With a significant shift in what tourists are seeking from international travel post-pandemic, more and more individuals are yearning for holiday travel that guarantees meaningful, off-the-beaten path, sustainable and wellness-focussed experiences.  There are also vacationers who are looking to make up for lost time due to the pandemic such as multi-generational family travellers, in addition to ‘bleisure’ tourists or business travellers seeking to extend their stay beyond participating at a business event to enjoy the destination’s leisure offering.  Another category of travellers that Dubai continues to welcome are the remote workers or ‘digital nomads’.

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)is working closely with stakeholders and partners to ensure Dubai’s tourism ecosystem is aligning with and adapting to these trends, especially by highlighting and providing an opportunity for UAE residents and international travellers to enjoy the ever-growing diversity of the destination offering, further reinforcing the city’s position as the global travel destination of choice.

MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME

Holiday-makers are planning longer vacations as they come out of a prolonged period of travel restrictions and catching up on lost time following postponed celebrations such as weddings, honeymoons and family vacations,

Located within the turtle lagoon in Jumeirah Al Naseem, Il Borro Tuscan Bistro  is the perfect destination for some of the finest Tuscan cuisine in Dubai. With ingredients including organic honey, olive oil and vegetables sourced directly from the Il Borro estate in Tuscany, the restaurant celebrates seasonal Italian cuisine. Guests can choose to dine al fresco on the large wooden terrace overlooking the water surrounded by olive trees lit up by twinkling lights, complemented by the gentle breeze from the water.

A uniquely exclusive and multi-sensory dining experience awaits diners at Sublimotion at Mandarin Oriental. Twelve diners are welcomed into the exciting world of molecular gastronomy and haute cuisine,which marries innovation, art and technology to create dramatic culinary delights. The culinary extravaganza is complete with 360-degree screens to stimulate diners’ senses with imagery projected onto every surface, from the walls to the table.

Guests can charter a luxury yacht to sail across the pristine waters surrounding Dubai and experience unique perspectives of the city’s main attractions. A luxurious, private experience on-board a stunning yacht promises a memorable experience.

Bvlgari Resort Dubai is one of the city’s most exclusive and stylish retreats. Home to the first Bvlgari Yacht Club & Marina, the resort is truly an oasis of luxury. Featuring a number of accommodation options, including private villas, the property is the perfect space to spend quality time with your near and dear ones, with the feeling and privacy of ‘home’.

The Dubai Opera is the perfect destination to enjoy an evening of arts and culture. The destination hosts a number of world-class performing arts and opera shows, offering a truly memorable way to spend an evening.

RECONNECT WITH LOVED ONES

As individuals working abroad have been separated from their loved ones for an extended period of time, there is an increased disposition for travellers to book reunion holidays with their full family spanning across multi-generations including grandparents, parents and children. The city offers a host of diverse entertainment offerings and attractions perfect for the whole family.

Named ‘World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort’ for a record-breaking six years in a row,Ski Dubai is the perfect destination for visitors looking to brave colder temperatures. Guests can learn how to ski, snowboard or even play with the resident penguins. Ski Dubai’s 4,500 sqm Snow Park offers sledding, tobogganing, zorb balling, as well as rides including the Mountain Thriller, an adrenaline-pumping adventure, carrying riders 150m at speeds of up to 40kph.

The Green Planet is an incredible bio-dome, home to a tropical rainforest housing more than 3,000 plants, birds and animals. Visitors can enjoy an up-close and personal sloth encounter as the sleepy mammal roams free amongst the flora, meet friendly lemurs or explore the Australia Walkabout to catch a glimpse of wallabies or the Australian Carpet Python. Other unusual opportunities at The Green Planet include camping overnight in the rainforest, snorkelling with piranhas or even being a zookeeper for the day.

Roll DXB brings roller disco to Dubai for the ultimate old-school activity with the best retro vibes. Located in Mina Rashid, the space welcomes roller-skaters of all levels. Guests can even take lessons to develop all the fundamental skills and even learn some iconic dance moves on wheels.

MOTIONGATE™ Dubai offers a labyrinth of fun promising to keep young hearts enthralled. The theme park has introduced two, world-first roller coasters. On the John Wick: Open Contract ride, guests begin their journey at the iconic Continental Hotel before embarking on an intense, action-packed journey that recreates John Wick’s perilous adventures. TheNow You See Me:High Roller ride allows guests to experience the film’s masterful misdirection in real-time through a series of optical illusions, magic shows, and immersive storytelling.

