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Dubai travel
The historic district, the boats on the Creek, the protected desert: Dubai travel that goes beyond the skyline.
Dubai travel: beyond the skyline
Dubai travel is usually imagined among skyscrapers and shopping malls. The city also has a historic district with wind towers, a sea inlet crossed by wooden boats, new museums and, less than an hour away, a protected desert where Arabian oryx live.
Here you will find the experiences worth the trip, verified practical information and the sources at the end.
Experiences not to miss
Al Fahidi and Dubai Creek
The Al Fahidi historic district preserves low houses with wind towers, the system that ventilated homes before air conditioning. From there you walk down to the Creek, the inlet that divides the old city: you cross it on an abra, the traditional wooden boat, towards the spice and gold souks of Deira.
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The Museum of the Future
On Sheikh Zayed Road, the Museum of the Future is a ring-shaped building covered in Arabic calligraphy, with exhibitions on how we might live in the coming decades. It is best to book in advance.
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The protected desert
The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a protected area of dunes where Arabian oryx and gazelles have been reintroduced. Excursions at dawn or sunset, on horseback, by camel or on foot with a guide, show a desert very different from the off-road tours.
The city from above
From the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa you grasp the scale of Dubai: a city built in a few decades along the coast, the Marina, the artificial islands. At sunset the light over the Gulf changes within minutes.
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When to go to Dubai
The most pleasant months are usually November to April, with mild days and cool evenings: the season of the desert, terraces and beaches, and also the busiest. In summer it is very hot and life moves indoors.
Entry documents
Before any Dubai travel, check your documents. According to the Viaggiare Sicuri page of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (checked on 10 October 2026), for Italian citizens:
- a passport with at least 6 months’ remaining validity from the day of entry is required;
- no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days;
- no vaccinations are required for travellers arriving directly from Italy.
Requirements depend on your nationality and change often: always check your own government’s travel advice before leaving.
Where to stay: the addresses we recommend
For Dubai travel, a short, deliberate selection, chosen for the place and for the way each hotel welcomes its guests. The cards below show availability on Booking.com, or the hotel’s own website when it is not listed there.
The «Check availability» buttons lead to Booking.com through affiliate links: if you book through them we may receive a commission from Booking.com, at no extra cost to you. No hotel has paid to be mentioned.
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Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
Suites on the sea on its own island off Jumeirah beach, with sea terrace, pools and spa.
Why we chose it: it is the symbol of Dubai: for a night to remember.
One&Only The Palm
A resort on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, inspired by the Moorish palaces of Andalusia, with a private beach.
Why we chose it: more intimate than the large Palm resorts.
In the photo: Palm Jumeirah.
Bulgari Resort Dubai
On Jumeira Bay, an island linked to the coast by a bridge: rooms, suites and villas with pools, private marina.
Why we chose it: Italian design ten minutes from the centre.
In the photo: the sunset seen from the resort.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort
Bedouin-tent style villas with private pools, in the desert reserve, about 45 minutes from the city.
Why we chose it: the real desert, with oryx roaming free.
In the photo: the dunes of the Dubai desert.
From the journey to a home
If Dubai travel leaves you thinking about a home or an investment, you will find data on residential plots on the dedicated page. Our Real Estate team’s contact for Dubai is Tatiana Juma.
Frequently asked questions on Dubai travel
Do I need a visa for Dubai?
Italian citizens do not for stays of up to 90 days; the passport must have at least 6 months’ remaining validity (Viaggiare Sicuri, 10/10/2026). Other nationalities should check their own government’s advice.
What is the best time for Dubai travel?
Usually November to April, with mild temperatures; summer is very hot.
How can you see the desert without an off-road tour?
With a guided excursion in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, at dawn or sunset, on foot, on horseback or by camel.
What is there to see in historic Dubai?
The Al Fahidi district with its wind towers, the Creek crossed by abra, the souks of Deira.
Sources: documents and visas, Viaggiare Sicuri (United Arab Emirates, checked 10/10/2026); desert reserve, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve; museum, official Museum of the Future website; videos, official Visit Dubai channel; photos, Wikimedia Commons (authors and licences on the Photo credits page).
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, cropped — authors and licences.
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