8 of our favourite activities to do in Dubai

There’s much more to Dubai than skyscrapers and shopping malls. Discover surprises hiding in plain sight, from cutting-edge concept stores to archaeological sites – and a legend of the seas. Here’s a list of the best things to do in Dubai.

1. Museum hop

The Museum of the Future is Dubai’s newest masterpiece, but there are plenty of other fascinating museums that deserve exploration. Between the Burj Khalifa and the beach is the Jumeirah Archaeological Site , home to the ruins of a 1,000-year-old caravanserai – former inns along the Silk Road that served as important points for trade. Over by Dubai Creek, the Al Shindagha Museum charts the development of the creekside neighbourhoods from which modern Dubai emerged. And a short walk away, the Saruq Al Hadid Archaeology Museum features finds from a 3,000-year-old metal-working community discovered in the Dubai desert in 2002, including hundreds of bronze snakes.

2. Explore ancient neighbourhoods

The neighbourhoods flanking Dubai Creek are some of the city’s most interesting. Between the old souqs and pearl traders’ houses (now converted into cafés and galleries) of the Al Fahidi neighbourhood, and the shops and restaurants of faux-old Al Seef district, there’s plenty to keep you busy. The best way to experience the area is by hopping onto one of the small wooden abra boats that ply the waters here, crossing from one side of Dubai Creek to the other for just AED1 (around HK$2) per person. They depart when they’re full, but you can also charter your own for AED120 per hour (HK$255) for a leisurely cruise.

3. Spend time on the Grande Dame of Dubai

If the QE2 had found a permanent home as a hotel in any other city in the world, she would probably be the talk of the town. But there are so many hotels to talk about in Dubai that this venerable legend of the seas resides almost in obscurity. Opened in 2018 in Port Rashid, the QE2 hotel has 447 rooms and suites, exuding a nostalgia that harkens back to the ocean liner’s peak years. On board are daily tours that recount the tales of the QE2’s sailings, an al fresco lounge that’s perfect for sunset cocktails during the cooler months, and the original theatre – which still puts on regular shows from tribute bands and comedy acts.

4. Go people-watching at a café

Cafés are big in Dubai, and you can easily fill a day hopping from one to the next. Local favourite To The Moon & Back , hidden in the courtyard of a small apartment block close to the Jumeirah Archaeological Site, is worth seeking out for its excellent selection of pies, with fans flocking to try new flavours. In one of Dubai’s oldest warehouses, close to Port Rashid and the QE2, Flat 12 combines coffee with a spectacular collection of classic cars. And at dog-friendly La Nena Coffee in the industrial Al Quoz neighbourhood, earthy textures and organic curves form the backdrop to a design-driven space that’s part café, part homeware shop.

5. Join the creative community

The art galleries of Alserkal Avenue showcase works by some of the Middle East’s most exciting emerging and established artists. But there’s more than art to discover in the avenue’s warehouses. Stop by Project Chaiwala , a retro-modern karak chai canteen, and pick up a sweet spiced tea before heading into the adjacent Cinema Akil , the region’s first arthouse movie theatre. Other members of this creative community include Oo La Lab , where perfume mixologists tailor-make fragrances; Dubai’s only independent vinyl store, The Flip Side ; newly arrived chocolatier Ganache ; and yoga studio The Chi Room .

6. Explore the deep

Dubai is famous for being home to the tallest building in the world, but it’s also home to the world’s deepest diving pool, Deep Dive Dubai . With a depth of 60 metres, going all the way to the bottom is only for the pros. But it’s still a great place for beginners to find their water wings on a Padi-certified course, or for licensed divers to explore a dystopian underwater world in safety – the pool is themed around an abandoned sunken city, complete with apartments, cars and graffiti-covered walls to explore.

7. Shop indie

Dubai’s malls are legendary, but it’s the city’s independent stores that offer the most interesting shopping. On the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, Chuk Palu specialises in Afghan textiles, from rugs and cushions to soft cashmere scarves. In Al Seef, Tamashee sells leather sandals inspired by traditional art, petroglyphs and trees found across the Arabian Peninsula. Kulture House , in a converted villa in the Jumeirah neighbourhood, combines a cosy café and eclectic interiors with a selection of clothing, accessories and homeware items. And O’de Rose , on Al Wasl Road, is a burst of colour, with kaftans, beachwear, jewellery and statement furniture that take inspiration from Arabic heritage.

8. Relax in the mountains

It’s a little-known fact that Dubai has its own mountain resort. About an hour’s drive from the city lies Hatta, a craggy escape in the Hajar Mountains where you can hike, kayak, mountain-bike and take in scenery that’s nothing like the skyscrapers of the city. While many go for the day, Hatta also makes for a great one-nighter. Accommodation options include dome tents and Airstream trailers – as well as the JA Hatta Fort Hotel , with swimming pools and a spa to recover in after a day of adventure.