A Day in Downtown Dubai: Eat, Walk, Shop

Get to the heart of Dubai.

Downtown Dubai, built from the ground up in less than a decade, covers an area of 2 km2 and  is home to many famous landmarks: the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Opera. Unlike many other neighbourhoods in Dubai, Downtown is a pedestrian-friendly area.

Take some photos before it gets crowded.

The Palace Downtown is a luxurious hotel built in a traditional Arab style. The scene in front of the hotel is extremely popular among Instagram influencers. That’s probably because it’s the traditional image of Dubai everyone has: pools filled with blue water, and a mix of traditional and modern architecture. The bronze horse sculpture by a Colombian artist Fernando Botero is a symbol of rich Arab heritage.

If you are really into taking photos, come at sunrise for solitude and perfect lighting.

Rent an electric scooter.

E-scooters arrived in Dubai in 2000. There are some rules: you must be 14 years old or older, a rider is not allowed to carry any passengers, scooters can be used and parked only in designated areas. To rent a scooter you need to download an app, sign up (a valid debit or credit card is required), scan the scooter’s QR code or enter the scooter number.

Tip: if you want to go faster, ride around Downtown Dubai without getting in — in Downtown scooters’ speed is automatically limited.

See the giant.

It took 6 years, 1.5 billion dollars, and the work of 12,000 people to build the world’s tallest tower (or any man-made structure): 828 metres, or 163 storeys, or 2 Empire State Buildings, tall.

It must have been a little bit scary to climb the walls of Burj Khalifa,  even for Tom Cruise, while performing his stunts for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”.

The building was opened to the public in 2010 as the centrepiece of Downtown Dubai. The tower contains apartments, offices, restaurants, a hotel, and observation decks. The appearance of the Burj Khalifa is inspired by the spider lily, a local desert flower.

Get on the top of the world.

Tickets cost from 129 AED (for the observation deck at the 124–125th floor at off-peak hours) to 530 AED (for the observation deck at the 148th floor at peak hours). Although the elevator is the third fastest in the world, going up might take more than an hour because of queues and the security measures.

To avoid crowds, visit early on weekdays. Book tickets online in advance, otherwise it will cost double. To save some money, keep in mind that when the building is that high, 20 floors do not make a big difference.

The 125th floor now features a new immersive experience — a glass floor zone with an illusion of cracking under your feet.

Visit the world's highest restaurant or the worlds's highest bar.

One of the most famous restaurants of Dubai, “the highest restaurant from ground level”, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, located on the 122th floor of the Burj Khalifa tower. A dinner with wine would cost from 1000 AED per person.

At.Mosphere has a slightly more informal lounge and bar. Actually booking a window seat here is a great alternative to a visit to the Burj Khalifa observation deck: get almost the same view, pay for your cocktails (from 95 AED) and snacks instead of a ticket. There's a minimum spend of AED 320 for a window seat in the lounge, while a ticket to one of the observation decks costs  129–530 AED.

Book in advance and follow a dress code (smart/casual for the lounge, smart/elegant for the restaurant).

Shop at the largest mall you’ve ever seen.

One of the largest shopping malls in the world with more than 80 million visitors annually, the Dubai Mall houses popular stores such as Zara, department stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Galeries Lafayette, and the Fashion Avenue, featuring high-end designers.

Keep in mind that, as a tax free area, Dubai is a great place to shop for electronics.

Not only does the Dubai Mall offer 1300+ shops and a giant food court, but it is also home to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, an ice rink, a huge indoor waterfall with statues of pearl divers, and other attractions. It is actually a city within the city where one can spend days without leaving it. Use floor plans in our app to find your way.

Take a selfie in front of a giant indoor waterfall.

24 meters tall and spanning four levels, the indoor waterfall with plexiglass statues of pearl divers is a work of art celebrating the Dubai heritage. Pearl diving has been a part of this area’s history for thousands of years. Before oil, pearls were Dubai's main industry.

Meet the sharks, the penguins and the King Croc — a 750 kg alligator.

One of the main attractions of the Dubai Mall is the giant Dubai Aquarium on the ground floor, home to more than 33,000 aquatic animals, including the world’s largest collection of sand tiger sharks. You can watch fish in the Aquarium from the mall for free, but we recommend buying a ticket to walk through the aquarium tunnels and to the zoo (from 105 AED).  For an additional fee you can ride a glass-bottom boat or even dive with the sand tiger sharks if you dare.

Cool down on the Ice Rink.

A large indoor ice skating rink in the Dubai Mall is a perfect place for some family fun. Skating prices may vary with the time of day: it is cheaper to skate in the morning and late evening. You can rent skates, as well as "partners" for inexperienced skaters — large plastic penguins that you can lean on. You can combine a visit to the ice rink with shopping or a visit to the Burj Khalifa observation deck. Shopping bags can be left in the storage room.

