City guide

Dubai, UAE

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. It is on a creek on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf.

Type CityMetro Area Population 5,000,000

Why go

  • Largest city in the United Arab Emirates.
  • 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
  • 1 hand-picked place to stay.
  • 3 recommended spots to eat and drink.
  • Served by Al Minhad Air Base (NHD).

History

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. It is on a creek on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. As of 2025, its population stands at 4 million, 92% of whom are expatriates. The wider urban area includes Sharjah and has a population of 5 million people as of 2023, while the Dubai–Sharjah–Ajman metropolitan area has a population of 6 million people.

Must-see attractions

Where to stay

Marasi Dr - Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Indoor

Eat & drink

Restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant
Indoor
Indoor

Airports

Dubai International Airport (DXB) 4.5 km to the centre
Dubai, DU, AE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 83 airlines (Emirates, Fly Dubai, Qantas, Iran Aseman Airlines…) · direct flights to 188 destinations incl. Delhi, Jeddah, Kabul, London, Singapore… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 83 airlines, 188 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) 21 km to the centre
Sharjah, SH, AE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 15 airlines (Air Arabia, Pakistan International Airlines, Air India Express, Air India Limited…) · direct flights to 78 destinations incl. Kochi, Calicut, Colombo, Peshawar, Trivandrum… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 15 airlines, 78 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) 42 km to the centre
Dubai(Jebel Ali), DU, AE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 11 airlines (Fly Dubai, Transaero Airlines, Ural Airlines, Wizz Air…) · direct flights to 40 destinations incl. Samara, Yekaterinburg, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 11 airlines, 40 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Emirates Falcons Aeroclub Airport 92 km to the centre
Al Ain, AZ, AE
Outdoor
Nad Al Sheba Airport 15 km to the centre
Dubai, DU, AE
Outdoor
Skydive Dubai Airport 26 km to the centre
Dubai, DU, AE
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) 113 km to the centre
Abu Dhabi, AZ, AE — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 58 airlines (Etihad Airways, Alitalia, Jet Airways, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 87 destinations incl. Muscat, Bahrain, Amsterdam, Lahore, Islamabad… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 112 km from Dubai · Etihad Airways, Alitalia, Jet Airways · Getting around Abu Dhabi, UAE →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 58 airlines, 87 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

Al Seef Marine Transport Station
Ferry terminal · 2.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Baniyas - water bus terminal
Ferry terminal · 2.6 km from the centre
Outdoor
Dubai Festival City
Ferry terminal · 3.3 km from the centre · Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Outdoor
Al Jadaf
Ferry terminal · 3.4 km from the centre · Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Outdoor
Al Sabkha Abra terminal (North)
Ferry terminal · 3.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Al Sabkha
Ferry terminal · 3.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Baniyas - Al Seef (Water Bus)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Al Sabkha - Baniyas (Water Bus)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Al Jadaf - Dubai Festival City
Ferry route · Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Outdoor
Al Jaddaf Marine Station - Dubai Festival City
Ferry route · Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Outdoor
Dubai Old Souk - Baniyas (Water Bus)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Al Ghubaiba - Dubai Old Souk (Water Bus)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Al Sabkha - Al Fahidi Marine Transport Station
Ferry route
Outdoor
Deira Old Souk - Al Fahidi Marine Transport Station
Ferry route
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Al Minhad Air Base (NHD); 6 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DXB has direct flights to 188 destinations on 83 airlines (incl. Delhi, Jeddah, Kabul, London, Singapore…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Al Seef Marine Transport Station, 2.5 km); routes include Baniyas - Al Seef (Water Bus), Al Sabkha - Baniyas (Water Bus), Al Jadaf - Dubai Festival City.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Dubai, UAE. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Metro, tram, bus · Dubai Metro, the tram, buses and water taxis. · Fares: Nol card · Airport: Red Line metro from Terminals 1 and 3

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter · Airbus ACJ319 · Emirates' VIP Airbus for bespoke charters from Dubai.
Charter, management · Managed fleet · Dubai-based aircraft management and charter.
Charter · Boeing Business Jet, Global, Learjet · Abu Dhabi-based premium charter with the world's largest BBJ fleet.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Tours & experiences

Adventure
Adventure
Sightseeing