Is the street art in City Walk permanent?

Most of the 'Dubai Walls' murals are semi-permanent, but street art is a changing medium. Some pieces may be refreshed or replaced by new installations over time, making it a dynamic outdoor gallery.

What is the best time for a walking tour in Dubai?

The best time is late afternoon, starting around 4:00 PM. This allows you to see the murals and architecture in daylight, catch the sunset at the Museum of the Future, and see the city lights and Coca-Cola Arena glow after dark.

Is City Walk free to visit?

Yes, City Walk is a public district and is completely free to enter and walk around. You only need to pay for specific attractions like ARTE MUSEUM or The Green Planet.

Can I see the Museum of the Future without a ticket?

You can view and photograph the incredible exterior and the surrounding gardens for free. However, if you wish to go inside the exhibition galleries, you must book tickets well in advance as they often sell out weeks ahead.

Is this route suitable for children?

Absolutely. The route includes many family-friendly stops like The Green Planet, the interactive ARTE MUSEUM, and ends at OliOli, which is specifically designed for kids. The wide boulevards of City Walk are also very stroller-friendly.

What should I wear for an urban walk in Dubai?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential. While Dubai is modern, it is respectful to wear modest clothing (covering shoulders and knees), especially when entering spots like the Etihad Museum or walking through residential areas like Satwa.

Are there many places to eat along the way?

Yes, City Walk is a major dining destination with dozens of cafes and restaurants. Kulture House also offers a unique dining experience, and DIFC is home to some of the city's highest-rated fine dining establishments.

Zigway - The Guide Follows You

About This Tour

Discover a different side of the 'City of Gold' on this self-guided walk through Dubai’s most creative and architecturally ambitious districts. While many come for the record-breaking skyscrapers, this neighborhood stroll focuses on the human-scale details: vibrant street art, curated galleries, and progressive urban design. Your route begins in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa at the immersive ARTE MUSEUM before leading you through the sleek, European-style boulevards of City Walk. This area is a testament to modern urban planning, blending high-end shopping with the 'Dubai Walls' project, which brought world-renowned muralists to transform the city's concrete into a public gallery. As you explore independently, you will witness the intersection of global culture and local identity. From the iconic 'Wings of Mexico' sculpture to the futuristic calligraphy wrapping the Museum of the Future, the route showcases how Dubai uses art to tell its story. You’ll navigate through the sophisticated DIFC area, known for its high-density architecture and hidden art spaces like Foundry, before venturing toward the cultural hubs of Jumeirah. This walking route is designed for those who appreciate the aesthetic pulse of a city—where every corner offers a new perspective, whether it’s a boutique cinema, a tropical bio-dome, or a museum celebrating the nation's founding. This self-guided adventure allows you to set the pace. Spend an extra hour browsing the contemporary collections at Galloire or grab a coffee at the artistically inclined Kulture House. By the time you reach the final stop at OliOli, you will have seen how Dubai has successfully integrated world-class design into the daily fabric of the city, moving far beyond the glitz to find a sophisticated, creative soul. **Note:** This area is known for its ever-changing character. Street art, pop-up venues, and temporary exhibitions may differ from what's described. That's part of the adventure - you might discover something entirely new!

Highlights

The immersive digital masterpieces at ARTE MUSEUM DUBAI

Iconic photo opportunities at the 'Wings of Mexico' sculpture

World-class murals of the Dubai Walls street art project

The stunning calligraphy-wrapped facade of the Museum of the Future

Hidden contemporary art spaces and community hubs like Foundry

The lush, architectural marvel of The Green Planet bio-dome

Tour Stops (15)

ARTE MUSEUM DUBAI

Start your self-guided adventure at ARTE MUSEUM DUBAI, located within the Dubai Mall. This is not your traditional gallery; it is an immersive 'Eternal Nature' experience. As you walk through, you are surrounded by digital landscapes where technology and art blur. The museum uses light, sound, and even scent to transport you to misty forests and crashing waves. It represents Dubai's commitment to cutting-edge digital design. Take a moment to appreciate how the digital medium allows for a constantly evolving exhibition, making every visit slightly different. It’s a perfect introduction to the city’s love for innovation and grand-scale creativity.

Wings of Mexico

Located near the base of the Burj Khalifa, the 'Wings of Mexico' is one of Dubai's most photographed public art installations. Created by Mexican artist Jorge Marín, these bronze wings are designed for interaction. When you stand between them, the Burj Khalifa perfectly frames your background, symbolizing the flight of human ambition. This stop highlights Dubai’s role as a global crossroads, hosting international artists to create landmarks that resonate with people from all cultures. The sculpture invites you to become part of the art itself, a recurring theme in the city's modern urban landscape.

Foundry

Foundry is a hybrid progressive art space that perfectly captures the modern vibe of Downtown Dubai. It serves as a community hub, co-working space, and contemporary gallery all in one. The design is industrial yet polished, featuring rotating exhibitions from emerging local and international artists. Because the content here changes often, you might find anything from abstract sculpture to experimental photography. Foundry represents the shift in Dubai’s art scene toward community-focused spaces that encourage people to linger, discuss, and create, rather than just pass through a traditional gallery setting.

Coca-Cola Arena

As you move toward the City Walk district, the massive Coca-Cola Arena dominates the skyline. This is the largest multipurpose indoor arena in the Middle East, but from a design perspective, it’s the exterior that fascinates. The facade is wrapped in an active LED lighting system that changes colors and patterns, reflecting the energy of the events inside. Its circular, futuristic shape is a landmark of urban engineering, designed to host everything from international rock stars to sporting events. It marks the transition into City Walk, an area where large-scale architecture meets pedestrian-friendly design.

