The best places to visit in the UAE in 2026 are Dubai's Burj Khalifa and old town, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain Oasis, Heart of Sharjah and Fujairah's east coast. Most are within two hours of Dubai.
The UAE is small enough to see several emirates in one trip. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the headline stops, while Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain and Fujairah add culture, mountains and a different coastline. See our best day trips from Dubai for how to link them.
The world's tallest building, with The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain at its foot.
The Burj Khalifa's observatory sits at 456 meters on levels 124 and 125, and At the Top SKY reaches level 148 at 555 meters. The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain sit beside it.
It is the most-visited sight in Dubai.
Good to know: Book a timed ticket for sunset or the morning, and choose a clear day.
1 Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Old Dubai's wind-tower quarter, with abra rides across the Creek.
The Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood is a restored area of wind-tower houses, galleries and cafes, beside the Creek. You can cross to the souks of Deira by abra.
It is the best place to see the old city.
Good to know: Come in the morning, when the lanes are cooler.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE
A ring-shaped building covered in Arabic calligraphy.
The Museum of the Future is a ring-shaped building covered in Arabic calligraphy, with immersive exhibits on technology, space and sustainability.
Visits are timed, so tickets are the thing to plan first.
Good to know: Buy a timed ticket on the official site and plan a couple of hours; weekends sell out first.
Museum of the Future, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre 2, Dubai, UAE
The UAE's largest mosque, with 82 domes and a huge hand-knotted carpet.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's own figures list 82 domes, the largest about 32.6 meters across, and a prayer-hall carpet of about 5,400 square meters. Visitors must pre-book an online access pass.
Complimentary guided cultural tours run in Arabic and English.
Good to know: Pre-book the access pass, dress modestly and go in the late afternoon.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE
A Jean Nouvel-designed museum under a vast domed roof.
Louvre Abu Dhabi sits under a Jean Nouvel-designed dome on Saadiyat Island, with galleries of art from across civilizations and plazas beneath the dome.
The galleries close earlier than the dome, which stays open into the night.
Good to know: Buy a ticket online and check current gallery hours.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The UAE's highest mountain, with viewpoints and the world's longest zipline.
Jebel Jais rises to roughly 1,900 meters, with a mountain road, viewing platforms and Jebel Jais Flight, billed as the world's longest zipline.
It is about two hours from Dubai and noticeably cooler than the coast.
Good to know: Book the zipline ahead and check the weather before you drive.
Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
A shaded UNESCO-listed palm grove in the middle of Al Ain.
Al Ain Oasis is a large date-palm grove in the middle of the city, crossed by traditional falaj irrigation channels. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Sites of Al Ain.
It is the most relaxing thing to do in the city.
Good to know: Walk through in the morning, when it is cool and shaded.
Al Ain Oasis, Central District, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
A restored old town of courtyard houses, souks and museums.
Heart of Sharjah is the restored historic quarter of the city, with courtyard houses, Souq Al Arsah, museums and small galleries.
It is the best place in the emirate to see the old town.
Good to know: Go in the morning or late afternoon, and check Friday hours.
Heart of Sharjah, Al Mareija, Sharjah, UAE
A small historic mosque on the Gulf of Oman, often described as the UAE's oldest.
Al Bidyah Mosque is a small historic mosque on the east coast, built of stone, mud and gypsum, with four domes. It is often described as the oldest mosque in the UAE.
It sits at the foot of the mountains, close to the sea.
Good to know: Visit outside prayer times; dress modestly.
Al Bidyah Mosque, Al Bidyah, Fujairah, UAE
Four to five days covers Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Add two or three days for Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain or Fujairah.
From November to March, when it is warm and dry. Summer is very hot but cheaper, and indoor attractions work well.
Yes. Roads are good, taxis are cheap, and there are buses between the main cities. A rental car is the easiest way to reach the mountains.
Casual, modest clothing is fine in most places. Cover shoulders and knees in malls and public places, and follow stricter rules in mosques and in Sharjah.