The months of January and February might be cold in some parts of the world, but it is the best and the most pleasant time to visit Dubai. The weather conditions in February make it an ideal time for tourists to visit and the locals to go out and explore the glittering city.
The weather obviously calls for a host of outdoor activities and yes, there’s plenty in the city to be seen and experienced. Dubai in February can enthrall you in more ways than you can imagine. Visiting Dubai in February? Here is our guide on top things to do in Dubai in February 2020.
1.Enjoy the Music Performances in Dubai
February is the month of music, with a number of incredible shows and Can't-miss festivals set to thrill in Dubai in 2020. With the International Jazz Music Festival set to take place between Wednesday, February 26 and Friday 28 in 2020, former Fugee singer Ms. Lauryn Hill will be performing live on Wednesday. On Thursday, February 27, legendary soul, pop and R&B singer Lionel Richie will be joining the bill, and he’s going to be bringing some absolutely massive tunes like All Night Long, Hello Dancing on the Ceiling and so, so, so many more. One Republic will perform at the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival on Friday, February 28, closing the three-day festival.
Where: Dubai Media Amphitheatre
Next, 35 years after the release of their debut album, Norwegian pop trio a-ha are set to bring their Hunting High And Low tour to the UAE. The pop band, who enjoyed worldwide success during the 1980s, will perform on February 11, 2020, at Dubai Opera. Most famous for their classic hit, Take On Me, a-ha have sold more than 55 million albums worldwide, and remain one of Europe’s best-loved pop bands from the 80s.
Where: Dubai Opera
Tickets: Start at AED 250
2. Celebrate Cuisine at the Dubai Food Festival
Launched in the year 2014, The Dubai Food Festival is arguably the most significant Middle Eastern food celebration. The Dubai Food Festival (DFF) is a gastronomic two and a half week-long gala - a chance for visitors to explore the city through indulgence in food, from street food to fine dining experiences. For 17 days, Dubai turns into a food haven and a hot spot among culinary explorers from around the world.
Swyp Beach Canteen, the flagship of the Dubai Food Festival, takes place at the Jumeirah Beach behind the Sunset Beach. A great place to have some laid-back time with friends and family, the Jumeirah Beach seafront comes alive with food trucks, live music, activities for kids and adults, informative workshops, and cooking demos.
When: Feb 21, 2020, until March 9, 2020
3. Visit the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai
Opened in January 2010 to visitors, the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest and most marvelous building ever made! Each time you see the building dominating the skyline of Dubai, you go in awe of it. If offers breathtaking 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.
The Chinese New Year of 2020 falls on January 25th (Saturday), and the festival will last to February 8th, about 15 days in total. 2020 is a Year of the Rat according to Chinese zodiac. The Chinese New Year is also celebrated at the Burj Khalifa with a laser show and at the Dubai Mall, with a lot of activities that take place to celebrate the occasion.
Tickets to the Burj Khalifa can be bought online on their website or at the entrance of the Burj Khalifa or inside the Dubai Mall (near the Dubai Aquarium).
Tickets: AED 149 (For 124th/125th floor) and AED 378 for At the Top (148th floor)
If you would like to explore the entire area of Downtown Dubai, you can also take our private tour of Downtown Dubai to know more about the architecture of the marvelous buildings in this area. The tour starts at the Tiffany’s in Dubai Mall and takes you through the mall, to the Souk and the Dubai Opera, with the tour ending at the Burj Plaza where you can buy your tickets to the Top of Burj Khalifa.
Looking for tickets to the Burj Khalifa, here is our guide on how to get tickets to the Burj Khalifa.
Visiting the Burj Khalifa should definitely be in your list of top things to do in February 2020 in Dubai!
4. Spend a day at the beach
La Mer
La Mer is Hands Down One of Dubai’s Most ‘Grammable Spots. La Mer Dubai is a beach destination that offers fun, shopping and entertainment for residents of Dubai. This property has been developed by Meraas and spans over 1.24 million square meters of space. They have even accommodated an underground parking area. In La Mer, you will appreciate the street art and paintings and the design that makes for a nice walk. La Mer also boasts of a cinema and a water park!
