Sheikh Zayed Road is Dubai’s skyscraper spine — a canyon of glass towers linking Downtown to the Marina, packed with hotels, rooftop bars and some of the city’s best-known restaurants. Fast, glossy and always lit up, Sheikh Zayed Road is where a lot of the city’s nightlife and business happens side by side.
Superbly connected by the Metro Red Line, it strings together several of the city’s key districts. Here is how to make the most of it, as part of our main Dubai guide.
Getting your bearings on Sheikh Zayed Road
The highway runs from Downtown down past the World Trade Centre and on toward the Marina, lined with landmark towers and hotels, with Downtown and DIFC at its northern end.
Where to eat on Sheikh Zayed Road
Hotel fine dining and high-rise tower restaurants line the strip, from special-occasion tasting menus to buzzy all-day spots. Start with fine dining and Michelin picks, browse the best restaurants in Dubai, and book from the best sushi in the city.
Where to drink on Sheikh Zayed Road
This is rooftop-bar country — some of the highest and best-known terraces in the city look out over the towers here. Go straight to the best rooftop happy hours, plan around Dubai happy hours, and see the wider UAE nightlife guide.
Things to do
The Museum of the Future and the Dubai World Trade Centre headline, with gallery-hopping and skyline photography easy to add. More across things to do in Dubai.
Where to stay
A dense run of five-star and business hotels lines the road, ideal for a central, well-connected stay.
Getting around Sheikh Zayed Road
The Metro Red Line runs the length of Sheikh Zayed Road with several stations, making it one of the best-connected strips in the city; taxis fill the gaps.
Best time to visit
Evenings are best for the rooftops and dining; sunset is the sweet spot for skyline views. October to April brings the most comfortable weather.
Explore more of Dubai
At its ends: Downtown Dubai and DIFC. Or head back to the main Dubai guide.