Where to take your friend in Dubai, no matter what their personality

Time Out Dubai

4 days ago

Whether you've been here for a while or just finished up setting up home, there's nothing like the feeling of showing a visitor from home around Dubai.
Your mate is guaranteed to have a good time and there's so much to do that there really is something for everyone.
However, Dubai is not 'a one size fits all' city.
Your mate that loves getting up for a 10km at 6am is definitely looking for a different trip than your foodie pal that snaps a pick of every meal for the 'gram.
Luckily for you, we know all the best spots to plan your itinerary, no matter who is coming to stay.
Where to take your friend in Dubai if they are…
The glamorous friend
We get it, this pal loves an incredible view and living the high life. Dubai is the city to dress to impress, and you can live your best A-list lifestyle with some of these incredible spots:
Credit: Cloud 22
Take a snap at SUSHISAMBA
Located on the 51st floor of the St Regis Hotel, the restaurant offers unobstructed, 360-degree panoramic views of the iconic Palm Jumeirah coastline.
And it's officially (in our eyes) one of the most perfect places to admire the skyline over some excellent food. The bamboo interior and dramatic plant-covered centrepiece will draw your attention while you're there and on your Instagram feed for scrolls to come.
Mon-Fri noon–3pm, 6pm-2am, Sat-Sun 1pm-3pm, 6pm-2am. ushi Samba, The Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah (04 278 4888)
Evening drinks at Cé La Vi
This rooftop bar towers 220 metres high and it's got views that will get the likes rolling in.
Book a terrace table and watch Burj Khalifa and Downtown come alive at night, or opt for the ladies night on a Monday and Tuesday (free drinks from 10pm-2am).
Sun-Fri noon-3am, Sat 12.30pm-3am. Address Sky View, Downtown Dubai. celavi.com (04 582 6111).
Pose at Paradiso
(Credit: Paradiso)
Look out over JBR at this circus themed mixed-drink bar, where you can see some incredible creations crafted in front of you.
Featuring a good bit of dry ice and a very photogenic bar, this is an ideal spot for the gram.
7pm-2am weekdays, 7pm-3am weekends. FIVE LUXE JBR. paradisodubai.com (058 202 2110).
Visit the Wings of Mexico
The now iconic pair of wings, set against a backdrop of the world's tallest tower, make for a stunning photo op and though it won't cost a thing, a snap here is worth its weight in gold when it comes to its value on the 'gram.
Open 24 hours. Burj Plaza, Downtown Dubai.
Take a dip at Cloud 22
(Credit: Cloud 22)
If your mate loves a bit of luxury, then Cloud 22 is the one for you. Book a pool bed or some loungers and spend the day sunning on the roof of Atlantis the Royal.
Open daily 10am-8pm, Atlantis the Royal, Palm Jumeirah. atlantis.com (04 462700).
Grab dinner at Lucia's Mare
Bringing the shores of Capri to Dubai, this is an ideal spot to wear something glam and beachy before dining under the Burj Al Arab.
As the sun sets and those orange hues fill the sky, that view coupled with a bruschetta and linguine will make for an aesthetic (and magical) evening.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel @luciasdubai (04 422 4321).
The party animal (eat sleep rave repeat)
You already know it's not going to be a quiet week when this one comes to town. There's no time for sleeping on their clock, it's all about soaking up the vibes and dancing the day (and night) away.
Book in for brunch at Naughty Noodles
This Saturday brunch knows how to have fun, and if you're celebrating your best mate's arrival then this is where to do it.
As well as some tasty Asian dishes, you'll be sipping mixed-drinks out of pouches and Chinese noodle boxes while a dragon shimmies around you. Partner that with bongo drummers and smoke machines and you've got yourself a cracking afternoon.
Dhs450 (house beverages), Dhs500 (premium beverages), Dhs350, Dhs120 (post-brunch party including three drinks). Sat 1pm-4pm. FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, maiden-shanghai.com/dubai (04 455 9989).
