Gleaming superstructures, traditional Arabian townhouses and sweeping desert landscapes; Dubai is one of the world’s most photogenic destinations. Here are a few suggestions for budding photographers.

Dubai Miracle Garden

A technicolour oasis in the desert, Dubai Miracle Garden is a surreal horticultural experience, seemingly made for your Instagram feed. More than 50 million blooms stretch as far as the eye can see. Capture the floral tunnel of hearts, the life-sized botanical Airbus aeroplane, and the record-breaking 18m Mickey Mouse made of flowers.

Burj Khalifa

No visit to Dubai would be complete without a shot of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. This skyscraper ascends 830m into the Arabian air, the slender needle at its tip kissing the clouds. Stand at its base and you’ll have to crane your neck, so the 163-storey edifice is best snapped from afar. Head up to its observation deck on the 148th floor for an unparalleled city panorama.

Dubai Creek

This historic curve of saltwater was the lifeblood of old Dubai. Today, its banks are lined with traditional Arabian houses, mosques, souks and palaces. Hop on a sunset cruise and sail up the watery artery as the sun dips below the horizon to capture this charismatic stretch at the most mesmerising time of day.

Dubai Desert

Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head out to the sandy slopes of the Dubai desert on a safari. Rolling dunes, roving camels, cerulean skies and sandboarders carving down the dunes are just some of the incredible sights to capture.

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Echoing the curve of Dubai’s ‘D’, the unmistakable silhouette of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is one of the city’s signature sights. The luxurious, sail-shaped hotel rises high from the Gulf as if setting out to sea. The best place to shoot it is from powdery white Jumeirah Beach early in the morning or at sunset when it’s quiet. Be careful not to capture other tourists in your picture, as it’s illegal to take photographs of people in the UAE without their consent or knowledge.

Al Bastakiya

Give your lens a break from shimmering glass and steel skyscrapers and treat it to a slice of authentic Arabia at Al Bastakiya in Dubai’s Old Town. Sitting on the Dubai Creek, it’s an area of immaculately preserved merchant’s houses, art galleries and cafés clustered around narrow alleyways. You’ll get some great shots here as well as a unique insight into the city’s fascinating past.

Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah – a man-made archipelago – is an incredible architectural feat. Home to gorgeous resorts such as Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the palm tree-shaped cluster of islets looks incredible from up high or out at sea. Head out on a speedboat around the archipelago, take a helicopter ride, or if you’re brave enough, skydive over it.

Dubai’s most photogenic destinations are all within easy reach of Jumeirah’s hotels and resorts.