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Jam Jar
The Jam Jar is more than just another art gallery. It's a studio too, and if you're feeling the creative urge, you can hire an easel, a canvas and all the paint and paper you require to create your own masterpiece. For those travelling with children, it's an appealing alternative to an afternoon in the mall.
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Jumeirah Archaeological Site
Only really of interest to archaeology buffs, this is one of the most significant and largest archaeological sites in the UAE, where items dating from the 6th century AD were found and can be seen at Dubai Museum and the Heritage Village.
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Jumeirah Beach Park
It's a real treat to take a walk on the grass at this verdant park, as it's a couple of degrees cooler than the beach. Fronting onto a long stretch of Jumeirah Beach, the beach has lifeguards on duty, a children's play area, barbecues, picnic tables, walkways and kiosks.
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Jumeirah Mosque
The splendid, intricately detailed architecture (stunningly lit at night) and the opportunity to have a look inside (normally non-Muslims can't enter mosques here) makes Jumeirah Mosque well worth visiting.
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Khor Al-Mamzar
This calm inlet must be one of the prettiest spots to swim, although construction on the Palm Deira is becoming an increasing eyesore. Showers, picnicking facilities and tour groups galore.
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Kite Beach
This long pristine beach is a great place to sunbathe, except for the kite surfers (hence the name), whose abilities range from good to good grief. No facilities.
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Le Meridien Mina Seyahi
This good beach and its great pools are popular with a more body-conscious clubbing set (Sunday to Thursday). The weekends are reserved for hotel guests and members.
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Madinat Jumeirah
The Madinat is a hotel, shopping and entertainment complex that delights and frustrates in equal measures. It's quite a sight, with exteriors inspired by the ancient skyscrapers found in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and interiors influenced by old Arabian merchant houses. There are some exquisite details here, so if you see some stairs, take them - they might lead you to a secreted terrace and wind-tower, with a mesmerising vista of the sprawling complex.
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Majlis Gallery
In a fabulous old house in the Bastakia Quarter, Majlis Gallery is Dubai's oldest commercial gallery, established in the 1970s. Compared to the progressive galleries in Al-Quoz, Majlis is much more traditional and gentle, focusing on paintings and calligraphy by local and regional artists.
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Majlis Ghorfat Um-Al-Sheef
It is unusual to find a traditional building still standing so far from the Creek, but this one, south of Jumeirah Beach Park, has been well restored and is worth a visit. The two-storey structure was built in 1955 and was attended in the evenings by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum. Here he would listen to his people's complaints, grievances and ideas.
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Meem Gallery
An ambitious venture by two Emirati business tycoons and British art dealer Charlie Pocock, Meem is dedicated to traditional and contemporary Islamic art. Recent exhibitions have included Ali Omar Ermes' calligraphic paintings and the pop art of Jordan's Jamal Abdul Rahim. If you're interested in learning more about Arabic art, this is a great place to visit and possibly make an acquisition.
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Naif Souq
More like a typical Middle Eastern bazaar than Deira Covered Souq, Naif Souq is where Emiratis and African expats like to shop for everything from fake Chanel shaylahs (women's headscarves) to cheap kids' clothes. Although this is mainly a clothes souq, you'll also find stalls that sell bags or kids' toys. Sometimes more interesting than the shopping is the amazing insight this souq gives into the lives of the locals.
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One&Only Royal Mirage
If you're not a guest, you have to win a mini-lottery to gain access to this groomed beach and pool with views of the Palm development. You have to turn up on the day (they don't accept advance bookings) and hope that hotel occupancy is below 80%. Only couples are permitted - no children.
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Perfume Souq
Several blocks of perfume shops near the Gold Souq hardly warrants the title 'souq', yet these bustling stores sell a staggering range of Arabic attars (spicy Arabic perfumes), oud (fragrant wood) and incense burners. More fascinating than the perfumes is the perfume-buying ritual - just watch the burqa-covered ladies waft the smoke from burning oud under their abayas (Islamic women's dress) as they sample the pungent aromas.
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Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Spy on Dubai's 3000-plus pink flamingo population, which flocks here during the winter months, from excellent viewing hides. Powerful binoculars can be borrowed to get a close-up of the birds without disturbing them. The juxtaposition of these elegant birds against the Dubai metropolis is amazing. Also known somewhat confusingly as Al-Khor Nature Reserve and the Dubai Creek Waterbird and Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Russian Beach
Also known as Open Beach, this is one of Dubai's few truly public spaces. As such, it reflects the multicultural nature of Dubai society and is a great place for a walk, especially on a Friday when most guest workers have the day off and take to picnicking, playing volleyball and splashing around in the ocean.
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Safa Park
This very popular park stretches for 1km from Al-Wasl Rd to Sheikh Zayed Rd. Lots of cricket is played on the wide grassy expanses at weekends, and after dark the rides (near Al-Wasl Rd) get busy. There are tennis courts, a soccer pitch, barbecues, an artificial waterfall, and a lake where you can hire paddle boats.
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Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum House
Now a wonderful museum of pre-oil times, the grand courtyard house of Sheikh Saeed, the grandfather of Sheikh Mohammed, sits splendidly on the Shindagha area waterfront, near the Heritage and Diving Villages.
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The Third Line
One of Dubai's more adventurous art spaces is operated by a couple of talented young curators, Sunny Rahbar and Claudia Cellini, whose exhibitions focus on provocative contemporary art. Their shows often include work that breaks the rules of traditional arts in the region to create fresh new forms, playfully appropriating everything from Pakistani miniatures and Persian calligraphy to traditional clothing.
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Total Arts At The Courtyard
In a modern courtyard complex with artists' workshops, designers, craftsmen and media companies, Total Arts holds changing exhibitions of contemporary art and Islamic calligraphy, along with rare carpets, textiles and sculptures by local and regional artists. Also check out The Courtyard Gallery while you're here.
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Umm Suqeim Beach
This white sandy beach, with fabulous views of the Burj, is popular with Jumeirah families and Western expatriates. Showers and shelter.
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Wild Wadi Waterpark
Wild Wadi seems to satisfy everyone's needs, with dozens of ingeniously interconnected rides based on the legend of Arabian adventurer Juha and his friend, Sinbad the sailor, who are shipwrecked on a lush lagoon, beyond which lies a magical oasis. There are water-safety lessons for children, more sedate rides for young children and nervous adults, two Flowriders (artificial waves) and the truly terrifying near-freefall Jumeirah Sceirah (hold on to your trunks, lads).
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XVA
A peaceful retreat from the traffic that's less than a block away, XVA is a contemporary art gallery, casual café and boutique hotel in one of Bastakia's most beautifully restored old courtyard residences. XVA holds regular exhibitions of art, sculpture and design, with splashy openings; organises Creek cruises with a difference; has a wonderful little gift shop; and runs a film club offering regular art-house movie screenings and discussions.
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Za'abeel Park
This 51-hectare park, stretching over three areas, has gorgeous lakes, ponds, a jogging track, sports facilities, a club house, and retail and food facilities - not to mention fabulous views of the Sheikh Zayed Rd skyline. Work is underway on a project called StarGate, a space-themed park-within-a-park where kids can learn about technology.