Kite Beach
For the perfect weekend, you can visit the Kite Beach, famous for the kites in the Dubai sky. Thanks to Dubai Municipality, there are beach libraries across the coast line of Dubai. The libraries are home to great books for avid book readers where most of the books focus on Dubai’s history and formation. The library at Kite Beach, Umm Suqeim is open 24/7 and has bean bags and a perfect setting for you to enjoy the books and the views.
Party at the Barasti
Barasti beach bar is world-famous and the trend has not changed from the last twenty years. Barasti, Dubai Marina hosts some great parties and events in Dubai. This is for sure Dubai’s most happening place! The reason for its popularity is multi-faceted. The massive, sprawling beach bar and club provide whatever you’re looking for – be it lazing in the sun, watching the game, tucking into some decent bar food or partying to top name DJs. It covers all bases, and it covers them well.
The Beach- JBR Walk
Shop dine and stroll by the sea along the chic waterfront strip known as The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
Along this buzzing beachside boulevard, there’s plenty of opportunities to satisfy your retail cravings with an array of fashion, home, and handicraft shops and boutiques. Recently, the board on the walk gives some fascinating views of the Blue waters island and Ain Dubai. You can also check our self-guided tour of JBR on our website.
The Black Beach
If you want to avoid the crowds, try Al Sufouh (or ‘Black Palace’) Beach – this spot is a bit trickier to find, but you’ll be rewarded with peaceful waters and beautiful views.
5. Visit the Palm Jumeirah- The Atlantis and The Pointe Dubai
Explore one of Dubai’s Architectural Triumphs- the Palm Jumeirah! It happens only in Dubai that you can see a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree.
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, the luxury hotel is located on the Palm Jumeirah. This was the first resort to be built on the island and shows distinctive elements of the Arabian world. The hotel has a nautical theme and consists of 1539 rooms. It is complemented by the Aqua venture water park and the Nasimi Beach, which frequently plays host to concerts and other events.
There are lots of exciting activities that make Atlantis beach resort the epicenter of adventure and the greatest holiday experience ever. You can swim with dolphins at Dolphin Bay or meet the sea lion at the Sea Lion Point or visit the home to 65,000 incredible marine animals in the Lost Chamber Aquarium.
The Pointe is a brand-new promenade for lovely strolls and another spot to watch the gorgeous dancing fountains – the Palm is now transforming from a mainly residential place to one of the top hangouts in the city. The Pointe couldn’t be in a better location, directly across from Atlantis, imagine the views!
And with a monorail running down the 'trunk' that connects to the mainland's tram system, getting to the Palm Jumeirah couldn't be easier.
6. Take a walking tour in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
The Al Fahidi Historical 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 flavor 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 except Friday (10 am or 4 pm slots)
*Private tours can start at the time of your convenience
7. Visit the museums in the newly restored Al Shindagha Neighbourhood
Modern Dubai was born in the early 20th century when the ruling family established itself in the charming neighbourhood of Al Shindagha. Located today on the shores of the Creek, Al Shindagha is prized for its coral-clad houses, traditional wind towers, and attractions such as the Heritage and Diving Museum, and the Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum House. On our 1001 Arabian Nights: Old Dubai By Moonlight, we will walk through the lanes of Al Shindagha Neighbourhood at night. This local neighbourhood is amid renewal and renovation.
We will talk about pirates, traders, pearl divers, and adventurers who traveled on the shores of the Creek, leaving a rich legacy of local traditions and walk by life-size replicas of fishing boats where the guide will you the history behind the life on the creek. As the night will progress, we will delve deep into Al Shindagha to share adventure stories and talk about the rich architectural landscape. You can book the tour here.
