Standing 828 metres high, the Burj Khalifa is hard to miss. The world's tallest tower naturally dominates the Dubai skyline, but the true majesty of the building is best appreciated up close or, even better, from inside. On a clear day, the view from the observation deck on level 124 is absolutely stunning, topped only by the view from the luxurious At The Top Sky Lounge on the 148th floor. And for those who would like to linger for a meal in the clouds, At.mosphere on level 122 is the place to be.

Right next to the Burj Khalifa is The Dubai Mall. To call the sprawling development merely a shopping mall is doing it a disservice. Even an entire day spent here isn't enough to see it all. With its 1,200-plus shops and 150 restaurants,there are plenty of things to do, and the venue is also home to an indoor theme park, an ice rink, a huge indoor waterfall, a choreographed outdoor fountain and the giant Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

Less than 20 minutes driving from the modernist streets of Downtown Dubai, you can experience the marvels of the Arabian Desert, the original tourist attraction of Dubai. Take a desert safari Dubai-style with off-roading, quad biking and sand boarding followed by traditional barbecues, henna and camel rides. Or just drive out and experience the wonder of the desert on an adventure of your own.

Fun, excitement, speed - and even 5D, you can expect all this in the enormous theme park, which is the size of 28 football pitches. With the most up-to-date and exciting rides, IMG Worlds of Adventure will bring your favourite characters to life. There are themed rides for younger visitors with Ben 10, Gumball, the Powerpuff Girls and LazyTown, while older visitors can delve into the world of Marvel heroes: Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and The Avengers. You will also come across life-size animated dinosaurs in the Lost Valley. The range of entertainment promises round the clock fun for the whole family, and there are also plenty of restaurants and shops.

Dubai is in the process of becoming a real entertainment paradise ? thanks to the forthcoming opening of the Dubai Parks and Resorts. Children will not be able to contain their excitement in the labyrinth of enormous theme parks such as Motiongate, Bollywood Park, and Legoland theme and waterpark, while the adults can relax on Riverland Boulevard which is home to restaurants and exciting entertainment programmes. The luxury Polynesian-style hotel, The Lapita, is situated in the theme park offering guests easy access to the facilities on offer.

One of the city's top tourist attractions, the Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall. As well as free viewing from the mall, if you enter the Underwater Zoo, you can walk through the aquarium tunnels. Different activities help you get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkelling and shark diving activities are also on offer.

Cruising down Dubai creek is a novel experience, one which you cannot miss when in Dubai. Imagine yourself on having dinner on a Dhow Cruise with the fascinating lights of Dubai creek with Music and Tanura Dance show with a sip of your favourite drink and BBQ buffet dinner.

This waterpark, based at Atlantis, The Palm on the Palm Jumeirah — Dubai's famous man-made island development — is a great place to cool off after a few days of hectic shopping and sightseeing. The waterslide action here is excellent and world-class, with the Aquaconda, the world's longest water slide; a nine-story-tall slide, aptly named the Leap of Faith; and water coaster rides. There's also underwater safaris using Sea TREK helmets; a dedicated water play area for smaller children with slides; and for when all your energy has been used up, a 700-meter sweep of white-sand beach.

As well as Dubai's glut of theme parks, a stay in the city can incorporate plenty more active things to do. There are plentiful desert tours, which head out beyond the skyscrapers if you want the kids to sample more natural scenery. Many of the tours include sand boarding or camel riding. To stick to the coast, the beaches and resorts offer kayak hire, as well as a bundle of other water sports to get the kids working off some energy in the sea. And for those who enjoy the complete oddity of having some snow-fun amid the heat, the indoor ski run at Mall of the Emirates can't be beaten.