Dubai attraksjoner

E 11, also known as Sheikh Zayed Road, is the main artery passing through the city of Dubai, running north to south parallel to the coast. Named after the beloved first president of the United Arab Emirates, the road exits Dubai and runs all the way to Abu Dhabi, but the segment stretching between the Emirates Towers and the Dusit Thani Hotel serves as the main access point to almost everything in the city.

Lined with towering skyscrapers and prestigious hotels (World Trade Centre, The Fairmont Dubai, Shangri-La Hotel and Millennium Tower to name a few), the road has six lanes running in each direction, with the Red Line of the Dubai Metro running parallel for most of its length through the city.

To write off the Dubai Mall as simply a shopping destination would be a huge mistake. This entertainment complex -- one of the largest in the world -- is more like a small city, housing some 1,200 retailers, 200 food and beverage outlets and a whole lineup of entertainment options.

Even when summer temperatures scorch outside, visitors to the Dubai Mall can lace up their skates and glide across an Olympic-sized ice rink. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, located on the ground floor, is the world’s largest suspended aquarium with 2.6 million gallons (10 million liters) of tank space. The entertainment complex also houses a 22-screen movie theater, SEGA Republic indoor theme park and KidZania edutainment center.

That’s not to say the shopping isn’t a draw. Nearly every major fashion brand out there is represented in Dubai Mall, including five major department stores and brands like Burberry, Diesel, H&M, Juicy Couture and Forever 21.

Dubai is not a place for small scale structures, and the Dubai Aquarium is no exception. With one of the world’s largest acrylic panel viewing platforms, as well as the world’s largest collection of sand sharks, its largest tank allows for clear visibility of over 33,000 marine animals. The main tank measures 51 meters long and 20 meters deep, bringing the marvel of the ocean to land. At 10 million liters of water in total, it is the largest suspended aquarium in the world.

Visitors can be surrounded by sea life in a massive underwater tunnel, a 270 degree view leading to the underwater zoo. The underwater zoo features several marine habitats, with impressive species such as piranhas, crocodiles, otters, and archerfish. The aquarium also offers a number of immersive experiences from scuba and cage diving to glass bottom boat rides and shark encounters.

Bur Dubai Village, located near the mouth of Dubai Creek, takes visitors back in time through a series of heritage villages complete with recreated architecture and local artisans practicing their crafts using traditional techniques. For shoppers, the village is a great place to find unique, handmade items to take home as souvenirs or gifts.

Long before the skyscrapers and palm-shaped islands, Dubai’s economy relied heavily on pearling. Teams of men would spend months at a time at sea diving for the rose-colored pearls produced in the Persian Gulf. One of the most unique experiences at the Bur Dubai Village is the opportunity to learn more about the city’s pearl diving culture and watch a demonstration of how it’s done.

Bur Dubai Village is open every day of the week, but Friday hours are limited and many of the shop will be closed. After you’ve toured the heritage village, set aside some time for a meal or drink by the waterside.

Dubai may have the world’s largest shopping mall, but for many visitors, the best shopping is found in the city’s traditional souks, or markets. Each of these historic markets specializes in one product or category of products, and one of Dubai’s most famous (and most pungent) souks is the Spice Souk.

Located in the eastern part of Dubai next to the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk includes a small area of narrow lanes lined by small shops selling almost any spice you can imagine. Huge bags and bins of colorful and fragrant spices -- everything from frankincense and saffron to dried chillies -- overflow into the streets. You’ll also find shops selling incense and sheesha, a type of tobacco smoked in a water pipe. If you come to buy spices, be prepared to haggle; knowing your basic numbers in Arabic will help.

When you think of the word ‘souk,’ you probably picture a sprawling outdoor marketplace brimming with tightly packed stalls selling spices, jewelry, colorful clothing, produce and a whole host of other goods. In true Dubai fashion, the Madinat Jumeirah Resort has taken the traditional Arabian bazaar and cranked up the luxury factor, resulting in the Souk Madinat Jumeirah.

This recreation of a traditional souk, complete with winding streets and open-shuttered shops where goods spill out into the walkway, but this souk also features waterfront cafes and bars, art galleries and designer boutiques. Most of the vendors are independent, and wares include traditional crafts, carpets, jewelry and clothing. Street artists and musicians perform regularly, and visitors can even hop on a canal boat to get from one part of the property to another.

The Lost Chambers Aquarium in Atlantis, The Palm takes visitors through a series of mazes and tunnels as they explore the underwater ruins of Atlantis. This imaginative aquarium houses some 65,000 aquatic animals, including 12 species of rays and sharks.

Unlike most aquariums, The Lost Chambers has a complete backstory, adding a cinematic quality to the visit. According to the hotel’s “myth,” a series of passages and ruins were uncovered as the resort was being built -- ruins that were later determined to be the Lost City of Atlantis. As you walk through the different marine exhibits, you’ll not only read information on the marine life but on Atlantean history and culture as well.