Dance under the stars at Ushuaia
Recreating Ibiza on UAE shores, super club Ushuaïa is arriving at Dubai Harbour for the cooler season. Bringing international names to the decks, you'll soon be able to dance under the stars as you experience some incredible sounds and visuals.
Get in the crowd and get your friends on your shoulders to rave away to the likes of Calvin Harris and other impressive artists.
Dubai Harbour, ushuaiadubai.com.
Let loose at Soho Garden Meydan
Get your dancing shoes on for this one, your friend's going to love it. Showcasing DJs every weekend, you can get right up to the decks and feel the rhythm well until the early hours.
All about house and techno, if you're hosting someone who loves everything electronic, then this is the place to be.
Thurs-Sat 10pm-4am, Sun 9pm-3am. Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba. sohogardendxb.com (052 388 8849).
Splash around at a pool party
Cool off with a disco pool party at The Social Pool, where you can enjoy throwback tunes and flaunt your best swimwear at this all-day bash.
Running from noon, look out over the Dubai Marina as you go all out on a Sunday. The price per person is fully redeemable on food and drinks, so you're getting good value on this fun in the sun.
From Dhs300 (ladies, redeemable), Dhs500 (gents, redeemable). Sun, from noon. FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel, Palm Jumeirah. fivehotelsandresorts.com (04 455 9988).
Step into a speakeasy
Add in an extra bit of flair to the trip by squeezing in a speakeasy, and they're definitely going to love Chanca by Coya – as this secret bar is bouncing every weekend.
Enjoy the low red lighting and banging beats right into the early hours while trying out a spicy mixed-drink from the bar.
Daily, 6.30pm – late. Restaurant Village Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah 2. Coyarestaurant.com (04 316 9600).
The thrill seeker (adrenaline pumping 24/7)
There's no chilled days by the pool with this friend. They live for the things that would have most shaking at the knees. But luckily for you, Dubai is packed with thrills that will let you create some pretty insane memories.
Credit: Supplied
Go jet-skiing round the Palm
Whizz over the water and look your coolest on one of these and there's no better spot to try it than next to Palm Jumeirah.
Start out from Dubai Marina and once you've got your bearings, speed off into the sun for anywhere from 30 minutes to longer if you want to keep going.
Get thrown around at a theme park
Letting you live out your childhood dreams, this park has an entire section dedicated to Marvel, with rides themed around Spiderman, Thor and even The Hulk.
There's some pretty daring rollercoasters in here, so be prepared for a good few loop the loops. There's five zones at this park, so once you've battled it out with the avengers, there's the Cartoon Network and Haunted Hotel to visit too.
Dhs365 (general park admission), Dhs765 (annual membership), Dhs100 (kids day pass), Dhs50 (kids one-hour pass). Open Sun-Thu noon-10pm and Fri-Sat noon-11pm. City of Arabia, imgworlds.com (04 403 8888).
Zipline over Dubai Marina
Credit: ITP images
If flying head first over a zipline from over 20-storey high gets you excited, then have you and your friend book in for the experience.
Strapping you in at XLine Dubai, you'll begin your descent from 170 meters high and speed over the water with just enough time to catch the stunning views, until you return safely to Dubai Marina Mall.
From Dhs499. Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri-Wed 9am-5.40pm. Dubai Marina Mall, xdubai.com (056 507 6366).
Skydive over the city
One of the ultimate activities for thrill seekers (if you're brave enough) get ready to jump out a plane and parachute over Palm Jumeirah.
Letting you see the whole city all in one go, you'll get a personalised video of the jump, so make sure you're smiling as you fly down towards the ground.
From Dhs2,599. Daily 6am-11am. Skydivedubai.ae (04 377 8888).
Hit up the waterpark
Ready to climb in a tunnel and the floor drop from underneath you? Take on some of the thrilling rides and slides at Atlantis Aquaventure – also known as the biggest waterpark in the world.
With over 105 record-breaking slides, you can unwind from the big rides with a few rounds in a ring on the lazy river.
