travel stories dubai

What Dubai Taught Me & 10 Things You Should Experience There

(Versiòn en castellano)

Hot as hell.

That’s how it felt once I stepped out of the airport with 2 boxes of duty-free beer and the bag that had been traveling with me for a few months already. My friend was there to pick me up and I was planning to stay at his place for most of my stay so I hadn’t really looked up anything as I usually do before hitting a destination for the first time. Therefore I had no idea of how public transportation worked, nor that I was interested at that point. It was 2 AM and I was just ready to hit the sack.

Of course 10 hours later the heat was way worse. And it wasn’t even Summer yet! That fact alone quickly made me realize that I would never be able to live in Dubai. So you won’t ever witness this city on my list of places I would move to in a heartbeat .

Luckily, 8 thrilling days and 3 months later the memories that arise are much nicer and richer than just the scalding weather forecast for late April in Dubai.

Skipping the hotter hours, and trying to put it into simple words, I had the time of my life there. Seriously fun times that took me into numerous and fairly diverse city explorations. Here’re my most cherished moments from that trip. The ones that I would repeat right now hands down. And the same ones I would recommend you had a look into if a Dubai experience and the United Arab Emirates are on your list.

1. Realizing that everything I had watched and read about Dubai was true.

Dubai, like every big metropolis, has two faces. There’s the one that everyone knows about. People are pretty. Cars are huge. Buildings are massive. Malls are ubiquitous. Capitalism rules.

That immediately brings us to talk about the other side of the city. It is a metropolis under construction at one of the highest paces I ever witnessed. Traffic is intense. Everywhere you look, there are cranes and workers – sadly many times in dubious work conditions.

What’s it like to live in Dubai? It depends! As you can see, it can differ a lot.

2. Dubai is absolutely stunning at night

And one of your best bets to witness this is to head to a skyscraper’s top floor at sunset. I chose the colossal Burj Khalifa (829.8 m, the tallest building in the world these days!) to admire the skyline from its At The Top observation deck , snap tons of pictures with my beloved wide-angle lens before I crashed it in South Africa a couple of weeks later (oops!), become a privileged observer of the Mall of Dubai fountain show and rub shoulders with the busy crowd that had the same idea as I did.

After waiting for about half an hour and testing my patience skills, I finally took over a precious ‘first row kinda of’ spot. I left the premises feeling accomplished and with my SD card full.

As much as I love nature, buildings will never cease to amaze me. One of the reasons why I picked Architecture as my Major!

3. Alcohol is expensive – and forbidden in many places – and that against every preconception is a great thing!

– Could we have a look at the wine menu? 

Alcohol can be bought and consumed in many places in Dubai – and expats with licenses can even drink in at home – since it is a myth that the city is a dry emirate, but in many others, this would be a highly inappropriate question indeed.

I spent 24 hours in  Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana , a five-star hotel next to the Souks and Dubai Creek where alcohol has no place. During a whole day, I didn’t feel like leaving the premises and so I got to experience many of its special features without a single drop of booze. Yay!

– An exclusive dinner at its Shayan restaurant , where I tried Persian cuisine’s meat kebabs and other small dishes for the first time in my life. Notable design with many private rooms to host small and big parties. Excellent service, food, and mocktails. I will be back!

– An outstanding full-body massage in Zen , the hotel’s phenomenal Spa, which made me forget the rest of the day on a whim.

– Breakfast and lunch in Liwan , an all-day dining restaurant with so many international food choices that you’d need a whole month to try them all.

– My out of this world premium suite with a king size bed, 2 bathrooms (the main one with a luxurious bathtub), a living room that could host a party of 30 and unbelievable dazzling views over Dubai’s Creek, the iconic skyscrapers, and Burj Khalifa.

Although it was really peaceful and quiet, I had so much trouble falling asleep because of the excitement, since I couldn’t stop going from one side to the other picturing Dubai at night while feeling like Scarlett in Lost in Translation peeking out of the oversized windows and watching planes taking off every 2 to 5 minutes right in front of my room (not hearing them at all!).

I mean, what would you do if you could enjoy this suite for a night?

4. Brunch in Dubai is taken seriously

Actually, the good life can be experienced in so many ways. Take, for instance, the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach .

This hotel’s privileged location makes it for the perfect spot to evade the city madness and enter a peaceful oasis in the middle of the chaos. I visited it for a Japanese themed Dubai brunch in its Sea Fu restaurant and then toured around the facilities. That only made me want to go back madly. From its rooftop terrace overlooking both Dubai’s skyline and the lush gardens cramped with pools by the sea to its sumptuous indoors salons with live piano music and upscale Spa, it’s already on my list for my upcoming visits to the city.

5. There’s no better way to enjoy Dubai’s Marina than from a boat

Little I knew what I was getting into when I accepted an invitation to join a  Dubai Marina’s Yellow Boats tour around the Marina, the Palm and the renowned Burj Al Arab building among other well-known Dubai landmarks.

What I thought it was going to be a tranquil jaunt in an inflatable boat turned out into a thrilling ride I wasn’t ready to take in just then.

Therefore, I’d recommend you leave all your valuables home and get ready to experience this hands-free. Since I had no idea, my laptop, DLSR, and lenses were with me all the time and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much harm the crazy speed could make them. Fortunately, I left the boat 2 hours later with all my gadgets unscathed.

Apart from that, being a spectator of how the city transitions from day to night from the sea was a worthwhile experience I wouldn’t mind to repeat anytime.

My experience in Dubai got only better from then on.

6. The United Arab Emirates might be the most organized, clean, polite and safe country in the world.

Conservative but showcasing state-of-the-art features, spotless and immaculate, where everything seems to work just fine and you never feel insecure, that is how the Emirates and especially Dubai have been conceived.

You can walk around with the most expensive gadgets anytime of the day or night and just forget that something could happen to you. Critical info for girls as well, since no one will touch you or try to harm you in any way. Punishments are just too strict!

And that is just awesome. Because thinking that if there’re no sketchy alleys, crime and weird things going on travel makes no sense, is for idiots.

7. A stone throw away from Dubai there’s a major jewel: Abu Dhabi

And its Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque .

I won’t compare it to Agra’s Taj Mahal because the two are awe-inspiring paradigmatic buildings but to me, both of them are quintessential places you can’t afford to miss even when they are insanely crowded.

Again, lacking preparation I didn’t know that even fully covered I wouldn’t be able to enter it. Long trousers, a long blouse, and a proper scarf only took me to the changing room before entering the mosque grounds. From there on I had to dress in an  abaya  (traditional robe) and a  shayla  (headscarf) on top of all the clothes I was already using.

I won’t lie to you. It was hot and I barely could move while trying to keep everything in place and not show my hair as the shayla would keep falling down. It felt everything but comfy or appropriate in the beginning, but as I walked inside and saw every other girl in there dressed all in black as I was, I soon got used and forgot about this issue.

After that, I focused on taking pics and patiently waited till the sun went down to shoot the blue hour.

Wherever you go…

8. Getting up at 4 AM in Dubai could mean you got lucky!

Because if you didn’t get up that early for work, chances are you have something really exciting lined up. In my case, I was headed to the nearby sand dunes (one of the good things about Dubai is that the desert is very close) for a hot air balloon ride by Ballooning AE!

I have already talked about this experience in this other article of the most exciting flight experiences I had in my life . Head there for more info and pics like these:

9. Snapping long exposure shots in front of Dubai Metro is seriously amusing

And unusually cheap for what’s worth. It will only set you back a few dirhams, depending on how long your journey is. Something to take into account in Dubai, where there is no such thing as cheap anything.

Just run to the front of the driverless fully automated train and get ready to enjoy the ride!

10. There is a lot more than Dubai to UAE. Like, for instance, Fujairah

With 7 different Emirates, UAE is one of the most fun countries there are! If I was you I’d start preparing mini escapes using Dubai as your base. Fujairah is merely 90 minutes outside the city but the landscape makes it look like a completely different country altogether.

I was invited to spend one night in the  Radisson Blu Fujairah , in Dibba, a 4-star hotel spread along 500 m of a private beach.

There you can practice all sorts of water sports such as diving, snorkeling, and wakeboarding, have a drink in the poolside bars where DJs are playing mainstream dance tunes all day long, chill and get treated in the on-site Spa O2, dine at Breeze restaurant and wake up to magnificent Arabian Sea views from your room’s terrace.

What’s not to love?

Disclaimer: I was invited to some of the Dubai experiences featured in this article, but the words are my own and weren’t influenced in any way by the different companies / DMO. Thanks for the following:

– At The Top Observation Deck at Burj Khalifa, as coordinated by Dubai Tourism .

–  The Yellow Boats Sightseeing Tour  in the Marina at sunset.

– 24 hours in Al Ghurair Rayhaan & Arjaan by Rotana , its restaurants, and Zen Spa.

– Brunch at The Four Seasons at Jumeirah beach .

– 24 hours at Radisson Blu Fujairah , its restaurants, and O2 Spa.

– Hot Air Balloon ride over Dubai’s desert at sunrise by Balloon Adventures Dubai .

Finally, thanks to Vijay aka FeelFreeorFly  for inviting me over. I had a blast!

Still, I can think of many other cool things to learn in Dubai and stuff I’d love to experience in Dubai. Take, for instance, skydiving, an overnight stay at Dubai’s desert and properly exploring the Creek which – shame on me! – I hadn’t enough time for during this trip.

Expect me in Dubai again soon, because I am already planning my next visit !

Have you ever been to Dubai? Are the United Arab Emirates on your list of places you’d like to visit next?

There are 60 comments

Just Ooooowwwome

Good Article!

Wow! Amazing photography.

I am surprised how you managed all these things in a day. You are good at planning. Unfortunately, I am very lazy and take time to figure out things. :)sad

By the way, I started out my travel blog recently.

They were spread through several days :) thanks for reading and good luck with your blog!

I am myself a blogger in Dubai. Your content is very authentic and pictures are high resolution. Next time when you visit do let me know I will happy to host you a few tours.

Hi Inma, thank you for an amazing post. Me and my girlfriend planing to visit Dubai as our honeymoon destination. Your blog post gave me quite a few things to do there. Love the pics too ?

Thanks so much Nimasha! Have a blast there!

Dubai is pretty nice. I went when I was in high school I believe. I need to go again.

Hahaha interesting you found a Shayan restaurant…that’s my name!

Agree! Dubai is awesome.

Your photography is absolutely awesome!! I know Dubai, not well, but I was working in Kuwait a couple of years back and my company sent me there a couple of times for visa runs. I hated it!! Shopping malls full of designer junk and motorways… Not my thing at all! I was on a ‘Spartan’ budget and did zero research… This post has opened my eyes to what I missed… Great work!!

Thanks so much Grahame! We really appreciate your comment and get where are you coming from. Thing is that Inma was pretty lucky in this Dubai exploration and could see also a very vibrant and kind of luxurious side of the city. TTYS!

I am a travel lover as well and just returned from Dubai. To tell the truth, these flights take out all energy. Mostly I hate to wait for a taxi at the airport. This time, I booked a taxi in advance from the airport to hotel. It saved me lots of nerves.

Hi Kira You’re right. Waiting in line for a taxi s*cks. Luckily this time my friend was there to pick me up. It saved me the trouble. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Oh my god the heat! Totally agree with you, could never get used to it. I’d probably go back once more now that I’m prepared for the sensory overload and the filthy rich all around us. Everything is just so massive that you can get easily overwhelmed.

So true, it worked for me because I stayed there less than 10 days :D

wow, amazing photos, especially the night shots! Good job. I also have been to Dubai earlier this year. I wouldn’t want to live there for a longer period but I will go back for sure. There is so much to see and experience.

Loved every single one of your points, I’m so disappointed that I didn’t get to Abu Dhabi during my time in Dubai – I spent a week there, so that should have been plenty of time since it’s so close! Guess it’s the perfect excuse to get back for a return trip!

There’s always time to come back! :) Thanks for your nice words, Megan!

We’re going to Dubai next year so I really enjoyed reading your recommendations. The Four Seasons food never disappoints. Everything looks delicious. I can’t wait to see the city at night. Those are incredible photos that capture the beauty really well. What a crazy place.

Happy that the article could help you in your travel planning, Laura!

I am still waiting for Dubai to build the rotating building. They have more money than sense and the buildings are amazing. I like the time I spend in the Liwa area more than Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

WOW! I have always wanted to go to Dubai but this post just made me want to go even more. Beautiful pictures!

Glad you liked it, Bethany! Dubai had been a long time on my list as well, finally I made it happen last April. Let me know when you are headed!

Great images and a great read. Most of the entries on Dubai I’ve read so far were just a short notes from longer layovers. Your post gives a bigger picture which is an informative lesson. For example, I’ve never knew what one should see in UAE outside of Dubai. Now, that mosque looks really unique and beautiful.

Thanks so much Zofia! So happy you could have a look into it :)

Your photography is amazing! I love the way you put together your pictures. It really tells the story of Dubai.

Thanks Bethaney!

Hi Inma, Firstly I have to say this is the first time I am visiting your blog and already I love it. Your photography is so beautiful and after reading through this post I feel that I know more about Dubai. I’d love to go someday. My parents have been twice and disliked it the first time but really enjoyed it the second time mostly because they were a bit more relaxed. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Thanks so much! It happens all the time I guess. When you get to a new destination and feel the urge to see and do everything. Now I like to travel at a slower pace, although some days I still feel exhausted but little by little we learn! :D

Absolutely fantastic photos. As beautiful as it is, the traffic does bother me. I thought traffic was insane in California until I drove in Dubai.

Seen that road full of cars? Yay. I feel you! Traffic is pretty intense all day long. That, added to the fact that the weather is scalding, makes it worse! haha that is why I loved Dubai Metro so much as well! Takes you places in a whim!

I love taking photos at night, but your have shown me that I really need to up my game – gorgeous! Dubai is on my list, but honestly the expense and heat have kept it low on my list. Maybe I should reconsider?

Yes you should! For night pictures, these weren’t even taken as well as I should have.. no tripod except for a couple of shots where my friend lent me hims. For instance, all the night shots from the Burj Khalifa were snapped among tons of tourists trying to see what was going on with the fountain show and stuff. Pretty stressing to be honest :D

Dubai is on my list. .. after reading and looking at those amazing photos makes me more want to go there.

So happy to hear that. Thanks Anneklien!

Great share! You take some amazing pictures! I spent half the time just looking at them! Thanks so much for all this great information!

