First Time Dubai - Guide to make most out of it.

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Dubai can be rightly called as the land of fantastic mirages—all brought to life with great magnificence, leaving a first timer in the city stunned to the core. Here are 10 activities to indulge in when in Dubai to make your vacation to the desert land one to remember!  

1. Visit the Buzzing Souks

Marketplaces are called souks in Arabic and Dubai has some of the most eclectic ones. From spices, textiles, perfumes to gold—you will find everything you can fancy at these souks. All you need is to put that bargaining prowess to good use to score an amazing deal. Prepare to be dazzled by an array of machine crafted gold chains, exotic spices, intricate silk carpets and other curios which make for excellent souvenirs.

Location:  Bur Dubai

2. Hang out at the Dubai Creek

This is a perfect spot for enjoying the various street performances on display and to savour some incredible local delicacies for a fraction of the price at the roadside delis and stands – all within sight of the setting sun. One can also board an Arabic dhow/boat for a river cruise where one can dine on the boat and enjoy the sights as the vessel floats gently down the creek.

Location: Bur Dubai

3. Go for a Desert Safari

From the adrenaline filled dune bashing to posing for photos at the camel farm, the desert safari at Dubai will give you a lot to cherish. Your tour operator will take you to a charming village set up where you will have the opportunity to enjoy camel rides, henna painting and a barbeque with tented canopies. Here you can also relish shisha or hookah with flavoured tobacco. Don’t forget to witness the very graceful belly dance performance by trained dancers, while there.

Location: Dubai Desert at various locations

4. Make Memories at the Wild Waadi Water Park

Located near the Burj Al Arab, the Wild Waadi Water Park is a place to fulfil fantasies of not just kids but the adults as well. From mild surfing rides to tornado pools to gravity-defying 100m high water slides, there’s a lot here to choose from. Needless to say this place is an all-day charmer with several food hubs serving varying cuisines and other means of entertainment.

Location:  Jumeria Road

5. Visit the legendary Burj Khaleefa and Burj Al Arab

One can purchase a ticket to land at one of the observation decks of the Burj Khaleefa, the tallest tower in the world. The view from here is breathtaking.  Burj Al Arab is the famous beachfront hotel that’s fashioned after the traditional Arabic Dhow. Savour a meal here or stay in one of its uber luxurious rooms.

Location: Burj Khaleefa is located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard while Burj Al Arab is located on Jumeria beach.

6. Say Hello to Dolphins at the Dubai Dolphinarium

This park, designed to educate people about the conservation of dolphins and preserving sea life, is one of the biggest draws of Dubai. The fantastically choreographed show of dolphins, seals and other aquatic animals here will leave you spellbound. You can even swim with the dolphins here at a price, of course!

Location: Umm Hurrair

7. Live up the Marine Dream at the Dubai Aquarium

At this largest suspended aquarium in the world, you can experience some of the most fantastic activities like shark diving, scuba diving, shark encounter, and more. Out of the 140 species of marine animals, the award for the most spectacular goes to the sand tiger sharks. Meet them to believe it!

Location:  The Dubai Mall

8. Explore the Dubai Miracle Garden—World’s Largest Natural Garden

One of the most incredible sights to see in the desert city is the Dubai Miracle Garden. This place will leave you in an awe-inspiring haze as you explore the flowered model range—from pyramids, vehicles, animals and what not. Each model can be rotated, lit up and moved with special machinery. Truly a vista to be visited to be believed!

Location: Barsha, Dubailand Area

9. Get wooed by the Performance of The Dubai Fountain

An enthralling music, water, and light extravaganza, The Dubai Fountain is the world's tallest performing fountain system set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, at the centre of the Downtown Dubai. This stunning masterpiece puts up an awesome choreographed show for the human spectators who are bewitched by the unique harmony of music, lights and the aerial shooting of water. At any given time there are 22,000 gallons of water in air during the performance. Imagine this is in a desert city!

Location: Burj Lake

10. Meet the Snow Penguins at the Ski Park

Another thing that you might not find easily in a desert is snow but Dubai has managed to dazzle here too. One can ski or watch the snow penguins in action at the Ski Park in one of the swanky malls in Dubai. Apart from the various snow activities, one can also swim with the penguins in a 10 feet deep pool. Talk about an adventure to write home about!

Location: Sheikh Zayed Road

So head out to Dubai and enjoy the best of all that this affluent city has to offer!