From Dhs320. Sun-Fri 9.45am-6.30pm, Sat 10am-10pm. Atlantis the Palm, Palm Jumeirah. aquaventureworld.com (04 426 0000).
The hipster (if it's not edgy don't bother)
It's got to be alternative, edgy, independent, home grown. It has to be cool to make the cut for this trip – we get it.
So if your pal is all about the underrated, the unknown and the effortlessly hipster, you might want to add these into the itinerary.
Wander Alserkal Avenue
Make your own perfume, catch an independent movie at Cinema Akil or taste some incredible coffee at this industrial hotspot.
It might be in warehouses but these units are chic as they come, and you can refuel at Nightjar coffee before popping to hand roll sushi bar Kokoro for a snack afterwards.
Open daily, 10am-7pm (individual store timings vary). 17th Street, Al Quoz, alserkal.online (04 333 3464).
Dine at Maisan 15
Credit: Maisan15
This will definitely impress your edgy mate. A delicious spot in Al Barsha, the café, garden gallery and library has everything you're going to need.
Mixing local and international dishes, you can grab a slice of the shawarma pizza, break into the burrata and end with a slice of espresso and cardamom cake.
Daily 8am-11pm. Al Barsha South. @maisan15 (04 244 7291).
Step into Honeycomb HiFi
Credit: Honeycomb Hi-Fi
Without a doubt one of the trendiest bars in Dubai, Honeycomb Hi-Fi in Business Bay is a brilliant spot if you're into music. Based on an izakaya, there's a Japanese-inspired menu, as well as innovative mixed drinks to wash it down with.
Featuring a music listening station, a vinyl record store and a book shop, the roster of top DJs and musicians entertaining bargoers and keeping the bar, well, buzzing.
Sun-Thurs 7.30am-2am, Fri-Sat 7.30am-3am. Pullman Dubai Downtown, Business Bay, honeycombhifi.com (04 412 6666).
Listen to some live jazz
For a change from house music, visit New Orleans-inspired bar Nola Eatery & Social House, which sets the Lousianna vibe with live jazz each week.
The bands change, but if you head to this restaurant inspired by the birthplace of jazz on Tuesday or Saturday you'll be able to hear a live band.
À la carte. Every Tue, 7pm onwards. Armada Avenue Hotel, Cluster P, JLT (04 399 8155).
The fitness fanatic (10,000 steps is a must even on holiday)
There's to be no chilling on this trip. It's time to get active and this friend's batteries never run low. So tie up the laces on your trainers and get ready to work up a sweat and get those endorphins pumping.
Padel is thriving in Dubai Credit: Just Padel UAE
Find a good running route
Start early and pick up the pace on the Palm Jumeirah boardwalk, where you can run for 11km next to the water.
Or for a beachier 5km, head to Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim and jog along the spongy track that runs right along the coast. Plus with this route, you can stop at Boost for a protein smoothie afterwards.
Go cycling in Hatta
The longest mountain trails in the UAE have now opened, so why not pack up your wheels and drive up for a morning pedal. Head over early before the heat really kicks in and try any of the 21 routes that stretch over a total of 86km. If you're not mad for cycling, the green trails are great for walking too.
Mon-Fri 6am-6pm. Sat-Sun 6am-6pm. Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Centre, Hatta.
Try an outdoor circuit session
Get ready to sweat with this one. Start off with a full body circuit weights training at Move by FIVE outdoor gym, guaranteed to get your heart rate up.
Once you've finished pumping some iron, it's time to cool right back down with a plunge into an ice bath on the beach. If that doesn't take your fancy, try out some of the beach yoga sessions on offer throughout the month.
Dhs200 per session (full body circuit). Various timings. FIVE Palm Jumeirah. breasydxb.com (058 256 1918).
Have a game of padel
Get your mate on the padel craze and pop over for a game at the Matcha Club courts. This boutique padel club is surrounded by greenery too, so you get a little nature infusion while you work up a sweat.
