What To Do in Dubai

I’m travelling to Europe in early October and am considering stopping over in Dubai for a day or two. Other than visiting souks and experiencing a desert dinner, do you have any other recommendations for a short stay? - Genevieve Millar
 
Dubai is a more diverse and sophisticated tourism destination than it is often given credit for and there is little you can't do here! But if you only have two or three days, you'll want to choose some things that are unique to this exciting metropolis. Firstly, it is a great beach destination. Built along 40kms of coastline, there are plenty of swimming beaches as well as watersports. One of the best spots for people watching is one of the many pavement cafes on the Jumeirah Beach Walk in the Dubai Marina. Keep an eye out for some of the extravagant cars that will glide past, like gold-plated Rolls Royces and two-tone Ferraris. You can't ignore the buildings going up everywhere - the one worth visiting is the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest structure on the planet right now. Get a view of the city from the observation deck on the 134th floor. There's no shortage of malls. The one you shouldn't miss is the Dubai Mall, which has an indoor theme park, a giant aquarium with underwater zoo and an ice-rink. For indoor ice ski-ing, you'll have to head for the Mall of the Emirates. If you have time, you can pop into Sol Kerzner's palace and waterpark named Atlantis. Treat yourself to a dolphin ride if that floats your boat. Or you can check out the city's most expensive hotel, the iconic Burj Al Arab. If you want to dine in the underwater seafood restaurant or have high tea or cocktails in the Skyview Bar, you will need to book at least a week in advance. If desert dining doesn't rattle your cage, you can still experience the desert by renting a 4x4 for a desert drive. You’ll be bathing in the natural rock pools of Hatta in under an hour or splashing around at Wadi Wurrayah, home of the UAE's only natural waterfall. If you still have time on your hands, you can watch camel racing, visit the Al Ain Oasis or marvel at the 40,000-capacity Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the only mosque in the UAE open to non-Muslims. (17 June 2012)