In cities such as Dubai, which has an impressive range of cultural activities, it is easy to make romantic plans for you and your partner. It is one of those destinations that are known for their “wow” effect, with surprises awaiting you around every corner.
To plan a romantic trip to Dubai and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible, we recommend deciding how many activities or visits you want to do during your time in the city. Don’t worry about finding the time to visit absolutely everything the city has to offer. Instead, it’s better to identify the city’s best viewpoints before you fly out, make reservations in a few select restaurants, etc. If you’re after an adrenaline rush, you’ll appreciate Dubai’s theme parks, desert safaris and surfing, kitesurfing and jet ski facilities.
Furthermore, given the impressive range of services offered by Dubai’s hotels, we recommend setting aside some time to recharge your batteries in their facilities, take a dip in their pools, relax on their private beaches and live it up in their beach clubs and exclusive restaurants. All of this makes Dubai an excellent option for your next romantic holiday.
Below you’ll find some suggestions for romantic things to do during your visit to the city. Pick those that suit you best and enjoy!
- Subir al mirador del Burj Khalifa
- Ver juntos el espectáculo de la fuente de Dubái
- Cena romántica a la luz de las velas
- Paseo en globo al amanecer
- Aventura en el desierto
- Un día de playa o de surf
- Ir juntos de compras
- Dónde dormir en Dubái
Go to the Burj Khalifa viewpoint
Our first suggestion is to admire Dubai from the skies. There is no better place to soak up the views than from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building, standing at 828 metres tall. It has multiple viewpoints at varying heights, offering magnificent views across the city’s skyline, characterised by its original and uniquely-shaped skyscrapers. We recommend booking in advance, as there are often long queues to go up. Make sure your phone is fully charged, as you’ll want to take hundreds of photos from its viewpoints offering wonderful 360-degree-views of the city.
Watch The Dubai Fountain show together
A stunning fountain offering memorable water, music and light shows is found in the very heart of Dubai, right next to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. You and your partner will be able to watch the choreographed show from the shores of the Burj Khalifa lake or even on the “Dubai Fountain Lake Ride”, where a boat will take you right up to the fountain mid-show. You’ll love watching its jets of water soar more than 140 metres into the air, dancing to the sound of the music. You can witness this magical event every day between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., with shows taking place every thirty minutes. The music and choreography change with each show, so it’s possible to enjoy several shows on the same day.
Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner
Besides its fascinating architecture, Dubai is also renowned for its diverse culinary offerings at the hands of internationally-renowned chefs, who give visitors the chance to savour unique and memorable meals. One restaurant that comes highly recommended is Khyber —housed within Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel— which serves delicious Indian cuisine and offers incredible views of Palm Jumeirah. Some other fantastic options are Pierchic, where you can enjoy a fantastic Mediterranean seafood set-menu on a pier that sits above the water; At.mosphere, located 442 metres above ground level in the Burj Khalifa; and the Ossiano restaurant, which shares walls with the city’s aquarium, allowing guests to enjoy an authentic “underwater” dining experience.
Take a hot-air balloon ride at sunrise
If you’ve been thinking about taking a hot-air balloon ride with your partner, what better place to do it than Dubai? Watching the sun slowly come up over the Arabian desert and seeing how the sand changes colour as the morning rays fall upon it is a memory that will last a lifetime. Also, how many people do you know who asked their partner to marry them in the sky? After coming back down to earth, you could spend the rest of the day doing activities in the desert.
Desert safari
Not only is it fun to speed across the desert in an off-road vehicle, rising and falling over its extraordinarily high dunes, but it also allows you to discover a unique and magical landscape that contrasts greatly with the city of Dubai. These desert safaris consist of a 4×4 or quad bike tour, a falconry demonstration, a camel ride and dinner under the stars. The dinner is usually served at a desert campsite. Besides sampling traditional local food, you can also enjoy some typical music and dance performances. Given its proximity to the city and its accessible price, this is one of the more popular romantic plans in Dubai.
Spend the day sunbathing or surfing
If you and your partner love the beach, you should set aside some time during your stay to top up your tan or go surfing in Dubai’s waters. If you choose to spend a day at the beach, you’ll be able to sunbathe, go for a walk along the shore, try your hand at various water sports and even experience Dubai’s exclusive beach clubs. Dubai’s biggest waves are found at Sunset Beach, making this the city’s best surfing destination. Before leaving the beach, be sure to take a photo with the Burj Al Arab in the background. If you like lively beaches where, besides taking a refreshing dip, you can also nip off for a spot of shopping, we recommend checking out La Mer Beach.
Go shopping together
We have put together a very special plan for shopping lovers. But first, you must decide whether you want to start by visiting the world’s largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall, which has thousands of stores of exclusive brands, or by exploring the city’s various traditional souks. If you prefer the latter, you’ll find beautiful silk fabrics in the Textile Souk; herbs and natural products in the Spice Souk; and an amazing display of original jewellery in the Gold Souk. You can reach the souks by crossing the canal in a traditional boat. While this is a fantastic experience at any time of day, it’s even more magical if you cross the water as the sun goes down.
Where to stay in Dubai
To complete the romantic experience in Dubai, you also need to think about where you’d like to stay. Would you prefer to sleep in the city centre or on an artificial island next to the sea? That’s the first decision that you need to take. We strongly recommend the five-star Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel, which has its own private beach and is located in Palm Jumeirah. Throughout its 279 rooms and suites and 285 apartments, luxury reigns supreme. It also boasts a gorgeous infinity pool and several excellent restaurants where you can enjoy a romantic meal with your partner.
Another option is the four-star Occidental Al Jaddaf hotel in the city centre, which is located close to Dubai Creek and enjoys good connections with Downtown Dubai. If you’re looking to rent an apartment you could consider staying at the Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, which has well-equipped communal areas and is located in a lively part of the city.
The Occidental Dubai Production City, which has 239 spacious rooms and is located close to the Dubai Expo Centre, and the four-star Occidental Sharjah Grand in the city of Sharjah, which is located just outside of Dubai, are two further options that come highly recommended.