Your photography is amazing. I especially love the shots of the city at night. Dubai is definitely on my to do list. I fully support any place that gets behind brunch… the alcohol thing however, might take some getting used to.

Hey Mags. You are right. In the beginning I thought the alcohol thing was actually going to be a ‘thing’ but it wasn’t at all. As tourists you are never very far away from a drink if you want. I just chose not to for some hotel stays and really liked to soaking in everything else. We are so used to the ubiquitous beer than the solely thought of spending a day without one was a bit crazy haha

Wow! Amazing photography. As a keen photography myself, this highly inspires me to go to Dubai.

Plenty of things to enjoy as well! Cheers.

Obviously meant “keen photographer”.

Thanks Hugo!

Such wonderful photos. I have never read or seen so much detailed information about Dubai from any travel bloggers before. Well done!. Dubai is one of the places I want to visit so badly. We were supposed to do it this year, but our plans did not work out. Now I remember why I want to visit it so much.

Happy that you found it interesting. So glad this one is getting so much attention. I spent a well 2 days and a half crafting it. Nice to see that work paying off! :D

The picture are really incredible, especially the night-time ones, but it does sound so frantic and crazy, not a quiet liveable place at all! Just a good place to stop by and gawp at perhaps…..

You are completely right! As I said in the beginning of the piece, I wouldn’t live there at all, anyway it is a place I’d love to visit every once in a while. I just found it terrific!

Awesome post Inma.. you have have give us a virtual private tour of Dubai through your stunning pictures….

Thanks so much Prasad! That is a real compliment coming from you :) Happy that you liked it and hope to cross paths again soon!

Your photos are absolutely incredible!!! Love the shots of yourself with your camera as well. Such a unique perspective.

Thanks Anna! You know sometimes getting pics of oneself gets tricky :) That’s why I took over mirrors for this one. Might keep it as a signature pic for more articles to come!

Yes! Went to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaima and Fujairah for the first time this year!

How was Ras al Khaima? Would love to visit soon!

Certainly after reading your post & looking at your stunning photos I/we will have to check Dubai out :)

Hey! Thanks for stopping by. It’s been an awesome trip. Let me know if you make it there anytime soon! Would love to follow your adventures.

Comments are closed.

My Dubai itinerary 8 days: My incredible itinerary for a family holiday to Dubai

By: Author Monica

Categories UAE

I’ve just returned from the most incredible 8 days in Dubai! It was a family holiday to Dubai with Emirates Holidays and we found this 8 day Dubai itinerary to be just perfect. It includes staying in two different hotels/resorts and has a really nice range of activities for the whole family.

Here’s my Dubai itinerary for 8 days….

If you’ve been following me on social media you will have seen our family holiday to Dubai all week because we had such an incredible time there. I’d go as far to say that our holiday to Dubai was the best family holiday we’ve ever taken. Honestly, it was THE dream!

Dubai is the perfect destination for families because it’s so family friendly and our 8 day Dubai itinerary made sure everyone was happy. There were fancy dinners and cocktails as well as waterparks, theme parks, shopping and plenty of time to chill.

I travelled to Dubai with my partner, Sam, and our two little boys, George (3) and Joseph (1.5) and it can be difficult to find activities that everyone genuinely loves, but we definitely got the perfect balance.

If you aren’t sure if Dubai is the perfect destination for your family, check out my post: 10 reasons why you should take your kids to Dubai.

My kids are older now but George still remembers this holiday. They also watch that YouTube video I made all the time and they LOVE it. They’re always asking to go back so we’re definitely going to have to go back at some point. Side note: If I was to go back again with older kids I’d definitely do things like desert safari tours Dubai ! The kids were too little when we went but they’d love this now.

Here’s what we got up to during our family holiday to Dubai

Day 1 – fly to dubai with emirates.

It’s a 7 hour flight to Dubai from Manchester and we flew with Emirates who were incredible. It was our first long flight with both the boys so we were a little nervous, but we definitely didn’t need to be!

Flying long-haul with kids is actually much easier than short-haul.

When we fly short-haul we usually travel with budget airlines and the tiny seats and tiny aisles make it difficult! But Emirates were incredible and they’re obviously used to taking lots of families to Dubai! We had bulk-head seats so the boys had plenty of space and the lovely Emirates staff couldn’t do enough to help. Kids get toys and activity packs when you board the plane and the entertainment system is incredible. George didn’t even get his toys out of his bag because he was busy with the games and shows on the inflight system.

Arrive at Lapita Hotel

For our first two nights, we were staying at Lapita , a beautiful Polynesian themed resort within Dubai Parks and Resorts . The family-friendly hotel has that perfect balance between luxury, comfort and laid-back friendliness.

We were all tired when we arrived but the lovely staff perked us up, and a tour around the resort on a buggy impressed the boys!

Our huge room was elegant and homey and we were welcomed with the most incredible fruit basket, a delicious red velvet cake shaped like a tool box (we’re not sure if they knew Sam is a builder or if this was coincidence!) and little cupcakes with extra treats on the side for the boys to decorate them.

We ordered room service, put the boys to bed and enjoyed a glass of wine on the balcony overlooking the pool that was twinkling with pretty lights. Ahhh, finally we were relaxed and on holiday!

It has been snowing when we’d left Manchester 10 hours earlier and it felt so surreal to be sat on this incredible balcony feeling warm and relaxed while listening to the crickets. That snowy drive to the airport felt like a million years ago.

It had been a surprisingly easy journey to Dubai so it was the perfect start to the family holiday.

Day 2 – LEGOLAND

We all slept late due to jetlag so dashed to the hotel buffet for breakfast at 10.45am!

Sleeping past 10am is a rare treat when you’ve got toddlers so this was a good morning for us!

The breakfast buffet at Lapita was incredible and we enjoyed it outside looking out over the bright flowers.

Sam and I had our coffees in the sunshine while the boys chased the little birds who came to pick up their crumbs.

We then made our way to Dubai Parks and Resorts which is connected to the hotel. I’ve written a whole post about Dubai Parks and Resorts because it’s amazing and a lot of people don’t seem to know it’s there and it’s a must-see during a family holiday to Dubai!

It’s a leisure and theme park destination and is home to:

• LEGOLAND Dubai
• LEGOLAND Dubai Waterpark
• Motiongate Dubai
• Bollywood Parks Dubai
• Riverland Dubai

Riverland isn’t a theme park, it’s the gateway to the theme parks and has four zones; The French Village, Boardwalk, India Gate, and The Peninsula.

Our hotel room at Lapita was by the entrance to the French Village and very close to LEGOLAND (less than 10 minute walk) so it was a perfect position for a young family who don’t want to be walking far.

We had a stroll through the very pretty French Village which has lots of shops, cafes and restaurants before spending the remainder of the day at LEGOLAND.

LEGOLAND was brilliant and it’s so nice that the boys are finally at an age where they appreciate things like this. There are over 40 LEGO themed rides and attractions and it’s aimed at kids ages 2-12, but even Joseph (aged 18 months) loved it.

There are lots of exciting soft play areas, a medieval land and he loved watching his big brother driving cars and boats and riding trains. There was a lot that even George was too small for but it was still worth it and a really fun afternoon out.

We ate at the Market Restaurant which was delicious and had loads of nice options for kids.

We bribed the kids out of LEGOLAND with ice creams and walked back to the hotel to cool off in the pool at Lapita. This hotel pool is one of the best I’ve ever been to because it has a gorgeous lazy river running around it and the kid’s pool was huge. And to make it even better, they were both heated and were perfectly warm. We had a splash about and then went to the hotel buffet for dinner.

Day 3 – LEGOLAND Waterpark

On our third day we spent a few more hours at LEGOLAND but then headed next door to LEGOLAND Waterpark. This waterpark was perfect for us because it’s aimed at younger kids (ages 2-12 again). The boys had a lot of fun splashing and Sam made it onto a few of the bigger rides too.

We had lunch at a pretty bakery in the French Village and as we sat outside watching the world go by you could easily forget where you were and think you’re in France for a moment!

Our 8 day Dubai itinerary suggests swapping hotels during your stay and I can’t recommend doing this enough. It almost felt like we had two mini holidays. I know it seems like a bit of a faff to repack your bags and move but it was so exciting and it was amazing to experience two hotels!

Moving hotels…

Late that afternoon we left Lapita for the second half of our Dubai and itinerary! We took a taxi to our second hotel, the famous Atlantis the Palm , and wow, what a hotel.

I instantly felt like I was cheating on Lapita because I’d loved our time at Lapita – it was beautiful and chilled and friendly and fun, but Atlantis the Palm is something else entirely. This hotel definitely gets a gold star for first impressions. We had to pick our jaws up off the floor as we walked along the red carpet guiding us into the magnificent lobby and through to a luxury lounge filled with roses while we waited to check in.

The main lobby was bustling with people who were just visiting to see the hotel and we felt incredibly lucky to be staying here.

We were staying in a two bedroom Terrace club suite so we had some special extras thanks to our fancy room. Checking in in this lovely lounge was one of them but we also had access to different lounges around the hotel where drinks and snacks were served all day. When someone says ‘snacks’ I imagine it will be crisps and salted peanuts and possibly a Ritz cracker if you’re lucky but it was actually a mini buffet we could access for most of the day! It was amazing. But not as amazing as our room….

We were escorted up to our rooms on the 14 th floor. Yes, that’s right, roomS. Plural! We walked into a huge living room – which, kind of depressingly, was much bigger than our living room at home! Double doors led on to the master bedroom where the boys instantly scrambled onto the enormous bed while I checked out the massive bathroom and dressing room. In the opposite direction was George’s bedroom with a huge bathroom with shutters that opened up to the room. He had two double king sized beds and a lovely sunny balcony of his own.

One of the highlights of our room was the view from the terrace. We looked out to the sea and could see the famous Burj Al Arab in the distance. But when you looked down we could see the top of the huge fish tank and see sharks and sting rays on the surface. It was incredible!

Day 5 – The Lost Chambers Aquarium

Once we’d got over how incredible the Atlantis is, we explored the grounds of the hotel and the lovely pools, beaches and gardens before heading to the Lost Chambers Aquarium.

Whilst in Dubai we were doing some filming with a film crew to make a video for Emirates Ice Channel, which is their own channel available on the plane, so we were really lucky and were allowed to go into The Lost Chambers before it opened so we could film without people in the background. Yes, we had The Lost Chambers to ourselves!

It’s an Atlantis-themed aquarium and you walk through 10 huge chambers to explore the underwater world and see creatures you’d never imagine you’d see in real life. It was so beautiful, tranquil and serene and the most incredible aquarium you could imagine. Cushions are scattered in front of many of the enormous glass windows so you can sit down and watch over 65,000 marine animals within this magical setting.

This was such an amazing experience because Sam and I were just as entranced as George and Joseph were and we could have stayed here all day.

Side note: They also do morning yoga in the Lost Chambers for any of my fellow yogis! I hadn’t realised until it was too late but I really wish I’d done this!

We checked out the amazing kid’s club and then had lunch at The Shore , a luxurious beach bar serving Mexican food.

We took the kids back to our room for an afternoon nap and then spent the rest of the day splashing around the pool and beach.

Day 6 – Aquaventure

No Dubai itinerary would be complete without a trip to Aquaventure.

Aquaventure is the Middle East and Europe’s number 1 waterpark and it’s HUGE! It’s part of Atlantis the Palm and, once again, we had the amazing opportunity to go in before it opened with the film crew.

Sam made the most of it by trying out some of the bigger rides before there were any queues while I splashed around the kid’s pool with the boys.

There’s Splashers Children’s Area which is great for brave little ones or those over 3 but there’s also a brand new kids area for babies and younger ones. This was great for us because George and Joseph were a bit scared by Splashers but the tiny slides and shallow water in the new bit was amazing. I spent the next three hours stood at the bottom of slides applauding the boys as they came down again and again and again! That’s mum life! If you’re planning a family holiday to Dubai then I 100% recommend Aquaventure. If you don’t do anything else on this itinerary, go here!

Once again, we went back to our room for an afternoon nap before heading back out to the pool, beach and pirate ship play area.

Now it’s time for the adult’s treat in this Dubai itinerary…

That evening we had babysitters from the hotel come into our room to watch the kids while Sam and I went out for dinner at YUAN, Dubai’s best Chinese restaurant within the hotel resort.

I was a bit nervous about leaving the kids with a stranger but my mind was at rest as soon as two lovely ladies arrived. They came in with arms full of toys and the boys barely even noticed us after that! The babysitters gave the boys their dinner which arrived via room service, played with them for an hour and put them to bed.

The food at YUAN was delicious and definitely not like the Chinese takeaways I’m used to. We started off with cocktails and then had fried and steamed dumplings. We shared our main courses because we couldn’t decide between the Waygu beef and the duck. We followed up with decadent deserts before taking a much needed walk around the hotel which looks so pretty at night.

Day 7 – Burj Khalifa, Kidzania, Open top bus and Dubai Miracle Garden

The 7th day of our Dubai itinerary was a busy one with lots of family-friendly activities.

We were spoiled rotten when we went up the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, because we were invited to the 148 th floor where we were the only people in the lounge. It was such a magical experience to see Dubai from an incredible vantage point and it was another experience where the boys were just as excited as Sam and I.

After visiting the Burj Khalifa we walked to Kidzania which is nearby.

Kidzania is an ‘enteractional’ interactive city run by kids and is a must-visit during a family holiday to Dubai. It’s basically a mini indoor city with shops and hospitals and a fire department and dentists etc and kids run it all. You have special Kidzania money that they earn through working jobs and then use it to drive cars and other fun things. It’s a really fun place but George was a bit young for it and just got frustrated people kept telling him what to do. I can imagine they’d both love it in a few years though!

If you want to do some shopping then this is the section of the Dubai itinerary for you!

We had lunch in Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in the world. Dubai Mall is absolutely incredible and I can highly recommend a walk around the mall, even if you aren’t here for the shopping! 

After a stroll around Dubai Mall, we jumped on the City Sightseeing Tour bus. This was OK but I’d recommend doing it at around 5pm when it’s cooler. We could only get seats in the sun and were melting at the top of the bus! It was too hot to really enjoy the sights. 

Our final stop was Dubai Miracle Garden which was a bit of a drive but it is the most extravagant and incredible flower garden I’ve ever seen (of course, we were in Dubai!) Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of the gardens and flowers because by this point the boys were hot and tired so we didn’t stay long.

