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Steen Jakobsen, Director of the Dubai Convention & Events Bureau (DCEB)
My favourite places:
Three restaurants:
Dubai has an amazing array of restaurants and other hotspots. A visiting delegate would be hard pressed to see even a small fraction of the best places this city has to offer. However, a good place to start would be the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, a 3.5 kilometer stretch in Downtown Dubai which boasts over 50 food and beverage outlets set around the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
For a taste of traditional Arabian cuisine try Reem Al Badawi, one of the city’s most popular chains which offers a fantastic atmosphere and beautiful views of the Burj. There you can try a traditional sheesha water pipe and people-watch while experiencing a huge array of really great menu items.
Another favourite on the strip is Aprons & Hammers, which is arguably one of the best seafood restaurants in Dubai. It serves buckets of crabs, shrimps and lobster cooked a variety of ways and is always a hit with guests.
If you are in the mood for more Asian flavours, find Mizu, which has a good selection of sushi, sashimi as well as bento and noodle options. The Volcano Roll, with baked shrimp and dynamite sauce, is very good.
Three lounges, clubs:
To unwind after a long day there are many venues in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) which is located quite close to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Here you will find award-winning restaurants and lounges with great views of the Dubai skyline.
For something a little higher up, you should see the vista from At.mosphere on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, 422 meters off the ground in the world’s tallest tower. There you can enjoy an unparalleled view of the city and also take in the world’s tallest dancing fountain down below.
For a true feast for the senses check out the entertainment options located at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray located on The Palm Jumeirah: here fine food, musical and theatrical entertainment options are abundant at the SupperClub or the Music Hall.
Three hotspots:
To get away from the sophisticated city vibe and experience a more exuberant atmosphere, there are many activities available to visitors along The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), a two-kilometer stretch of cobbled walkway in the Dubai Marina area. In addition to restaurants, hotels, cafes and shops there are also a lot of attractions there including street paintings, art displays, photography displays and sand sculptures on the adjoining beachfront.
For a spectacle in Downtown Dubai, as I mentioned earlier, you could also check out The Dubai Fountain, which shoots dozens of water jets up to 150 meters synchronized to the sounds of popular music and an accompanying lightshow. These ‘dancing’ fountains are set on a huge lake near the Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping malls. At the mall you can shop till you drop for days or visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo which houses over 33,000 living animals in one of the world’s largest tanks.
The Dubai Convention & Events Bureau (DCEB), a division of the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), offers international meeting planners a world-class facilitation service completely free of charge. To find out how we can help make your next event a success, visit dceb.gov.ae.