Downtown Dubai (arabic name: وسط مدينة دبي), formerly known as Downtown Burj Dubai, is the heart of Dubai and is a large-scale, large-scale, mixed-use mixed-use development that houses the main attractions of the city.
Although Downtown Dubai is the smallest area of the city, its area is a little more than 2 square kilometers, but it is known in the world as a place of high-rise buildings, as well as the main, with the prefix "most", attractions of the Emirate.
In the Downtown there are: the Burj Khalifa mega-skyscraper, the largest musical dancing fountain in the world - the Dubai Fountain, a large artificial lake Burj with a promenade, park areas, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment centers Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar Shopping Center, Dubai Opera, skyscraper Address Downtown Dubai, Old Town Island, as well as boulevards, recreation areas, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, shops and accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments)
For this reason, Downtown Dubai is the most famous and one of the most visited places not only in the Emirate of Dubai, but also in the UAE.
Downtown Dubai Attractions
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa (arabic name: برج خليفة) is a super-high-rise skyscraper with a height of 829.8 meters (2722 feet) and 163 floors.
The skyscraper is named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Inside the skyscraper are located: office and commercial premises, private apartments, Armani Hotel, observation decks, cafe, panoramic restaurant, high-rise lounge, rooftop pool, fitness and spa centers, shops.
The skyscraper also has 360-degree viewing platforms with terraces located on the 124-125 and 148 floors (at an altitude of 452-456 and 555 meters). You can visit the viewing platforms for a fee. Learn more about the Burj Khalifa and sightseeing…
The Burj Khalifa is located 5-star Armani Hotel Dubai spanning 11 floors.
In the hotel: restaurants, bar, swimming pool, spa, free Wi-Fi and direct access to the Dubai Mall.
The hotel has rooms and suites with panoramic views of Dubai.
Room amenities include: flat-screen TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, mini-bar, safe, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer and free toiletries.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
Burj Khalifa Lake and Dubai Fountain
Near the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, there is a Burj Khalifa park with a series of artificial reservoirs (Lake Burj Khalifa) with an area of more than 120,000 sq.m.
There is a promenade around the lake, and the architectural Souk Al Bahar Bridge is thrown across the lake, from which it is best (subjective opinion) to watch the fountain show overlooking the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.
In the lake itself is the famous Dubai Fountain, which is one of the largest and tallest dancing fountains in the world.
The fountain shows exciting water-music shows, in which the fountain's water jets soar into the air to a height of up to 150 meters; and this happens to the sounds of melodies ranging from classical to modern Arabic and European motifs. The fountain has a unique design consisting of five circles of different sizes and two arches.
The Dubai Fountain show can be seen during the day and in the evening when it gets dark. The Burj Khalifa skyscraper, which is illuminated in different colors, also participates in the evening fountain show. The shows are free. Learn more about the Dubai Fountain and the show with photos, videos and hours of performances…
On the fountain Lake (as Lake Burj is sometimes called), you can go for a walk on a traditional Arab boat Abre.
Boating takes place in between fountain shows.
Dubai Mall with Aquarium
Dubai Mall (arabic name: دبي مول) is a shopping and entertainment complex, which is one of the largest shopping centers in the world, as well as the most famous and most visited in Dubai.
Dubai Mall has more than 1,200 retail outlets, more than 200 food and beverage outlets (restaurants, cafes and a large food court), as well as a wide range of entertainment (aquarium, ice rink, cinema, etc.).
Part of the Dubai Mall is the Fashion Avenue, where the world's most exquisite brands (more than 150) are represented, from flagship stores to exclusive concepts and products. More about Dubai Mall…
The centerpiece of the Dubai Mall is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
The Dubai Aquarium is home to numerous aquatic animals, including sharks, piranhas and stingrays. Its heart is a 48-meter tunnel that provides a 270-degree view of the inhabitants from a depth of 11 meters below the surface of the reservoir.
Above the aquarium there is an underwater zoo with fish, sea and river inhabitants, as well as animals living on the border of water and land.
Entrance to the aquarium is paid. More about Dubai Aquarium…
The Dubai Mall adjoins Address Dubai Mall 5-star premium hotel with restaurant, bar, spa center, 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi and an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the Burj Khalifa.
Breakfast may be included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
Souk Al Bahar Shopping Center
Souk Al Bahar Shopping Center is a "sailors' market" where Arabic classics are combined with modernity, offering residents and tourists shops and restaurants.
There are more than 100 shops, 22 restaurants, cafes and lounge bars with terraces overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. Most of the catering outlets are located on the waterfront of Lake Burj.