And when you're ready for a reward, just stroll over to NETTE for a matcha latte, Japanese crème brulée buttermilk pancakes or the avocado and seaweed sandwich.
Dhs400 per court. Open daily 6am-midnight. 20 8 St, Al Quoz, matcha-club.ae (050 460 1461).
Get on a paddleboard
This is a pretty cool way to start the day. Opening from 6am you can watch the sunrise while paddling around the palm.
This one is all about balance, but there's a good chance you'll spend half your time falling in and trying to get back on the board. Just try your best.
Open daily, 6am-7pm. IGNITE Water Sports, Shoreline 8, Palm Jumeirah, ignitewatersports.com (052 249 5311).
The pampered pal (it's all about wellness)
There will be no staying up until 3am with this pal, oh no. It's a 9pm bed time and up at 5am for yoga and an iced matcha. Get them booked in for some of these activities and their third chakras will be aligned again in no time.
(Credit: Supplied)
Have a pamper day at Blended Wellness
This gorgeous spot has it all, salon, spa, pilates, the works. Opt in for the 'Escape' deal, which will start with a 60-minute massage before moving onto a chilled session in the salt cave.
Then all you need to do is shuffle yourself over to Ula for a two-course lunch (try the souvlaki), before hopping on a lounger for pool and beach access for the rest of the day. We'll see you there.
Dhs550 (weekdays), Dhs600 (weekends). Blended Wellness, Dukes The Palm, Palm Jumeirah. blendedwellness.com (04 423 8313).
Hire a Careem Bike
There are 7km of pathways to explore around Dubai Marina, and if you hire a Careem bike for Dhs20 a day, you can whizz around that pretty rapidly.
It's an ideal place to people watch and the views are super by day or night. You can even cycle all the way to Kite Beach if you like. A top way to get some exercise, and you'll get a bit of a breeze as you cycle too – it's a win win.
Find more information here.
Visit a top matcha spot
Café Kitsuné easily serves some of the best matcha lattes in town. This little neighbourhood spot also has matcha-flavoured desserts. The matcha and white chocolate chip cookie is exceptional. Don't miss it.
Food-wise, Café Kitsuné promises French and international classics revisited with a Japanese touch. Go for the matcha, stay for the food.
Daily from 10am-10pm. Huna Residences, Wasl Road @cafekitsune.uae
Drive to Love Lakes
The 'Love Lakes' – two intertwined heart-shaped lakes set up near Al Qudra Lakes, is one for you. It can even be seen on Google Maps with the shape of the two hearts, right next to The Last Lake of Al Qudra.
The best way of getting there is by heading along the D63 route, past Last Exit and by turning right on the road that also leads to Al Qudra Lakes. Take a picnic when the weather cools and enjoy a quiet stroll at this serene spot.
Al Qudra.
Book pilates at Reform Athletica
Reform Athletica studio in Jumeirah is stylishly decorated with artwork from local galleries and promotes a message of sustainability through its efforts to minimise single-use plastic consumption.
Alongside Pilates, the studio also offers TRX, yoga and kettlebell training. There will also be a branch opening in DIFC soon.
Open daily with differing schedules. Villa 40, 165a Jumeirah Road, Jumeirah 1, reformathletica.com (04 323 3670).
Get a facial at Skin Laundry
Jump in for a quick session at Skin Laundry, where you can have a signature or carbon laser facial to deal with those blemishes.
Also delving into those fine lines and wrinkles, the lasers will break up the hyperpigmentation leaving your skin glowing. Happy pampering.
Prices vary. Skin Laundry DIFC, ICD Brookfield Place. Skinlaundry,ae (04 244 7450).
The cultured one (has probably brought their own guide book with them)
This mate doesn't just want to experience Dubai, they want to live it. They'll also be desperate to bring some fun historical facts home with them, so you better get some prepared for your personal guided tour of the city.