We made our way back to Atlantis the Palm in time for a long nap.

That evening we were taking a walk around the hotel grounds and we saw they were setting up a big cinema screen on the beach with huge beach bean bags. We hung around and realised it was a family film so we dived onto a bean bag, ordered some popcorn and snuggled up under some warm towels to watch Moana.

It was absolutely magical to be snuggled together under a palm tree, hearing the waves in the distance with the iconic hotel behind us and twinkling lights all around. It was the first time we’ve sat and watched a film all together so it was lovely. Joseph jumped up from our beanbag from time to time to have a little dance (that film has catchy songs!) and then crawled back under a towel to enjoy the film.

It was another reason why family holidays to Dubai are so great, they seem to think of everything and cater to every member of the family. Kids aren’t an afterthought here, kids are the reason people come!

Day 8 – Leaving day

It was with heavy hearts we packed our bags to leave Dubai .

On family holidays like this I’m usually ready to go home after a week away. I love travelling but I also love being at home and I feel ready to leave. But oh no, not this time. I could have happily stayed for another week in Dubai and we were all genuinely gutted to be going home.

Our flight home was as easy as the one out but it wasn’t nearly as exciting.

Overall thoughts about family holidays to Dubai

I can’t recommend Dubai enough for families. The activities and resorts were brilliant and there was so much to do for everyone. I think Dubai is best for families in the UK looking for winter sun because you’re almost guaranteed gorgeous weather and it isn’t too far to travel.

The Canary Islands are usually a firm favourite for family winter sun holidays but they aren’t nearly as glam as Dubai!

I really enjoyed staying at two different resorts. It made the holiday feel much longer and was exciting to explore somewhere new half way through the trip. I know it seems like an effort but it’s definitely something we’ll be doing again.

Pin this for later ->

Emirates Holidays

This holiday was in partnership with Emirates Holidays who, as you can probably tell from this post, were incredible. I had a few ideas about what I wanted to do but they had so many family friendly suggestions. Emirates Holidays are the specialists so they’re great at creating personalised itineraries to meet your individual needs – whether that’s a family trip, a romantic escape, an adventurous, privately guided holiday (dreams!) then they’re fabulously for helping you plan your trip. They’re experts in Dubai, Indian Ocean and South East Asia and South Africa – basically, all the places I want to go!

If you’re wondering what to pack for Dubai then I’ve got a Dubai packing guide here!

Thursday 2nd of May 2024

Absolutely agree, Monica! 

What an amazing guide for family holidays in Dubai! My family and I can't wait for our 2-day stay in Dubai this summer. Can't wait to slouch over cushions and watch the sealife—it's going to be so much fun!

Wednesday 22nd of May 2019

Sounds like a perfect trip. Which month did you go? We are planning to go in Oct and not sure whether weather will be too hot to do some of the outdoors activities in your blog.

TheTravelHack

We went in March so I think October will be similar or just slightly hotter. To be honest, the only thing that was too hot was an open top bus tour! We already knew it was a bad idea but we were with a film crew who wanted to get some shots on the bus so went 2-3 stops and got off again! I think October would be a really nice time to go.

Hanif shaikh

Monday 25th of March 2019

Thanks monica. really awesome guide for family Holiday plan in dubai. Some other place is also option. But this one is best for family tour enjoy.

Thursday 7th of March 2019

This is amazing! the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah is the best option. there are no other places to enjoy the family vacation than in Dubai.

Angharad Paull

Monday 20th of August 2018

Currently stuck on ideas for where to spend October half term (it's our first holiday restricted to term times), but then I remembered your Dubai post! I've just been reading through, transfixed - this is EXACTLY what I want and where I want to go! Off to do some flight research now!

Ameera Bousaid

Wednesday 27th of February 2019

Hi Paull! If you are looking for a great place to stay in UAE with beautiful views, relaxing private pools and huge villas, it's definitely Al Habtoor Polo Resort. My stay in there is really unforgettable. I was lucky enough to booked me and my whole family a 4 bedroom villas just for AED 2500 on weekdays.

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A trip back in time to old Dubai

Supercars may be Dubai’s current transport of choice – but a spice-scented dhow trip will take you worlds away from the modern Emirate’s shiny skyscrapers.

It was early evening in Dubai and the sky was streaked rose and peach as the sun dipped towards the horizon. At the edge of the salt-water creek that splits the city in two, the water glowed with reflected light, and the scent of cinnamon, cloves and frankincense drifted across from the spice souk.

I was in Bur Dubai, the emirate’s original trading hub and its commercial heart until little more than 100 years ago. Today, it may not have the flash of new Dubai further inland, but it remains a busy site of Middle Eastern trade, packed with vibrant souks and bustling jetties. 

The Arabian Peninsula has a rich maritime history. Wooden boats, or dhows, have been used in the region for centuries, and were key in developing thriving fishing, pearl diving and trade industries. Dhows were a way of life for the coastal tribes of Dubai, who strode the sandy shores long before the five-star beach bars arrived. Today, the Emiratis may deal more in stocks than fish – but this traditional mode of transport still plies a handsome trade on the main waterway of Dubai Creek.

Before me, a busy scene unfolded: docking stations on either side of the creek were lined with huge, multi-coloured cargo dhows, packed with crates bringing merchandise from Iran and beyond. Meanwhile, commuters crossed the waterway on abras : short, nippy wooden dhows with open sides and simple roofs that act as water taxis. 

Amid all this action floated the sailing dhows, the glamorous vessels that most people associate with old Arabia. Nowadays, these vessels, with their slender hulls, shallow bodies and soaring masts, are usually motorised and used for tours. But thanks to traditional local craftsmanship, they retain the gravitas and elegance of old, particularly when viewed alongside their humbler cousins: the abra and the cargo dhow.

Although there’s a slew of organised dhow tours available across Dubai  – including lunch, dinner, moonlight and sightseeing cruises ­– I was after a more authentically Arabian boating experience. Just before sunset, I headed to rickety Bur Dubai Abra Station, next to the souks along the creek’s banks, where jewellers, pastry vendors, tailors and spice sellers were gearing up for the hustle and bustle of evening trade – a lucrative period in a country where daytime temperatures can reach 50C. This is the perfect time to make the cross-creek abra journey to the famous gold and spice souks in the Deira neighbourhood on the opposite bank.

At the dockside, a series of wooden ramps led down to floating jetties. The bustling area was filled with passengers pushing their way through the muggy, spice-scented air to secure a seat on the next abra, while men hurried past pushing carts piled with cloth and silks en route to the nearby textile souk.

In centuries past, this waterway would have been full of dhows from across the region, bringing jewels, exotic foodstuffs and handicrafts from Persia, China and India. Today, the jetties were busy with commuting traders, kohl-eyed ladies in full burkas, Emirati men in pristine white dishdashas (the ankle-length white garment worn by local men across the region), sharp-suited businessmen and wide-eyed tourists, all cheerfully vying for space on the wooden benches.

At a cost of one dirham, this trip is a bargain in a city that tends not to believe in such things. Pushed forward by the waiting crowd, I hopped from the jetty onto the next boat that pulled up, and took a seat on the broad, central bench. Moments later I was joined by a young local family, the mother loudly chastising her two sons in Arabic for playing around.

As the boatman called for everyone to pass their money to him down the line of seated passengers, the creaking boat set off, making its way slowly upstream towards the souks. It was an aural journey as much as a physical one, with a soundtrack of gently lapping water, snatches of laughter from passing boats and the thrumming of the tiny engine accompanied by the haunting Muslim call to prayer that echoed over the water. Crossing at this time of day was magical: as the sun dropped and the skies deepened to orange, Bur Dubai’s traditional wind towers and minarets were thrown into sharp relief on the skyline. The fragrance of exotic spices grew stronger as the abra drew closer to the opposite shore.

Up ahead, the creek’s meandering curves were lined with buildings that steadily increased in size, from the soft, low domes of the Grand Mosque , past the consular district to the distinctive ridged towers of the Radisson Blu Hotel and onto the sparkling inland skyscrapers, including the pyramid-shaped Wafi Mall ; the vibrant Downtown district, with its numerous hotels, shops and restaurants; and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa .  

As the sun sank and the skies darkened, hundreds of tiny lights covering the Al Mansour Dhow – one of Dubai’s oldest dhows that has been turned into an iconic travelling restaurant – ­flickered on, and the elegant old ship lit up on the water, allowing us to admire the statuesque vessel in full evening attire. There was lull in the conversation on our little boat, as all eyes turned to the brightly lit dhow proudly setting out on its evening excursion. The local woman next to me hugged her little sons close as they watched with round eyes. The passengers on that grand boat might be heading out for an evening dinner cruise, but we were the ones who got to watch it happen. 

The last vestiges of vermillion dissolved in the night sky and warm darkness enveloped us like a shawl. Night had settled on Dubai Creek.

Too soon, the abra pulled up at the Deira Souks Abra Station, depositing passengers to explore the intoxicating avenues of the spice market or barter their way through the glittering stalls of the gold souk. The water taxi trip lasted just a few minutes, but had taken us worlds away from the shiny buildings and flash cars of the modern Emirate. For that brief trip, travelling across the waters that were once the highway connecting Dubai to the east, I felt like I had stepped back in time.

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Top 15 Dubai Instagrammers you should be following for travel inspiration

Last Updated on June 25, 2022 by gregor

Dubai is an overwhelming city of inspiration. So many things to discover.  It is vibrant, full of energy and you can enjoy a lot of exciting monuments and stunning places. Every time I am here it looks different with countless new buildings and resorts for pleasure, entertainment, and business.

In planning my vacations I leverage many sources of inspiration. One of the best sources is Instagram the popular Social Media photo sharing platform.

Here are my Top Dubai Instagramers to follow for your perfect Dubai Travel inspiration

TravelJunkieDiary (Michelle Karam)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Karam (@michkaram)

Shackette (Junell Hackette)

? Dubai, UAE ? [email protected] www.junellcornejo.com

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Junell جونيل | Dubai (@shackette)

Secretsquirelfood (KAREN MCLEAN)

? Winner 2016 Stylist Arabia Food Social Media Awards ?DUBAI based Activia brand ambassador ❤️

View this post on Instagram A post shared by •KAREN MCLEAN• (@secretsquirrelfood)

eliaselindari

Elias El-indari – SMF Blog

A Gentleman’s Inspiration. Menswear & Lifestyle – Dubai. ✉️ [email protected]

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elias El-indari (@eliaselindari)

Taimalfalasi (Taim AlFalasi)

?? Dubai,UAE. Food | Travel | Lifestyle ✉️ [email protected] instagram.com/tan

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taim AlFalasi تيم الفلاسي | 🇦🇪 (@taimalfalasi)

  Noreenwasti (noni’s place)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noreen Wasti (@noreenwasti)

Lizettepitout

Lizette – Dubai

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPUA4AygBGf/?taken-by=lizettepitout

Jeromerafael

? Fujifilm X30 | ?iPhone 6s

View this post on Instagram A post shared by J (@jeromerafael)

Heraldherrera (Herald | Dubai)

Architecture. Design. Instameets. Street. Strangers. Moments. Life

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Herald (@heraldherrera)

mycustardpie

Sally Prosser ? ? ✈️ ?? in Dubai Whole food, authentic travel, wine, gin & other stories

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sally Prosser (@mycustardpie)

Ibrahim Albeshari⠀ [email protected]

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ibrahim Albeshari (@ialbeshari)

Lifestyle content creator From Ljubljana, Slovenia || Living in Dubai ✉️: [email protected]

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tjaša Džafić (@tjasha)

#MyDubai A biography of the lives of Dubai’s residents and visitors – #MyDubai سيرة مصورة من يوميات المقيمين والزائرين في دبي ننق  #MyDubai

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #MyDubai (@mydubai)

Thanks for wonderful cooperation with @madinatjumeirah

Click for more Info about MadinatJumeirah

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madinat Jumeirah (@madinatjumeirah)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greg Sideris I Vienna (@gregsideris)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQAA3OJjuUV/?taken-by=hannahargyle

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP8c8nkg7se/?taken-by=cbezerraphotos

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marina Comes ✈︎ Let’s Explore! (@marinacomes)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lowi Sahi (@lowisahi)

Thanks @flydubai

Click for more Info FLYDUBAI

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DUBAI Travel Experience | Tourists Recommend Itinerary DUBAI, UAE

Embark on a captivating journey with our latest blog post, “Dubai Through the Eyes of Travelers: Short Personal Stories for travel to Dubai.” This post is not just about the towering skyscrapers and opulent lifestyle of Dubai, but a deep dive into the personal, often untold stories of those who have explored this dynamic city. From the sun-drenched beaches to the bustling souks, each narrative unravels a different facet of Dubai, showcasing its rich cultural diversity and unparalleled hospitality. We’ll take you through the winding lanes of history, the vibrant art scenes, and the tranquil oases that form the city’s soul, seen through the eyes of wanderers, artists, and adventurers. These stories reveal the essence of Dubai—a place where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly, creating a tapestry of experiences that are as diverse as they are mesmerizing. Join us as we explore these personal tales, uncovering the true spirit of one of the world’s most iconic cities.

Table of Contents

Emily johnson’s enchanting week in dubai: a blend of luxury, culture, and adventure.

• Name: Emily Johnson
• Date of Travel: January 10, 2023
• Duration of Stay: 7 Days
• From: London, UK

Travel Journal: Emily’s Dubai Adventure

Day 1: After a smooth flight from London, I arrived in Dubai. The skyline was a mesmerizing array of modern architecture. Checked into the Atlantis The Palm – the view was breathtaking!

Day 2: Explored the Dubai Mall and marveled at the Dubai Aquarium. The evening was spent watching the stunning fountain show at Burj Khalifa.

Day 3: A day for adventure – went on a desert safari. Dune bashing was thrilling, and the sunset over the sand dunes was a sight I’ll never forget.

Day 4: Took a cultural tour of Old Dubai. Visited the Al Fahidi Historical District and the Dubai Museum. The contrast between old and new Dubai was fascinating.

Day 5: Relaxation day at Jumeirah Beach. The view of the Burj Al Arab was postcard-perfect. Enjoyed traditional Emirati cuisine at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Visited the spice and gold souks. The vibrant colors and bustling atmosphere were a sensory delight. Ended the day with a Dhow cruise on Dubai Creek.

