Sights to Visit During Your Dubai Layover

Today, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the world’s fastest-growing and busiest airports. Although there is plenty to do and see in the airport itself, those with a layover in Dubai of over 6 hours should consider exploring the vibrant city.

With so many sights to explore, your Dubai layover will vanish in seconds as you marvel at the modern world city. With public and private transit options, you can reach the city center in little time. One of the best parts is that most of the tourist attractions are located within the same region.

If you find yourself with a layover of more than six hours, you can opt for Dubai Airport layover sightseeing with the help of a private tour. Here are a few sights you should definitely visit during airport layover:

1. Burj Khalifa

To behold the breathtaking view of the city, you will need to get to the top of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa (828 meters). On the 124^th, 125^th, and 148^th floors, you have the observation decks, and on the 152^nd – 154^th, there is the world’s highest lounge.

The ride up is a thrilling one, as you travel 10 meters per second on the high-speed elevator. The view from the top of the building spans from the desert through the city to the ocean. It is magical to view the city at night.

Time Required: A tour up Burj Khalifa can take up to an hour or so. But you can stay longer if you want.

2. Dubai Fountain

Dubai fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountains and is within the shadow of Burj Khalifa. These fountains can shoot water up to 125 meters high, with a light and music show accompanying the water movement.

These fountains are among the most expensive ones built, with 6,600 lights, 83,000 liters of water, and 25 color projectors.

Time Required: The water, light, and sound show play in five-minute intervals, meaning a visit to the fountains can be done anytime, depending on your timeframe and preferences. You can couple it with a visit to the top of the Burj Khalifa.

3. The Dubai Mall

Another place that is a must-visit in Dubai is the Dubai Mall. Packed with luxury shops, restaurants, ice-rinks, movie theaters, underwater zoos, indoor theme parks, and massive kid zones, you surely won’t get enough of this mall.

The Dubai mall is located at the base of the world’s tallest building. You can easily combine the visit to the mall with the other primary attractions in the city. However, it will depend on the time you have available before returning to the airport.

Time Required: Exploring the mall would take a lot of time. So, it’s better that you spend as much or as little time as you want. It will all depend on your shopping and browsing preferences. It is better to shop around for an hour or two before you return to the airport.

4. Desert Safari (If the layover is for more than 24 hours)

There are several tour companies that organize Dubai desert safari. Although you’ll have many choices regarding the safari, here the best two options:

1. 4×4 Dubai Desert Safari:
   It’s a short 4–7-hour tour, which may include: dune bashing, sandboarding, camel riding (5-10 minutes), and BBQ dinner.
2. Sunset Camel Trek with BBQ:
   This tour is a bit longer and a bit more expensive. It includes camel riding for 30-45 minutes.

Dubai layover is well worth it. When exploring the city, your layover time will vanish in a blink of an eye. If your layover is for a shorter duration, it’s better to stay close to the airport.