Someone tells you they’re headed to Dubai for vacation you’re not surprised. Why?
Not a great question now, to be honest. Dubai is unique. And for Pakistanis especially, it holds a peculiar position as the preferred tourist destination because of its proximity. I mean if you were to take your flight from Karachi you’re probably done eating your Mc Donald’s at Mall of the Emirates before one checks in at Marriott if their flight to Islamabad departed at the same time as yours.
Proximity alone though, as we know, doesn’t cut it, does it? Dubai is the go-to destination for travelers from around the world for its vibrant & bustling nightlife, the fact that it’s any shopping fanatic’s delight goes a long way too for sure, the several resorts, the culinary delights, yes, yes what you need, Dubai offers but I feel sometimes all these other pretty amazing attributes overshadow one which perhaps many take for granted?
The attractions.
Dubai’s got a host of tourist attractions… it feels strange to even say that because yeah well… Dubai’s got to its credit the tallest building in the world but yeah how about taking a picture not with it in the background but on the 124th floor of it? Or maybe a family picnic at an indoor rainforest with 3,000 species of plants, animals & birds? Perhaps an afternoon at Instagrammers’ dream spot – do you even know what it is or where in Dubai it is located? How about an evening at a minigolf with an eccentric twist?
Let me tell you about 4 Dubai attractions that, if you include in your itinerary on your next family holiday trip to Dubai, will not only not disappoint you but guaranteed make you want to thank me. Here goes:
- The Green Planet
An indoor tropical rainforest & zoo with over 3,000 species of plants, animals & birds, the Green Planet is a must visit if you’re traveling with young children. Perfect ground for curious future explorers, this enchanting bio-dome provides ample opportunity to interact closely with reptiles, bats, sloth, lemurs, piranhas & several other species of animals & birds along with an option to even camp overnight! You can also swim with piranhas or plan a picnic brunch here and even play zookeeper for a day. Must visit, didn’t I say?
- Burj at the top
Imagine being in Dubai and seeing the Burj Khalifa everywhere you go yet never actually having been inside or better still not having been on top of the tallest manmade structure ever built. Major FOMO right? ‘At The Top, Burj Khalifa’ is the name given to an observation deck on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa which is open for public. Stunning views, ample opportunities to click unique pictures and a lesson on modern architecture, if you’re in Dubai and you don’t book this attraction I’d say your trip is incomplete. The journey begins with a fantastic montage of pictures and videos of the entire timeline of the building’s construction followed by a fun ride in a lift that climbs at 8 meters per second and eventually leading you to the 124th and 124th floors of the Burj Khalifa offering 360-degree views of Dubai as far & wide as the human eye is capable of seeing.
- AYA Universe
My favourite attraction in Dubai hands down, the AYA Universe is a fairly recent addition to the list of the city’s landmarks having opened in December 2022. To be honest, it is not easy to even explain what you experience here and neither can words, pictures or videos do justice to what you see & feel once there but think of yourself in a universe where lasers & lights dance to your tune and you feel your body transcending to a realm you didn’t know existed. Absolutely fantastic! The AYA Universe encompasses a 40,000 square foot space with 12 distinct zones each featuring high-tech sound and light/laser shows so intense and electric you may even feel you just had an out-of-body experience! Also, did I tell you it’s the perfect spot to boost your Instagram presence? You’ll know what I mean once you’ve been, don’t worry.
- 3D Blacklight Minigolf
A minigolf featuring neon 3D artwork which took two artists eight months to hand-paint is mesmerizing. With your 3D glasses on and a golf club in your hand, you might feel you’re in a movie or on a movie set but in all fairness this attraction is an ideal hangout space for friends or family who like to enjoy a sport with a tinge of entertainment i.e. food and drinks. Caution: The walls and floors are completely covered with 3D art and visuals striking enough & very capable of shifting your focus away from the golf ball so good luck!