Day 7: Last day in Dubai. Spent it leisurely shopping for souvenirs and relaxing at the hotel pool. The hospitality and luxury of Dubai were unparalleled.

Travel Tips:

• Plan your visit during the cooler months.
• Dress conservatively when visiting public places.
• Try local cuisines for an authentic experience.
• Taxis are a convenient way to get around.

Dubai was a blend of luxury, culture, and adventure – a trip I’ll always cherish!

Alex Martinez’s Dubai Diary: Five Days of Luxury, Adventure, and Cultural Wonders

• Name: Alex Martinez
• Date of Travel: March 15, 2023
• Duration of Stay: 5 Days
• From: New York, USA

I arrived in Dubai on March 15th for a five-day adventure, leaving behind the hustle of New York. The moment I saw the skyline, I knew this trip would be unforgettable. I stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which offered an incredible view of the ocean.

My first day was all about the Burj Khalifa. The view from the top was simply breathtaking. In the evening, I explored the vast Dubai Mall and was captivated by the spectacular fountain show.

The next day was a deep dive into Dubai’s history. I wandered through Old Dubai, visiting the Al Fahidi neighborhood and the Dubai Museum. The gold and spice souks were vibrant and buzzing, a stark contrast to the city’s modernity.

Day three was my adventure day. The desert safari was exhilarating, with sandboarding and dune bashing. Dining under the stars in a Bedouin camp was a unique experience I’ll always cherish.

On the fourth day, I took a breather at the serene Jumeirah Beach. The waters were clear, and the view of the Burj Al Arab was like a scene from a postcard.

My final day was leisurely, spent shopping for souvenirs and relaxing by the hotel pool. Dubai was a blend of luxury, adventure, and culture, a trip that’s etched in my memory.

Sarah Thompson’s Self-Driven Dubai Adventure: Six Days of Exploration and Discovery

• Name: Sarah Thompson
• Date of Travel: April 5, 2023
• Duration of Stay: 6 Days
• From: Sydney, Australia

I ventured to Dubai in early April for a six-day exploration. Renting a car from Saadatrent in Dubai gave me the freedom to traverse the city at my own pace. I picked a comfortable sedan that was perfect for both city drives and a bit of adventure on the outskirts.

My first day was dedicated to driving along the scenic Jumeirah Beach Road, marveling at the coastline and stopping by the Burj Al Arab for some stunning photos. The next day, I drove to the Dubai Mall for some luxury shopping and spent the evening watching the mesmerizing fountain show at the Burj Khalifa.

On the third day, I took a drive to the historical Al Fahidi neighborhood. Roaming through the narrow lanes and visiting the Dubai Museum was like stepping back in time. In the afternoon, I drove to the Dubai Creek and hopped on a traditional abra boat ride, a delightful contrast to my modern car journey.

Day four was all about adventure. I drove out to the Dubai desert for a safari experience. The car handled the journey effortlessly, and the desert sunset was a sight to behold.

The fifth day, I decided to explore more urban sights. Driving around Dubai Marina was a joy, with its stunning skyscrapers and vibrant atmosphere. I concluded the day with a relaxing stroll along the Marina Walk.

On my final day, I drove to some of the less-visited spots like the quaint neighborhoods around Deira and enjoyed some authentic Emirati cuisine at a local eatery. Returning the car at Saadatrent was hassle-free, capping off my Dubai journey beautifully.

Renting a car in Dubai gave me a sense of independence and allowed me to discover the city beyond the usual tourist trails. It was an incredible experience, blending the thrill of exploration with the comfort of my own space.

Exploring Innovation and Culture: Funny personal stories for travel to dubai

• Name: David Anderson
• Date of Travel: November 15, 2023
• Duration of Stay: 3 Days
• From: Chicago, USA

My experience in Dubai started right after I landed on November 15, 2023. I was in Dubai for three days, primarily to visit the Expo. On my first day, I was fascinated by the Expo’s scale and innovation. The Al Wasl dome and the mobility pavilion, with its futuristic design, were highlights. The displays about water and innovation inside the dome were visually stunning and deeply engaging.

The next day, I explored the Global Village, an incredible blend of cultures with each country presenting its unique food and shopping experiences. I especially enjoyed a meal at ‘Khaojee’ by Michelin Star Chef Rohit Ghai, offering a delightful taste of Indian cuisine.

My visit to Dubai, albeit short, was filled with memorable experiences, combining the marvels of modern technology at the Expo with the rich cultural diversity at the Global Village​​​​​.

Opulence in the Sky: A Luxurious Sojourn in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Beyond

• Name: Isabella Wright
• Date of Travel: February 12, 2023
• From: Los Angeles, USA

Upon my arrival in Dubai, courtesy of a private jet, I was whisked away in a sleek Mercedes transfer to my accommodation at the iconic Burj Khalifa. My suite, lavishly adorned with plush interiors and panoramic views of the city, was more than just a place to stay; it was a realm of opulence.

During my visit, I indulged in the culinary delights at Atmosphere, perched on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, where the gastronomy was as spectacular as the vistas. The golden coffee served was emblematic of the city’s luxury​​. I also experienced unparalleled relaxation at the Talise Spa in the Burj Al Arab, with its breathtaking views and indulgent treatments​​.

Days were spent lounging at Aura Skypool, the loftiest infinity pool, and evenings at Ossiano, savoring exquisite dishes while surrounded by an aquatic ballet of marine life. The highlight of my trip was the serene hot air balloon ride over the desert at sunrise, a tranquil escape from the city’s glitz​​.

This journey wasn’t just a trip; it was a testament to Dubai’s embodiment of extravagance and innovation.

Persian Perspectives: A Cultural and Modern Exploration of Dubai

• Name: Arshia Hosseini
• Date of Travel: September 20, 2023
• From: Tehran, Iran

As someone who has always been fascinated by the blend of tradition and modernity, I chose Dubai for my latest adventure. Arriving in this city of wonders, the skyline dotted with architectural marvels like the Burj Khalifa was the first to greet me.

I joined a guided tour that promised an immersive experience of both old and new Dubai. We explored the bustling souks, where the air was filled with the scent of spices and the glitter of gold, reminiscent of the bazaars back home in Iran but with a distinct Emirati flavor.

A visit to the historic Al Fahidi neighborhood was like stepping back in time, a stark contrast to the futuristic cityscape. We also toured the Dubai Museum, which offered insights into the emirate’s rapid transformation.

One of the highlights of my trip was a desert safari. The vastness of the Arabian desert was awe-inspiring, and the evening concluded with traditional music and a feast under the stars – an experience that echoed the tales from ‘One Thousand and One Nights.’

A visit to the Dubai Frame offered a panoramic view of both the old and new parts of the city, symbolizing the bridge between Dubai’s past and present. The tour also included a visit to the Palm Jumeirah, an engineering marvel, and a day at the Atlantis, where the luxury was unparalleled.

The week in Dubai was a blend of cultural discovery, adventure, and luxury, a testament to the city’s ability to preserve its heritage while racing towards the future. It was an experience that resonated deeply with my Persian roots, yet showed me a world vastly different from my own.

A Month in Dubai: Personal stories for travel to Dubai from India

• Name: Priya Gupta
• Date of Travel: July 1, 2023
• Duration of Stay: 30 Days
• From: Mumbai, India

My visit to Dubai essay began with excitement and a bit of nervousness. I was traveling to visit my family who had been working there for a few years. Landing in Dubai on July 1st, I was greeted by the warm embrace of my relatives and the dazzling cityscape that I had only seen in pictures.

The first week was spent catching up with family, enjoying home-cooked meals, and getting acquainted with the local neighborhoods. I loved the blend of cultures in Dubai, which reminded me of back home in Mumbai but with a distinct Middle Eastern flair.

I explored the city’s famous landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, where the view from the top was breathtaking. The Dubai Mall was a shopper’s paradise, and I was amazed by the diversity of products from all over the world.

During my stay, I also visited the traditional souks in Old Dubai. The Gold Souk dazzled with its intricate jewelry designs, and the Spice Souk was a sensory delight with its array of exotic spices.

One of the highlights was a desert safari, where I experienced dune bashing, camel riding, and a mesmerizing sunset over the golden sands. The warmth of the desert and the hospitality of the Bedouin people made it an unforgettable experience.

Weekends were spent at Jumeirah Beach, where family picnics and the stunning view of the Burj Al Arab became regular affairs. I also got the chance to visit the Dubai Frame, which offered a unique perspective on the city’s rapid development.

My month in Dubai was not just a visit; it was a cultural immersion, filled with moments of joy, discovery, and family bonding. As I boarded my flight back to Mumbai, I carried with me memories of a city that was a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, just like my family.

Speed and Splendor: A Czech Racer’s Week at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Dubai

• Name: Lukáš Dvořák
• Date of Travel: November 28, 2023
• From: Brno, Czech Republic

My adventure to Dubai for the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a thrilling blend of passion and discovery. Coming from Brno, a city known for its own racing history, I was eager to experience the high-octane excitement of the F1 race in Abu Dhabi, just a short journey from Dubai.

I arrived in Dubai a week before the race, allowing myself time to soak in the city’s vibrant culture and futuristic architecture. My first day was spent exploring the towering Burj Khalifa and the sprawling Dubai Mall, marveling at how these modern marvels contrasted with the historic charm of Brno.

As a motorsport enthusiast, I took a day to visit the Dubai Autodrome, indulging in a driving experience that set my pulse racing. The blend of speed and luxury was a precursor to the main event at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The race weekend was an electrifying experience. The atmosphere at the Yas Marina Circuit was electric, with fans from all over the world gathering in anticipation. Watching the world’s best drivers navigate the challenging track was a dream come true.

Between race days, I explored Abu Dhabi, visiting landmarks like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was a stark contrast to the high-speed world of Formula One. The peacefulness and architectural beauty of the mosque provided a serene balance to the adrenaline of the race.

My week in the United Arab Emirates was a perfect mix of speed, culture, and luxury, encapsulating everything I love about travel and motorsport. As I boarded my flight back to the Czech Republic, I carried with me memories of roaring engines, architectural wonders, and a deeper appreciation for the diverse beauty our world has to offer.

As we conclude “dubai experiences: Personal Stories from travelling in dubai” it’s evident that Dubai is not just a destination but an experience that resonates deeply with each visitor. From the towering Burj Khalifa to the tranquil dunes of the desert, Dubai presents a unique tapestry of experiences. These personal stories, rich in diversity and emotion, highlight the city’s ability to offer something for everyone – be it adventure, luxury, or cultural immersion. As each traveler’s tale unfolds, we see a multifaceted Dubai, a city that’s constantly evolving yet firmly rooted in its heritage, inviting us all to explore its many wonders.

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10 best books about Dubai to read before you travel

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai, add these 10 books to your reading list first. From historical fiction to non-fiction accounts of modern life in the city, these reads will give you a well-rounded perspective of what to expect on your travels.

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• Visiting Burj Khalifa in Dubai? Our tips + how to book tickets
• 8 Hour Dubai Layover Itinerary – Culture and Shopping
• Dubai Airport Transfer – How to get from Dubai Airport to the city centre

Best travel guide books about Dubai

There is no shortage of travel guide books about Dubai, but which ones are the best? If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide covering all the major attractions, the 5 best books about Dubai to read before you travel are listed below.

Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi

The Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi is the perfect guide for those planning a trip to these two amazing cities. It includes all the essential information on what to see and do and practical tips on accommodation, transportation, and food. The book also features insider tips from locals to get the most out of your visit. Whether you’re looking to explore the city’s skyline from the top of the Burj Khalifa or experience the traditional culture of the souks, this guide will help you plan the perfect trip.

Lonely Planet Pocket Dubai: top sights, local experiences (Pocket Guide)

The Lonely Planet Pocket Dubai is an excellent guide for those looking to experience the best of what the city has to offer. It covers the top sights and local experiences in an easily accessible format. The guide includes information on the best time to visit Dubai, what to see and do, and where to eat and drink. It also provides an overview of the city’s history and culture. The Pocket Guide is an essential tool for anyone planning a trip to Dubai.

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi (Pocket Travel Guide)

The DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi Pocket Travel Guide is your handy guide to the two most famous cities in the United Arab Emirates. This pocket-sized book is packed with insider tips on what to see and do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from exploring the iconic Burj Khalifa to shopping in the world-famous Gold Souk. 

With its clear maps and easy-to-use layout, the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi Pocket Travel Guide will help you plan your trip with ease. Whether you’re looking for the best beaches, hotels, or the best nightlife, this guide has it all. 

So, whether you’re looking for a quick city break or a more extended holiday, the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi Pocket Travel Guide is your essential companion.

Dubai for Kids Travel Book – Activity Book, Pocket Guide & Travel Journal

This travel book is the perfect way for kids to learn about and explore Dubai! The activity book is packed with fun activities, puzzles, and games. At the same time, the pocket guide provides all the essential information about Dubai, from its history and culture to its attractions and activities. The travel journal is the perfect way for kids to keep track of their experiences in Dubai, with space to write, draw, and paste in photos and souvenirs.

Dubai Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Pocket Guides)

The Dubai Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide is an excellent guide for those looking to travel to Dubai. The guide includes a pull-out map which is extremely helpful in getting around the city. The guide also provides information on the best places to eat, drink and shop and attractions and activities to do while in Dubai. Overall, the Dubai Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide is an excellent guide for those wanting to travel to Dubai and explore everything the city offers.

5 Best non-fiction books about Dubai

If you want to learn more about the history of Dubai, its leaders or the region, these 5 books are an excellent place to start! 

Sheikh Zayed - An Eternal Legacy

Sheikh Zayed: An Eternal Legacy is a book about the life and times of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first President of the United Arab Emirates. The book chronicles his life from his early days as a young prince in the desert to his years as a Ruler and President, and finally to his legacy as one of the most influential leaders. Sheikh Zayed was a visionary leader who had a profound impact on the development of his country and the region. He was a man of great wisdom and compassion, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

My Story by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai. In his memoir, My Story, Sheikh Mohammed shares his thoughts on various topics, from his childhood and education to his experiences as a leader and a businessman. He also offers advice on how to achieve success in life. 

My Story is an inspiring and insightful book that provides a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential leaders in the world today. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a man who has achieved great things, and in this book, he shares his secrets to success. If you are looking for inspiration, or simply want to learn more about one of the most fascinating men, then My Story is a must-read.

