Business Bay is located on the Dubai Water Canal in the Southern areas of both the Downtown & Old Town Neighborhoods. It is a popular area for buyers and investors looking for affordable properties and has top-notch amenities.
One of the key advantages of this location is that it is away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai’s tourist attractions. In addition, you get access to spectacular views of the iconic water bridge, complete with all of the lights and colors that it displays at night.
Because it is so close to the Burj Khalifa, Souk Al Bahar, and Dubai Mall, Business Bay is the ideal area to get a taste of city life without paying a high cost of living like other places in Dubai. With close proximity to a number of attractions, this makes Business Bay a wonderful place to live or visit.
Walk the Dubai Water Canal
Take a walk or ride a bike on this 3.2 km/2 mile walkway alongside the Dubai Water Canal. It offers fantastic views of the city skyline against the water and has multiple bridges showcasing amazing feats of architecture. The water canal begins at Dubai Creek near Business Bay, cuts through Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road and Safa Park before finally pouring into the Arabian Gulf. Closer to the Business Bay end, there are numerous shops and cafes to grab food and towards the beach, there are changing stations and bathrooms. With 5 pedestrian bridges that include elevators, this walkway makes it easy to explore the 80,000 sq. ft. of public spaces with sitting areas and over 450 different restaurants and shops dotted along this walkway. Don’t miss the mechanical waterfall where the canal and Sheikh Zayed Road Bridge intersect. Between 8PM to 10PM, the waterfall emits light and becomes multi-colored. You can also tour
the canal in a traditional abra boat, on a dinner cruise or on a yacht cruise (the most popular option.) The canal walkway can be accessed by metro and taking the red line towards the UAE Exchange and there is a parking lot unter the Sheikh Zayed Road Bridge. Get away from the cars and enjoy the quieter side of Dubai for free!
Travel & Shop at Dubai Creek
8 minute drive from Business Bay
Dubai Creek is a must visit for any visitors to Dubai. This old trading post is one of the main reasons this city exists today and showcases a different side to Dubai. Dubai Creek is 15 km/9 miles of a natural saltwater inlet used for travel and trading, and is very wide in areas with extensive wildlife. Dubai Creek separates the city into two main areas, Deria and Bur Dubai, but both sides can be accessed by the two bridges, tunnel, and small boats that connect the sides. The area is best experienced by boat and will take you to old parts of the city where you can explore outdoor markets and find unique souvenirs and treasures. This historic post used to trade with African and Indian merchants, and you can find international markets today. An evening cruise with dinner is the most unforgettable way to your area and enjoy the lights on the water. After dinner, enjoy some entertainment as this area is home to the city’s leading entertainment venues, museums and nightlife.
Tour the Dubai Aquarium
5 minute drive from Business Bay
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Located in the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall, this attraction provides a thrilling voyage into the world of the sea. Dubai Aquarium is one of the world’s largest indoor aquariums, with a capacity of 10 million litres of water. It spotlights the wonders of the ocean floor, presenting one of the most diversified collections of aquatic species. The Underwater Zoo, located immediately above the aquarium, allows guests to get up close and personal with penguins, piranhas, crabs, water rats, sea horses, jellyfish, and plenty more. The King Croc, a fascinating new addition to Underwater Zoo, is recognized as a rare natural occurrence and one of the world’s largest reptiles, measuring over 5 meters long and weighing over 750 kilograms. The Underwater Zoo features a variety of unique exhibits on a regular basis. ‘UAE’s Night Creatures,’ for example, depicts the experience of dusk in the desert as creatures of the night
Ice Skate at the Dubai Ice Rink
5 minute drive from Business Bay
The Dubai Ice Rink is one of the most popular leisure activities at The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment complex. The Olympic-size Dubai Ice Rink, located on the ground floor of the mall next to The Souk, has become a social hotspot, attracting people from all walks of life, young and old. Dubai Ice Rink has expanded its range of amenities to solidify its position as the city’s must-see recreational attraction. This popular Dubai Mall attraction has a bustling party/dance floor, and is a popular place for youth gatherings. Dubai Ice Rink is a popular destination for skaters and visitors alike, providing endless entertainment. Dubai Ice Rink is a great site for fun gatherings and get-togethers, as it guarantees endless pleasure for skating lovers and guests. It also has a number of unique facilities for children, such as the Dubai Ice Rink Skating Academy, which was just launched (DIRSA).
Shop & Dine at Souk Al Bahar
5 minute drive for Business Bay
Souk Al Bahar, the “sailor’s market,” is a journey back in time to the wonder and charm of old Arabia, blending the classic with the contemporary. It is enchantingly Arabesque, located in Downtown Dubai’s beating heart – a lively marketplace that offers the city’s residents and tourists an enthralling experience of shopping, entertainment, and dining in intriguing contrast to The Dubai Mall, which it connects to via a bridge that spans the width of Burj Lake. It has over 100 stores and 22 restaurants, cafés, and lounges, the most of which are located on the waterfront promenade on the outskirts of Burj Lake. ATMs, money exchange houses, and grocery stores are seamlessly incorporated into its historic facade, ensuring that the conveniences of contemporary life are always close at hand. It is, without a doubt, one of the most magnificent depictions of the Middle East’s vast and varied past that can be found anyplace in the region.
