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Dubai

Dubai is a city of audacious ambition on the Arabian Gulf—a place where ultramodern architecture rises from desert dunes and the energy never quite stops. It's a crossroads of cultures, a merchant's city with roots in pearl diving and trading, now reimagined as a global hub of commerce, luxury, and experimentation. The gleaming skyline, led by the iconic Burj Khalifa, tells the story of a city that dares to build at scale. But Dubai is more than its superlatives: the old souks still pulse with life, the beaches are warm year-round, and the nearby desert offers escape and silence. Come for the spectacle and the ambition; stay for the warmth of the people and the strange, compelling mix of tradition and tomorrow that makes the city feel alive.

CountryUnited Arab Emirates
RegionDubai
LanguageArabic
CurrencyDirham (د.إ)
Where it is
United Arab Emirates · Dubai

Roughly where Dubai sits.

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From the magazine

What we wrote about Dubai

The map tells you where. These pieces tell you when to go, whether the place is for you, and what nobody mentions.

Read the Dubai guideDubai chose to have no past.
01When to go1
When Dubai: The Inverted Calendar

In almost every city, summer is high season. In Dubai it's exactly the opposite: its 'good summer' is our winter (Nov–March), when you can finally live outdoors; the real summer is a 45-degree furnace you survive under air conditioning.

9 min
02Made for you1
Dubai for the Unapologetic Luxury-Lover

You've been told 'real' travel is hard, authentic, a little uncomfortable. But there's a traveller who wants exactly the opposite: guaranteed sun, flawless service, zero friction and comfort without guilt. For that traveller, Dubai is paradise — and they needn't apologise.

9 min
03Worth knowing1
The Emirati Heritage Beneath Dubai's Skyscrapers

The towers, the malls and the global brands suggest a city with no past, invented yesterday. But behind the glass there is a local culture with its own codes: the hospitality of the majlis, coffee with dates, the pearling dhows and the souks. Understanding that heritage completely changes what you see.

6 min
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