Dubai Miracle Garden

Miracle Garden opened in 2013 on the edge of the desert and works only in the cool months: tens of millions of flowering plants are set out in structures, arches, hearts, a full-size Airbus A380 covered in blooms, and replanted each season, then the whole thing shuts for the summer when nothing would survive. Guinness has recognised it for the flower-covered aircraft and for the scale of the display. The planting is watered by drip lines using treated wastewater.

What you actually see

• The flower A380 - a full-size aircraft shape covered in growing plants.
• The arch walks - tunnels and corridors built out of flowering structures.
• The seasonal replanting - a garden rebuilt to a new design each year.
• The drip irrigation - the recycled water system that makes it possible in this climate.

When to go

November to May only; the garden closes entirely for the summer months. Evenings and early mornings are coolest. Weekends and public holidays are extremely busy.

Honest expectations

It closes for around five months of the year and arriving in summer means a locked gate. It is crowded at weekends and the paths are narrow. The plants are annuals grown for show and the effect is artificial by design.

Nearby

Global Village is east, and Dubai Marina is northwest.