Established around an artificial canal, the Dubai Marina is an upscale residential neighbourhood overlooking the shores of the Persian Gulf. It’s home to luxury shopping malls, golden beaches and alfresco restaurants and is a popular recreational destination for yachting, swimming and a variety of water sports.

Things to do

Stretch your legs on the waterfront promenade of the Dubai Marina Walk, which is lined with swaying palm trees, upmarket boutiques and cafes. You can watch the superyachts coming and going from the man-made marina or get your retail fix while shopping in the luxury retail stores of the Dubai Marina Mall.

At the southern end of the Dubai Marina is The Beach at JBR, a popular leisure complex that overlooks a family-friendly stretch of sand. Restaurants decorated with a contemporary Arabian aesthetic line the waterfront, while everything from parasailing to banana boating and wake-boarding can be enjoyed offshore. Watch the sun descend over the horizon on a camel ride before soaking up the majestic nighttime views of the surrounding skyscrapers.

If you’ve ever wanted to try skydiving, head to Skydive Dubai at the northern end of the Dubai Marina to get a bird’s eye view of the spectacular Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Marina also boasts the world’s longest urban zip-line, which reaches speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour as it flies between the city skyscrapers to the Dubai Marina Mall.

Getting around

The Dubai Marina is a 25-minute drive from Dubai International Airport and can be accessed from the Dumac Properties or DMCC metro stations. Buses and trams travel along the neighbourhood’s main strip while passenger ferries hop along the waterway. The Dubai Marina is pedestrian-friendly, with plenty of attractive walkways to explore.