Nicknamed The City of Gold, Dubai has abundant interests that attract the eye. Its buildings are the tallest in the world, its amenities the most luxurious, and its nightlife the glitziest. However, there’s plenty more to this fascinating city when you peek hard enough.
Scrape beneath its remarkable exterior, there’s a beating soul of well-preserved mysteries, hidden gems, and romantic adventures that most visitors never discover.
Whether street art piques your interest or natural marvels, step off the beaten path to find a charming side of Dubai with this itinerary of 10 Hidden Gems of Dubai.
10 Hidden Gems of Dubai
1. Find a ministerial museum in a house
Once the home of UAE’s leader, the Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum House is now both an exemplary surviving example of traditional regional architecture and a heritage museum.
With its incredible courtyard and its displays detailing life in a Dubai long gone, this impressive structure has become among the off the beaten path attractions in Dubai.
Highlights:
The building possesses favorably decorated high-beam ceilings, teak doors, and arched doorways. One of the must-visit places in Dubai for architecture buffs.
Opening hours:
Open Saturday to Thursday 8 AM to 8:30 PM, Friday 3 PM to 8:30 PM.
2. Get a Trip to the tropics in a biodome rainforest
Nature lovers won’t want to miss The Green Planet, Dubai’s one-of-a-kind indoor rainforest. Step into the warm, steamy atmosphere of a tropical jungle and gaze up as sloths leisurely move above you. If you’re lucky, you might even befriend a curious spider monkey.
Highlights:
Stroll through the dense vegetation as reptiles bask in the heat and tropical birds fly overhead. This remote location guarantees a day to remember.
Opening hours:
Open daily, 10 AM to 6 PM.
3. Uncover the pearls of Old Dubai
You have witnessed the skyscrapers, now it’s time to uncover the hidden spots of Old Dubai, with this boats, historic forts, and pearls walking tour. Walk through the perfume, spice, and gold souks, take a traditional wooden boat, shop and let your guide take you back to the past.
Highlights:
Learn about the mesmerizing modification Dubai has undergone from a classic desert town to a significant international city.
Opening hours:
The tour begins at 10:00 AM and lasts 2 hours.
4. Enjoy a cup of delicate coffee at the Coffee Museum
This eccentric and curious museum is among Dubai’s best-kept secrets. Worth seeing both for its wonderfully curated display of coffee from all over the world and for its relaxed, welcoming setting, this little museum bursts with warmth and charm.
Take this strolling tour with Emirati food tastings to partake in this unique, under-visited site.
Highlights:
You will be welcomed with a hot cup of coffee on your appearance, and you can relish more in the adjoining cafe.
Opening hours:
Open daily, 9 AM to 5 PM.
5. Stroll through the world’s Biggest flower garden
For something so massive, Dubai’s Miracle Garden still tends to stay off of most tourists’ radars. The biggest flower garden on the earth, it houses around 50 million species of flowers. Set into detailed sculptures of enormous scale, you have never witnessed anything like this.
On this Dubai Miracle Garden trip, you will have a sweet-smelling experience with plenty of flowers in full bloom.
Highlights:
Explore Disney Avenue, including Disney characters made from bright topiary. A must-explore for Disney lovers, aged and young.
Opening hours:
Open Sunday to Thursday 9 AM to 9 PM, Fridays 9 AM to 11 PM, Saturdays 9 AM to 10 PM.
6. Know how honey is created in the Hajar Mountains
Perched high in the Hajar Mountains near Dubai, the picturesque town of Hatta is one of the UAE’s most charming hidden treasures. Renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise pools and stunning landscapes, it offers a refreshing escape from the city.
Join this Hatta safari and Honey Bee Garden tour to explore local village life and uncover the fascinating traditions of beekeeping and honey production in the UAE. With pickup included from Dubai, navigating your way there is hassle-free.
Highlights:
Witness age-old marine fossils at the Jebel Maleihah area, another place completely off the beaten track.
Opening hours:
The tour starts at 7 AM and lasts 7 hours.
7. Witness flamingos in Ras Al Khor’s lagoons and mangroves
An awesome hidden place in Dubai, the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is an important spot for biodiversity and a wildlife reserve, where you can discover plenty of birds straight on the city’s doorstep, particularly in winter when it’s certainly not a secret gem to migrating birds, but their most famous spot.
Highlights:
The absolute show-stealers are the tremendous glitz of flamingos who herd to the reserve as a breeding base every winter. Take lovely pictures of these multicolored birds against the background of the Dubai skyline.
Opening hours:
Open Sunday to Thursday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Friday to Saturday.
8. Learn about Arabic traditions and culture
The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding is a lesser-known treasure in Dubai, dedicated to promoting tolerance and open dialogue between cultures. Visitors are encouraged to ask any questions they may have.
Join a Cultural Lunch at the Center to deepen your understanding of local customs and cultural etiquette while enjoying a flavorful traditional Emirati meal.
Highlights:
The center also has a cultural area with stunning paintings, art objects, and shadow puppets.
Opening hours:
Open daily 8 AM to 4 PM.
9. Find the best of Dubai’s street art
The El Satwa vicinity of Dubai has been renowned as the “Dubai Street Museum” because of the rich and diverse collection of murals and street art gracing its walls. Carry this Secret Dubai trip to find where the finest murals are to be discovered.
Highlights:
Showing scenes from daily life, popular figures, and notional art, these murals deserves a visit.
Opening hours:
Tours operate between 8:00 AM-5:30 PM and last 3 hours.
10. Witness inside the Ruler’s Court Mosque
Nestled in the historic Al Bastakiya district, the beautiful Ruler’s Court Mosque is a hidden treasure. While it’s not accessible to the general public, visitors to the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding have the exclusive opportunity to visit. Discover this captivating and rarely seen mosque, along with its cultural significance in Emirati life, during a heritage tour of the Al Fahidi Historical District.
Highlights:
You will learn about Dubai’s vast and intricate history with a familiar and delightful guide.
Opening hours:
Tours begin at 9 AM and last 1.5 hours.
