Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In the Al Fahidi district, this restored courtyard house captures the intimacy of traditional Emirati homes. Its wind towers and shaded rooms offer a glimpse into Dubai’s historic urban fabric, serving traditional food and cosy atmosphere.

Within Alserkal Avenue’s repurposed warehouse, Kokoro embodies the spirit of adaptive reuse. Its minimalism aligns with a menu of crafted Japanese dishes that balance design, culture, and culinary authenticity.

A humble roadside stop celebrated for fresh juices and shawarmas. It represents Dubai’s everyday food culture — simple, social, and timeless. It’s a nostalgic late night stop for many residents of the city.

A cultural landmark where southern Iranian flavours meet Dubai’s cosmopolitan energy. Also popular amongst celebrities and royalty, the space recalls a social architecture — informal, inclusive, and full of memory.

A choreographed desert experience that captures the mythic imagination of Arabian nights — a spatial performance of light, sand, and culture.

Set in a restored traditional house, the museum explores regional coffee culture and craftsmanship, turning everyday ritual into an architectural experience.

A familiar city ritual. These cafeterias, run by South Indian owners, embody Dubai’s grassroots culture — informal, inclusive, and refreshingly local. The ‘Aboud’ drink is highly recommended.

The modest tea kiosk turned social landmark. Many locals and residents visit these tea shops where you can enjoy a cup of karak for just 2 Dirhams.

Housed in a restored dwelling in Al Fahidi, the hotel preserves the spatial qualities of traditional Emirati architecture — courtyards, wind towers and human scale — while merging art and contemporary life.

One of the first to translate the desert tent into a language of luxury. It redefined regional hospitality and inspired a generation of desert resorts.

An experimental and sculptural statement on the Palm. Its bold, interlocking architecture embodies Dubai’s ambition.

One of Dubai’s oldest commercial districts, its shaded alleys and proximity to the Creek narrate the city’s trading past and the spatial rhythm of early merchant life. Many things are unique and can only be found amongst the gold and spice souqs.

The best place to shop – both because of its scale and because it has been designed very well. It acts like a piece of urbanism, with many community spaces, including a mosque, alongside the entertainment and retail offers.

The historical counterpart to the modern mall. It anchors the continuity between old and new Dubai, revealing depth beyond the glitz and the glamour.

A restored settlement reconnecting Dubai to its maritime and trading roots. The area represents the preservation and reinterpretation of traditional architecture and urban fabric.

A landscape of ecological awareness, offering respite from density and a renewed connection between people and nature. This is where people take a break from busy city life.

A collective of reimagined warehouses forming Dubai’s cultural core. It reveals a city that doesn’t just consume but creates. Visit to see a different perspective of Dubai, especially from the young and creative residents.

The scale of this observation wheel offers a unique perspective of the city’s skyline and coastline — an abstract of density, scale, and ambition.

A man-made desert landscape where ecology, leisure, and artifice intersect. It reflects Dubai’s ongoing negotiation between environment and design.

A precise vantage point revealing the urban geometry of the Palm — where land, sea, and skyline converge.

The world’s tallest point, offering a completely new perspective on scale, density, and Dubai’s enduring imagination.