Dubai boasts a number of water parks including Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm; the Arabian-themed Wild Wadi next to Burj Al Arab, Jungle Bay Waterpark and the beachside Laguna Waterpark located at La Mer. Promising thrill-seekers an afternoon to remember, the water parks feature a number of waterslides and rides to suit visitors of all ages.

BLEISURE TRAVEL

As a hub for business and global connectivity, Dubai welcomes thousands of business travellers every year. Now the traditional business traveller is seeking more from their arduous trips abroad, and injecting an element of leisure and relaxation wellness into corporate travels.

The city has seen an extension in the length of stays of business tourists, proving an increased desire to appreciate the destination itself outside of the boardroom. There are a number of high end eateries and refined experience which allow for the perfect space business professionals to unwind.

Bull and Bear DIFC is the perfect marriage between work and play, and will provide a relaxed yet jovial twist on the corporate world through its nods to the Bull and Bear financial markets. Perched in the heart of DIFC, this high-end dining destination offers delectable modern cuisine, with live entertainment throughout the week.

Prime 68 offers business persons an opportunity to soak up the entirety of the city from a lofty height, accompanied by some of Dubai’s most celebrated steaks. This swanky spot atop Business Bay’s JW Marriott is famed for its incredible meats, impeccable service and 360 views of the buzzing city scape.

BESPOKE TRAVEL

There has been an increased demand in tailored travel packages, as holiday-goers aim to meet their every desire whilst making the most of the global tourism recovery. Travellers are seeking out bespoke holidays which offer their favourite cuisine, off the beaten track tours, wellness offerings and other unique experiences. Dubai, of course, is a leading destination in bespoke travel with numerous locations across the city well-equipped to offer carefully tailored holidays.

Emirates Holidays offer tailor-made tours, combining the greatest experiences, attractions and accommodation from across Dubai, including a selection of exceptional excursions. All of which have been carefully curated by their Dubai destination specialists, who have toured the city extensively, equipping them with all the expert knowledge needed to create these unforgettable itineraries.

DIGITAL NOMADS

Remote and virtual working has become the norm for an array of global businesses, with many individuals realising the pleasures of being to choose where they can work from. An outcome of this shift has seen many people uproot, and travel around the world whilst continuing to work for oversees companies.

With the growing popularity of its Virtual Working programme, Dubai has become a hub for remote workers and travellers, with many shared work spaces and hotels moulding themselves to the future of working to accommodate these individuals. Co-working spaces in Dubai are growing ever popular, with the majority of users being employed by companies outside of the UAE. Additionally, numerous hotels across Dubai have adapted to this growing trend with vast offerings for remote workers.

Nook co-working spaces offer small private rooms, as well as shared office spaces for homeworkers, freelancers and small business owners to enjoy the fruits of settling in Dubai whilst perhaps working from elsewhere. Their spaces are set up across the city and equipped with complimentary Wifi included in their daily rate, as well as tasty on site cafes!

25 Hours Hotel in One Central near DIFC is the ideal spot for digital nomads to reside whilst working remotely. With its spaciousco-working spaces offering vast benefits include complimentary WiFi and 24/7 access to its facilities. These comfortable spots offer a flexible option just downstairs from the hotels trendy and luxury rooms.

Rove Hotels, dotted around some of the city’s coolest areas, offer incredible packages for long-term remote workers which includes accommodation plus numerous offers on F&B, Wi-Fi, and laundry services, as well as stylish and comfortable co-working spaces with access to meeting room and office facilities.  These hotels offer a sense of community for digital travellers, with young and hip residents between their Downtown and La Mer beach properties.

EDUCATIONAL EXPEDITIONS

Curious travellers from across the world are looking for more expert-led educational journeys, seeking out one-of-a-kind escapes curated by cultural experts. A number of culturally immersive experiences and a rich heritage make Dubai a must-visit destination for travellers wanting educational expeditions.

The architecturally impressive Museum of the Future welcomes guests to explore, learn and create. The attraction focuses on different elements including the ecosystem, bioengineering, outer space and transportation, in addition to exciting exhibitions offering an insight into the future. As an iconic, cultural landmark and centre for future innovations, Museum of the Future is a must-visit educational attraction.

Guests can jump on-board a traditional trolley bus for an immersive experience through Old Dubai with Heritage Express. The three-hour guided tour takes in dozens of key historical attractions including the Jumeirah Mosque Garden and the Etihad Museum. The special experience is brought to life through storytelling from local Emirati guides. This is the perfect way for the full family to learn more about the unique culture and history of the city.

