11-05-2025
Dubai might just be the weirdest city in the world – and these attractions prove it
Welcome to weird and wonderful Dubai, the emirate that loves to do things differently. Here, you can float through a sky-high Pilates class 77 floors up, pilot a mini-digger over coffee, sip smoothies made from the UAE's national tree, or dive into the world's deepest indoor pool to shoot a game of underwater pool on a sunken billiard table. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. With gusto and vision – and a wild imagination – Dubai boldly goes where no other destination has before. Here's how to get in on the action.
Float in the sky
The world's highest outdoor infinity pool is, of course, in Dubai (where else?) – but why stop at a swim. Set atop Address Beach Resort, 77 floors and 1,017ft (310m) up, this rooftop pool also hosts floating yoga and Pilates classes led by Super SupFit. Participants balance on paddle boards in the water and try not to wobble as they wonder at views stretching from Ain Dubai, the world's tallest observation wheel, to the sail-shaped landmark Burj Al Arab hotel and beyond.
AED377/£77 per person
Dig the café scene
Part gaming venue, part coffee shop, Remote Control Cities in Meydan is the brainchild of Emirati entrepreneur Ishaq Ali Albastaki – and a slice of heaven for any little (or big) boy or girl who's ever looked longingly at a JCB. Patrons sip drinks around a large central sandpit while operating miniature construction vehicles, from remote-controlled bulldozers to excavators, allowing players to shift sand and navigate the tracks, creating a scene reminiscent of Dubai's ever-evolving city under construction. We dig it.
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Play pool underwater
In the sleepy Dubai suburb of Nad Al Sheba lies a sunken city – but this is no Atlantis. At 60 metres, Deep Dive Dubai is the world's deepest indoor diving pool – and full of surprises. Plumb its depths and you'll discover an underwater cityscape of themed rooms, life-size props such as cars and bikes, and even a selection of games you can play underwater, including pool, foosball and chess. The attraction is open to snorkelers, scuba divers and free-divers, while those who prefer to stay dry can watch the action from one of the viewing panels at each level.
From AED400/£87 per person
Pick up a secret signal
The enormous tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah island – visible from space – isn't the only thing in Dubai designed to look like a palm tree; here, the mobile phone towers are too. You'll even find solar-powered Smart Palms; tree-shaped mobile phone charging stations on streets, the original prototype of which was installed next to Jumeirah Beach beside the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, ensuring tourists always have enough battery to get the quintessential selfie with the famous 'seven-star' hotel.
Drink from the Tree of Life
The UAE's national tree, the drought-resistant Ghaf, is a long-standing symbol of tolerance, with the oldest-known example in Bahrain – thought to be more than 400 years old – often dubbed 'The Tree of Life'.
Once simply a source of nourishment for desert wildlife, the species can now also be found on Dubai's supermarket shelves thanks to Emirati innovator Salma Alzaabi, who discovered a way to extract the essence of the leaves without harming the trees. He took his discovery to local juice brand, Barakat, who bottled it – and hey presto, the Barakat Ghaf Smoothie was born. Blending the medicinal leaf elixir with camel milk, dates, honey and cashew nuts, this is a distinctly Arabian approach to health food.
Ghaf Smoothie 330ml, AED16.50/£3.40
Sing on The Raining Street
In the UK, drizzle may be the bane of many a Briton's barbecue, but it's so rare in Dubai that it occupies true novelty status. Testament to this is 'The Raining Street' – a quaint mock European-style pedestrian road at the voco Monaco Dubai by IHG, a five-star self-billed 'party resort' on The World Islands. And what does one do here, you might ask? Why, galavant around like Gene Kelly in the year-round downpour, of course.
Entry is free for hotel guests
Try your hand at astro painting
Fancy achieving total zen while also creating a masterpiece? 'Astro Art' could be the answer. At incongruously leafy refuge Sohum Wellness Sanctuary, guests can enjoy a dish and (non-alcoholic) drink from the plant-based Taama restaurant while they learn to 'translate energy onto canvas and embrace the meditative flow of creativity'. Even if you don't quite reach Nirvana, you'll still get a pretty picture to take home.
AED300/£61 per person, including guided art class, all equipment, one drink and one dish
Smell like an owl
Referenced by Shakespeare and exported globally, Arabian fragrances are legendary and distinct, known for their rare and exclusive blends of oud and spices. The emirate is already unofficially home to the world's most expensive perfume – Shumukh by Nabeel, which costs $1.29 million for a three-litre bottle – so how to push the boundaries further still? Simple. At Yusuf Bhai perfumery – also renowned for their workshops, personalised blends and rare scents – you'll find the musky Zoologist range: an array of animal-inspired perfumes which include the likes of Snowy Owl and Rhinoceros.
