I’m always looking out for deals and travelzoo had a flight deal to Dubai for $600 roundtrip from New York City through Emirates. I booked my flight immediately! Since I work full-time I don’t have much vacation days and so I opted for a trip during Thanksgiving break. It was great since there was no blackout dates! Dubai is one of the newer cities being developed and has been a big tourist attraction for the last decade. Dubai makes the impossible, possible. Dubai is a magical place that should be on your bucket list and checked off soon! Here is a list of the top 10 reasons to visit Dubai now.

1. Burj Khalifa

A must visit while in Dubai! It’s the tallest building in the world so don’t pass up that opportunity. Go during sunset to see beautiful “golden hour” on the 124th floor.

Pro Tip: Cheaper option is to get reservations on the 122nd floor at the Atmosphere lounge and ask for a window seat. There are multiple options but the cheapest is 250 AED per person during the a la carte evening menu.

2. The Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain is located right outside of the Dubai Mall. It is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake. The Dubai Fountain features water that jets as high as 450 ft, which is equivalent to a 45-story building. The show is daily and runs every 30 minutes.

3. Burj Al Arab

It’s been called the only “7 star hotel” in the world. It is also one of the tallest and most expensive hotels in the world. To enter the hotel one must be a guest or have a dining reservation. I suggest making reservations to high tea at the Skyview Bar! I had an amazing experience here! The service was top notch and the food was incredible. The views were amazing! On a clear day you will be able to see The Palm islands and downtown Dubai. A visit to the Burj Al Arab will also allow you access to an incredible private beach, which was well worth it!

4. Palace Downtown

A visit to the front of the Palace Downtown just for this photo of the palm trees and Burj Khalifa in the distance.

5. Dubai Desert Safari

A trip is not complete without having a desert safari tour! This was one of the highlights of my trip. There are many tours that takes you to the desert and offers dune bashing, camel rides and a sunset dinner. We found a deal through groupon, however I wished we had a private tour with a camel ride. Check out viator for a selection of desert safari tours: here.

6. The Dubai Miracle Garden

I’ve seen gorgeous photos of the Dubai Miracle Garden and knew I had to go! It’s about a 15-20 minute cab ride. I went early morning when it first opened at 9 and it was already somewhat hot. It’s not open year round so make sure to check the schedule in advance.

7. Dubai Aquarium

The Dubai Aquarium is located at the Dubai Mall, one of the many attractions at the mall. It was quite fun going through the aquarium, feeding the fish and seeing other marine animals. You can also jump in and swim with the sharks!

8. Dine Under Water

Set on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island with views of the Arabian Gulf, this resort is a dream. I opted for dinner at Ossiano. It was one of the most delicious and romantic dinner of my life! It was a great experience to dine with fishes swimming by you! Al Mahara is another underwater restaurant located at the Burj Al Arab.

9. Skydive Above The Palm

If you’re brave enough, go sky diving over The Palm with Skydive Dubai!

10. Dubai Marina/JBR

The Marina and Jumeirah beach walk are great places to hang out, have dinner and walk along the water.

Dubai has easily become one of the most interesting and magical places in the world. Check out this Dubai Bucket List and 10 Crazy Facts about Dubai!

If you have extra days, I highly recommend visiting Abu Dhabi or taking a Day Trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at Yassat Gloria Hotel & Apartments. I loved our stay and even got upgraded to a larger room that had a separate living room, bedroom, and mini kitchen. The metro is also right at the hotel which was super convenient!

Please share your experiences as I love hearing about them. Let me know what your favorite places were in Dubai!