Holidays to Dubai take you to a city like no other. It's a futuristic metropolis, where heady skyscrapers, flashy bars and league-of-their-own hotels are bordered by whiter-than-white beaches.
Las Vegas of the Middle East
With the world’s tallest building, the world’s biggest shopping mall and the world’s biggest choreographed fountain, Dubai’s a city that breaks records for fun. Glamorous hotels on purpose-built islands and seven-figure yachts are all part of the fabric of the UAE’s answer to Tinsel Town. Its ever-evolving city centre’s just one of the things that makes it a must-see. And because the skyline is always getting bigger and bolder, it’s not uncommon to see a spot of construction work going on around the city.
Stylish sunbathing
Dubai’s shoreline’s a real eye-catcher, and not just because of the stellar sands. True to form, the city ups the game with a huge, hotel-studded island shaped like a giant palm tree. From here, you can spy one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers – the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab – from your lounger. Sunbathing’s a year-round pastime in Dubai, thanks to a steady dose of sunshine. In peak summer – July and August – the mercury can reach 40oC. And, even in the winter months, from December to March, the temperature rarely dips below 17oC.
Coasters and cocktails
Dubai has plenty up its sleeve for families. The MOTIONGATE™ and LEGOLAND® theme parks take a leaf out of Orlando’s book and there are aquariums, themed minigolf courses and one of the world’s biggest sweet shops to get your teeth into. Evening entertainment ramps up the glitz and glamour. Cocktail bars compete with one another in the swankiest hotels, and the shorefront’s peppered with open-air lounges that host live DJ sets and pool parties.
City breaks in Dubai
Our hotels dance around Dubai’s best bits. To start, you’ve got beachside breaks on the city’s manmade marvel, the Palm Jumeirah. This peninsula’s name takes inspiration from its palm tree shape – it’s got a host of first-class hotels and a postcard-perfect beach, too. Or, choose a hotel near Dubai Marina – this place is in the thick of the action in the centre of the city. Whether you stay palm-side or in the heart of the action, you’re bound to bump into one of Dubai’s world-famous malls – it’s home to a list of over 60 shopping complexes, with new ones being added all the time.