Souk Al Bahar is also home to Time Out Market Dubai, a culinary hub employing 17 local chefs and restaurateurs selected by the editors of Time Out Dubai as the best in the city.
Souk Al Bahar website: soukalbahar.ae.
Old Town Island
The Old Town Island is not an island in the literal sense of the word, that is, it is not surrounded by water. This is a figurative expression that means that it is an "island of old Dubai architecture" surrounded by modern and high-rise Dubai.
The island of the Old City is a modern fashionable city quarter with low-rise buildings made in the style of traditional Arabic architecture.
There are villas, apartments, boutiques, shops, restaurants, cafes, a mosque, as well as the Souk Al Bahar shopping center described above.
In the Old City Quarter, there is 5-star Palace Downtown overlooking the Dubai Fountain Lake and the Burj Khalifa.
In the hotel: outdoor pool, restaurants, cafes, gym, Arabic-style spa with hammam, rain shower, hot tub and steam baths.
The hotel's rooms are decorated in a modern Middle Eastern style. Room amenities include: balcony, bathroom, mini-bar, safe, coffee machine/kettle, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers, free toiletries, interactive TV, DVD player and free Wi-Fi.
Breakfast may be included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
Dubai Opera
Dubai Opera (arabic name: دار دبي للأوبرا) is a multifunctional performing arts center that is one of the most iconic venues in the city.
The Opera house has the shape of a traditional sailing Arab dhow, and is a masterpiece of stylish modern design, at the same time paying homage to the maritime history of Dubai.
The opera consists of several zones, has a lounge and a restaurant. The opera hosts a wide range of performances from around the world, including theater, opera, ballet, concerts, musicals, comedy shows, fashion shows, banquets and various seasonal events.
There are guided tours of the opera building. More about Dubai Opera…
Burj Park
Burj Park is a small landscaped park with a lawn where various events take place.
Sky Views Dubai
Sky Views Dubai (Sky Views Observatory Dubai) is one of the most interesting and exciting locations in Dubai, offering impressions, adrenaline and panoramic views of the city.
Sky Views Observatory is located in one of the tallest and architecturally unusual buildings in Dubai - two towers rising more than 50 floors, and then connected at a height of about 220 meters above the ground by a multi-storey Sky Bridge, including an infinity pool with glass walls, an outdoor terrace and a restaurant.
The Sky Views Observatory is available separately for visits, which includes three entertainments: an observation deck, a glass slide and a walk along the edge. Visits to locations are paid. More about the Observatory "Views of the sky"…
The Sky Views building also houses 5-star Address Sky View Hotel featuring an outdoor infinity pool with sundeck with sun loungers, cabanas and a seating bar, both by the pool and on the dry deck.
In the hotel: restaurant, bar, lounge, spa and fitness centers, sauna, free private parking, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, currency exchange.
There are rooms and suites with panoramic views of the city.
Room amenities include: air conditioning, desk, tea/coffee maker, minibar, safe, flat-screen TV, bathrobes and slippers, private bathroom, hairdryer and free toiletries.
A buffet breakfast can be included in the room rate. Link to hotel
Address Downtown Dubai
Address Downtown Dubai (arabic name: فندق البحيرة و شقق برج دبي المخدمة) is a 64-storey ultra-tall building with a height of 302.2 meters.
The building is residential. It also contains The 5-star Address Downtown features rooms and suites with high-speed Wi-Fi, interactive TV with Apple AirPlay technology and interface with functionality for selecting entertainment services.
In the hotel: restaurants, bar, swimming pool, business lounges, kids club and wellness center with gym and exclusive spa.
The hotel offers rooms with panoramic views of the Dubai Fountain, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall via a suspension bridge.
Room rates may include breakfast. Link to the hotel
Practical information
Every New Year Downtown Dubai is the venue for one of the most famous events in the emirate - when the New Year's Eve (00:00 hours) usually consists of a Dubai Fountain show, huge fireworks and a laser light show on the Burj Khalifa building.
You can get to Downtown Dubai at taxi, car, public buses or metro.
Burj Khalifa/The Dubai Mall metro station. It is most convenient to go from the station along the glass covered air-conditioned passage (Metro Link Bridge), connecting the metro station with the Dubai Mall. The Metro Link bridge's hours of operation correspond to the mall's hours of operation, 10:00 to 00:00 Monday to Wednesday and 10:00 to 01:00 Thursday to Saturday (hours subject to change).
You can visit Downtown and its attractions with a tour on the famous red open-top Hop-On Hop-Off bus with a multilingual audio guide. There are tours for 1, 2 and 3 days, as well as a tour + dhow cruise. View and book a tour click here →
All accommodation facilities in Dubai, including those in Downtown, near the beaches and more remotely from them, can be view and book here
