The 11 Reasons to Visit Dubai in 2021

There are a number of new openings, festivals and events happening across Dubai in 2021. We’ve picked out some of the best, along with a range of hotels that will help you plan now to travel later. What makes 2021 a particularly exciting prospect is the combination of delayed 2020 projects sitting side by side with scheduled openings in the new year, meaning you’ll have more reasons to visit the city.

This six-month-long event was scheduled to start in October 2020, but it will now take place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future will be at the core of the event, and the place of Dubai itself on the global stage will be examined.

This World Expo will be the first one in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and the largest event ever staged in the Arab world.

If you’re after a retail-therapy experience, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is the perfect way to kick off 2021. It will take place across the city, with events that everyone can take part in – even if you’re not interested in shopping. The DSF starts in late 2020 and will run into the first part of 2021.

Missippi’s Pool Bar and Social Hub is a fun, new-age urban oasis on the rooftop of the Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel. Combining colourful elements of Bali, Tulum and Miami, the venue serves a selection of globally inspired bites, creative cocktails and other drinks. This new venue is typical of the type of fun destination you’ll be able to find in Dubai next year, with the city residents already enjoying spectacular views long into the night.

Dubai is a foodie paradise. The best chefs in the world are drawn here, with new restaurants opening regularly, and the cuisine is truly international, with more than 200 nationalities calling Dubai home. The Dubai Food Festival will celebrate some of the best local dishes and food from around the world, and several exciting new ventures – including Michelin-star chef Daniel Boulud’s first restaurant in the region – will keep food lovers coming back for more.

Experiencing Ramadan in a Muslim city is a great way to learn more about the annual month of fasting that most Muslims take part in. While no one will expect you to fast if you don’t want to, you’ll be invited to join in iftar – breaking of the fast at sunset. Dubai comes alive at night during Ramadan, with Emiratis taking the opportunity to celebrate before the fasting begins again just before sunrise. Ramadan 2021 will start in mid-April and run for a month.

The 14th edition of Art Dubai will once again shine a light on the extensive collections and artists from the wider region. Numerous galleries take part each year, but even if you can’t attend the event in March, the art fair has year-round programming that you can enjoy. In Dubai, the art scene grows year on year, with grand projects such as the Theatre of Digital Art allowing visitors to experience classic works in contemporary ways.

One of the most anticipated new museum openings in recent years, the Museum of the Future is set to become one of the most recognisable buildings in Dubai, if not the world. The exciting design is complemented by the curated exhibitions inside, dedicated to innovation and science. Designed by Shaun Killa in the shape of a torus, with its roundness representing the earth and the sky and the empty middle signifying the unknown, it’s already one of the world’s most complex buildings. The exact opening date is yet to be finalised, but construction is in the final stages.

On Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai is the world’s largest Ferris wheel. The 210m (689ft) tall ride will be able to hold 48 capsules, each accommodating up to 40 people, and give passengers the chance to see the breathtaking Dubai skyline in all its glory, including views of the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah. To give you an idea of the scale of the structure, each spoke holding up the wheel is longer than a football pitch.

As if to confirm the fact that Dubai is keen to hold as many of the world’s largest attractions in one place, here’s another one. The Palm Fountain at the Pointe in Palm Jumeirah became the world’s largest dancing fountain when it opened in October 2020. Its 3,000 multicoloured lights illuminate jets of seawater from sunset until midnight, every night. The spectacular shows are set to the tune of Arabic and international songs.

Not many visitors travel away from the city centre of Dubai, which is a shame when you have great options nearby, such as Hatta. When you’re surrounded by tall buildings and tarmac roads, it’s easy to forget that this is a desert region, but 90 minutes away is the majesty of the Hajar Mountains, which will remind you exactly where you are. Adventurers have known about the Hatta enclave for a while now, as the area is home to some extreme sports.

Dubai has a number of thrilling water rides and theme parks that have become something of a trademark of the city. There are Lego- and Bollywood-themed adventures across Dubai Parks and Resorts, so there’s something to cater to every taste here. New for 2021, Trident Tower will add 12 new rides for thrillseekers to experience.

Home to more than 700 hotels, Dubai can cater to every taste and budget. While new properties are opening all the time, here is our selection of highly recommended places to stay that offer a perfect way to experience this incredible city.