Sheikh CEO - Lessons in Leadership from Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum

Sheikh CEO is the story of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and one of the most powerful men in the world. In this book, Sheikh Mohammed shares his story of how he became one of the most successful leaders in the world. He shares his secrets to success and how he has been able to create one of the most prosperous countries in the world. This book is an inspirational story that will motivate readers to achieve their dreams.

Showpiece City by Todd Reisz

In Showpiece City, Todd Reisz explores how architecture has helped make Dubai one of the most iconic and fascinating cities in the world. 

From the early days of its development, when ambitious projects like the Palm Islands and the Burj Khalifa were first conceived, to more recent initiatives like the Expo 2020 site and the Dubai Creek Harbour, architecture has played a crucial role in shaping Dubai’s unique identity. 

Reisz looks at how Dubai’s built environment has reflected the city’s cosmopolitan character, its aspirations to be a global hub and its commitment to sustainable development. He also discusses the challenges architects face in creating a built environment that can meet the needs of a rapidly growing population while preserving the city’s distinctive character. 

Showpiece City is an essential guide to understanding Dubai’s built environment and its significance in the 21st century.

The End of Empire on the gulf by Tancred Bradshaw

The book The End of Empire on the gulf by Tancred Bradshaw is a detailed account of the withdrawal of the British Empire from the Gulf Region in 1971. It covers the political and economic background of the decision, the logistical challenges involved in the withdrawal, and its impact on the region’s people and countries. The book is based on extensive research and interviews with key participants in the withdrawal process.

3 Best non-fiction books about Dubai

Looking for a great book about Dubai to read on the plane or by the pool? Why not have a look at one of these fantastic non-fiction books! 

Temporary People by Deepak Unnikrishnan

In “Temporary People,” Deepak Unnikrishnan tells the stories of migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates. These workers, who come from countries like India and Nepal, often work in construction or domestic labor. They are paid little and are treated poorly. The workers live in labor camps, often crowded into small rooms. They have few rights and can be deported at any time. Unnikrishnan tells the workers’ stories with compassion and humor. He shows how they struggle to make a living in a country that does not value them. “Temporary People” is a powerful and moving book about the lives of migrant workers in the UAE.

The Sand Fish: A Novel From Dubai by Maha Gargash

The Sand Fish: A Novel From Dubai is a 2009 novel by Maha Gargash. The novel tells the story of a young Emirati woman, Noora, living in Dubai in the early 21st century. Noora is a modern woman working to balance her traditional values with her desire for independence and self-expression. The novel follows Noora as she navigates through love, family, and friendship. The Sand Fish is a coming-of-age story that offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Emirati women.

A Summer Revenge by Tom Callaghan

A Summer Revenge is a gripping thriller from Tom Callaghan. When a body is found in the grounds of a stately home, DCI Kate Daniels and her team are called in to investigate.

As they try to piece together who the victim is and how they ended up there, they realise that this is no ordinary case. The more they dig, the more secrets they uncover, and it soon becomes clear that someone is determined to keep those secrets buried.

With time running out, Kate must catch the killer before they strike again. A Summer Revenge is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read that will keep you guessing until the very end.

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• Destinations

Dubai Travel Guide

A modern oasis in the heart of the Arabian desert, Dubai is a rapidly growing metropolis on a quest to become the biggest and the best. From palm-shaped beaches and ancient markets to exquisite mosques and record-breaking attractions, this international hub is a must-explore destination in the Middle East. —Karina Sharma

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The ultimate Dubai travel guide

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The duty-free zone of Dubai is a shopper's paradise, offering some of the most lavish malls on earth, as well as super-luxury hotels and miles of pristine beach.

Where to stay in Dubai

Mandarin oriental jumeira, dubai.

Mandarin Oriental did its homework when launching in the Middle East in 2019. The Asian heavyweight's ornate urban low-rise is spread across a prime patch of affluent Jumeira. It's not the first luxury name to stake a claim here – Four Seasons and Bulgari are nearby – but it is one of the latest, and, in Dubai , that matters. It means that a Prada-draped mix of locals and expats are elbowing for tables at the sunlight Noor lounge in the evening before sharing plates of Wagyu at Japanese steakhouse Netsu (all after perfecting their poses between the lobby’s Forest of Lights, an avenue of bronze trees bearing 900 leaf-shaped crystal lights). Neat rows of palms continue the eye-line beyond the glass rear wall to the beachfront terrace and pools. The architectural symmetry is signature Jeffrey A Wilkes, the interior designer who owns the landmark hotel game – his other projects include The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai.

The friendly door staff are dashing in their bright blue frock coats and fedoras, ushering guests towards the highlights including the Mediterranean-inspired Tasca. Superstar Portuguese chef José Avillez has brought some of the aces from his Michelin-starred spot in Lisbon here, including the ecstatically creamy avocado tempura, while edible cocktails crunch with wedges of green apple infused with spearmint Margarita mix. Every time a hotel gets added to Dubai , the glitz goes up a notch. Mandarin manages to add the right amount of dazzle without going too far over the top. £££ (00 971 4 777 2222; mandarinoriental.com ).

To find out more and check availability, now go to Mandarin Oriental Dubai hotel review

AL MAHA RESORT

Forty five minutes from Dubai, the exclusive Al Maha resort is a desert haven set within a conservation reserve. Each of the Bedouin-style suites, grouped into Emirates, Royal and Bedouin Suites, has its own private swimming pool and activities include falconry, wildlife tours and horse-riding. Guests can dine in the relaxed Al Diwaan restaurant, or on the private decks of the guest suites. ££££ (00 971 4 343 9595; al-maha.com ).

BAB AL SHAMS DESERT RESORT & SPA

Fifty kilometres away from the colossal resort of Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah International has opened a sister hotel, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa. A tasteful Arab-style spa retreat, with 115 rooms and suites, offering camel rides and dune-bashing, and the region's first open-air desert restaurant, Al Hadheerah. The Satori Spa has an extensive range of treatments. ££ (00 971 4 832 6699; jumeirahbabalshams.com ).

BURJ AL ARAB

Burj Al Arab, meaning The Arabian Tower, is located within a magnificent glass sail-shaped building rising from the waters of the Arabian Gulf, about 280m offshore from Jumeirah Beach. Now a Dubai landmark, the hotel has 202 suites, each one with a private butler and arranged over 2 floors, and an 'underwater-experience' signature restaurant, Al Mahara. The Assawan Spa & Health Club is located on the 18th floor of the hotel. (00 971 4 301 7777, burj-al-arab.com ).

GROSVENOR HOUSE

Grosvenor House, the first Marina hotel, is already filled with visitors happy to forego beach frontage (although there is an outdoor pool). The 45-storey hotel, with 217 sea-facing, butler-serviced rooms, gleams with polished stone and bespoke lighting. The foyer sets the exaggerated Art Deco tone with vast stone columns and cream-leather club chairs. Bedrooms, while as sleek and thoughtfully furnished as the rest of the hotel, are not the real draw. This is a drinks and dinner destination, from the plushly decadent Buddha Bar, which follows the successful Parisian format, to Bar 44, which encircles the 44th floor and is packed nightly with media types lounging in pony-skin chairs. The hotel's signature restaurant, Mezzanine, has white-leather padded walls punctuated with acid green Perspex screens and burnt-orange velvet chairs, a stylish backdrop to the inspired British menu of chef Gary Robinson (lately Prince Charles's private chef). Jet Set is a kitsch, airline-themed salon offering Short Haul and Long Haul wash and blow-dries. There is also a spa retreat. ££ Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE (00 971 4 399 8888; grosvenorhouse-dubai.com ).

HYATT REGENCY

Located on the Deira Corniche, the Hyatt Regency is close to Dubai Creek Golf Club and the Deira Centre. It has 414 rooms and suites which offer stunning views across the Arabian Gulf, and a revolving rooftop restaurant, Al Dawaar, which is located on the 25th floor and has spectacular sea views. ££ (00 971 4 209 1234; dubai.regency.hyatt.com ).

JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

All 598 rooms at Jumeirah Beach Hotel have sea views and floor-to-ceiling windows, and some have private balconies. The hotel also boasts a private beach, the luxurious 19-villa Beit Al Bahar, a PADI National Geographic Dive Centre, luxury yacht charters and mooring for up to 50 yachts. ££££ (00 971 4 3480000; jumeirahbeachhotel.com ).

MADINAT JUMEIRAH

Al Qasr, Mina A'Salam and Dar Al Masyaf, two 292-room hotels, and 29 detached courtyard summerhouses respectively, form part of the sprawling resort of Madinat Jumeirah, which has Mina A' Salam hotel at one end, the Six Senses Spa at the other, and a man-made waterway, an undulating swimming pool, restaurant terraces and the Souk shopping area in between. Al Qasr is the resort's polished and tasselled centerpiece. Forget less-is-more: this is unashamedly more, more, more, but with enough attention to detail - the amber-and-ochre heavy silks and damasks in the bedrooms, wood-panelled baths, antique rugs on the corridor walls - to carry it off with panache. Restaurants include Al Hambra for tapas, where the chef is from Michelin-starred El Bulli in Spain; Six Senses Spa and Carita salon offer pampering of the highest order. ££££ (00 971 4 3668888; jumeirahinternational.com ).

METROPOLITAN CLUB

Also on Jumeirah Beach is the Metropolitan Resort and Beach Club Features Andalucian-style architecture, landscaped gardens, a private beach, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts and water sports facilities. There are 80 rooms and 14 suites. L'Orangerie serves international cuisine, Luciano's Italian and Al Basha Lebanese. ££ (00 971 4 399 5000; metropolitanhoteldubai.com ).

ONE&ONLY ROYAL MIRAGE

Dubai likes a superlative. It has the world’s tallest building and the world’s largest shopping mall. And inside this shopping mall is an actual indoor ski resort. And an aquarium (the world’s second largest). But it hasn’t always been like this. The Royal Mirage was the first hotel to arrive on Jumeirah Beach back in 1998, a trailblazer in an undeveloped desert town. Now buildings have shot up everywhere but, with 26 hectares of gardens, it maintains a surprising sense of space. The hotel is a super-scale Middle Eastern fantasia of intricately carved wood, elaborate terracotta tiles and gleaming marble. There are three sections – the Arabian Court, members’-club-style Residences and the family-friendly Palace where the KidsOnly club, with everything from belly dancing to sand sculpting, is part of the deal. Four- to 11-year-olds will show up parents with a roll call of Arabic phrases, while teens will be learning to water-ski and windsurf from the private beach. Federer and Djokovic have both stayed, which is a seal of approval for the floodlit tennis courts (too hot to play during the day). It’s easy to stay put for the entire holiday. There are eight restaurants, from pizzas and pasta at Olive and just-caught lobster at the beach bar to the Jetty Lounge for a mint Mojito and a view of the Palm Islands. But do get out to see one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Taking a sea plane up the coast towards the landmark Burj Khalifa tower is a fascinating lesson in how quickly sand turns to skyscraper. Stay in the Beach Garden Villa. It’s the only private house at the hotel, sleeps six and has its own pool, so you can dip in and out of the action. £££ Jumeirah Beach Road (00 971 4 399 9999; oneandonlyresorts.com ).

ONE&ONLY THE PALM RESORT

There are not one but two stonking One&Only hotels to choose from in Dubai just a five-minute boat ride apart. While the One&Only Royal Mirage is more obviously family-focused, One&Only The Palm , on the outer leafy bit of the man-made island Palm Jumeirah, which only started being built in 2001, is just too smart to resist: a low-rise village of creamy, Alhambra-esque buildings. This is Dubai, served up hot, hassle-free and enormously child-friendly with its water parks and malls, desert escapades and indoor ski domes. Of course, there's plenty to keep them entertained at the hotel too. The kids' club has a jam-packed itinerary of destination-appropriate fun and games from camel riding and belly dancing to henna painting and basic Arabic lessons.

There are even desert camp-outs, but it's more comfortable (and less sandy) getting into pyjamas in one of the Moorish-style two-bedroom waterfront villas. These vast houses have terraces that lead straight onto the pristine white beach, and their own pools (big enough for lots of jumping in). Interiors are ultra elegant with light bouncing off shiny marble, latticework detail and horseshoe arches. The can-do staff are incredibly speedy when it comes to requests such as heating puree or locating a tiny pair of sunglasses abandoned at the bottom of the pool. Plenty of guests get dressed up for supper, but no one frowns at the younger mob propping up the table - though after a day of full-throttle excitement they might just be too wiped out to join you. Make a beeline for the massive spa, recently taken over by Guerlain: the treatment rooms have gorgeous private gardens from which you can just see the skyscraper tips on the horizon. £££ (00 971 4 399 9999; oneandonlyresorts.com )

RITZ CARLTON

Situated on Jumeirah Beach, The Ritz-Carlton is Dubai's answer to Beverly Hills. It has a private beach and three swimming pools, plus a French seafood restaurant and a cigar bar. Some of the 138 rooms and suites include steam showers and all rooms overlook the pool and garden area with private balcony or patio. There is also a Balinese spa. (00 971 4 399 4000; ( ritzcarlton.com ).

SHERATON DUBAI CREEK HOTEL AND TOWERS

Perhaps outclassed by its newer sister hotel in Deira, the rather cubic Sheraton Dubai scores with its plum Creekside location next to the yacht club, 800 yards from the souk area. It boasts 255 rooms and a choice of restaurants, including Vivaldi, an Italian restaurant and Ashiana, which serves Indian food. ££ Baniyas Street (Creek Road), (00 971 4 228 1111; starwoodhotels.com ).

Where to eat out in Dubai

Burj al arab.

