Dubai is a city known for its booming businesses, colorful nightlife and breathtaking buildings. This luxurious city sits smack in the middle of the Arabian Desert, surrounded on one side by dry sand and scorching sun, and on the other, the beautiful Persian Gulf with its miles of vast water.

The city is full of life, proving itself an oasis in the centre of the dunes, gravel and waves. You can stay directly in Dubai, including at the newly opened Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City, and experience many of the city’s spectacular landmarks, both modern and historical. We’ve culled down the choices to the Top 15 things to do in and near Dubai, so you can focus on your unforgettable getaway.

Palm Jumeirah

 The world’s largest man-made island, the sometimes controversial Palm Jumeirah has been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Along with villas and apartments, it features beaches, marinas, restaurants, and a variety of retail outlets surely to fill your Instagram feeds with photos.

Dubai creek

 After spending time in the dry dessert, tourists often feel the urge to return to water. They can’t do better than heading to the saltwater Dubai Creek. Here, visitors can take a relaxing ride on a traditional wooden water taxi called an abra (Watch the video). Stroll along the shore or grab a seat and watch the sun set over the water like the locals. Using the abra is a great way to take in some of the older parts of the city.

The Dubai Fountain

 Dubai is also home to the world’s largest choreographed dancing water fountain. The Dubai Fountain shoots water high in the sky in sync with various types of music. It performs daily with afternoon and evening shows, which happen every 30 minutes. With five different sized circles, the fountain is 900 feet long and sprays water as high as 500 feet. It’s a must-see at night.

Dubai_Mall

 Those who feel like shopping can head to Dubai Mall, the world’s biggest shopping mall. With over 1,200 different shops (and the Dubai Fountain), there truly is something there for everyone. Because of that, the mall receives more than 100 million visitors each year. It’s roughly the size of two football fields put together and even includes an ice rink and an aquarium.

Burj Khalifa

 This building is the tallest in the world, towering over all of the other tall buildings in the world as it stands at more than 828 meters. Being the tallest building, the Burj Khalifa also has an elevator with the longest travel distance in the entire world. Step inside and let this high-speed elevator take you up to level 124 to the observation deck. At the Top (the observation deck) has glass walls from the floor to the ceiling, giving you breathtaking 360-degree views of Dubai and the surrounding desert and ocean.