No travel plans for the Eid al Adha holidays? Christie’s International Real Estate Dubai highlights some of the city’s most exciting activities for those staying put.
The six-day long weekend is now upon us. Eid in Dubai is for relaxation, festivity and copious time to get involved in all the city offers. Here is what residents can look forward to:
Fireworks
Dubai’s glittering skyline is meant to be lit up by the light of fireworks, and Eid offers residents multiple opportunities to witness these spectacles in the sky. Dubai Parks and Resorts is offering a five-day firework experience, starting on 27th June. Dubai Festival City Mall, meanwhile, is combining its second-day-of-Eid fireworks with a dazzling show of lasers, lights, water, fire and more.
Beaches
Dubai’s scorching heat is fabulously tempered by Dubai’s stunning beaches, and this Eid is no different. Jumeirah Beach, Kite Beach, Marina Beach — all offer vast expanses of sandy shores to frolic in, with Marina Beach in particular being close to the buzzing promenade, The Walk JBR. Sunset does not put an end to the fun, though, with beaches like the one at Umm Suqeim open to the public at night as well.
Heritage
Dubai’s celebrated historical and cultural sites take on a special meaning during Eid, with the past becoming as alive as the present. The longstanding Al Fahidi District is home to a plethora of traditional Dubai houses (and their wind-towers). A guided tour through the area will also lead you past some of Dubai’s most celebrated offerings, from fine dining to high-end retail. The bustling Gold and Spice Souks, meanwhile, transport visitors to the by-lanes of antiquity, while also offering state-of-the-art gold designs and the rarest of spices. And if nothing else, Dubai Museum and Etihad Museum provide immersive trips into the city’s distant and recent pasts.
Ferry
The Dubai Ferry allows visitors to take in the city’s most iconic sights, landmarks and locales the old-fashioned way — by water. A mix of sleek, modern carriers and traditional dhows guides those who purchase tickets (as low as AED 5) past the Burj Khalifa, Atlantis, and the city’s traditional heart, the Dubai Creek.
Theme Parks and More
Amongst its many unparalleled tourist attractions, Dubai boasts a string of breathtaking theme parks, from IMG Worlds of Adventure to Legoland. Elsewhere, Dubai Mall’s spectacular Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo completely submerges visitors in an exhilarating marine world, while Ski Dubai excitingly offers the polar opposite. A number of waterparks offer innovative ways to cool down, from the Dubai icon Wild Wadi to the eye-catching Atlantis Hotel’s Aquaventure.
Desert
Of course, no trip to Dubai is complete without experiencing the soul of Dubai — the desert. From desert safaris and camel rides to dune bashing and sandboarding, to say nothing of sand dunes and sunsets as cinematic as Lawrence of Arabia, these are experiences found almost nowhere else in the world. Various holiday and tour packages abound, including those by established operator Emirates, and feature such delights as traditional Arabic dining, cultural performances and stargazing.
