Top 5 Best Vacation Ideas for UAE: Which Places to Visit in UAE

Updated on October 15th, 2025

AD | The United Arab Emirates mesmerizes travelers with majestic skyscrapers, luxurious hotels, incredible coastlines, and trendy shopping malls. Most travelers want to visit the Emirates at least once in their lifetime. That is where some of the best resorts and hotels in the world are located. There are also numerous ways to spend your time – you can try a boat rental Dubai to look at the majestic city views from the coastline, ride quad bikes in the desert, or visit incredible famous sights. But before you head to the UAE, it would be good to know the things you can do on vacation. We have compiled a list of the top 5 most popular Emirates vacation options for you.

Top 5 Places to Visit in the Emirates

There are numerous locations in the UAE that tourists can visit. Some of the most popular options include:

#1 Dubai Marina

The marina is an artificially created area of Dubai that boasts huge skyscrapers along the coastline. It is also where you will find multi-million dollar yachts cruising past hotels and restaurants. You can even rent a boat to enjoy the views of the Dubai Marina from the water.

#2 Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is the largest skyscraper in the world with 163 floors. The incredible architectural art has become a symbol of Dubai since its opening in 2010. Travelers can view the city from above by going up to the observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. After a visit to the observation decks, you can see a water show at The Dubai Fountain, which is one of the world’s tallest fountains, in front of the Burj Khalifa.

#3 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Even if you are not religious, you should still visit the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers. The mosque was named after Sheikh Zayd, who was buried there. This piece of architecture has 82 marble domes and over 1,000 columns. The architecture is complemented on the inside by 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers and the world’s largest handmade carpet. Non-Muslims are welcome to visit this mosque, and there are also free cultural tours for travelers.

#4 Palm Jumeirah

If you have enough time on your vacation, the Palm Jumeirah is worth visiting. Palm Jumeirah is a man-made archipelago of islands that was created from reclaimed land from the sea. The islands are made as a palm tree with a trunk and 17 leaves. At The Palm, there is an Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, and incredible beaches where you can enjoy swimming and relaxing.

#5 Arabian Desert

To complete our ranking, the Arabian Desert is also worth mentioning. The Arabian Desert is the 4th largest desert in the world. There are huge swaths of dunes, which you can drive around in an off-road vehicle. Tourists can also ride a camel or enjoy an open-air barbecue in the desert.

Additional Tips for Travelers to the UAE

If you come to the UAE, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the country’s basic rules that tourists should know and adhere to. The most important of them include the following:

• The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, so tourists should dress modestly to demonstrate their respect for the culture and customs. In particular, this applies to women. Women should wear clothes that cover the shoulders, chest, and upper legs. Women can wear swimsuits including bikinis at public and private beaches, but the swimsuits should not be worn outside of the resort or on the street.
• Open communication is not encouraged in the country, except for a handshake when meeting. In addition, having a man and a woman who are not married in the same hotel room is not honored.
• Locals eat dinner quite late. Most often, they eat dinner between 20:00-22:00.
• The country has a strict anti-drug policy. Therefore, be careful when taking medications with you. It is worth consulting before traveling whether your medications are allowed, and be sure to bring your prescription with you.
• From June to August, the temperature in the UAE averages around 40° C (104° F). Therefore, postponing the trip and waiting for a more acceptable and comfortable temperature is a good idea before traveling.

Also, tourists should remember the rules for taking photos. The fact is that the Emirates are quite strict on personal boundaries – you can not take photos of residents of the country, especially of women and children without their consent.

To Sum Up

Of course, the locations you can visit in the UAE are not limited to this list, and you can explore other areas of the country during your vacation. In addition, you can organize active pastimes – yacht trips, desert safaris, water park visits, and more. The choice is yours!