The United Arab Emirates is a fascinating nation nestled on the Persian gulf and bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman. The nation has overseen some of the most ambitious building and engineering projects in the 21st century and is full of wondrous sights to behold for the globe-trotting traveler.
If you ever find yourself in the UAE, here are three things you must tick off the bucket list before you leave its sunny climes and turquoise seas.
Take in the View From the World’s Tallest Building
With construction completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa currently retains the crown as the world’s largest skyscraper and free-standing structure, at 828 meters high. The tower, located in central Dubai, has 163 floors.
The second tallest building in the world, behind Dubai’s mega-structure, was, for a number of years, the Shanghai Tower. But that all changed in 2022 when construction was completed on Merdeka 118, an enormous skyscraper rising above the Kuala Lumpur skyline in Malaysia. While ambitious new projects such as the Jeddah Tower in neighboring Saudi Arabia have their sights set on pinching the record from the Burj Khalifa, it looks as if Dubai’s phenomenal work of engineering will retain the accolade for some years to come.
For those wanting to experience it first hand, visitors can book in for a once in a lifetime experience in the Burj Khalifa’s SKY lounge. Located on the 148th floor, at a height of 555, this premium lounge features an outdoor terrace perfect for taking in the view of the city and the gulf beyond.
Catch Some World Class Sport
Unbeknownst to many, the UAE is home to some of the finest sporting venues in the world, and alongside this, some of the greatest sporting events. Among the most noteworthy events to check out should you find yourself in the Emirates are the Formula One World Championship race that takes place annually in Abu Dhabi and typically concludes the season. There’s also the Dubai World Cup, a prestigious horse-racing event, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, and the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament.
While sports betting itself is banned in the Emirates, those still of a mind to have a flutter are well met by the likes of regional specialist Arabian Betting which, alongside providing sports betting to neighboring nations, furnishes the region with a comprehensive ranking of the best online casinos operating in the Arabian Gulf. This directory is replete with star rankings and reviews to make the process of finding a platform you can trust simple and care-free.
What’s more, it delivers a range of compelling welcome bonuses and promotional offers for industry leaders from Betway to 888 Casino, saving you money in the process. The Emirates are also within a couple of hours drive to Qatar, making them a great regional base for those wanting to catch some of the action in the upcoming Qatar World Cup in November.
Grab a Bargain in the World’s Biggest Mall
The Dubai Mall is, by some margin, the largest shopping mall in the world. Its vast space encompasses the equivalent of 200 soccer pitches within which you’ll find over 1200 distinct retail outlets.
With many of the world’s leading design houses and aspirational brands in evidence, this is one the shopaholic at heart better not miss. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you can then grab a bite to eat at any one of the 200+ food and drinks venues located around the center. The Dubai Mall also has plenty to see and do for those less partial to a shopping spree.
The Souk area, a portion of the center dedicated to traditional handicrafts, features the extraordinary specimen of a Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton standing nearly 8 meters high and 25 meters long. The mall is also the site of the Dubai Aquarium, one of the largest in the world. Home to a huge array of fascinating maritime creatures, you can spend a whole day exploring the miraculous sights contained within its 10 million liters of water.
When you’re done pondering the mysteries of the deep, you can catch the latest blockbuster at the Reel Cinemas complex, or lace up your skates and take to the ice in the Olympic-sized Ice Rink. Now who said malls weren’t fun?
