Along with New York, Dubai also bears the name of the skyscraper city, although it’s only in 4th place in the world in the list of cities with the highest density of buildings over 150 meters. Of course, with so many skyscrapers and rooftop bars, plenty of places offer a great perspective on Dubai’s architecture.
In this article, I want to show you seven places you can admire the Dubai views free of charge. Dubai is not the cheapest city, so saving and keeping the money for other experiences I have discussed on the blog doesn’t hurt.
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Things to know about the Dubai skyline:
- the tallest building in the world is in Dubai – Burj Khalifa with 828 m, officially inaugurated in 2010
- the first skyscraper in Dubai was built in 1979 and was called Sheikh Rashid Tower, later the name was changed to The World Trade Center
- the only 7-star hotel in the world is part of the Dubai skyline and is, of course, the incomparable Burj Al Arab
- the following three tall buildings after Burj Khalifa are: Marina 101 (425 m), Princess Tower (413.4 m), and 23 Marina (392.4 m)
- is in the 4th place in the list of cities with the highest density of skyscrapers, after Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and New York
- it’s the city with the most buildings that exceed 300 meters in height
Palm Island Corniche | Best views of Dubai
Views of Dubai – 7 Places to admire Dubai skyline for free
Dubai Marina
Inaugurated in 2003, Dubai Marina is currently one of the most sought-after areas in Dubai. I could say that it’s right on the top of the list of accommodations for tourists who stay here. No wonder, considering the high concentration of luxury hotels and apartments overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
Dubai Marina is the largest artificial harbor in the world and has an artificial bay. You will find promenades lined with palm trees along the artificial canals, with luxury yachts and one-day cruises called Dhows cruises. On these cruises, you can have dinner while admiring one of the best views of Dubai, the Dubai Marina skyline, one of the most impressive worldwide.
Dubai Marina has approximately 200 very tall buildings. However, it’s hard to say the number of skyscrapers because Dubai constantly grows this number.
Dubai Marina stretches for 3.4 km, and every step you take gives you a different perspective of the tall buildings reflected in the water. However, skyscrapers house hotels and restaurants on the ground floor or upper floors, where you can have some of the best viewpoints in Dubai.
Also, here you can find the Dubai Marina Mall, with many shops and international brands, and a terrace from which, again, you can have a panorama of Dubai Marina without spending a penny.
How to get to Dubai Marina:
You can take a taxi or the metro to Dubai Marina. You have to get off at Damac Metro Station, but you can still take the tram next to the Dubai Marina skyscraper, which will bring you closer to the beach, or walk.
Dubai Creek Harbour | Best View in Dubai
I will already tell you that this is my favorite place to admire the best views in Dubai for free. Dubai Creek Harbour view point is one of the newest areas in Dubai, where massive construction is underway.
From here, you will have the most comprehensive view of the skyscrapers in Dubai and be able to admire incredible sunsets. For this reason, you must get here just before sunset, especially since the area gets quite crowded afterward. It’s understandable since you’ll find the best view of Dubai skyline here.
You’ll discover a serene park within Dubai Creek Harbor with several pavilions and a 6 km long promenade. The park, adorned with captivating sculptures of large flamingo birds, offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle. And it’s just 15 km from Burj Khalifa. It’s a perfect place to get the most beautiful pictures of Dubai.
After loading the camera memory with many Instagrammable pictures, you can take a deep breath and have dinner at Mondoux, one of the most fantastic restaurants in Dubai Creek Harbour.
How to get to Dubai Creek Harbour:
You can’t get here by metro, so to be sure you get where you need to go, put Dubai Harbor Creek Marina or Harbor Views on the map.
Dubai Creek Harbour View | Best views in Dubai
Sheikh Zayed Road | Views of Dubai
Dubai’s main artery is like the Strip in Las Vegas, along which the tallest and most spectacular buildings are located. Sheikh Zayed Road, or E11, stretches 558 km from Abu Dhabi to Ras al Khaimah.
Sheikh Zayed Road strategically connects the city’s main points of interest, making it a convenient route for exploration. You can easily navigate these iconic locations from Dubai Downtown to Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Deira. Plus, you can enjoy one of the Burj Khalifa best views from this road. It also serves as a vital link between the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Sheikh Zayed Road, a significant part of Dubai’s history, is home to the city’s red metro line. This highway, completed in 1980 after about nine years of construction, has witnessed the city’s evolution, with the landscape changing entirely.
Because it is the city’s main artery, it offers the best views of the highest skyscrapers in Dubai, as if from sci-fi movies. Of course, the tallest building in the town and the world, Burj Khalifa, can be seen from almost any point on Sheikh Zayed Road.
