Curious things to do in Dubai

1. Dubai chocolate

If you’re looking for a treat (you’re in Dubai, after all), try the original Dubai chocolate

Of course, Dubai found a way to make chocolate more decadent. ‘Dubai chocolate’ is stuffed with pistachio, tahini and kataifi (pastry). You’ve probably seen videos lauding it online: close-ups of cracked-open chocolate bars oozing with gooey filling. Dubai chocolate is so sought-after you’ll now find it next to Milkybars and Wispas in UK supermarkets. While you’re in the city of gold and gooey chocolate bars, try the original treat that started it all. Hard to get your hands on, and hard to keep your hands off once you’ve got some, the ‘Can’t Get Knafeh of It’ bar by Fix Dessert is only available in the UAE via Deliveroo. Orders open at 2pm and 5pm daily but you’ll need to secure your sweet treats quickly.

Top tip: Don’t forget to try Fix’s other flavours: ‘Butter to be Safe Than Salty’ features cinnamon pastry, vanilla custard, caramel and peanut butter. More is more in Dubai, after all.

2. Cool cafes

If you like contemporary art and cool cafes, you’ll love Alserkal Avenue

Alserkal Avenue is an industrial area turned artistic hub where contemporary art galleries and artisanal cafes operate out of old warehouses. Ayyam Gallery was first on the scene with exhibitions featuring everything from photographic collages to marble busts reimagining the human form. Leila Heller Gallery is the largest contemporary art gallery in the UAE. Third Line and Aisha Alabbar Gallery focus on promoting Emirati artists. With around 40 vendors to explore, there are galleries galore. You’ll also find an arthouse cinema, Dubai's first independent vinyl record store, a black box theatre, a rare book shop and a restaurant modelled on a traditional UAE corner store. It’s all a little different to the glitzy, luxury-led Dubai you might know.

Top tip: Alserkal Art Week is an annual festival that usually takes place in spring. It typically involves exhibition openings, pop-ups, gallery tours and talks.

3. Dubai's souks

If you’ve already browsed designer collections in the mega malls, take a trip to the souks

Ride an abra across Dubai Creek to scope out the city’s souks. Pay the equivalent of about 25p to cross the water on one of the city’s old-school ferries and peek at minarets. On the Deira side of the creek, bazaars wait for you to test your bargaining skills. See an astounding amount of jewellery at the Gold Souk, where you can shop for stacks of bangles and rings so heavy they might make lifting your hands difficult – but when you’re on holiday you shouldn’t have to lift a finger anyway, right? Then see golden mounds of saffron at the Spice Souk, where cinnamon, sumac and punchy spices spill out of baskets. Follow the scent of earthy oud and musk to the Perfume Souk nearby before you cross the creek again.

Top tip: When haggling, start by offering half the advertised price and go from there. Alternatively, you can just wait and see what someone else pays and offer the same.

4. Panoramic views

If you like the Burj Khalifa, you’ll love Dubai Frame

Dubai Frame is a statement piece for the city: a massive golden window that frames views of old Dubai on one side and new Dubai on the other. For panoramic vistas – both from the glass lifts and the Sky Deck – buy a ticket to the top. From the bridge, you’ll see skyscrapers trying to outstretch one another to the south and wind towers atop old buildings to the north. There’s also a walkway that becomes transparent when you step on it (yep, yikes) and a coffee shop so you can grab a brew with a view. Admire the world’s tallest building winding above the skyline and feel just a tad smug that Dubai Frame tickets are cheaper than Burj Khalifa tickets. Stop to take a look at the exhibitions on Dubai’s past, present and future before going back to ground level.

Top tip: Plan to visit just before sundown. That way you’ll get to see the city in every light: whirring during daylight, blushing during sunset and sparkling in the dark.

5. Hajar Mountains

If you’re feeling too hot in the city, head out to Hatta

Dubai exclave Hatta is home to the Hajar Mountains huddling around a turquoise dam, date trees with drooping leaves and a village in the eyeline of a 19th Century fort. Temperatures tend to be cooler here and moments by the water are well spent, whether you’re trekking, cycling, paddleboarding or simply admiring. Hatta Heritage Village, preserved and reconstructed to depict traditional rural life, sits nearby with stalls selling jewellery and pottery made with clay and copper mined from the mountains. The journey from Dubai to Hatta takes around an hour and a half. You can either hire a car or take the RTA Hatta Express Bus (H02) from Dubai Mall to Hatta Main Bus Station.

Top tip: Some of Hatta’s attractions close for the summer, so make sure you check opening dates before making the trip.

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