Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Burj Khalifa, first named Burj Dubai, is the tallest building in the world and the world's tallest man-made structure. It is the most impressive sight on the Dubai skyline.Visitors can get an appreciation for the height from the observation deck, located on the 124th floor, called At The Top. The Burj Khalifa is situated on a man-made lake that wraps around the tower and provides a dramatic view.The main materials used in the tower are reflective glazing, aluminum, textured stainless steel panels and vertical stainless tubing.The tower claims not only to be the tallest building but also to have the highest number of stories, highest occupied floor, highest observation deck, and other records related to its service elevator.

The Courtyard is a unique building made of glass and steel that houses a variety of shops including furniture and antiques, artists' studios, photographic studios, media and advertising companies and a coffee shop.There are several art galleries within the Courtyard that offer regular exhibitions including Total Arts, which highlights artists and art influenced by the culture of the Middle East.The Courtyard itself is the main attraction from the wrought iron entrance gate to the varying façades combining building styles from around the world. Examples of the styles include an Islamic entranceway, a Moorish inspired façade, a traditional UAE fort, an Egyptian tomb, a crumbled stone house and the façade of a traditional wind-tower house in Dubai.Designed by Dariush Zandi, architect, the Courtyard was built as a quirky idea to differ from the usual Dubai architecture. Dariush is also the owner of the Total Arts Gallery that operates from the Courtyard.

Zabeel Technology Theme Park is located between Dubai Trade Centre and Al Karama. Spread out over 51ac, the Zabeel Technology Theme Park features food courts, a cricket pitch, a 2,000-seat amphitheater, exhibition centers and boat facilities on the lake. Pedal, rowing and battery-powered boats will be available to rent for use on the lake.The Zabeel Technology Theme Park is divided in to three areas with a conventional garden park, football fields, mini-golf, jogging track, a viewing tower and high-tech interactive displays. The high-tech displays in Zabeel Park include a space maze, 3-D theater, IMAX cinema and an 'edutainment' center called the Stargate.The jogging track offers soft and hard landscaping and has been built around the outward border of Zabeel Technology Theme Park.

The Dubai World Trade Center Tower is located on Sheikh Zayed Road. Inaugurated in 1979, the Trade Center Tower is one of the tallest in the region. The complex now consists of the original tower, eight exhibition halls, the Dubai International Convention Centre and apartments.The Dubai World Trade Center has 39 floors with many international tenants including General Motors, Master Card International, Sony Broadcast and Federal Express. The Tower also houses the Consulates of the United States of America, Australia, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Japan.Twice a day guided tours are available to the observation deck offering visitors a panoramic view of the city.

The Emirates Towers, built in 2000, consist of a 54-floor office building and 56-floor hotel in Dubai located along Sheikh Zayed Road. This pair of towers was built of concrete and glass creating stunning architectural design. The spires are over 1,000 feet tall. These two skyscrapers are within the top 25 tallest standing structures in the world.The Emirates Towers Hotel is set among landscaped gardens, lakes, waterfalls and public seating areas, located within walking distance of the financial district. A glass elevator from the hotel's foyer takes tourists to the top of the building for a breathtaking panoramic view.

The Gold and Diamond Park in Dubai features 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers all under one roof. The shops are arranged around a central square with a coffee shop that allows visitors to relax and take in the atmosphere.Unique finds at the Gold and Diamond Park include purple gold, black pearls from Tahiti and pinky white pearls from Australia.The museum, located in the visitor's center, presents the history of the Arabs heritage in producing quality jewelry. A 30-minute guided tour of the manufacturing plant is also available.The location of the Gold and Diamond Park makes for easy access at the fourth interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road.