Although the much-anticipated Expo 2020 in Dubai has had to be rescheduled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now just around the corner.
Expand your horizons with landmarks beyond the Expo grounds.
The much-anticipated Expo 2020 in Dubai was held from October 1st, 2021 to March 31st, 2022, the exciting World Expo featured participation from 192 countries and with that, new and exciting tourism opportunities for the United Arab Emirates’ global city.
The Expo 2020 brought in visitors from all around the world, looking to celebrate the United Arab Emirates’ growth on the world stage, as well as attend other participant countries’ pavilions – which can often be colorful, interactive, and informative.
Although Dubai is no stranger to flaunting its other-worldly skyscrapers and architectural showpieces, we think the appeal of visiting the “City of Gold” will only continue to grow. With this bona fide global event set to commence soon, we’ve come up with 5 of Dubai’s Best Landmarks to Visit, during your visit to the Expo 2020!
Dubai’s weather
Dubai’s balmy weather is famously warm – filled with sunshine, hot days, and little rain all year round. After all, Dubai is located in the middle of the Arabian Desert. This is good news for those looking to unwind on the beach, as Dubai is a perfect destination to soak in the rays of the sun. With average temperatures often sitting above 36.5 °C (98 °F), we suggest that you bring summer-friendly clothing as you enjoy the fiery weather of this fascinating city.
Are you ready to visit Dubai during Expo 2020? Check out these fantastic sights.
Burj Khalifa
Starting with a big one – literally, and figuratively – the Burj Khalifa is the tallest freestanding structure and building on the planet. Standing at a staggering 829.8m and featuring a 244m spire, it’s hard to miss the Burj Khalifa from anywhere in Dubai.
After it took 5 years to finish construction on this architectural marvel, the Burj Khalifa is now a mixed-use skyscraper that serves as a communication and broadcast facility, observatory, hotel, and more. Spanning a jaw-dropping 163 floors, the tower boasts luxury residential apartments, corporate suites, and views, views, views. Whether you’re looking up at the Burj Khalifa or standing on top of it, you’re guaranteed to be impressed.
Burj Al Arab
Another one of Dubai’s icons, the Burj Al Arab (translated to Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury five-star hotel. With its unique crescent-shaped design, the Burj Al Arab has been leaving visitors in awe of its decadence since 1999.
Astonishingly, the Burj Al Arab is located on an artificial island that took years to construct. One of the best things about this lavish hotel is its collection of world-renowned restaurants. If you dig gustatory delights, you must try out restaurants such as the Al Muntaha, which features panoramic views of the Persian Gulf, or the Al Mahara, which features a large aquarium.
The Burj Al Arab has been the site of well-publicized events, including an exhibition between tennis players Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. With the Expo 2020 in the rear-view mirror, this provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to witness the grandeur of the Burj Al Arab.
Dubai Fountain
The Dubai Fountain is more than just a landmark – it’s a spectacular performance. Held daily every half hour between 6 pm and 11 pm, and also in the daytime at 1 pm and 1:30 pm, the Dubai Fountain show is Dubai’s most famous water fountain display.
Featuring dancing streams of water and bedazzling lights, the magical Dubai Fountain show is a performance you won’t want to miss. This is an absolute must-see if you’re swinging through Dubai for Expo 2020.
Dubai Creek
Showing that Dubai is more than just fancy buildings and the burning sun, Dubai Creek is another popular destination that you should visit. This saltwater creek serves as a picture-perfect marina for some of the best panoramic vistas of Dubai.
Here, you can take a boat out on a cruise, watch the sunset, go for a romantic dinner, and absorb all of Dubai’s alluring sights and sounds. It’s at Dubai Creek that you’ll see glimpses of both ‘Old Dubai’ and ‘New Dubai’, culminating into the beautiful melting pot city it is today.
Dubai Frame
Speaking of ‘Old Dubai’ and ‘New Dubai’, this next landmark was designed for the very purpose of showcasing Dubai’s past, present, and future charms. The Dubai Frame is a giant, gold frame that has been described as ‘the biggest picture frame on the planet’, and was designed by designer Fernando Donis, whose design was chosen as the winning design at a competition hosted by the Government of Dubai.
True to its billing, the Dubai Frame is indeed the perfect place to take a picture of Dubai – capturing beautiful views of both Old Dubai and New Dubai.
Got more time on your trip to Dubai’s Expo 2020? Check out these other honorable mentions…
Jumeirah Mosque
For a change of pace, visitors should head to the Jumeirah Mosque to explore Dubai’s cultural and religious heritage. Get in touch with your spiritual side at this ornately decorated mosque – the only mosque in Dubai that welcomes non-Muslim guests during the week.
Not only will visitors be impressed with Jumeirah Mosque’s pristine sand-white exterior, but inside, they’ll be treated to colorful mosaic ceilings and elegant décor.
Dubai Mall
We can’t talk about Dubai and not bring up the shopping. One of the world’s shopping capitals, Dubai is the city that proudly boasts the mega-sized Dubai Mall. This gigantic shopping center is the world’s second-largest shopping mall by land area, standing at over 10 million square meters and hosting over 1,200 stores and restaurants.
Shopping is a deeply ingrained part of Dubai’s lifestyle, and at the Dubai Mall, you’ll get to indulge in all your shopping desires and dreams. With stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Galeries Lafayette, NARS, and Off-White as well as an underwater zoo, you can easily spend days exploring the Dubai Mall if you had the time.
The best part? Dubai Mall is open until late, with stores opening at 10 am and closing at past 11 pm all week – so you won’t have an excuse to miss it.
Whether you’re staying in Dubai for an extended period, or just passing through to attend the exciting Expo 2020 – there’s plenty to keep you entertained in Dubai.