Dubai has topped the charts as the world’s most picturesque city to explore after dark, capturing the top spot among global destinations renowned for their nighttime beauty. This accolade comes from a comprehensive study conducted by Travelbag, which analyzed a combination of factors including Instagram hashtags, light and noise pollution levels, and safety ratings for walking alone at night across 136 cities worldwide.
How Dubai Earned Its Nighttime Crown
Travelbag, a holiday company specializing in personalized long-haul travel experiences, conducted the study. Founded in 1979, Travelbag focuses on tailoring itineraries to destinations, providing customized travel plans that cater to a variety of interests, including cultural tours, beach vacations, road trips, and safaris.
The study revealed that Dubai leads among long-haul destinations for its stunning nighttime views. The Instagram hashtag ‘#dubaiatnight’ boasts over 27,387 tags, showcasing the city’s picturesque evenings.
“Dubai’s nighttime transformation is truly mesmerizing. As night falls, Sheikh Zayed Road, with its towering skyscrapers and dynamic cityscape, becomes a glowing corridor,” said Fozil Rakhimov, an Uzbek tourist who frequently visits Dubai. “The Marina waterfront is adorned with countless lights from luxury yachts, restaurants, and high-rise apartments in the surroundings. The reflections of these lights create a magical effect that enhances the beauty at night,” Rakhimov added.
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Dubai also excels in safety, ranking fourth globally with a safety score of 83.4 out of 100, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the city’s beauty without concerns. The city’s well-developed infrastructure includes well-lit streets and public areas, extensive security measures, and readily accessible law enforcement and emergency services. Dubai’s strict regulations and enforcement of laws contribute to a low crime rate, enhancing overall safety perceptions among visitors.
Zsuzsa Vinczeller, a tourist who recently visited Dubai, shared her admiration for the city. “I’m very grateful that I had the chance to visit Dubai. It has its own beauty, as every city does. Some of the buildings are incredible, and I love their architecture,” she said. “Everyone I talked to who lives there, from taxi drivers to office workers, loves Dubai and they would love to stay there long term, so that must mean something,” added Vinczeller.
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The stunning nighttime views of Dubai have captivated residents and tourists alike, with many posting photos and videos on social media. Regines Blog, an Instagram user, was particularly impressed by Dubai Marina’s skyline at night. She posted: “Dubai – Marina Harbour – beautiful Skyline in the nighttime.”
Kevin Kelly shared a series of posts on Instagram from the Burj Khalifa, where one can see the entire city glowing. He captioned his post: “Not only is Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building but it has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure and tallest free-standing structure.”
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Theresa Schiffhauer also posted a photo on her social media handle, showcasing the beauty of DIFC. Her post read: “Evening strolls with City Views. Dubai is such a multifaceted place – like every week I find new gems. Have you ever been to DIFC? If not, you have to visit! There are so many incredible restaurants and you will get stunning views.”
In comparison, Taipei, Taiwan, is rated the safest city to explore at night, scoring 86.3 out of 100, while Hiroshima, Japan, has the lowest light and noise pollution levels at 20.8 out of 100. Reykjavik is Europe’s prettiest city at night with a high safety score of 72.1.
As the sun sets and the stars emerge, many cities across the globe are illuminated by twinkling lights and bustling nightlife. However, Dubai stands out, not only for its beauty but also for the safety and ambiance it offers to night explorers.
The study by Travelbag highlights the top 10 cities to explore at night, analyzing Instagram hashtags, light and noise pollution levels, and the safety of walking alone at night. Dubai is crowned the most picturesque long-haul destination at night, followed closely by Tokyo, which has over 17,167 posts on Instagram with the hashtag #tokyoatnight. Muscat, Oman, ranks third, despite having a lower number of Instagram hashtags (132), due to its low levels of noise and light pollution.