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Dubai Travel Guide

It’s hard to believe when confronting the sheer scale of Dubai, but most of the city was built in just the last 50 years. It makes the world’s biggest shopping mall, tallest skyscraper, and a host of ultra-luxurious hotels all the more bewildering. Still, amid all the glamor and superlatives, there are vestiges of a pre-skyscraper Dubai, in its winding souks and the vast empty desert that surrounds the city. Here’s how to navigate both sides of this always-growing metropolis.

Plan Your Dubai Trip

The Small Concept Hangouts Challenging Dubai’s Maximalist Reputation
The city continues to live up to its reputation for excess, but now there are more places than ever to stop and take a breath. 
How to Make the Most of Your Layover in Dubai
You’d be amazed at how much you could squeeze in on a 24-hour layover. From culture to beaches (even spas!), here’s everything you could reasonably fit into one day
35 Best Hotels in Dubai
We’ve eliminated the guesswork and rounded up 36 of our favorite Dubai hotels, for all budgets, ages, and travel preferences.
Explore the Inspiring Parts of Dubai with Photographer Rhiannon Taylor
Produced by Condé Nast Traveler with Conrad Hotels & Resorts | Rhiannon Taylor continues her journey at Conrad Dubai where she connects with photographer Katarina Premfors and explores famed Dubai markets followed by a tour of Fossil Rock and a round of Dune Bashing in the desert.
Andrew Zimmern's Back-Alley Tour of Dubai Dining
Some of the city's most surprising and delicious flavors hail from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and more.

More from Dubai

Style & Culture
What to Wear in Dubai, According to Stylist Oumayma Elboumeshouli
What you need in your case for a city where a power suit and bikini go hand-in-hand.
Food & Drink
The 17 Best Restaurants in Dubai
Dubai's best restaurants are as diverse as the city itself, from elevated Italian fare to omakase concepts.
Food & Drink
The 11 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Dubai
These spots promise a soul-warming meal.
Inspiration
The 12 Best Bars in Dubai, from Moody Speakeasies to Buzzy DJ Spots
The spots serving some seriously impressive drinks (and vibes)
Destinations
This Is the Best Time To Visit Dubai
Whether you want to lounge by the beach, take in the sights or spend your time shopping, here's when you should plan your trip to the emirate
Air Travel
This Dubai Hotel Launched a Private Party Jet—Here's What It's Like On Board
The jet comes with a king-sized bed, onboard shower, a cinema room, and plenty of party lighting.
Air Travel
I Tried Emirates' Glamorous Lounge in Dubai—Here's Why It's Worth Paying For
The business class lounge has plenty of amenities to make a visit worthwhile.
Air Travel
Emirates Is Giving Away Free Hotel Stays in Dubai This Summer
Plus, loads of discounts on sightseeing, dining, and spa treatments.
Air Travel
This Airline Is Phasing Out Paper Boarding Passes
Charge up your phones: It now takes a mobile boarding pass for most passengers to get onto Emirates' flights in Dubai.
News & Advice
Inside the Unveiling of Dubai's Atlantis The Royal, Including Beyoncé's Live Performance
We attended the exclusive three-day Grand Reveal Weekend of the new ultra-luxury resort—here’s what went down. 
Inspiration
A Local’s Guide to Dubai, UAE
Designer Latifa Al Gurg on the United Arab Emirates.
News & Advice
Dubai Airport Is World's Busiest for International Travel (Again)
The airport has seen one billion passengers pass through in the past 58 years, and has emerged as a go-to stopover destination.
News & Advice
The New Dubai Pass Is an All-Access Ticket to the City's Major Attractions
Basically, you're getting unfettered access to 33 attractions for the price of three.
News & Advice
Dubai’s Quest to Be the 'Most Active City In the World'
The city is becoming an epicenter for global fitness trends.
News & Advice
Dubai's Floating 'Queen Elizabeth 2' Hotel to Open This Month
The renovation has been a decade in the making.