Visit the Palm Jumeirah
20 minute drive from Business Bay
Dubai’s distinctive palm-shaped island is beautiful to observe from a plane, while skydiving, or shopping for postcards to send back to family and friends. The area features an urban mix of island mansions, opulent five-star resorts, trendy restaurants, and fashionable beach clubs. There are a number of private hotel beaches along The Palm that can be accessed with a day pass such as at the family-friendly Riva Beach Club. Charter a luxury yacht for a sail around the coast, or amp up the thrills with a speedboat ride and wakeboarding excursions. The waters are calmer between the island’s ‘fronds’ and along the trunk, making it a popular spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. Walk along the Palm Jumeirah Boardwalk and sample food from nearby food trucks or rent bikes to quickly view the panoramic vistas of the Arabian Gulf. If you’re taking the Dubai Metro, get off at either the Jumeirah Lakes Towers or Dubai Marina stations and transfer to the Palm Jumeirah stop on the Dubai Tram. The Gateway station, which serves as the starting point for the Palm Jumeirah Monorail is only a short walk away.
Play at the OliOli – Experimental Play Museum
9 minute drive from Business Bay
OliOli is a world-class children’s museum that is a must-see! OliOli is a Hawaiian term that means ‘joy,’ and this museum consists of eight galleries with over 45 interactive exhibits. OliOli was lovingly designed and inspired by the ideas of educators, artists, development psychologists, and museum experts from 12 different countries. It allows children to engage in open-ended and non-judgmental play, learn to take risks in low-stakes environments, use their hands to make things and solve problems, and most importantly, play and bond with their families. If you’re hungry or thirsty, the light and airy La Petite Treehouse Cafe serves nutritious snacks and delights at all hours of the day. It is recommended that you book your tickets in advance and one parent can enter free with each child admission. Come in and explore, be curious, discover, and have fun!
Have Fun at the Dubai Bowling Center
9 minute drive from Business Bay
Take a break from the concrete jungle and visit Dubai Bowling Center. This center provides much more than just bowling to visitors as well as arcade games and e-games. This center has 16 bowling lanes, over 40 different arcade machines and over 10 different gaming systems for kids and adults alike. The bowling center offers professional bowling lanes, 3 projector lanes for a unique bowling experience and the latest tech for scoring. You might find some bowlers even trying to bowl backwards or blindfolded (all allowed!) Food can be ordered and delivered to your lane so there are no interruptions to your game. The arcade zones feature old and new arcade games, virtual reality games and even offers bumper cars. Every Monday, come in to play arcade games for a discounted rate! Their e-gaming area is called “The Zone” and features the latest, high-end gaming computers and game consoles in a surreal outer galaxy room. This center is perfect for kids and adults looking to play and is a great spot to host birthday parties.
See an Event at the Coca-Cola Arena
11 minute drive from Business Bay
The Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai is the Middle East’s first and largest fully air-conditioned multifunctional indoor Arena, as well as the region’s first year-round venue. This arena has a highly adaptable design, which includes a rolling modular stage, automated drapes, and a retractable seating system that creates more intimate spaces for smaller-scale events. With a capacity of 17,000 people, the Coca-Cola Arena can host major international touring artists, a full range of sporting events, family entertainment, comedy shows, exhibitions, and gala dinners. The Coca-Cola Arena’s entire façade is illuminated by an LED strip light system that changes color depending on the activities inside and brightens the nearby City Walk neighborhood at night. The Arena also features 42 corporate suites, raising the bar in the region for corporate entertainment. This arena is located close to the Dubai Mall and also offers a large parking lot for ticket holders. Check the Coca-Cola Arena website for an event schedule!
Dine & Be Pampered at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel
8 minute drive from Business Bay
This 5-star hotel, which soars above Sheikh Zayed Road, offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. It is the tallest hotel in the world with twin skyscrapers that are 355 meters tall and have 72-stories each. Visit their spa, pool or dine at one of the 15 award-winning restaurants and lounges, which serve Japanese, Italian, Indian, and Thai cuisine. It also has 80,000 sq. ft. of event space so check their calendar for upcoming events. For monster views, head to the 71st and 72nd floor to Vault – a lounge bar that features panoramic views of downtown Dubai and serves a wide-variety of wines, cocktails, and premium cigars. For a day event, make an appointment at the Saray Spa for traditional and contemporary massage and beauty treatments in their tranquil atmosphere.