Weather in April is a perfect blend of a sunny afternoon and a pleasant evening. You can go out to get in the afternoons to enjoy the beach and enjoy a lovely rooftop dinner in the evenings.
A visit to Dubai in April 2023 gives you a chance to explore it all!
1. Al Marmoom Heritage Festival
Thousands of visitors flock every year to Al Marmoom Heritage Village for a pageant that celebrates Emirati background and way of life in all its facets.
The annual competition aims to promote and preserve Arabian traditions through celebrations, sports, and camel races.
Held at Al Marmoom Heritage Village some 40km south of Dubai, this four-week festival celebrates traditional Emirati culture with music, crafts, food and carnival rides.
The focus, however, is the camel races that see thousands of animals competing for prizes and prestige in a series of races. Robot jockeys are always used, controlled by operators who drive alongside in SUVs.
Food is also a big draw with authentic Emirati cuisine as part of efforts to promote Emirati culture. Sheikhs, tribesmen and some 14,000 race camels will compete in the Marmoom Heritage Festival in Dubai.
The festival is one of the largest events on the Gulf camel racing calendar and marks the end of the season, which runs from September to April.
When: April 5th - 17th, 2023
Where: Al Marmoom Heritage Village
To get here, take exit 37 from the Al Ain Rd (E66).
2. Gear up for the holy month of Ramadan
Ramadan, in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the new moon and this year will start on Thursday, April 23, 2020 (depends on moon).
Celebrating Ramadan is a way to honour Prophet Muhammad and develop more self-control. This is done through the practice of fasting from drinking or eating dawn through dusk.
After a sunset prayer, this introspection can be broken with a meal with friends and family called the “iftar,” and reinforces family and the brotherhood.
The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the “Feast of Fast-Breaking.”
Tips for travelling during Ramadan:
- Ramadan affects the business hours so you should plan your trip well in advance.
- Make sure you do not eat or drink water in public during the fasting hours
- If you plan on attending a Ramadan tent for iftar, make sure you book your table well in advance. A lot of tents have discounts in the first week of Ramadan.
- It is a good idea to dress a bit conservatively during Ramadan.
3. Enjoy the last few days at Global Village
Global Village Dubai is located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) Dubai.
It combines cultures of 90 countries across the world at one place. Global Village is a multicultural festival park and the region’s first family destination for culture, shopping and entertainment.
April 29th, 2023 marks the last day of global village for the season before it returns in November/ December in 2023 again. With this, you can get some good deals on your shopping there.
There’s something magical about this attraction. Part theme park, part market, Global Village features pavilions with displays from countries near and far where visitors can pick up traditional handicrafts and snacks.
This festival park brings cultures together as visitors discover different parts of the world in just a few hours.
The pavilions are designed in the image of iconic structures or local architecture, inviting all to meander from London’s Big Ben to the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy, take selfies against the romantic backdrop of the Taj Mahal or travel back in time to Ancient Egypt.
Children and adults alike will delight in the bright lights and lively atmosphere created by parades and all kinds of shows, from fire-breathing street performances to star-studded concerts.
Plus, there’s even more fun to be had with countless games and thrilling rides at the region’s largest funfair. Keep an eye out for Global Village’s mascot, Globo, and his adventures across the globe with Scaredy Bat and more!
4. Explore Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai, also known as “The Centre of Now” is home to the world famous, the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa.
But that’s not all, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera, Palace Downtown Hotel, Dubai Fountain and the Burj Plaza are all a part of Downtown Dubai.
We are sure you will be amazed to see the architecture of the buildings in this area. And want to know more about them? Then, why not take our Downtown Dubai Architecture Tour.
The landmarks in the area take you on a trip to understand Dubai’s ambitions as a World City and future prospects of the Region.
5. Visit the Burj Khalifa
Opened in January 2010 to visitors, the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest and most marvellous building ever made! Each time you see the building dominating the skyline of Dubai, you go in awe of it.
If offers breath taking views of the city from the top. Visitors are allowed to go on the Top, 124th floor (452m) and 148th floor (555m), and to go to the top, you walk past several multi-media exhibits and the double-decker lift takes you up in not more than 10m per second.
