What are the best things to do for a first time visitor to Dubai?

1- Desert Safari - City Smart Tourism L.L.C 

2- Atlantis, The Palm and its water park and take a helicopter tour from there.  

3- Wild Wadi Water Park 

4- Ferrari World  in Abu Dhabi

5- Ski Dubai in Mall of Emirates

6-Big Bus Company tour (hop on hop off).  

7-Dhow Dinner Cruise Dubai 

Hi Rose,

Are lots and lots of things to do in Dubai

The standard attraction for a first time traveller is to go on a "Desert Safari" where you can ride quad bikes on the sand and sample local food in the desert. They will pick you up from the hotel and take care of everything. 

Food wise there are lots and lots of restaurants and if you happen to be here on a Friday you can go to a "brunch" which is put on by most hotels which is an all you can eat/drink combination for a number of hours - usually 12-4

Definitely check out Jumeirah Beach Residence which has lots of restaurants and you can spend time on the beach there.

For nightlife there is a beach bar called Barasti which is very popular with expats and is always entertaining on any night of the week. It has food, live music, beach party etc. 

If you have time it would be worth travelling to the Sheikh zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi which is an approximately 1hour drive from Dubai.

I think the best place to stay is close to Dubai Marina but there are lots of attractions elsewhere.

Hope this helps - there are also other attractions such as Gold Souq and some good scuba diving Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort (2 hours drive). And if you have a couple of extra days it is definitely worth while travelling to Muscat which is the capital of Oman.

Hope this helps,

Myles,

A list of some of my Dubai dining favourites :)

http://www.platetrotter.com/blog/my-dubai-catch-up-the-new-go-to-spots

As for must-do Dubai attractions, here's what a perfect day in Dubai looks like to me. Enjoy!

http://magazine.fourseasons.com/travel-food-style/things-to-do/landmarks-attractions/dubai-attractions

1. Atlantis, The Palm – This is the very first luxury underwater hotel of its kind. Even if you choose not to stay here, it is definitely worth a visit.  Gold Souk – This is the very popular gold marketplace. Here, you can find gold at an inexpensive price as well as platinum and some silver.. Palm Island Dubai – Considered to be the 8th wonder of the world because it can be seen from space, the island is conveniently located close to cafés, ski resorts and is home to magnificent beaches.

4. XVA Gallery - Bur Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates – This is a wonderful gallery showcasing amazing art from the Gulf region. 5. Dubai Museum – This museum was originally build in 1799 as a fort and depicts the heritage and culture of Dubai. 

6. Burj Khalifa 7. House of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum – Once owned by the grandfather of the current ruler, this beautiful home has been restored and turned into a museum.. Wild Wadi Waterpark – This is one of the most fun things to do in Dubai if you want to just let your hair down and have fun for the entire family. Dubai Fountains – This is one of the most beautiful attractions in Dubai and should not be missed. These beautiful fountains offer many performances daily set to light and music.