Chic showcase for simple Arabic dishes with a strong Moroccan accent. Part of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, with an attentive, helpful front-of-house staff, the Al Iwan is perhaps more popular with visitors than locals, but remains one of Dubai's finest culinary treats. The Al Muntaha, up on the top floor of the hotel, probably just pips the Al Iwan by dint of those incredible views, but its mod Med menu, fine as it is, doesn't offer the full Dubai experience. If you're only having one meal in the hotel, compromise with pre/post cocktails in the bar here, before heading back downstairs to the Al Iwan. (00 971 4 301 7600; burj-al-arab.com/dining/al_iwan )

Al Dhiyafha Road

A busy Lebanese shawarma house in the Satwa district. Terrific, tasty street food for a few pounds. If the day is cool enough, sit at a pavement table and watch the traffic flow past like a lazy river. The delicious juices and fruit cocktails are served in old-style, dimpled pint mugs. (00 971 4 398 4723)

Cruise the creek through the centre of Dubai aboard the 56-metre Al Minsaf. Go for lunch, sunset cocktails or dinner - or simply throw a private party for 400 of your closest friends. (00 971 4 315 47 77; bateauxdubai.com )

BASTA ART CAFÉ

This café is the best thing in Bastakia, the 'old quarter' of Bur Dubai. Sip iced tea with mint, or enjoy a salad in the quiet courtyard under the gnarled old tree. It's shady, child-friendly and a great spot to sit with a book during the heat of the day. Al Fahidi Street (00 971 4 353 5071)

Despite the name, this is more jazz than blues; you can survey the scene from a high stool or chill out on one of the squashy couches. Belgian beer is the drink of choice. Open 2pm to 3am. Novotel World Trade Centre, Zabeel Road 2nd (00 971 4 332 0000, novotel-dubai-world-trade-centre.com /)

Oddly enough, Dubai has only one restaurant on the creek, the Boardwalk. For a view across the water and the delightful sensation of being over it, this restaurant on stilts is unbeatable. But for everything else, food, ambience and clientele, it is disappointing. Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club (00 971 4 295 6000; dubaigolf.com )

CELEBRITIES

Don't be put off by that slightly naff moniker; this is a stylish Arabic honey-pot, spicy and perky, with fine views of Dubai. Good value too (no mean feat in this city of notoriously over-priced hotel dining rooms): try the seven-course tasting menu for a guided tour of the kitchen's myriad specialities. One&Only Royal Mirage (00 971 4 399 9999; oneandonlyresorts.com )

The plush, pampered surrounds of Cigar Bar, with the scent of Montecristo and Cohiba hanging in the air, make it a popular after-dinner haunt which provides a welcome refuge from the desert heat. Open 6pm to 2am. Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road (00 971 4 332 5555, fairmont.com )

Sophisticated fusion restaurant that's part of the One&Only Royal Mirage. Have lunch by the beach or dinner by the pool. Try hamour, a local fish that looks like a wide-hipped cod, or salmon with wasabi mash. Starters include Thai coconut chicken soup and open crispy wontons with octopus salad. Arabian Court (00 971 4 399 9999, oneandonlyresorts.com )

Modish designer café, perfect for leisurely (and nicely authentic) tapas nibbling, or espresso pick-me-up. Bur Dubai (00 971 4 324 4252)

This is a lively Thai restaurant offering gallons of cocktails and a resident DJ. It has the food (try the shark fillet wrapped in betel leaf) and mood (low-key music) exactly right. Open noon to 3pm, 7pm to 3am. Ground Floor, Convention Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road (00 971 4 329 3200)

Accessed via the beach in front of Al Qasr, the 'palace' at the heart of the Madinat Jumeirah resort, Pierchic is accessed via a 5-minute stroll along the wood bedecked pier, where you will find a bar and restaurant which is one of Dubai's most unique culinary hotspots. Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah (00 971 4 366 6730)

RAVI'S

Proper curry, near Al Mallah. Specialises in North Indian dishes and caters to the large expat community from the Indian subcontinent. Satwa High Stret (00 971 4 331 5353)

Securing a weekend reservation here is one of Dubai's greatest culinary challenges. The offerings are rare for this city: excellent Japanese food that is also reasonably priced. The sushi, teriyaki and tempura are carefully prepared and simply presented. Fish tanks built into the walls create an interesting atmosphere. Be warned: from about 10pm the noise level starts to rise, with a young and beautiful crowd pouring in for the sake and cocktails. If you want an intimate evening, get here early. Open from 7.00pm to 2.30am. Dubai Marine Beach Resort (00 971 4 346 1111; dxbmarine.com )

Tucked away in the Royal Mirage hotel on Jumeirah beach, Tagine is well worth the small trek out of the city centre. The restaurant's sumptuous Moroccan decor (huge candles, harem-style rugs and lanterns) and North African cooking make it a good choice for a lively evening (there is live music too). The bathrooms are gorgeous. One&Only Royal Mirage (00 971 4 399 9999; oneandonlyresorts.com )

THE GLASSHOUSE

The three-course set brunch is pretty good, and includes everything from pan-fried snapper to Cumberland sausages. But the food is secondary to the promise of unlimited champagne from noon till 3pm. Also a good choice for a business lunch. Hilton Dubai Creek (00 971 4 212 7550, www3.hilton.com )

THE MEAT COMPANY

Located on the sea front of the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, this restaurant, taking its cue from its name, is particularly good for steaks, and has a comprehensive selection of wines. Shop 148 Souk Madinat, Jumeirah (00 971 4 368 6040; themeatcompany.co.za )

THE THAI KITCHEN

Sit around the kitchens and watch the chefs prepare excellent Thai cuisine. Dishes are served in a variety of small cups, plates and saucers, perfect for sharing. Alfresco dining is available in the covered terrace. (00 971 4 602 1234; dubai.park.hyatt.com )

ZHENG HE'S

Truly fabulous Chinese food, the best dim sum you'll eat in Dubai. Be sure to try the black pepper beef. Madinat Jumeirah (00 971 4 366 6730, jumeirah.com )

The best nightlife in Dubai

Considered the coolest venue in town by long-term expats, who drink away their tax-free earnings under the impressive gaze of the gargantuan Buddha. Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina (00 971 4 399 8888, buddhabar-dubai.com )

Lovely spot in the Al Qars. Sit at the granite bar and chat to the friendly Jordanian staff, or take a drink out on the terrace, settle into the cushions and kilims and watch the sun sink slowly into the sea. Madinat Jumeirah (00 971 4 366 8888, jumeirah.com )

SKYVIEW BAR

It is quite difficult to get past the doormen at the Burj Al Arab, so this bar at the very pinnacle of the great sail may be the most exclusive spot in all Dubai. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Creek, you can gaze at the desert beyond the city, and you can look down on the islands of the Palm development as they take shape out to sea. Reservations essential. Burj Al Arab (00 971 4 301 7600, jumeirah.com )

VU'S BAR

Up on the 51st floor of the Jumeirah Emirates Towers is this hyper-chic bar. The ride up in the glass lift is intoxicating, and the prices will set you reeling, so you'll feel tipsy before you even touch a drop. The views across the city are stunning. Jumeirah Emirates Towers (00 971 4 319 8088)

Things to do in Dubai

As well as the obvious shopping opportunities, there are some fantastic boat trips to be had in Dubai, along the Creek which divides the city.

DUBAI MUSEUM

Housed within the beautifully restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1787 to defend the city against invasion, the museum's diverse collection of exhibits offers a fascinating insight into its history and cultural heritage. Renovated in 1971 for use as museum. Open Sat to Thurs, from 8:30am to 7:30pm, and Fri from 2pm to 7:30pm. Al Fahidi Street (00 971 4 353 1862)

Behind the Great Mosque in Bur Dubai is this narrow alley of tiny shops selling Hindu paraphernalia, such as gaudy pictures of blue baby Krishnas. At the end of Hindi Lane is the delightful textile souk, where wholesalers hang pashminas and sari silks on the wooden shutters.

JUMEIRAH MOSQUE

It's the only mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims. The interior is serene. Take a guided tour, then reflect at the nearby Lime Tree Café (00 971 4 349 8498).

The Mall of the Emirates has a dry ski slope, a vast edifice that is, in effect, a giant fridge with a plastic mountain inside. There are sledges and ice slides for kids, and some challenging pistes for grown-ups. Quite bizarre. ( malloftheemirates.com )

THE HERITAGE AND DIVING VILLAGE

Recreates life in pre-oil Dubai. (00 971 4 3937151)

How to get to Dubai

Flights go direct to Dubai airport.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK

British Airways (0870 850 9850; ba.com ) flies from Heathrow to Dubai. Emirates (0870 243 222; emirates.com ) flies from Gatwick and Heathrow to Dubai, and from Manchester.

Tour operator details for Dubai

The following organise trips to Dubai; Azure (01244 322770; azurecollection.com ); Carrier (0161 491; carrier.co.uk ); Elegant Resorts (01244 897 888; elegantresorts.co.uk ); ITC Classics (01244 355 320; itcclassics.com ); Kuoni (01306 743 000; kuoni.co.uk ); Seasons in Style (01244 202 000; seasonsinstyle.co.uk ).

Travel Stories

A Trip Of Excitement, Fun, & Endless Shopping: Dubai Proved To Be An Ideal Pick For Them!

Last Updated: August 12, 2022

Dubai is one of the most visited cities across the world, and for good reason. Dubai is the ideal blend of modernity and tradition, with numerous landmarks, attractions, monuments, and artificial islands. Romantics will discover that the city provides numerous opportunities to pamper and treat their partners, making them feel special.

Anjul Mittal talks about his wonderful romantic tour to Dubai with his wife Monica. He shares their unbelievable experiences in this modern city and explains why Dubai is the ideal destination for those seeking a mix of old and new, luxury and affordability! He booked his tour package through Rayna Tours and Travels which included hotel, sightseeing, transfers, and flights for INR 2,33,400/-. Let us now hear their story.

A visit to Dubai was an amazing journey for them. There was fun and excitement, as well as plenty of sightseeing & shopping. Plans for Dubai had been in the works for quite some time, and when the opportunity arose, his wife and he jumped at it.

They chose Rayna Tours and Travels to book their Romantic Tour Package to Dubai because it allowed them to customize their package and provided them with several offers to choose from.

They had finally decided on their best package and were now waiting for their adventure to begin.

Day 1: A heartfelt welcome and an unforgettable dhow cruise!

They took a flight from Delhi & arrived in Dubai around 4 p.m. The trip went smoothly, and when they arrived at the airport, the agent’s representative drove them to a hotel. They rested for a while after checking in before heading to the famous Experience dhow cruise . The dhow cruise was a fantastic experience that introduced them to the rich and fascinating Emirati history and culture. Tanura show, a buffet dinner, a magic show, and sightseeing from a traditional Arabian dhow (boat) all contributed to a delightful evening filled of joy. They later returned to their hotel and walked around for a while before announcing it was only for one night.

Day 2: Immersing in Dubai’s Real Beauty!

They got up early, ate breakfast, and then left for Dubai city tour at 9 a.m. The city tour took in many fascinating sights, such as Downtown Dubai, Deira, Jumeirah Beach , and the famous Atlantis hotel. Their guide was excellent and provided them with in-depth information about all of the locations they visited. They finished the tour at 2:30 p.m. and then went shopping on their own. They went to the kite market, which has over 4000 shops selling Chinese and Korean goods, and it was a fantastic experience. They returned to their hotel to have dinner after finishing their shopping (at 11:30pm) and later called it a night.

Day 3: Unlimited Fun at Desert Safari!

This was a wonderful day for them, and after breakfast, they went to the Gold Souk (Bazaar), which was a wonderful experience. The offers they received for their purchases were reasonable. They returned to their hotel, relaxed for some time before departing for the desert safari. The desert safari experience indeed was the highlight of their trip, and they had a fantastic time here. They went dune bashing, which was a thrilling experience. This was followed by a breathtaking sunset & a photo session, after which they proceeded to a buffet BBQ dinner filled with entertainment and fun. He and his wife enjoyed the belly dancing, sumptuous Arabic buffet, Tanura dance performance, and henna painting.

Day 4: Bask in Meena Bazaar’s Charm!

The day began with a visit to Meena Bazaar, which is known for its gold and inexpensive purchases, as well as dried fruit. They had a great time here and then took a driverless subway to Dubai Mall. They saw the evening show there before paying a visit to the Ibn Battuta Mall. It had wonderful Arabic architecture and resembled a palace. They returned to their hotel tired but happy to have experienced such a wonderful time after spending some time here.

Day 5: A Comeback Farewell!

That day, they returned to Gold Souk to finish the remaining shopping before exploring the city on their own, After returning to their hotel at 5 p.m., they rested for a while before checking out and being driven towards the airport for their flight back to Pune.

• There is nothing highly romantic than a vacation filled with unique experiences and sights. Dubai has the ideal activities for you and your loved ones. The couple can engage in watersports, desert adventures, romantic dinners, or simply relax on the beach.
• Dubai is an ideal honeymoon destination for true romantics. Imagine waking up in the midst of the Arabian Desert in a private luxury tent. The lovely city, with its numerous beaches and glistening creek, is a one-stop destination just for any occasion like an anniversary or even for popping the big question.

Anjul and Monica had a wonderful time in Dubai. It provided them with a refreshing getaway from daily life and showed them both the luxurious and mundane sides of modern city life. It gave them a very cultural, fun, & luxurious vacation experience! Dubai is a city that exudes possibility and innovation while infusing love and romance.

A candlelit romantic dinner under the bright moonlight is not required for a couples’ day out. Couples can engage in a variety of activities, learn new skills, and collaborate to learn more regarding their partner as well as their relationship. Dubai is the dream city that attracts visitors from all over the world. Many people come to Dubai especially in search of a special someone and end up settling down.

Beyond the three magical words, love is a beautiful feeling. Couples know that adventure, fun, and everlasting experiences can aid love blossom. All of this is available in Dubai, along with world-class luxury as well as comfort. From the private romantic dinners to shopping and fun activities in Dubai, the city has plenty to offer couples.

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Subham Chakraborty

Subham Chakraborty is a resident of Shillong, Meghalaya, the Abode of Clouds. Although his career began in a variety of sales and business-related roles, he always had a knack for writing. He is always eager to learn new things and adapt. He recently made the decision to pursue his goal, and his passion for writing has now become his profession. During his spare time, you are most likely to find him on Twitter or reading books. Coffee is his weakness and music is his first love. He is also a travel freak and above all a canophilist.

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3 Days in Dubai: Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Travelers

Last Updated on December 18, 2021 by Soumya

When you want to look up a travel itinerary, what better way than to read something by a local travel expert. That was exactly what we thought when we were pinning down a 3-day itinerary for Dubai. A local guide’s opinion is undeniably the best. Therefore, we welcome Neha Singh from DubaiWikia , a travel journal solely focused on Dubai, to craft the perfect 3-day itinerary for Dubai for all first-timers out there. So let’s take a walk through 3 days in Dubai.

Three full days in Dubai? Wow! You can check out a plethora of attractions in that much time. It all depends on how you tailor your itinerary. Well, you have no issues there, we are here to create your perfect itinerary, including all the topmost things to do in Dubai. If you are transiting from Dubai and wish to see the city on a Dubai transit visa , you can still use this itinerary.