As you are back on your way after enjoying the view, there is an open souvenir shop, do not forget to buy a keepsake.
The place is a paradise for avid photographers. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in Dubai.
Tickets to the Burj Khalifa can be bought online or at the entrance or inside the Dubai Mall (near the Dubai Aquarium).
For more details, make sure to read our post covering how to get tickets to the Burj Khalifa.
6. Check out the Dubai Mall and Dubai Aquarium
The Dubai Mall is the most-visited retail and entertainment destination in the world. It is the largest mall in the world and is the size of about 50 football fields!
There are over 1200 stores in operation at Dubai Mall so don’t think that you are going to be able to see them all!
For lovers of high fashion, over 70 signature outlets will beckon for your attention, including retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Galleries Lafayette.
The Dubai Mall features the world-class Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo featuring thousands of aquatic animals and a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel. The aquarium houses world’s largest acrylic panel which made it to the Guinness Book of World Records.
There are around 40 displays here housing creatures such as piranha, penguins, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, otters and eels. You can take a ride on a glass bottom boat to view over 33,000 aquatic animals and you could also go cage diving with sharks!
Tickets to the Dubai Aquarium can be purchased online or at the counter in the mall. Ticket are valid for one entry only. Visitors can stay if they want here.
Frequent visitors can purchase a membership card and enjoy exclusive privileges. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater zoo is open 7 days a week.
Opening times are Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 10pm, and Thursday to Saturday 10am until midnight.
7. See the Dubai Walk of Fame
Dubai Stars is a brand-new attraction unveiled in Downtown Dubai in October 2019.
It is Dubai’s very own Hollywood-style Walk of Fame, the exciting new attraction is a project by Emaar, and can be found on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai.
400 stars will be unveiled at the launch in October this year, with celebrities voted for by the public in a global social media campaign.
When complete, there will be 10,000 Dubai Stars in total, that’s four times that of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard is a 3.5-kilometer encirclement of Downtown Dubai having an impressive array of restaurants, cafés, and retail outlets.
Location: Along the sidewalk of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai
8. Take a walk in the oldest neighbourhood of Dubai with Dubai By Foot
The Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood, previously known as Bastakiya is the oldest neighbourhood of Dubai, and the Old Dubai Walking tour is our signature and most popular tour.
Dubai is known for its glitz and glamour, but before the tourism boom or the discovery of oil, it was a vastly different place. Dubai was then a land of fishermen, divers and Bedouins.
On this tour we will visit the Coffee Museum, Dubai Museum, the Spice and the Gold Souk and cross the creek on the Abra boat. The Creek is the historic heart of Dubai, which once divided the city into two areas: Deira and Bur Dubai.
Until the construction of Al Maktoum Bridge, the first bridge in Dubai in 1963, the only way to get from one side to the other was in a rickety little wooden boat called an abra.
It’s still undoubtedly the most fun (and affordable) way across. We offer this tour daily as both public and private tours, for those who like to book a luxurious tour for themselves.
Our Old Dubai Walking tour is the best way to visit this part of the city!
For those who would like to delve fully into the Emirati culture as well as get a flavour of the Old city, we would recommend our food tour, Flavours of Arabia: Emirati Food walk.
We treat on delicacies like falafel and hummus, Majboos and crunchy Luqaimat. We will also visit the Arabian Tea House Restaurant, one of the very famous go-to places in Dubai, a Heritage house in Bastakiya that has been converted to a restaurant.
You can easily reach both the start locations by metro and by taxi. Here is our guide for you on how to get around in Dubai.
Tour Details: Old Dubai and Souk Walking Tour
When: Every day (10am or 4pm slots)
*Private tours can start at the time of your convenience
9. Spend a perfect evening in Dubai Marina
Home to the world-famous Princess Tower and the Cayan Tower, Dubai Marina mesmerizes everyone with its high rise and unique buildings. The neighbourhood is loved by expats and also has more than 100 restaurants on the Marina Walk.
The Dubai Marina Mall in Dubai Marina is packed with fashion and luxury brands amongst some great restaurants with lovely views of the waterfront.
