
Visiting Dubai for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do
Don't let Dubai overwhelm you with our first time–friendly recommendations.
Besides shelling out to stay the night at the Burj Al-Arab, visitors have plenty of other options for viewing and touring the sumptuous landmark, which can be spotted from numerous spots around Dubai. Snap a shot of the soaring Jumeirah Beach hotel jutting out to sea on a city sightseeing tour or on a boat cruise.
To get inside, choose from the hotel's many bars and restaurants available for reservation. The Sahn Eddar Lobby Lounge offers a decadent seven-course afternoon tea service, set to the sounds of live classical music with views of the hotel's amazing atrium, while the 27th-floor Skyview Bar and its floor-to-ceiling glass windows mix cocktails with stellar views over the Dubai skyline and Persian Gulf. Hungry visitors can book a traditional Arabic lunch inside the world's tallest atrium at Al Iwan, or go for a more international menu with views over the city at the 27th-floor Al Muntaha. For a romantic dining experience, book a three-course seafood dinner at Al Mahara, a restaurant with its own floor-to-ceiling aquarium. Tours of Dubai city often include a stop for photos at the Burj Al-Arab, or you can book a tour that includes afternoon tea or lunch at one of the restaurants. For a different take on the views of the UAE city, book a helicopter tour.
The hotel is most often admired from the outside; reservations are required to enter, and overnight bookings come with a hefty cost.
The Burj Al-Arab's dress code is smart casual; no flip flops, shorts, or beachwear allowed.
Most guided tours allow only an outside photo stop.
One of the most popular Dubai attractions, the Burj Al-Arab hotel stands on its own island promontory, linked to the mainland by a private bridge—you can't miss it. It can be reached by taxi or Red Line metro via Jumeirah Road.
Entering the Burj Al-Arab requires reservations, and grabbing cocktails at the Skyview Bar proves the most budget-friendly way to get inside (must be booked in advance).
Although the Burj Al-Arab is known for its height, it technically only has 28 inhabited stories. If it's views you're after, only a visit to the world's tallest building, the nearby Burj Khalifa, will suffice.