Before it gets officially too hot to walk anywhere, you can celebrate the ‘International Walk to Work Day’, and take advantage of these beautiful walking spots across the city.
Walking has long been acknowledged as the one of the best ways to increase your overall physical and mental health, and pays you dividends down the line, as well as reducing carbon emissions. Burning calories, getting your heart pumping, and being outside soaking up Vitamin D and fresh air is one of the best ways to start your day – especially if you work in an office sitting and staring at a screen all day. Why not round up some colleagues and make it a daily coffee-walk-and-chat occasion, and even add in a cookie as a reward for saving the planet and hitting those step goals.
To encourage you on your stepping journey, we’ve rounded up the coolest walking spots across the city:
Al Seef
Stepped in local history with old-world charm, Al Seef has a 1.8 km-long strip that highlights local Arabic aesthetic with the startling new (think a hugely Instagrammable Starbucks plonked in the middle). Meander through Al Fahidi and Bastikya and through the contemporary and classic, as the labyrinthine building tower over you. There’s also a stunning view of the Dubai Creek, which is stunningly lit at nighttime, making it perfect for your waltz home from the office. If walking really is not your thing, then you can jump on one of the dhow boats across the Creek or even a little abra to the Deira side of the Creek where you can continue those steps.
Burj Park
Downtown dwellers can enjoy the incredible architecture and soaring buildings of the Burj Khalifa and surrounding residential towers from the glory of a lush and green park. Accessible from the Dubai Mall, Souk al Bahar, and various other road entry points, the walking track around the Burj Lake and through the park is one of Dubai’s most popular tourist and residential spots. You can stroll across the Boardwalk, get a selfie with the urban sculptures dotted around the park and the giant angel wings on the far side, or simply stroll around and catch the iconic Dubai Fountain Shows.
Dubai Marina
Possibly Dubai’s busiest and most popular district, Marina is teeming with busy residents, picture-taking tourists, malls, shops, cafes, and restaurants, which are also conveniently spread out along The Walk. You can venture past the harbor and multitude of sleek yachts and sailing vessels, and in and out of cute and cosy cafes and shisha spots, or over the bridges into nearby JBR and down to the beach. This area is frequented by fitness buffs who are usually out walking, jogging, cycling, and with their pooches, providing excellent motivation for you doing your steps.
Al Qudra and Love Lake
A little further out of town, but if you work around Studio or Motor City you have the perfect excuse to do your pre-work steps down at the lush nature reserve and cycling track. Perfect for you and the whole family, this desert oasis features an array of bird life including pink flamingos, plus foxes and oryx. Feeling more active? Hire a bike nearby and scoot around the lengthy cycling track at Al Qudra.
Jumeirah Beach
Our top-rated spot, Jumeirah Beach has a dedicated walking, running, and cycling track that’s nearly 7-km from start to finish. It starts near the Burj Al Arab (hello, social media pictures), and runs right down towards The Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach. As well as the beautiful beach, which is packed with sun-bathers and kite surfers, the track itself boasts various cafes and food outlets, so you can stop for a bite, bevvy, or burger when you get too hot. It’s one of the more social places to go for a walk and can get quite busy in the evenings.