Your Dubai itinerary depends on whether you’re an all-adult party or if you have kids along. We’ve created this itinerary to be suitable for families with kids. So what are you waiting for? Jump ahead and check out what we have in mind for you!

Day 1: Morning:  Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour

It’s the best way to begin your 3 days in Dubai and get to know your bearings in the city. The hop-on-hop-off bus offers a guided tour , while also allowing you to hop off the tour bus at any stop, and explore attractions on foot. So even though it’s a bus tour, you decide on which attractions you want to spend more time. The bus tour takes you to several top attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, the Palm Islands and more. This tour takes up the better part of a day, but it’s well worth it because you cover the entire city and get to see a lot.

Day 1: Evening – Dhow Dinner Cruise

One of the coolest things to do in Dubai during the evening is an evening dinner dhow cruise. The dhow is an ancient Arabian vessel that was once used to transport goods and people for trading. This vessel has now been fully renovated and decorated beautifully. Enjoy a relaxing cruise off of Dubai Marina or Dubai Creek , with full entertainment on board. Watch a belly dancer and Tanura dancer twirl and gyrate, while a henna tattooist decorates your hands and feet. Watch the incredible, fully lit up the skyline of Dubai pass you by as you lounge on silk cushions with a hookah pipe in your mouth. Include the dhow cruise into your Dubai itinerary 3 days and you’ll be delighted you did!

Day 2: Early Morning – Hot Air Balloon Ride

Everyone who comes to Dubai wants to experience the desert. There are two excellent ways to experience the desert – a hot air balloon ride and a desert safari. You can take in the entire desert from a hot air balloon, thousands of feet up in the sky. Admire the beautiful landscape, filled with tall red sand dunes interspersed with wadis, and lush oasis and date palms here and there. It’s the most blissful experience, floating among the clouds, lording it over the mighty desert from the skies above.

Day 2: Afternoon and Evening – Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall

Even if you’ve had an up-close look at the Burj Khalifa on your bus tour, you still must experience the observatory deck experience. So sign up for the At The Top Burj Khalifa experience and exclaim in awe as you take in the incredible panoramic views of the city, the desert and the seas beyond. Look down upon the magnificent Dubai Singing Fountains from above; each shooting jet of water reaches up to 150 stories in height. It’s an incredible sight.

The Dubai Mall, one of the coolest places to visit in Dubai , will take you weeks to explore its amazing 1200 plus retail outlets. Do be sure to visit the incredible Dubai Aquarium if you have the time. Enjoy lunch and dinner at some of the excellent stalls at the Dubai Mall food court.

Day 3: Morning – Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame is a fairly recent architectural wonder that’s been constructed in Dubai and is one of the most instagrammable places in Dubai . It’s an incredible two towers, about 150 meters in height, with a glass bridge of 105 meters length connecting them. It’ll be a challenge, walking the glass bridge and looking down from that height .

The Frame is meant to give you two perspectives – towards the north, you’ll see all of old Dubai, and when you turn to the south, you’ll see the modern, bustling Dubai. The Frame has interesting multimedia presentations on the ground floor that depict Dubai’s incredible progress from a fishing village to its present-day glory.

Day 3: Afternoon – The Palm Islands

One simply cannot visit Dubai without checking out the Palm Islands. It’s the most incredible manmade island in the world, shaped like the fronds of a palm tree . The Palm Islands are connected to the mainland by Dubai’s first monorail. The metro stops at the monorail, so you can get off and explore the island to your heart’s content. Some of the city’s most exclusive hotels, resorts, and residential structures can be found on this island. There are plenty of beaches for fun too! There’s so much to see and do in Dubai that you’ll not waste a single moment wondering what to do in Dubai!

Day 3: Night – Overnight Desert Safari

You can arrange for your tour operator to pick you up at the Palm Islands for your overnight desert safari. Your trip to Dubai is not complete unless you make the desert’s acquaintance on its own terms. The overnight desert safari is special – it has all the elements of the usual daytime adventure safari with dune bashing, camel riding, sand boarding and the like. If you’re lucky, you might catch the fantastic desert sunset, in all its glory. And then there’s also the fantastic in-tent entertainment, with henna tattooing, Tanura dancers and belly dancers keeping you enthralled and engaged.

The best part about the overnight desert safari is the fabulous Emirati dinner at night, in the welcome tent with the other guests. You’ll get to experience Arabian hospitality at its very best. You’ll smoke shisha pipes, dress like sheiks and lounge on silk cushions enjoying a hearty fare. During the night, if you like, you can engage a guide to go on a nocturnal safari to check out the night-time flora and fauna of the desert. The overnight desert safari is great fun, and it’s the best way to make use of every hour you can spare in your 3-day itinerary to enjoy one of the distinctive and unique experiences of your life.

While 3 days in Dubai don’t seem to be much, they are still enough to squeeze in the main things to do and see in the city. You’ll come across other activities that you wish you had time to enjoy; why not mark them down for the next visit? You’ll be back for another visit, won’t you? Of course, you will!

About the Author, Neha Singh

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17 thoughts on “ 3 Days in Dubai: Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Travelers ”

This is a wonderful Dubai Travel Guide for First Time Travelers and makes it very easy to plan a short trip. I have not been to Dubai so far and its been on our list for a while. Overnight Desert Safari sounds fascinating. I remember we wanted to explore this in Rajasthan but it was not an option. Hot Air Balloon Ride in early morning would be a perfect start to the day!

Absolutely! The overnight desert safari is a real treat.

This should be very useful as I’m trying to get myself here sooner rather than later!

I am sure you will love Dubai in that case ?

I’ve been to Dubai a few times but never knew there was the option to do a balloon ride, that sounds like a great way to see the city. The dessert safari would be amazing as well, I did the 4×4 dune trip which I highly recommend.

The 4*4 does sound great. Will try that out next time I am there.

This is a fab 3 day itinerary. A hop on hop off bus tour is a great introduction to a city and a great way to see the main sights. I would love to spend some time in Dubai.

Thanks Katie. I am sure you will love your time in Dubai. And a hop on hop off is the best choice.

Oooh I am intrigued by the overnight desert safari. Sounds like a total blast! I haven’t been anywhere even close to Dubai so would be a culture shock but a welcome experience!

It’s a different world, that’s true. But I am sure you will love it when you get there. Those overnight safaris are definitely the show stopper

That dinner cruise is really catching my eye; I love how the boat is lit up with all the lights! This is an excellent guide.

Thanks Michelle. I am glad you liked it. The dinner cruise is really the best.

Beautiful post. A sure guide for the trip to Dubai. And totally agree with the point of local guide.

Thank you so much

I’m in love with Dubai, it’s a dream and I hope to visit soon! The best for me is of course the convenient Bus Tour, I want to visit all! And of course the Burj Khalifa at night, excellent recommendation. Thank you so much for the tips. Love it.

I am sure the Bus Tour will be great. And Burj Khalifa at night – a must-do!

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Dubai Travel Boom: Why Is It So Popular & Is It Worth Visiting?

• Destinations
• Hotels and Resorts
• Luxury Travel
• Middle East
• Types of Travel
• United Arab Emirates

Dubai has quickly (and mostly quietly) become one of the world’s most luxurious and sought-after travel destinations.

The Department on Economy and Tourism for Dubai reported around 17.15 million visitors passed through the desert city in 2023. For context, London welcomed around 38 million and Tokyo around 25 million.

So how did Dubai become such a global force in tourism ?

It all started with an idea from the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board back in 1998. The goal? To create a high-class city for the world’s elite to rub elbows and unwind.

Only fifteen years after plans were hatched, headlines around the world were raving that the shiny new city of Dubai had welcomed over 13 million visitors.

Since then, the city has achieved many feats, from completing the world’s tallest building (The Burj Khalifa) to nabbing attention from Hollywood studios (we won’t talk about Sex & the City 2 ).

Thanks to incremental and focused efforts, Dubai has taken its place among the world’s classiest destinations. But if you’re still a little baffled about how we got here and whether Dubai actually meets the hype, you aren’t alone.

Let’s take a closer look at the Dubai travel boom, covering what there is to do in the city and whether it’s worth visiting.

A closer look at Dubai’s travel boom

As mentioned above, much of Dubai was built with tourism in mind.

Specifically, high-class tourism.

Despite the fact that the city sits in a largely inhospitable desert, you can find things like full-sized ski slopes, scuba diving reefs, underwater theatrical shows, and similarly unfathomable spectacles.

But it’s not solely about the spectacle—it’s about an ultra-lush and modern spectacle. Not only did the UAE want to build a city that tourists would gush over, but they wanted to appeal to a certain echelon of tourists.

Specifically, those with deep pockets.

Yes—Dubai has a historic district where you can explore the city’s history and identity. But this is usually a pretty short day trip experience for tourists.  The core focus for visitors is luxury shopping, not free tours.

What is there to do in Dubai?

Name-brand shopping abounds. The Dubai Mall is one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world with a long list of luxury brands.

Think: Bulgari, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, and many more.

Keep in mind that many luxury brands represented in Dubai come from the Middle East and Asia. In other words, Dubai isn’t only interested in meeting the brand interests of Westerners, but rich and wealthy vacationers from all across the world.

Aside from luxury shopping, visitors can also spend big on things like glamorous hotels , spa treatments. yacht tours, helicopter tours, hot air balloon experiences, PGA-caliber golf courses (or, more appropriately, LIV-caliber courses), and an almost endless list of fine dining options. As of 2023, Dubai is home to 86 Michelin-star restaurants.

There’s also a lot of emphasis on nightlife. However, I’m a little unconvinced about the nightlife.

The city is home to many big-name clubs with sparkler-heavy bottle service and tiered VIP areas. That sounds like a hellscape to me—but if you’re into the traditional clubbing experience, it’s probably an unforgettable experience.

What do travelers think of Dubai?

Clearly, Dubai wants to attract wealthy travelers who will open their wallets to its many experiences . That means that shoestring budget travelers, like backpackers or hostel-happy wanderers, are pretty much immediately priced out.

But what do travelers with funds think of the city?

Many report that they’re offered a high-class experience that’s well worth the value. In other words, the prices aren’t too exorbitant, while the level of service, cleanliness, and convenience is unmatched.

For those who aren’t shy about spending, Dubai meets the hype.

In addition to next-level service, visitors also report feeling very safe and that they were treated politely by everyone they encountered, from taxi drivers to receptionists. Apparently, even the airport offers a fulfilling experience.

Oh, and people also seem to love the guaranteed sunshine. Based on the many reviews I’ve read, it almost seems like a top-tier resort experience spread across a whole city.

Is Dubai worth visiting?

Dubai is geared toward wealthy visitors who want access to world-class shopping, dining, and nightlife. But there’s a lot more than what meets the eye here.

While I’ve never personally considered heading to Dubai, there’s a reason it’s remained one of the world’s top tourist destinations for so long.

To be honest, that uncertainty is part of the appeal for me. I want to see whether my expectations are accurate, and whether it’s been fair to write off Dubai.

However, it’s not something I’d be willing to fork over thousands to find out.

So, here’s my verdict: go to Dubai if you have the money . It seems like a place where what you spend directly correlates to how much fun you have.

Tay Belgeri is a content writer with global experience. She writes for brands like Santander Bank, PokerStars, DraftKings, and OddsChecker. Her affiliate posts have appeared on AP News, Ranker, Notion, OK! Magazine, and other major sites. She writes about a variety of cultural topics (from sports to high fashion) but specializes in travel. Originally from Missouri, she now lives in Spain. In a few years, she will have spent more time outside the US than inside it. Career highlights: • Selected to present research by the National Council of Undergraduate Research (2014) • Acquired grants for New York City’s first Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration (2015) • Joined OddsChecker’s US Launch team (2020) • Shortlisted for the Foreword INDIES (2021, 2023)

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Dubai travel stories! ✈️

Hello dubai explorers👋.

We can’t wait to read about your incredible Dubai travel experiences!

Destination: I have visited almost all famous tourist spot

Trip Duration: 1 week (it is more compared to itenary. I was there for a week to enjoy the local life as well)

Budget: I was not having an accurate Budget. Mine was little luxurious + Budget Friendly. I ended up spending nearly 1L for the trip I guess. Rest for shopping.

Trip type: Solo

Brief itenary: Day 1 - Flight from Kochi to Dubai Day 2 - City tour + Desert Safari Day 3- Miracle Garden + Global village Day 4- Dubai Marina + Crusing Day 5 - Dubai mall underwater zoo + Burj Khalifa Day 6- Gold Suke + Old Dubai + Museum of future + Dubai Frame Day 7- Return flight

Accommodation: I stalyed a Budget hotel booked trough Agoda.com named “Royal Falcon Hotel” which was a good hotel and I got for very cheap price. 18k for a week. And it was opposite to Sala-al-din metro station. So the transport was super convenient.

Suggestions: Depend on public transport. Most of the tourist destinations are connected with public transports.

Thanks for sharing!

Destination: What places in Dubai did you visit?

• Burj Khalifa,
• Dubai mall fountain show,
• Desert Safari,
• Lost Chambers,
• Dubai Frame,
• Dubai Museum,
• Dubai Aquarium,
• Global Village
• Green Planet,
• Veiw of Palm,
• Al Shindaghah,
• Atlantis Hotel,
• Future Museum,
• Meena Bazaar,
• Dubai creek area;
• gold and spice souks;
• Platinum and Heritage Safari,
• Dhow cruise;
• Dubai Museum
• Yellow boat tour;

Abu Dhabi: - 2 days

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,
• Qasr Al Watan,
• Corniche in Abu Dhabi

Trip Duration: How long was your stay? • 10 days

Budget: What was your approximate budget for the trip? • 1.5 lakh overall including shopping. Below mentioned were mandated with a total of 58500. By end of my trip, I ended up spending about 25k for food and local travel and rest were all my shopping spree on gadgets.

|Flight|24000| |Visa|7500| |Stay|10000| |Attractions|17000|

Trip Type: Solo travel, family vacation, couples trip, etc.? • Solo

Brief Itinerary: What was your daily itinerary like? Day 1 Burj Khalifa, Dubai mall fountain show Day 2 View at the palm, Desert Safari Day 3 Lost Chambers + Atlantis Hotel, Future Museum, Dubai Frame Day 4 Meena Bazaar, Dubai creek area; gold and spice souks; Global Village Day 5 Expo 2020; Dhow cruise; Dubai Museum Day 6 Yellow boat tour; hang out a Dubai Marina area; Big Bus Panoramic night tour Day 7 Visit to Fujaira fort, and Khor Fukkan Day 8 Travel to Abu dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Day 9 Qasr Al Watan, Corniche

Accommodations, Activities, Tips (Optional): Share any recommendations you have for fellow travellers, such as your favourite hotels, restaurants, activities, and tips for saving money.

