Palm Jumeirah
This ambitious artificial archipelago, created using land reclamation, was one of many projects that put Dubai on the map, with its crescent-like “fronds” extending out from a “trunk” that runs the length of the central section – all the way from the mainland up to Atlantis The Palm. The 5.4km Palm Jumeirah Monorail also runs from the Gateway Towers at the base to Atlantis The Palm and is home to many thousands of private homes, and numerous hotels by some of the world’s leading brands, such as Fairmont, Sofitel, Jumeirah, One&Only, Waldorf Astoria and Anantara.

Jumeirah Beach
One of the original homes of tourism here in the emirate, Dubai’s main beach area is washed by the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf and lined with excellent hotels, such as the iconic wave-like Jumeirah Beach. Also here is Wild Wadi WaterparkTM, which will keep everyone amused for hours, while Jumeirah beach park is a great public space that’s also popular with local families.

Downtown Dubai
The anchor of this futuristic district is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which took five years to build and opened in 2010, boasting a staggering 828 metres to its name; from the viewing area at its upper levels, other buildings below seem like crumbs. Inside the Burj Khalifa is the first-ever Armani hotel, while other attentiongrabbing attractions of this area include Dubai Mall and Dubai Fountain - both the world’s biggest - where jets of water shoot up to 150 metres high, and seem to “dance” in time to music as they are illuminated by more than 6,000 lights.

Bur Dubai
Sitting on the south side of Dubai Creek, the oldest part of the city dates to the 1900s, with sandy-coloured buildings, museums and minarets. Here you’ll see Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood with its charming car-free, narrow streets and houses topped with wind towers, or barajeel. The area was previously known as Bastakiya after the Iranian town of Bastak, where the original Iranian settlers came from across the Gulf to take advantage of free land and low taxes. You can find out more about Dubai’s history with a look inside Dubai Museum or browse the rainbow of fabrics, clothes and slippers in the Textile Souk.

Sheikh Zayed Road
Named for the much-revered first president of UAE, this is where life has spread out to from the Creek, and has been the epicentre of development, amassing a collection of skyscrapers each more audacious than the next, such as Emirates Towers. Technically, it’s just part of the highway running across the whole of UAE, but it’s also where you’ll find many of the city’s hotels, restaurants and shops. For example, just some of the junctions off here will take you towards Mall of the Emirates, Gold & Diamond Park, Madinat Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi Water Park™, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina.

Deira
Wander one of the city’s oldest districts, dating to around 1841. Once just a sleepy waterside village, Deira soon took over the original settlement of Bur Dubai in scale and is still a cornucopia of ethnicities mixed with tourists, here to check out the souks, where gold is among the cheapest in the world. You can cross Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai in an ‘abra’ (water taxi) for just AED2 (approximately 40p).

Dubai Marina
Sophisticated, skyscraping, and buzzing – Dubai Marina is designed to evoke Riviera-style living in a contemporary setting. This attractive and central place to play and stay in Dubai is a waterfront development built around a 3.5km canal. Along its banks are Dubai Marina Mall (with around 140 stores); The Address Dubai Marina hotel; Pier 7 Dubai Marina - which boasts seven restaurants, each on its own floor and with a unique atmosphere; and Dubai Marina Yacht Club.