(Credit: CanvaPro)
Take an abra ride on the Creek
Back in the day, abras were the main mode of transport across Dubai Creek. Now, you can try out the traditional boats by either hopping on one as public transport for as little as Dhs2.
You can take a range of different routes along the water, and can even cross the Creek to get to the Old Souk for a spot of haggling.
Booking timings vary.rta.ae.
Visit the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood
If you want to spend an afternoon feeling like you've stepped back in time, then a trip to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is a great way to get a glimpse of old Dubai.
You'll find buildings made of coral, stone, mud and wood in an area dedicated to preserving Emirati culture. There are plenty of museums and places to explore, and although closed, be sure to pass the Al Fahidi Fort (the oldest existing building in the city built in 1787).
Al Fahidi. dubaiculture.gov.ae
Dine at an Emirati restaurant
Take a step into Emirati culture when you walk into Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant. The traditional building has an incredible interior and you'll have the choice of sampling some real local favourites.
On some occasions, you can see fresh Arabic bread being baked inside the restaurant, as well as henna art and other cultural activities on show. But if you're just there to eat, be sure to try out the chicken machboos, and the labneh mint dip. If you're still not full, finish off the meal with the camel milk ice cream.
Daily 8am-11pm. Al Fahidi. alkhayma.com (055 180 2080).
Try a desert safari
Give them a real bit of desert culture with a full day out on the dunes. You can drive out for a spot of sandboarding or dune bashing in a modified 4×4.
Once your heart has stopped racing, settle down for a traditional dinner and show combo at one of the many camps where belly dancing and tasty local food are on the menu. If you want to make it extra special try the open top 4×4 tour with Platinum Heritage, which is one of the most memorable outdoor activities in Dubai.
Prices vary. platinum-heritage.com (04 440 9827).
Visit the Gold Souk
If your mate needs a souvenir or a few gifts to take home, this is the place to do it.
One of the biggest marketplaces for that glistening of precious metals, you might want to keep your sunnies on when you set foot inside the Gold Souk. Stall after stall sells shiny new jewellery and other fineries.
Open daily 9am-9pm. Deira.
The foodie (it's all about breakfast, lunch and dinner)
What a treat of a trip your friend is about to have in Dubai. We all know the food here is incredible, so here's some of the best spots to leave them feeling full (and satisfied).
Credit: Amazónico
Try Time Out Market
This is one of the best ways to try some of Dubai's best restaurants all in one go.
Time Out Market offers up everything from fresh pizza and doughy garlic knots (yes Pitfire we're talking about you) to impressive pad Thai at Café Isan or something smoky at Mattar.
Plus the terrace has prime Dubai Fountain views so you're killing two birds with one stone here.
Open Mon-Thurs, noon-midnight; Fri, noon-1am; Sat, 10am-1am; Sun, 10am-midnight. Time Out Market, Downtown timeoutmarket.com (054 375 2421).
Break apart the FIX viral chocolate
Credit: FIX Dessert Chocolatiers)
If you don't live under a rock, then you'll have heard about these gooey pistachio kunafa filled bars. Coming in lots of new flavours, you can post an Insta breaking apart the hard shell and revealing the sugary innards.
The official brand sells out fast, so you can learn how to get it (or what dupes to try) in our guide.
Dine out for a business lunch
Want to try some of the city's fanciest restaurants on a budget? Then look no further than a business lunch. For example, you can have three courses (including a steak) at Prime 68 for Dhs189, or dine at Atmosphere, the highest restaurant in the world, for Dhs250 (two courses). And that's only scratching the surface.
Find a lunch deal that perfectly suits you in our full guide here.
Visit the best restaurants in Dubai (according to us)
If your pal wants to see some award-winning eateries, then these are the top places to try across the city. Winning at Time Out Dubai's most recent restaurant awards, you can browse everything from Indian restaurants to buffet brunches, steakhouses and vegan cafes.
All reviewed anonymously and coming out top from a shortlist of 280 eateries, your friend will definitely be happy with a dinner off of this list.
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