Theatre of Digital Art (ToDA) is a multi-sensory, multi-media immersive exhibition, located at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.  ToDA is the first art initiative in the UAE to combine different formats of digital art including multimedia exhibitions, contemporary immersive installations, and virtual reality art, resulting in an eye-catching art, education, and entertainment hub.

Etihad Museum is a must-visit for families keen to learn more about the UAE, its history, culture and heritage. Through excellent exhibitions and displays covering more than 25,000 sqm, visitors can learn how the country has developed and evolved. There are also regular events, workshops and tours.

SUSTAINABLE PLACES TO EAT, STAY AND PLAY

Conscious travel is reshaping the tourism industry. As travellers grow more aware and concerned with their environmental footprint, they are seeking destinations that are safe and sustainable. Boasting a number of local, authentic experiences which place sustainability at the heart of their operations, Dubai offers a choice of resorts, dining destinations and attractions for the conscious consumer.

A unique oasis located in the midst of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, and less than an hour’s drive from Downtown Dubai, Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa is at the heart of an eco-tourism project dedicated to preserving the ecology of the desert. Guests can enjoy their stay surrounded by the desert dunes, and free-roaming herds of Arabian oryx and gazelles. Certified by Eco Luxury Retreats of the World, Al Maha also takes great strides in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage through research efforts and purchasing local artefacts.

JA The Resort is taking great strides to reduce its environmental footprint. From the property’s guest rooms to its swimming pools, hot water is provided by solar water heating, one of the most efficient uses of renewable energy. The resort also operates its own desalination and sewage treatment plants, which work in combination to provide fresh water and irrigation water for the grounds. Other sustainability initiatives include a tree planting drive, and even an on-site bottling plant, through which the property provides guests with complimentary drinking water in reusable bottles.

Rove Hotels boasts a number of outposts in the city including La Mer, City Walk, Expo 2020 and more. Roveis committed to preserving the environment and places sustainability at the forefront of its operations across its many hotels. The hotel chain places emphasis on saving water and energy, reducing waste and even invites its guests to recycle through its ‘Check-in with Plastic; Check-out with Dinner’ initiative, which offers diners at The Daily savings on their bill with a donation of 20 plastic bottles for recycling.

Atlantis, The Palm’s Atlantis Atlas Project is putting sustainability on the menu.Eight of the property’s acclaimed dining destinations, including Bread Street Kitchen, Nobu, and Hakkasan, have been teaming up with local suppliers and farms to curate delectable dishes which champion seasonal produce. The eight restaurants are sourcing an increasing number of ingredients such as microgreens, lettuces, heirloom tomatoes and mushrooms from verticals farm to ensure produce has been locally, organically, and responsibly sourced.

Andaz Dubai The Palm has collaborated with Green Container Advanced Farming to grow its own fresh produce on site. The hotel boasts a 400 sqft hydroponic organic container farm on its terrace, where it harvests fresh produce such as lettuce, herbs and microgreens. Guests visiting Andaz’s dining concepts including The Locale, Hanamiand La Coco will be able to enjoy dishes made with ingredients sourced daily from the farm.

BOCA is a Mediterranean restaurant situated in DIFC. Placing sustainability high on its agenda, the restaurant is passionate about sourcing local ingredients. The restaurant’s creative and exciting flavours combine to create inventive cuisine, including a big focus on vegan food. BOCA’s menus change with the seasons, with everything from local seabass ceviche and Emirati honey on the menu.

360 DEGREE WELLNESS

Travellers are increasingly placing their mental health and wellbeing as a top priority, actively seeking out wellness retreats and destinations. Dubai are global leaders in catering to a growing demand for wellness tourism, offering a myriad of mindful and relaxing experiences for the mind, body and soul.

The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel offers a range of tailor-made health and holistic experiences. Tucked away on the shores of Palm Jumeirah, and offering a variety of indulgent spa experiences ranging from three to 14-day retreat packages, the hotel also offers relaxing yoga and meditation sessions as well as comprehensive fitness programmes with healthy meals prepared by dedicated wellness chefs.

Nara Escapeshosts ideal getaways for those looking to get closer to nature. Guests can choose from two types of private tents amongst the city’s desert dunes and opt for a diverse programme of activities including yoga and meditation, or a Thai or shiatsu massage.

The Spa at Palace Downtown welcomes guests into an indulgent retreat with facilities ranging from an Oriental bathhouse with a hammam slab to Jacuzzis, monsoon showers, steam rooms, consultation spaces and a relaxation lounge. The treatments include relaxing massages,which infuse natural ingredients including dates, camel milk, black tea, saffron and seaweed to ensure guests receive a nourishing treatment.