fresh, traditional and wholesome food is what you’re after, then Seven Sands welcomes visitors to participate in a hands-on Emirati Cooking Class. This uniquely local culinary experience takes place every Tuesday morning from 10am until 12pm, where you can learn about local Emirati cuisine and have a go at cooking two of the nation’s best-loved dishes for yourself. You can then savour your culinary creations as part of a three-course meal, which includes a traditional mezzeh platter, main course and Emirati dessert.
• Weekend brunches have formed a special place in the heart of Dubai’s communities and have quickly been established into the city’s most famous gastronomic institution. With the work week running from Sunday to Thursday, Friday feasts are a time for the city’s diverse communities to come together to celebrate the start of the weekend. The city offers a multitude of takes on Friday’s favourite meal – from more intimate meals to ones with family-oriented events and activities. While Friday is typically the time to enjoy brunch in Dubai, the gastronomic tradition also often extends to Saturdays. For inspiration and money-off deals, it is worth checking out the award-winning Mr and Mrs Brunch website.
Discover Dubai
• The city first began to grow around the creek – the beating heart of its import-export industry – and this is where you can discover the roots of Dubai. At the heart of Old Dubai lies the wind towers, and gypsum and coral buildings of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, painstakingly restored to their original glory using authentic traditional building materials. Photography enthusiasts can get the perfect Instagram-click at every corner of the neighbourhood, adorned with Arabesque designs on the old buildings. A number of art galleries dot the area containing everything from calligraphy to modern art – but if you crave more than just culture, head down to XVA, a unique art gallery that is also a boutique hotel and café. If you have time to spare, do meander to the Dubai Heritage Village or stop by the historic Sheikh Saeed House, which was the official residence of the grandfather of the current Ruler of Dubai.
• Camel racing is a pastime that originates in the Middle East and has a whole community of avid local followers that regularly track their favourite camels as they thunder along the sandy tracks during the city’s Camel Races. The racing season runs between October and April, and races tend to take place early on Friday and Saturday mornings. There are several tracks around the emirate, but Dubai’s biggest one is the Al Marmoum Camel Racetrack, the home of Dubai Camel Racing Club. It is located half an hour’s drive from the city, near the Sevens Stadium. It attracts camel owners from across the UAE, and even some from neighbouring countries, and offers prizes running into the tens of thousands of dirhams.
• There’s also lots to do in Old Dubai – whether you’re looking to uncover a piece of local history or heritage or to simply savour some traditional delights. While the city has a reputation as a thriving modern metropolis, Dubai’s traditional Arabian markets are still a crucial part of daily life and trade, and a wander through one of the bustling souks is an essential experience. You can even travel between the souk areas by Abra, a traditional boat, over the Dubai Creek, at just AED 1 for a ticket.
