The 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Dubai

I have been living in Dubai for almost a year and a half now, and it turns out there are so many places whose existence I hadn’t the faintest idea about. At least not before the borders closed and I found myself stuck here. Not that I’m complaining – at least it’s warm and I can go to the beach. Over the last year my way of life has changed completely, because I turned my hobby into a profession and was literally switching continents and time zones in the blink of an eye, but here I am in Dubai, and for the fourth month now I haven’t left the country. I decided to dig around a bit and do some research into which are actually the 10 most inspiring and photogenic places. I have already told you about my first impressions of this magical oasis of the Arab world, but now I’ll show you the most interesting places for photos and how to turn your holiday here into an unforgettable experience that will make your friends envious that you’ve discovered places no tour guide will ever take you to.

1. Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is perhaps the most iconic building in Dubai, and going up to the top of the tallest building in the world (829 m) is definitely exciting for anyone. Not only is the view from the top incredible and breathtaking, but there are also lots of great options for your photos. One of the best photo spots in the whole of Dubai is precisely the view from the 125th floor – from there the city looks miniature, even surreal. The most famous photo people usually take there is the one looking down at the fountains. I can also recommend breakfast at the At.Mosphere restaurant, located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. Now that’s breakfast with a view! You absolutely must book in advance and ask for a window table so you can enjoy the view. The minimum spend is 200 dirhams per person, which is about 55 euros, but it is definitely worth it.

2. Palace Downtown

Palace Downtown is one of the most beautiful hotels in Dubai and offers a unique view of the Burj Khalifa. Believe me, it is terribly hard to capture the whole building in a photo, but from the pool area in front of the hotel entrance it is entirely possible. And the best part is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest to take photos there. Bear in mind that in most places in Dubai shooting with a professional camera is not allowed and you will most likely need a permit. This is one of those places. Especially if you are dressed a little more glamorously, they will immediately decide you are doing a professional photo shoot, and you may well end up with a hefty fine.

3. The “Wings of Mexico” statue

In the Burj Khalifa area there are all sorts of modern installations, but the “Wings of Mexico” statue is perhaps one of the most interesting. You simply must visit it, especially if you are an Instagrammer and care about interesting photos. Every photo there looks good, even more so if you get the Burj Khalifa in the background behind you. There are definitely no crowds, so you will have the freedom to show off your artistry and creativity.

4. Dubai Creek Harbour

Dubai Creek Harbour is a part of Dubai that is still unfinished. Construction of the complex began only recently, but at least the promenade with a view of the city is open to tourists and locals. At first I thought there would be quite a lot of people, but it turned out to be a quiet and peaceful place – only a few locals had come to watch the sunset over Dubai. The place is far from the city centre, but considering how many city skylines I have seen, this one is my favourite. The cafés and restaurants in the area are not open yet, but the main reason I visited this part of Dubai was precisely the view of the city at sunset, and I was not disappointed. There are plenty of good photo spots, and the most popular is a photo beneath the installations, which were actually created to provide shade for the tourists sitting under them.

5. Atlantis

6. The Pointe

7. Burj Al Arab

Another very famous building in Dubai is the ultra-luxurious hotel resembling a boat with its sails unfurled – the Burj Al Arab. Although staying at the hotel is quite expensive for most people, the view of it is completely free. There are many places from which you can take unique photos with a view of the Burj Al Arab. One of them is Madinat Jumeirah. My own favourite spots with a view of the iconic building are the restaurants along the shore around the hotel itself. The beaches there are private, for guests of the surrounding hotels, but access to the beach restaurants is completely free. This is also where some of my favourite restaurants for dinner in Dubai are, where you not only have a view of the Burj Al Arab, but also enjoy the sunset over the Persian Gulf. To tell the truth, sunsets in Dubai are always so magical, thanks to the incredibly vivid colours that paint the sky. Every time the feeling is so different.

8. Dubai Marina

9. The desert

Dubai is far from being just shiny hotels and glittering tall buildings, so don’t miss a visit to the desert. Not only will you have an incredibly exciting day away from the big city, but also plenty of photo opportunities. Every tourist includes a desert safari in  their itinerary, and it really is a unique experience. On my first visit to Dubai we booked a safari online with camel riding, sandboarding down the dunes and a 4×4 jeep safari. Quite recently, however, we discovered an incredible part of Dubai where people usually go to race sports cars. The abandoned roads look like a test track whose purpose is still unclear to me, but they are not part of the city road network, so you can safely walk down the middle of the road and take photos. In places the road is buried in sand blown in by the frequent sandstorms, which makes it appealing to Instagrammers. An interesting photo here only works with a drone, so that the view of the desert opens up too. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the city and the Burj Khalifa cannot be seen from here and you would have to add them in Photoshop – though even without the city you would get a unique photo.

10. The plane in the Al Awir desert

In the middle of the Al Awir desert lie the mysterious remains of an abandoned plane. Here you will have all the time in the world to take photos, because almost no one knows about this place. After a little research I found out that it is a Soviet Antonov An-2 plane. Years ago the plane was parked at the aviation college of the United Arab Emirates when a strong storm carried it away and simply smashed it into the ground. You can only get there by car, by entering ‘Al Awir Plane Crash’ in Google Maps. It is about 30 minutes from Dubai.