It is interesting to know that the road’s name comes from the former president of the country and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Zayed Road | Best views in Dubai
Jumeirah Beach Residence aka JBR | Dubai view photos
Jumeirah Beach Residence, or JBR, is the 1.7 km stretch of beach near Dubai Marina. However, its length is variable, considering how much the area evolves and expands yearly.
On JBR, you can admire 35 residential buildings with apartments offering stunning Dubai views of the Arabian Gulf and many hotels, restaurants, and cafes. If you come here by car, I recommend parking at The Walk Parking, a well-maintained underground parking right in the heart of JBR.
The main beach in Dubai is not to be missed if you want to enjoy breathtaking Dubai views of the city’s engineering wonders. From here, you can see not only the JBR skyscrapers but also one of the city’s newest attractions, the Dubai Wheel or Ain Dubai (Dubai Eye).
JBR will delight you with sidewalks, vegetation, palm trees, umbrellas, food trucks, souvenir boutiques, and a permanent vacation atmosphere. You will almost forget you are in a desert area because everything has transformed amazingly.
It’s my favorite area in the city because it gives me the feeling of relaxation and up-to-date inclusion. JBR represents the meeting place for young people, the place for couples to walk, and the place of expressiveness for street artists. You will notice and admire several wall paintings that delight the eye in this area.
Don’t miss the ZouZou Lebanese restaurant, the Cheesecake Factory, and the Starbucks terrace, which offers a direct view of the Dubai Eye.
How to get to JBR:
It’s located next to Dubai Marina, so you only have to walk a few more steps and reach the most famous beach in the Emirates.
JBR | Best views of Dubai for free
Next to Dubai Mall | Best views of Dubai
You have probably already discovered that Dubai Mall is the biggest mall in the world, and it has the equivalent of 50 football fields. But we are not talking about the mall here, but about the promenade area outside, where you can admire the dancing fountains, the Burj Khalifa tower, and other opulent buildings in the same place.
You can have a great view of Dubai skyline from inside the Dubai Mall, more precisely from the terrace of the L’ETO restaurant. They have magical decorations and delicious cakes; the coffee is a must-try.
Also, some decorations, or rather sculptures, around the dancing fountains will add something extra to your pictures, for example, the giant water lilies on the lake, the vast iron dandelions, or the angel statue.
One of the most intriguing spots not to be missed is the inner courtyard of the Palace Downtown Hotel. Here, you’ll gain a unique perspective on the surrounding buildings, primarily due to the symmetrical swimming pools separated by an alley, offering a view of Dubai that’s both captivating and unique.
How to get to Dubai Mall:
It’s effortless to get here by metro. The station is called Burj Khalifa – Dubai Mall and is on the red line.
Burj Khalifa | Best view of Burj Khalifa
View from Dubai Mall | Best views in Dubai
Bluewaters Island | Amazing pictures of Dubai
It’s the island on which the famous wheel of Dubai, the Dubai Eye, is located. At 250 meters in height, it is the first in the list of the largest observation wheels in the world.
Some of the most expensive 5-star hotels are also found on Bluewaters Island. But even so, it is free to visit and enjoy the panorama it offers. Even the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum has made a well-deserved place here.
Bluewaters Island is easily accessible by car or on foot, thanks to a bridge that connects it to JBR. This convenient access allows visitors to enjoy the island’s stunning views, including the beach and the towering JBR, home to the newly opened Address Beach Resort, which stands at an impressive 301 meters.
View from Bluewaters Island | Best views in Dubai
Palm Jumeirah Corniche Area | Best views of Dubai
The Palm Jumeirah Corniche Area is part of the largest artificial island on the entire planet, another impressive record of Dubai. It is, of course, Palm Island in the shape of a palm tree.
The Palm Jumeirah Corniche Area is home to many Emiratis and others who reside in luxurious villas with private beaches. The prestigious Atlantis Hotel, located at the top of the palm tree, is a testament to this area’s exclusivity. Even if you’re not a guest at Atlantis, you can still explore part of it for free, adding to the allure of this unique destination.
Palm Island, which covers an area of 560 hectares, was opened in 2001. It has a long promenade, but if you want to admire the row of impressive buildings in Dubai Marina and JBR and even Bluewaters Island from here, you have to go to the south-west part of the island, in the Palm Jumeirah Corniche Area, near the hotel Langham. From here, you will have one of the best views of Dubai.
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Palm Jumeirah Corniche Area | Best views in Dubai
Where to stay in Dubai:
- budget: Rove Downtown– good location, swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, room service
- mid-range: Address Sky View– fabulous view, spa, room service, delicious breakfast, infinity pool
- luxury: Bulgari Resort, Dubai – private beach, perfect location, fitness center, restaurant, bar
