Downtown Dubai

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The most popular place in the UAE and the first place guests of the city rush to is the city center or, as it is usually called, downtown.

In the very center of Dubai, you will see the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Musical Fountain, which lies at the foot of the tower, the world's largest shopping center Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Opera.

Burj Khalifa Tower

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest tower in the world. Its height is 828 meters, of which 180 meters is the spire — also the tallest in the world. Back in 2018, the foundation was laid nearby for another tower, Dubai Creek Tower, meant to take the height record away from the Burj Khalifa, but the project was frozen shortly after the pandemic began, and as of 2026 construction still hasn't resumed.

Burj Khalifa observation deck

You can just walk around the tower and look at it from the side, or you can go up to the 124th floor and see how beautiful Dubai is from a height. Tickets for floors 124–125 run AED 174–235 (≈$47–64), while the SKY level (148th floor) costs AED 535–730 (≈$146–198). Almost every city tour in Dubai includes visiting Burj Khalifa. So you may choose any of them - Dubai Burj Khalifa Tour, Dubai City Tour by Night, or Dubai Private Sightseeing Tour.

At.mosphere Restaurant

If you want something more original than the observation deck, visit the At.mosphere restaurant on the 122nd floor of the tower. Choose a table closer to the window, order coffee, and enjoy the spectacular view.

Magnificent hotel Armani

It occupies 11 floors of the Burj Khalifa. The interior of each room is designed personally by Giorgio Armani. It offers stylish suites, incredible views, seven restaurants (including the sushi restaurant Armani/Hashi, reopened in 2025 after a renovation), a spa, a fitness center, and everything you need for the perfect vacation in the perfect city.

Musical fountain

The fountain is located near the tower. The daytime show runs at 13:00 (13:30 on Fridays), and evening shows repeat every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 23:00, each lasting about 5 minutes. The performance is best seen from the terrace of one of the cafes nearby. But many people combine watching the show and heading to the top of the Burj Khalifa tower. Although it is difficult to see all the details from the 124th floor. But if you live in the Armani Hotel, you can watch the show right from the window of your room.

Dubai opera

The opera hall is stylized as a traditional Arabic boat dhow. The building is made of glass and metal and is finished with wood from the inside. Pay attention to the chandelier in the lobby, made of pearl threads. Dhows have been used by local fishermen for centuries to fish for pearls. And the chandelier reminds visitors of it.

Dubai Mall

Everyone who has been to the Dubai Mall agrees that you may spend a whole day there. We recommend going there in the morning so that after a couple of hours you can decide how you will spend the rest of the day.

Dubai Mall is one of the biggest malls in the world. There are 1,500 shops at the service of visitors, including 150 luxury brands represented in the Fashion Avenue department. It is one of the largest collections of luxury brands in one place.

But Dubai Mall exists not only for shopping. There is also a lot of entertainment for the whole family: the Kidzania entertainment and educational center, the Aquarium, the Olympic-sized skating rink, the VR Park virtual reality center, cinemas, beauty salons, cafes and restaurants, and even a hotel.

A walk through the center of Dubai is included almost in all sightseeing tours, for example, Dubai full-day tour with an Entry ticket to Burj Khalifa at the Top.