Dubai’s skyline is dotted with more jaw-dropping structures than you can shake a Lego block at and we’re mighty proud of our city’s architectural prowess. Surprisingly though, it’s not the mother of all skyscrapers, the Burj Khalifa or the regal or seven-star hotel Burj Al Arab that has won the title of Dubai’s most popular landmarks. A comparatively new photogenic contender has toppled these older icons to make it to the top of the list of the UAE’s most beloved monuments – it’s the Dubai Frame!
The majestic golden photo frame, which is the world’s largest building in the shape of a picture frame, has won the UAE’s Most Remarkable Venue award at Tiqets’ yearly tourism awards. Tiqets, the online booking platform for museums and cultural attractions pulled together the results from over 1.1 million customer reviews on their website. Having only opened to the public in 2018, the Frame located in Zabeel Park hasn’t been around all that long but it’s already got millions gushing about their splendid experience. Plus, it’s hard to escape shots of this iconic structure on your Insta feeds; the gilded rectangle rising from the park’s green expanse is every photographer’s architectural muse.
After ranking as the regional remarkable venue winner, the Dubai Frame is now in the running to win the Global category and will be pitted against tourist attractions from 8 other countries. You can vote here before October 19 to give the Frame that extra boost to win this popularity contest!
Meanwhile, here’s a handy reminder of why the Dubai Frame deserves to be the Global Most Remarkable Venue winner.
5 reasons why we absolutely love the Dubai Frame:
- Inside, you can soak up panoramic views of Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai from the other side of its sky deck which is a fantastic vantage point
- The glass walkway in its skybridge offers dizzying views of the city from a height of 150 metres and it turns from opaque to transparent when someone steps on it thanks to hi-tech pressure sensitive liquid crystal
- The interactive exhibitions called Old Dubai Gallery and Future Dubai Gallery on the mezzanine floor transports you 50 years into to the past and the future while connecting old and new Dubai metaphorically.
- Outside, it’s rectangle outline inspired by the perfect symmetry of the golden ratio of 1.618 frames sunsets and vistas of the Burj Khalifa (depending on which side of the city you’re looking from)
- It’s a fabulous photo-op where tourists and residents (don’t judge us) spend ridiculous amounts of time trying to capture it in their selfies or pace around Zabeel Park, determining the magical distance at which their smartphone lens can perfectly frame the gigantic frame in its entirety.