A small desert fishing town now turned into a large global city… some people love it, some people don’t. I, myself, find the city of Dubai a bit too artificial but it is worth visiting once or twice. Well, I’ve been twice already. So maybe a few more times!
Day 2 in Dubai
On the first day we flew in, we just rested. The next day we started sightseeing. There are a lot of places to visit in Dubai starting with the world’s tallest building; the Burj Khalifa. This massive skyscraper is adjacent to the Dubai Mall. Remember to pre-book your tickets like we did as it’s usually sold out in advance.
The elevator ride to the top is quick, but be warned, depending on your luck or the time of visit, it could be packed like sardines in a tin. Once you reach the top, they usher you to a photo booth, take a few quick pics and then you have a choice of buying them – the whole process is so fast, you barely have time to think.
The views At the Top; the world’s tallest observation deck are quite spectacular, from the city sparkling full of night lights to views of the Arabian coastline with Palm Jumeirah. (We went to see it at night but they have time slots throughout the day).
And you if come back down in time you can catch the musical dance of the Dubai Fountain on the Burj Khalifa lake from the Dubai Mall promenade; this sound and light show is quite impressive.
The magnificent Dubai mall itself is extremely huge with so many luxury shops, restaurants & cafés – plus, it also has a huge dinosaur skeleton at one of the main halls.
You can easily spend the entire day here; it even has an ice rink and its own aquarium. Be prepared to walk a lot! You have access to the Dubai metro too, which is the most economical way of getting around the city. We used that!
But of course, if you want to travel beyond modest means use a city transfer, or if you want to travel in luxury, book a cadillac.
The Mall of Emirates and the Dubai Marina mall are also good to visit, though not as large as the Dubai mall. There were so many elegant yachts and boats docked along the marina – you can take a walk around the beautiful marina promenade just to view them.
Day 3 in Dubai
For the second day, you can go out on your own, or join a half day city tour like we did. Saves you the trouble of traveling around by metro or hiring cabs.
One great building to visit is the Dubai Frame which has great views of the old and new Dubai. We did not enter, but if you do want to; keep at least a few hours free for the museum, gallery and glass sky deck at the top.
Most of these buildings are covered as photo-stops on the Dubai city tour. You can also visit the Burj Al Arab at Jumeriah Beach – a 7-star sail-shaped hotel which is an architectural landmark. Close to it, Zabeel Palace Gardens, which is just outside the residence of the ruling family of Dubai is a good place to get pics as you explore the well-manicured lawns, but remember that entry to the Palace itself is restricted.
The Museum of the Future also has a unique design; we only saw it from the outside and it reminded us the one we saw in Graz, Austria. You can see it as you drive by on the Sheikh Zayed Road; but if you plan on visiting the museum, do pre-book tickets as it is quite popular not just for its futuristic look and Arabic writing, but the Sci-Fi exhibitions on the world of tomorrow.
Take a drive around Palm Jumeirah Island and you see many of the 5 * hotels around, especially the most famous Atlantis The Palm. If you have more time; you can even get a day pass to visit Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark to enjoy the thrilling rides.
To see more of the cultural side of Dubai, you can explore the Gold and Spice souks in Deira which is an older part of Dubai along the Dubai creek. This traditional market is lined with numerous gold shops and yes; you get a good rate too!
And then there are the oh-so-many spice shops where you can get kesar (saffron), spices, dry fruits and much more… And if you are not done shopping, hop on an Arba and take a ride across the Dubai Creek to Bur Dubai’s Meena Bazaar, famous for traditional jewellery, clothing and antiques.
A Dhow Cruise on the creek is a great way to end the evening with a view the city skyline along with traditional entertainment and food.
Day 4 in Dubai
An adventure worth doing is the Desert Safari. We got to experience the thrill of dune bashing in a 4×4 and then stopped to view the beautiful sunset on the sand dunes.
This was then followed by a barbeque dinner under the desert sky in a Bedouin type camp with belly dancing, tanoura dance and fire dancers. This was the part we loved the most, and we’re glad we saved it for the last day!
Just a note of caution; it gets pretty cold out in the desert at night, so remember to carry a warm piece of clothing.
There’s a lot more to see and do in the emirate of Dubai like visiting the Global Village or Miracle Gardens or Butterfly Gardens, even Dubai Safari Park. You could even visit the nearby emirates like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah but you can’t do it all in one trip. Unless you are staying for a really long time, a return trip is definitely needed to explore everything…
so as the famous song goes Habibi, Come to Dubai!
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Although Sarah has worked in travel for 15 years and specializes in Africa, she loves music, wine, food, and travel. Armed with her camera, she’s on a mission to photograph old memories and tell stories showcasing her East Indian community and her love for travel and culture.