Everything’s bigger in Dubai, and that includes the Dubai Fountain on Burj Khalifa Lake in the heart of downtown. Designed by WET, the people behind the famous Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, the Dubai Fountain holds the record for the world’s largest dancing fountain system.

The fountains extend 900 feet (275 meters) along the manmade lake, and during the dozen daily shows, high-powered water jets propel water up to 500 feet (150 meters) into the air -- the same height as a 50-story building. During a performance, as much as 22,000 gallons of water will be airborne. The sheer amount of water isn’t the only impressive feature of the fountains; the system uses 6,600 incandescent fountain lights and 25 projectors to paint images on the dancing water.

Performances take place every 30 minutes each evening, and each “dance” is different from the last, with different Arabic and world music.

In the past year some 5 million people visited Dubai’s Global Village—a bright lights entertainment hub with games, rides, food and fun. Travelers can find world-class shopping, a wide array of restaurants and live shows that range from cultural dance to daredevil stuntmen at this amusement park place in the heart of UAE.

Global Village highlights not only what makes Dubai’s culture and traditions so unique, but the UAE’s love of glitter and glam, too. Still, visitors agree that entertainment options here stretch far beyond the local flavor. Kid-friendly shows cater to a younger set, while international concerts and street performers offer something for the adults in the crowd, too. And for those who want to ride the rides, dozens of amusement park-style options are available for children, families and thrill-seekers.

The Mall of the Emirates, Dubai’s second largest shopping complex after the Dubai Mall, houses 560 international retailers spread over 2,513,017 square feet (233,467 square meters) of retail space. Superlatives are plentiful — the mall houses the largest Carrefour supermarket in the city and five dozen stores made their Middle Eastern debut here.

While the shopping remains a huge draw to the Mall of the Emirates, even non-shoppers will find something to do. Ski Dubai (the first indoor ski slope in the region), multi-screen VOX Cinemas, Magic Planet arcade and family entertainment center, Peekaboo play area and the Dubai Community Theatre & Art Centre also make their home within the Mall of the Emirates. Two five-star hotels, the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates and the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel both adjoin the shopping mall.

Located in Diera, the Burjuman Centre is one of Dubai’s oldest malls, popular for its selection of high-street fashions. Built in 1991 and expanded in 2004, the shopping center now boasts more than 300 luxury and high end stores located across 2.8 million square feet of mixed-use space. Alongside the high-street brands, shoppers will find Saks Fifth Avenue, Dior, Versace, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Valentino, among others.

The mall is currently undergoing another round of upgrades that will bring a multiplex movie theater, Carrefour supermarket and an expanded food court to the complex.

To enter the only mosque in the UAE open to non-Muslim visitors, make your way to Jumeirah Mosque.

Designed to provide a better understanding of Islam, the tour is followed by a relaxed Q&A session. All visitors need to be accompanied by a registered guide from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.

The extremely photogenic mosque is a modern-day tribute to medieval Fatimid architecture, complete with pure-white minarets and domes.

Housed in one of the biggest malls in the world, Ski Dubai is home to the world’s first indoor black run and the world’s largest indoor snow park. You can also try out a toboggan and sled runs, scale the climbing tower, and head inside the ice cave. Oh, and there’s king and gentoo penguins too, who pop out from their enclosure several times a day.

Opened in November 2005, the indoor ski resort has five slopes of varying difficulties, lengths, and gradients. For beginners there are small slopes, and you can also hire your own ski instructor. More practiced snowboarders can make the most of Ski Dubai’s Freestyle Zone, where snowboarders work on their stunts and tricks.

The first indoor ski resort in the Middle East, you’ll be skiing on real snow here, which means the the temperature is kept to a slightly chilly -4 degrees C. Winter clothes are included with your ski pass, so you don’t have to worry about the temperature, especially as you can order a hot chocolate.

In front of the iconic Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi Water Park has 30 rides and attractions themed around the tale of Juha, the Arabian folklore character. Nearly a million visitors come each year to play in the wave pool, ride the artificial surfing machines, soar down over 20 water slides, and splash in the 18-meter high waterfall that goes off every 10 minutes. Apart from its views of the Burj Al Arab and out to the Persian Gulf, Wild Wadi Water Park is probably most famous for its Jumeirah Sceirah ride. Climb up the 32-meter high tower with a friend, cross your arms and legs, and the floor beneath will open to slide the two of you down tandem water slides at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

For a more relaxing trip to Wild Wadi Water Park, float around Juha’s Journey Lazy River in a tube, or book one of the six VIP cabanas by the lazy river. There are also gift stores, fast-food and barbecue restaurants, and food stands that serve regular snacks as well as smoothies.