Skating session (105 minutes): AED 40 for children up to 100 cm, AED 70 for adults.

Let your kids try adult life while you shop.

An international edutainment franchise: a city where kids can play grown-ups by trying out various jobs — from policemen to doctors, from TV-stars to pizza makers. For their work, children earn ‘kidZos’ money to spend at KidZania’s shops and establishments. Best suited for by 2–16 year-olds.

Parents can enjoy shopping at Dubai Mall while kids have fun at Kidzania (but children up to 120 cm must be accompanied by an adult). Children need to have some basic knowledge of English to get instructions. Tips: buy tickets online and arrive early (the place gets crowded after noon).

Entrance fee: kids 4–16 years: 195 AED (economy) or 260 AED (premium), adults (17 years and above): 80 AED,  toddlers (2–3 years):  110 AED, baby (0–1 year): for free.

Walk through Souk Al Bahar.

This is a luxurious incarnation of a traditional Arabian market (“souk” means “market”), plus over 20 restaurants and cafes adjacent to the Dubai Fountains. A great place to shop for souvenirs or simply take a look at unique carpets, antiques and art pieces.

Explore a massive food court with events and entertainment curated by editors of the Time Out magazine.

For a global media company that specialises in covering the best of food and culture around the city, it was only natural for Time Out Group to eventually come up with such an endeavour.

The market is a delightful mix of flavours and vibes with 17 diverse eateries and three bars (alcohol is available). There is also a spacious terrace with a great view — because, of course, there is. We’re in Dubai.

Due to the communal seating (and since the place is buzzing), snatching a good place for dinner might be a bit tricky. Also, note that the market is cashless, so ready your card or download the Time Out Market Dubai App to pay.

Watch the Dubai Fountain show.

The Dubai Fountain is the world's tallest choreographed fountain system. It looks similar to Las Vegas’ Bellagio fountains (and was actually made by the same company), only much bigger. Dancing colorful streams reach a height of 150 metres.

The show takes place every 30 minutes from 6PM to 11PM. It is free of charge but if you want to have a better view and avoid crowds, there are some paid options. You can can buy a ticket (20 AED) and watch the fountain’s dance from a special platform — the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk or the Dubai Fountain Bridge. Another option is watching from a traditional Abra boat (from 50 AED). You can also book a table at a restaurant with a view at the Dubai Mall or at Souk Al Bahar (ask for an outdoor table).

Outstanding Thai food with a stunning view over the dancing fountain and Burj Khalifa. A great place for a romantic dinner.

Get some rest in the Burj Park.

Just a 10 minute walk away from the Dubai Mall lies the Burj Park: a spot of immaculately manicured grass. It is far enough from Burj Khalifa to be a perfect spot to photograph the highest tower in the world. There is also a new building with a roof garden with a view at the fountains. If it is not too hot, you can also have a picnic or rent a bike by the park entrance and have a ride.

The park regularly hosts events, like Market OTB — a pop-up market which takes places every winter during the winter Dubai Shopping Festival.

Walk the fancy boulevard.

A promenade lined with restaurants and cafés is a rare thing in Dubai, which was not built with pedestrians in mind. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard is an exception. The 3.5 km road almost makes a full circle around Souk Al Bahar, the Dubai Fountain, the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. It was previously known as Emaar Boulevard (Emaar is the Downtown’s developer), but in 2012 Emaar renamed the boulevard in honor of the current ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

There are some alternatives to walking. Rent a bicycle from Byky (rentals start from 15 AED for 30 minutes) or a buggy driven by a rickshaw.

Take a free ride.

The Dubai Downtown has its own transport: the Dubai Trolley, the world’s first hydrogen-powered trolley which runs along part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. The bright-red double-decker trolley transports passengers between various attractions: The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, etc.

Free of charge. The trolley runs from 4pm to midnight on weekdays and from 3pm to 11pm on weekends.

Have a quick bite of great Vietmanese food.

A nice little Vietnamese eatery for a casual bite. Some say they have one of the best pho soups in the city.

See the Opera.

A 2,000-seat, multi-format performing arts centre opened in 2016 with a performance by Plácido Domingo. The architect Janus Rostock designed the building in a  shape of a traditional dhow boat. It is not only opera — performances vary from theatre, opera and ballet to pop concerts, musicals, stand-up comedy shows and other events.

There is a chic rooftop restaurant at the top of the Dubai Opera building with an outside terrace stylized to resemble a spiral shell. The seafood centered menu boasts oysters from the UAE’s first and finest gourmet oyster farm — Dibba Bay. Complemented by a perfect view of the Burj Khalifa.

Take off your shoes.

Another great restaurant in Dubai’s Opera serving traditional Japanese cuisine (you'll need to take off your shoes and sit low).