Dubai Walls - Street Art

You are now entering the heart of the Dubai Walls project. This initiative invited world-renowned street artists—like Blek le Rat, the pioneer of stencil art, and Case Maclaim—to treat the buildings of City Walk as their canvas. As you stroll, look up and around the corners to find massive murals that contrast with the sleek, polished retail spaces. These works bring a raw, urban energy to the district. Note that street art is inherently temporary; pieces may fade or be replaced, which is part of the medium’s charm. This project was a major milestone in Dubai, legitimizing street art as a vital part of the city’s cultural fabric.

Roxy Cinemas City Walk

Even a cinema in City Walk is a lesson in boutique design. The Roxy Cinemas here departs from the typical megaplex aesthetic, opting for a sophisticated, retro-glam look. The interior design focuses on luxury and comfort, reflecting the upscale urban lifestyle of the neighborhood. It serves as a reminder that in this part of Dubai, even everyday entertainment is elevated through curated design and high-end finishes. The surrounding plaza is often used for pop-up art installations and seasonal events, so keep an eye out for temporary sculptures or design markets.

City Walk

City Walk itself is an outdoor lifestyle destination designed with a 'living room' concept in mind. Unlike the enclosed malls Dubai is famous for, this area features open-air boulevards, water features, and plenty of greenery. The urban design here is influenced by European cities but adapted for the desert climate with innovative shading and cooling structures. It’s a premier example of 'placemaking'—creating a space where people want to walk, sit, and socialize. Notice the clean lines, the integration of retail with residential spaces, and the way the Burj Khalifa looms in the distance, providing a constant architectural anchor.

Galloire

Galloire is a contemporary art gallery that bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Known for showcasing artists who push the boundaries of traditional media, the gallery often features works that utilize new technologies like AR and VR. This stop aligns perfectly with the theme of urban innovation. The exhibitions here are carefully curated to provoke thought about our modern existence. It’s a quiet, reflective space amidst the bustling shops of City Walk, offering a deeper look into the global contemporary art market and the artists who are currently shaping it.

The Green Planet Dubai

The Green Planet is an architectural and ecological marvel. Housed in a giant origami-style glass cube, this bio-dome contains a fully functional tropical rainforest. The design is centered around a 25-meter-tall man-made tree, which is the largest of its kind in the world. From the outside, the building is a striking example of modern geometric design, while the inside is a masterclass in creating a self-sustaining ecosystem in the middle of the desert. It represents Dubai’s 'nothing is impossible' spirit, bringing a slice of the Amazon to the Arabian Peninsula through advanced environmental engineering.

Kulture House Dubai

A short transit or longer walk brings you to Kulture House in Jumeirah. This is a multi-space concept housed in a traditional villa, blending a cafe, an art gallery, and a curated shop. The design is a vibrant mix of global influences, with colors and patterns inspired by the owner's travels. It feels more like a home than a commercial space, showcasing a more intimate side of Dubai’s creative community. It’s a great place to see how local residents are repurposing traditional spaces into modern cultural hubs that celebrate heritage and contemporary art simultaneously.

Etihad Museum

The Etihad Museum is a masterpiece of symbolic architecture. The building’s unique curved white roof is inspired by the shape of the constitution of the UAE, while the seven columns represent the pens used to sign the agreement in 1971. This site is where the nation was officially born. The design is mostly subterranean to preserve the historical Union House nearby. As you walk around the exterior, appreciate how the architecture tells a story of unity and history through its fluid, modern form. It’s a poignant example of how design can be used to honor the past while looking toward the future.

Satwa Roundabout

Transitioning from the sleek museum to the bustling streets of Satwa, you’ll find a different kind of urban art. The Satwa Roundabout and its surrounding buildings are part of the 'Dubai Street Museum' project. Here, murals celebrate Emirati heritage—depicting traditional life, dallah coffee pots, and local faces. This area is one of Dubai's older, more lived-in neighborhoods, and the art here serves to root the rapidly changing city in its cultural origins. The contrast between the high-design museums and these gritty, vibrant street murals is what makes Dubai's urban landscape so fascinating.

Museum of The Future

The Museum of the Future is arguably the most beautiful building in the world. Its torus shape—a silver ring with a void in the middle—represents what we know, while the void represents the unknown future. The facade is covered in Arabic calligraphy, which doubles as the building's windows. The script features quotes from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum about the future of humanity. This structure is a feat of 'parametric design,' meaning it was designed using complex algorithms. It is a literal and figurative landmark of Dubai’s status as a global leader in architectural innovation.

Capital Club Dubai

Located in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the Capital Club represents the intersection of business and high-end design. DIFC is known for its 'Gate' building and its dense, walkable urban grid, which feels more like New York or London than the rest of Dubai. The area is packed with world-class art galleries and public sculptures. The Capital Club itself is a private members' club, but the surrounding district is a public masterclass in urban density and corporate architecture, where every building is a statement of power and precision.

OliOli® - A Must-Visit Children’s Play Museum

End your walk at OliOli, located in the Al Quoz industrial area. While it is a children’s museum, the design philosophy behind it is sophisticated. It is housed in a repurposed warehouse, reflecting the trend of converting industrial spaces into creative hubs (similar to the nearby Alserkal Avenue). The exhibits are designed to foster 'open-ended play,' utilizing artistic installations that children can climb, touch, and transform. It’s a fitting end to a route focused on design, showing how creative environments can inspire the next generation of thinkers and artists in this ever-evolving city.

Frequently Asked Questions

The core City Walk and Dubai Walls section takes about 60 to 90 minutes to explore. However, if you follow the full route including the museums and Satwa, you should allow for 3 to 4 hours, potentially using taxis between the further stops.