Get the View: 5 of the Most Beautiful Places in Dubai

“Known for its larger than life attractions, glamorous lifestyle and remarkable energy, Dubai is an inspired choice for a fun-filled, activity-packed holiday. But slow down for a moment and look beyond its bright lights and busy business district and you’ll discover surprising sanctuaries and tranquil quarters, where nature flourishes and the views astound. Get your camera ready for these five beautiful places in Dubai.

The Arabian Desert
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In downtown Dubai, characterised by oversized shopping malls and futuristic vibes, it’s often easy to forget that this bustling city is surrounded by desert. But drive for less than an hour and the views shift from endless skyscrapers to wave upon wave of golden sand – all courtesy of the Arabian Desert. Stay until sunset and the sky blends into a palette of oranges, yellows and pinks. Linger overnight and you’ll sleep under clear, starry skies before waking to a beautiful sunrise.

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve has 87 square miles of rolling sand dunes that are part of the UAE’s first National Park. You can visit via an approved tour or stay at the Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa. Here, the terrain is speckled with dusty trees and shrubbery and, as well as thrilling activities like dune bashing and sand-boarding, you can quietly go in search of wild oryx and sand foxes.

Madinat Jumeirah
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With palm-fringed waterways, replica wooden abras – traditional boats – and sand-coloured buildings topped with wind towers, Madinat Jumeirah is a modern take on a traditional Arab town. It’s also a resort with several five-star hotels, a souk and plenty of restaurants and bars. As such, the gardens are immaculately kept and, after dark, they’re beautifully lit, meaning you can enjoy gorgeous views whatever time of day you visit.

There are endless details to discover while your there. Hop on a wooden boat to tour the waterways or explore winding stairwells to find pretty secluded terraces. From certain places, the Burj al Arab – Dubai’s landmark hotel, built in the shape of a sail – appears in the distance, framed by Madinat Jumeirah’s old-style wind towers. Even if the old buildings aren’t entirely authentic, this view is a striking blend of ‘old world’ and new Dubai.

Dubai Miracle Garden
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Another beautiful place in Dubai is the gigantic Dubai Miracle Garden. With millions of brightly coloured blooms and extravagant topiary, it can feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy world as you enter underneath a giant tortoise (yes, you’ve read that correctly). Petunias, violas, geraniums and marigolds in yellows, purples, reds, oranges and every other possible hue weave their way around massive structures to create surreal shapes and well-known characters.

Mickey Mouse is one of its record-breaking floral installations, with almost 1,000 plants used to create the ambitious design. There’s also a big teddy bear, a life-size Emirates A380 plane covered in blooms, as well as a castle, a floral clock and a muster of peacocks. The gardens are open from November to March and can get very busy at weekends. Try visiting during the week if you can.

Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
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Head to the far end of the Dubai Creek, and there’s a landscape of saline flats, sand mudflats and mangroves. Here, hundreds of migratory birds stop for a rest during their journey on the East Africa-West Asian flyway. They are a surprising but beautiful sight against a backdrop of skyscrapers and city smog. In winter this conserved area, the Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, is one of the best places to see wildlife in Dubai.

Depending on when you go, you could spot egrets, broad-billed sandpipers, great spotted eagles, Pacific golden plovers and many other winged visitors. But the stand-out attraction is the colony of pink flamingos wading through the water or spreading their wings to fly off against the urban sunset. You can’t actually go into the sanctuary itself, but there are three hides from where you can view the birds, and all are equipped with binoculars.

Up in the Sky
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One of the most beautiful places to be when you’re in Dubai is, somewhat unsurprisingly, high up in the sky. It’s here that you can fully appreciate the city’s biggest and most ambitious structures against the sea and desert landscape. See the shape of world’s largest manmade island, The Palm, for yourself, along with The World archipelago, the Burj Khalifa and the immense Atlantis The Palm Hotel.

There are several ways to get a birds-eye view of Dubai. If you’re a thrill-seeker, enjoy skydiving into the drop zone at The Palm Jumeirah or enjoy a helicopter ride for a whistle-stop tour of the best sights. To spend a little longer in the sky, take a Seawings scenic seaplane tour, which lasts 45 minutes and flies over the historic district and Dubai Creek, the iconic coastline, Downtown Dubai and a vast stretch of desert.

Book it: Seaplane flight over Dubai – Seawings Signature“