One of the first museums to open in the Al Shindagha neighbourhood is the Perfume House, paying homage to the history of all scented things in UAE. Perfume House is built within the former house of an avid Perfumer, Sheikha bint Saeed bin Maktoum. Many of the items inside were part of her personal collection. This includes her perfume application and a 28kg piece of oud she had in her house and which she donated to the museum just a few weeks before she died in 2017, as well as other artifacts from other notable Emiratis, and those sourced from sites such as Saruq Al Hadid, an archaeological site in Dubai.
We also take you with us to explore the history of Dubai in the newly opened Saruq Al-Hadid Archaeology Museum. Featuring artefacts unearthed from the recently discovered archaeological site of Saruq Al-Hadid; rich immersive and interactive displays bring to life the fascinating story of the Iron Age in the Middle East. Every artefact unearthed at the excavation site, along the edge of the Rub Al-Khali desert, reveals more about the Saruq Al Hadid civilization. Analysis of the precious beads reveals that some of them did not naturally exist in the area. This means the Arab tribes traded with others as far away as India. It comes with an interesting story, doesn’t it?
Take our 1001 Arabian Nights: Legends and Lore from the Trucial Coast tour to know more and delve deep into the past!
When: Every day except Thursday at 7 pm
Price: AED 150 per person
8. Get a view of the old and new Dubai from the top of Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame was one of the much-awaited attractions in Dubai and it was opened for the public in early 2018. Standing at a height of 150 meters, the Dubai Frame, appropriately positioned at Zabeel Park, provides the perfect platform to witness the old, rustic side of the city (Deira and beyond) as well as the modern, swanky side of the city (Satwa, Jumeirah, and beyond). To witness this view, all you have to do is buy a ticket worth 50 dirhams and head to the top.
The Dubai Frame witnessed 1 million visitors in just one year of its inauguration. This new landmark of Dubai allows you to see the past, present and future of the city in one tour. The sky glass bridge is 150 metres high and gives unique views of the “old town” and the “new city”. The Frame connects the two 150 metre towers with a 93-metre-long bridge.
Tickets can be bought online on www.thedubaiframe.com or at the counter for 50 dirhams (adults) and 20 dirhams (kids).
9. Visit the Miracle Garden
Dubai Miracle Garden is a flower garden located in the district of Dubai Land. The garden was opened on 14 February in 2013. The garden occupies over 72,000 square meters making it the world’s largest natural flower garden featuring over 50 million flowers and 250 million plants.
In 2015 Dubai Miracle Garden opened the Dubai Butterfly Garden which is the world’s largest and the region’s first indoor butterfly garden and sanctuary for over 15,000 butterflies from 26 species. Other attractions in the park include a floral clock, peacocks., flower castle and an aromatic garden. It also has an Airbus A380 which is the biggest flower structure in the world as per Guinness book of world Record. Dubai Miracle Gardens also has a Mickey Mouse flower structure weighing almost 35 tons to attract the kids and families.
The tickets for Dubai Miracle Garden are 50AED for adults and children above the age of 2 is 40AED.
10. Desert Safari
What’s a trip to Dubai without being a part of one of the city’s signature experiences? The weather in the month of February is simply the best for an activity like Desert Safari. Relish authentic Arabic cuisine at the desert camp, bash some sand dunes along the way, ride a camel or hop aboard an ATV/quad for a racy drive, and most of all, enjoy a stunning belly-dance. It would be a mistake to leave this emirate without going on a Dubai Desert Safari. Dubai is generally a desert, but you are not actually experiencing its desert without joining a Dubai desert safari tour. The tour is engaging and missing the fun would be a lost opportunity. But, what exactly can you expect in a desert safari tour?
The tour starts in the afternoon from your hotel in a 4x4 Land Cruiser! A typical desert safari does include dune bashing. It is such a thrill to drive through the desert, drifting over the tall sand dunes and feeling your stomach lurch after a steep drop over the top of a dune. At the camp, you can go for quad biking, camel riding and enjoy a great Arabic dinner buffet before you are dropped off at your hotel at night.
You can also opt for an overnight desert safari where you stay in camps or an early morning sunrise safari.
You can check here for more details on Dubai desert safari or book a desert safari.