You can spend an entire day at Dubai Marina with shopping, some fun filled adventure like iFly Skydive or X-Line Marina and then go pub crawling in the beautifully lit Marina.
Pier 7 in Dubai Marina is home to the famous pubs and restaurants in the city- Asia Asia, Atelier, Cargo and so on. The clubs have deals, discounts, and events each day, so make sure you do not miss this out.
This is the best way to enjoy Dubai’s nightlife scene. Make sure to reserve your table before you head out here! Ladies too can enjoy ladies night out and enjoy themselves without breaking the bank.
The world’s longest urban zipline, X-Line in Dubai Marina is one of the steepest and fastest zipline of the world, measuring 1 kilometre and is set in Dubai Marina. The average speeds go up to 80km/hr.
You can enjoy the glitzy views of the Dubai Marina neighbourhood, yachts and sleek high-rise buildings. You will also get to see the action on the Go-Pro mounted on your helmet. After the zipline, you get the complimentary videos and photographs.
10. Enjoy the Amusement/ Waterparks in Dubai
Aqua venture is a water park located at Atlantis, Dubai. The water Park is overflowing with 17 fun-filled hectares of adrenaline pumping fun. The water park has record breaking slides and rides.
It also offers up and close time with sharks and rays. It also has a 700-meter private beach to relax. The park also offers features marine activities and children play areas for all ages.
Purchase Aquaventure tickets or learn more.
Wild Wadi Water Park is an outdoor water park neat the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach hotel. Wild Wadi has a heated as well as a cooled wave pool, multiple water slides and two artificial surfing machines.
The park has the largest water slide outside of North America; the park is featured in various game shows like Amazing Race.
Purchase Wild Wadi Water Park tickets or learn more.
11. Go to Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort located in Dubai Mall of the Emirates. Ski Dubai was opened in 2005.
Ski Dubai is the world's third largest indoor ski slope and the first to open in the Middle East. It has a chair lift and a T-bar; 6,000 tons of snow are at your disposal.
Children as well as families can have fun at this ski resort. It has activities for all age groups as well as all skilled people.
At the resort, you can also meet Snow Penguins in an up close and personal one-of-a-kind intimate encounter that the whole family will love. You can check activity prices on their website.
12. Take the Dhow Cruise or a Yacht
Head on to a relaxing evening with fun and entertainment on a traditional Arabic boat, Dhow on the Dhow Cruise in Dubai Marina or the Creek. Famous for its Tanura dancers and their colourful costumes, Dhow Cruise cheers up everyone.
A Dhow Cruise usually includes a three-course dinner buffet. It’s a magical experience drifting along the creek while watching colourful reflections out on the water of the beautifully lit up skyline of Dubai.
Make sure you bring your camera as there are lots of photo opportunities. Book now for this unique and relaxing experience. The perfect antidote to busy city life.
If you would like a more private experience, then we would recommend you take a yacht from the Dubai Marina area. Sail through the Dubai Marina to Blue Water Island, and cruise over to the Dubai Eye.
See the famous Jumeirah Beach and the Palm, as well as passing the Atlantis on the breakfast and lunch tours. You can also opt for a yacht experience with breakfast.
You get lot of opportunities for taking insta worthy photos or take a dip in the sea!
13. Dine in at Bluewaters Island
Bluewaters Island is the new development project hosting the much-awaited Ain Dubai.
Located 300 metres off the JBR coastline, the island is connected to the mainland via a direct link from Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as a 265-metre-long pedestrian bridge from The Beach.
The island’s lifestyle and retail area, The Wharf, is the home to all the shopping and eating action, connected by walkways dotted around low-rise boulevards, with outlets still yet to open.
As well as licensed fine-dining restaurants at the waterfront, there’ll also be a home for the hipsters, with quirky cafés and intimate bistros at every nook and cranny – because nothing goes with a lavender chai latte like an unkempt beard.
For those who want to class it up a bit, there’s always Caesars Palace Bluewater’s Dubai, featuring an outdoor swimming pool, six brand-spanking new restaurants, a fitness centre, and a health spa. It will also house Gordan Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen.
