3 Best Sights in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The world's tallest building dominates the Dubai skyline like a scimitar pointing skyward. Designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Burj Khalifa houses a mixture of commercial and residential spaces, as well as the Armani Hotel. The 828 meter building, named after the ruler of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan, can be visited in the hotel public areas, and it is also possible to book a viewing "At the Top" for some spectacular 360-degree views. A high-speed lift will zoom you up 1,500 feet to the 125th floor, or, you may book the second rung "Burj Khalifa Sky," a VIP lounge experience on level 148. At.mosphere restaurant and bar on level 122 can be visited without an entry fee, but there is always minimum spend.

The tiny Al Fahidi fort was built in 1787 to protect the port from marauding landward tribes and seafaring pirates. During the 20th century the fort fell into disrepair, but the coral stone and stucco walls were restored, and today it hosts Dubai's national museum. Upon entering the museum, you step back in time to before the discovery of oil and the arrival of container ships. A series of cleverly designed subterranean spaces take you through the daily life of Dubai's past. For instance, you can stroll through a life-size re-creation of the creekside wharfs and souks, where lifelike figures include fishermen, pearl traders, spice merchants, and metal workers. The sights and sounds of different trades come to life in original sound tracks that play in the background, and with the help of projected images, life-size figures appear as though they're performing tasks. Here, you can feel the excitement and energy of what was once one of the Arab world's most exciting port towns. The final series of galleries, before the gift shop and museum exit, holds cases of artifacts found on archaeological digs around the emirate. The earliest ones date from the 3rd millennium BC, and include human remains from ritual burials and such grave goods as spearheads.

The largest single-building project on the seaward side of Dubai Marina the biggest single-phase construction project in the world, this residence offers 6,500 apartments in 36 high-rise blocks. At the base of the rather dour-looking towers, lies The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, a 770,000 square foot outdoor mall that holds such community facilities as gyms, restaurants, and spas. Friday afternoon to evening often provides a study in Dubai automobiles, as traffic jams of parading Ferraris and Lamborghinis get stuck trying to make their way down the single lane to the strings of five-star hotels. The Beach is another mall area with some very pretty restaurants and a cinema complex. In front of both is the public beach, bounded by the private sands occupied by hotels. There is an excellent water play park here, with a wet play area for toddlers and giant inflatables offshore for older kids.