• Unless looking for luxury stay in new Dubai… consider diera for your budget stay. • Get Metro pass costs about 1250 valid for 7 days. Totally worth it. • Dubai is linear city; use metro to access most of the places to see • Blend into the culture through public transport • Try few of the local delicacies at unique places; few to be noted are Ayamna, Sardina Seafood, etc.

Suggestions for Fellow Travelers: What advice would you give to other travellers planning a trip to Dubai?

Keep a few hours of leisure every day in your itinerary unless opting for cabs for transportation. Visit khorfukkan and fujaira which gives true vibes of Arabian culture.

Get AEDs from India atleast for 50k which is super convenient than doing all the maths there. Not to forget that the Niyo is a bliss for all your transactions. TIP: always choose INR while swiping to card.

Get ETISALAT sim which has 24 hours free for visitors and package is better compared to DU.

Be sure to install BOTIM along with your loved ones for free video and voice call.

Make sure you carry your power bank with phone fully charged since most of the stores dont allow you to charge in case of emergency. Instead, you may also opt for power bank on rent at metro and major hubs

Try the foldable cycles which can also be carried in metros… it is totally cool if you love it Learn the rules locally and be ready to be amazed by people being sincere.

Book all attraction tickets in advance and if possible combo packs. It saves AEDs and helps better planning as well.

Try direct flight to your city than connecting one’s. You’ll save lot of time and energy in transits.

Cheers to your trip. Have good times.

Big thanks for sharing your Dubai trip details @Dcrag19 ! Your itinerary breakdown and practical tips are amazinggg. The advice on local gems, currency, and using Niyo is top-notch.

“always choose INR while swiping to card.” Should we choose INR or AED while using Niyo Equtas card?

Hey @krupakar !

It’s advisable to select AED instead of INR when using the Niyo Global Equitas Card , as this choice helps avoid additional Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) charges.

here they suggest to do transaction in local currency

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Discover Dubai: An Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary for an Unforgettable Adventure

Welcome to the dazzling city of Dubai ! A melting pot of cultures, Dubai combines ultra-modern architecture with rich historical and cultural elements. Over the next seven days, we’ll guide you through an unforgettable journey filled with stunning sights, delicious cuisine, and thrilling activities. Whether you’re drawn by luxurious shopping, awe-inspiring landmarks, or adventurous escapades, our comprehensive trip plan covers everything to ensure you make the most of your time in this vibrant city.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Downtown Dubai

On your first day in Dubai, it’s all about settling in and diving straight into the city’s heart. Downtown Dubai offers a plethora of attractions, from iconic skyscrapers to massive shopping malls.

Morning: Burj Khalifa

Start your day with a visit to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Purchase tickets in advance to avoid long queues, and make your way to the observation deck on the 124th floor. Experience breathtaking panoramic views of the city and beyond.

Afternoon: The Dubai Mall

After the Burj Khalifa, head over to The Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Besides an array of shopping options, the mall is home to several attractions, including the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Spend your afternoon exploring the mall’s endless shops and entertainment offerings.

Evening: Dubai Fountain Show

As the sun sets, make your way to the Dubai Fountain, located just outside The Dubai Mall. Witness the spectacular fountain show, where water jets dance to a variety of musical tunes. This dazzling display is a perfect way to end your first day in Dubai.

Day 2: Cultural Immersion and Historical Exploration

Time to delve into Dubai’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Day two focuses on exploring the city’s old quarters and experiencing its traditional charm.

Morning: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Historic District

Begin your cultural journey in the Al Fahidi Fort. Stroll through the Al Fahidi Historic District to admire traditional architecture and visit art galleries.

Afternoon: Dubai Creek and Abara Ride

After a cultural immersion, head to the historic Dubai Creek. Take an abara (traditional wooden boat) ride across the creek, offering scenic views of both old and new Dubai. Explore the bustling souks (markets) on both sides of the creek, including the famous Gold Souk and Spice Souk.

Evening: Dinner at an Arabian Restaurant

Conclude the day with a sumptuous dinner at an Arabian restaurant. Savor traditional dishes like hummus, kebabs, and biryani while enjoying live music and belly dancing performances.

Day 3: Modern Marvels and Beach Time

On your third day in Dubai, embrace the city’s modern side and enjoy its stunning beaches.

Morning: Dubai Marina and JBR

Begin the day at Dubai Marina , home to towering skyscrapers and a picturesque waterfront. Take a serene walk along the Marina Walk, enjoy the views or embark on a Marina cruise. Visit The Beach at JBR for some sun, sea, and sand.

Afternoon: Atlantis, The Palm

Head over to Atlantis, The Palm in the afternoon. This iconic resort offers a variety of activities, including Aquaventure Waterpark and The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast or seeking family-friendly fun, there’s something for everyone.

Evening: Dinner at The Pointe

End your day with a visit to The Pointe, a dining and entertainment destination on the Palm Jumeirah. Enjoy a variety of international cuisines with the stunning backdrop of the Atlantis resort.

Day 4: Desert Safari and Arabian Nights

Experience the majestic desert landscape of Dubai on your fourth day with exciting activities and traditional Arabian entertainment.

Morning: Relaxation and Local Markets

Spend the morning at leisure, perhaps exploring local markets or enjoying the amenities at your hotel.

Afternoon: Desert Safari

In the afternoon, embark on a desert safari. Enjoy dune bashing, camel rides, and sandboarding before watching the sunset over the golden sands. Many tours include a visit to a Bedouin-style camp where you can enjoy cultural performances, traditional music, and a lavish barbecue dinner.

Day 5: Exploring Theme Parks and Adventure Parks

Dubai is home to a plethora of theme parks and adventure parks, offering thrilling experiences for visitors of all ages.

Morning: IMG Worlds of Adventure

Visit IMG Worlds of Adventure , one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks. With zones themed around Marvel superheroes, Cartoon Network characters, and dinosaurs, there’s plenty of excitement to be found here.

Afternoon: Dubai Parks and Resorts

Head to Dubai Parks and Resorts, which includes Motiongate Dubai and Legoland Dubai. Spend your afternoon exploring movie-themed rides or brick-built adventures at Legoland.

Day 6: Shopping and Souvenirs

Dedicate your sixth day to savoring Dubai’s world-renowned shopping experiences, from luxurious malls to traditional souks.

Morning: Mall of the Emirates

Begin your shopping spree at the Mall of the Emirates. Apart from an array of brand stores, the mall also boasts Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort complete with slopes and penguins.

Afternoon: Souk Madinat Jumeirah

In the afternoon, head to Souk Madinat Jumeirah. This traditional-style bazaar offers a unique shopping experience amidst winding alleys and waterways. Find exquisite souvenirs, jewelry, and spices here.

Evening: Global Village

End your shopping day with a visit to Global Village. Covering cultures from around the world, you’ll find unique products, delicious street food, and lively performances. It’s a perfect spot to experience global diversity within Dubai.

Day 7: Farewell and Last-Minute Exploration

On your final day, savor your last hours in Dubai by exploring any remaining sights or simply relaxing before your departure.

Morning: Breakfast at a Rooftop Café

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at a rooftop café, taking in the panoramic views of Dubai one last time.

Afternoon: Last-Minute Exploration or Relaxation

Use this time to revisit your favorite spot in the city, pick up last-minute souvenirs, or simply relax by the poolside at your hotel.

Dubai is a city that promises and delivers unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a cultural enthusiast, or a luxury traveler, this 7-day itinerary is designed to give you the very best of what Dubai has to offer. Happy travels!

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Dubai Miracle Garden opens September 28; cheaper tickets for residents announced

For tourists and non-uae residents, however, ticket prices were increased.

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UAE announces 2-month grace period for residence visa violators

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Published: Fri 27 Sep 2024, 1:46 PM

Last updated: Sat 28 Sep 2024, 7:43 AM

Flowers at Dubai Miracle Garden (DMG) are once again in full bloom, and the favourite family theme park is re-opening its doors for Season 13 on Saturday, September 28.

Entry fee has now also become cheaper for UAE residents, DMG confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday. By showing their Emirates ID, adults and children can enter the floral park for Dh60 each – down by Dh5 from last year’s price of Dh65. Kids below three years old can enter for free.

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For tourists and non-UAE residents, however, ticket prices have gone up by Dh5 – now priced at Dh100 for adults and Dh85 for children. Those who are below three years old are also free, even if they are not UAE residents.

DMG said they will start accepting online booking from September 28

Touted as the largest natural flower garden in the world, DMG showcases every year more than 150 million natural flowers of about 120 varieties. The garden has different themes, inspired by popular events and famous characters such as the Smurfs.

A regular fixture at DMG is the Guinness World Record-holding mock-up of Emirates A380 covered in more than 500,000 fresh flowers and live plants. DMG also has an ‘Umbrella Tunnel’ and ‘Lake Park’ “that celebrate creativity and beauty of nature.”

Located in Dubailand, Dubai Miracle Garden opened for the first time on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013. For Season 13, the family destination will be open daily from 9am until 9pm from Monday to Friday; and from 9am until 11pm on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays.

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26 best things to do in Dubai

Sep 21, 2024 • 13 min read

Whether it's in a souk or a mall, shopping in Dubai is an essential experience © Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

If you're planning to visit Dubai, you'll find a stirring mix of profound traditions and futuristic vision wrapped into starkly evocative desert splendor. Dubai embraces sunshine, innovation and cultural dynamism, and is known as a shopping haven with a vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene.

You won't be short of things to do in the sci-fi-esque land of iconic skyscrapers, palm-shaped islands, city-sized malls and palatial beach resorts. Here are some great things to do to make the most from your trip.

1. Burj Khalifa

Dubai is famous for its dramatic skyscrapers, and above them all looms the Burj Khalifa , shaped like a deep-space rocket and, at 2,718 feet, the world's tallest building. It's a stunning feat of architecture and engineering, and a trip to the observation deck on the 124th floor (1,483 feet) is the most popular way to take in the amazing views it offers. You can also buy tickets for "At the Top Sky" on the 148th floor, which is the world's highest outdoor observation deck at 1,820 feet.

Detour: It can be costly getting to the top of Burj Khalifa – with prices starting near $50 per person for the 125th floor and more than $100 for the 148th floor – so instead of booking a ticket, book high tea at Atmosphere Burj Khalifa and enjoy the views from the 122nd floor while enjoying delicious pastries, tea and bubbly without the crowds. Prices start at about $95 per person, giving you more bang for your buck.

Clad in 28,000 glass panels, the Burj Khalifa also lays claim to several more superlatives, including the highest occupied floor and an elevator with the longest travel distance. On hazy days, it’s better to visit at night.

2. Al Fahidi Historic District

Wandering around this restored heritage area in Bur Dubai provides a tangible sense of historic Middle Eastern architecture and culture and is one of the city’s free things to do. Low-lying traditional courtyard buildings flank this quiet labyrinth of lanes in Al Fahidi Historic District , many of them featuring arabesque windows, decorative gypsum screens and wind towers.

Some contain craft shops, small heritage museums, art galleries, artsy guesthouses or cafés serving local fare, including Middle Eastern breakfasts and camel milk smoothies. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding leads guided tours of the quarter.

Planning tip: Visit in the morning to avoid the heat and explore the heritage sites at a leisurely pace.

3. Dubai Miracle Garden

Covering some 21,528 square feet and touted as the largest natural flower garden in the world, there’s a sense of Alice in Wonderland–esque surrealism when entering Dubai Miracle Garden . Wander past quirky bloom-covered peacocks, clocks and castles, or alternatively, chill out in a cabana with billowing drapes and floor cushions.

Home to 100 million flowers, and adjacent to the enormous nine-dome Dubai Butterfly Garden , it is incredibly popular, attracting 55,000 visitors a week. There are food outlets on site as well as a souvenir shop and small trampoline park.

Planning tip: The garden is best visited in the cooler months, from November to April, when flowers are in their prime.

4. Dubai Mall

Shopping malls represent an integral part of the culture and lifestyle in Dubai. Not merely places for maxing out your credit cards on fashion, electronics or gourmet foods, malls are also where locals go to socialize in cafés and restaurants, to catch a movie in a state-of-the-art multiplex or to get adrenaline kicks in an indoor theme park or game arcade. The best and biggest of the bunch is Dubai Mall, which features not only 1,300 stores but also the giant Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo , an indoor ice rink and a genuine dinosaur skeleton.

Serious shoppers can check out the Dubai Shopping Festival, which lures bargain-hunters from around the world. It takes place in January each year, and there are huge discounts in the souqs and malls. The city is abuzz with activities during the festival, ranging from live concerts to fashion shows and nightly fireworks.

5. Mushrif National Park

One of the oldest parks in Dubai, Mushrif National Park covers more than nearly 2 square miles of natural ghaf forest. Mushrif is located around 9 miles east of the city center, and is a haven for birds, including owls, Orphean warblers, hoopoes and black redstarts. Dating from 1974, the park has plenty of manmade attractions as well, including walking trails and bicycle tracks, a large children's playground, a swimming pool and barbecue pits.

Detour: If time is limited, visit one of Dubai’s other parks , like Safa Park or Zabeel Park, which also offer green spaces and recreational facilities.

6. Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

On the outskirts of Sharjah , the 87-square-mile Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve accounts for 5% of the Emirate of Dubai's total land. The reserve was established in 1999 and has been involved in projects to reintroduce mountain gazelles, sand gazelles and Arabian oryx.

It's possible to stay inside the reserve at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa , which was designed for super-luxe ecotourism. The reserve is divided into four zones, the third of which is only open to resort guests and the fourth to a small number of desert tour operators, including Arabian Adventures , offering a less costly admission than overnighting at the resort.

Planning tip: Book desert safaris and eco-tours in advance, and opt for morning or sunset tours to avoid the midday heat.

7. IMG Worlds of Adventure

In 2016, Dubai added four theme parks to its stable of attractions, including IMG Worlds of Adventure , the world's largest indoor theme park. Housed in an air-conditioned hangar the size of 28 football fields, the park is truly impressive, with more than 20 rides and attractions split across four themed zones – Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard. You won't go hungry as there are 28 dining outlets to choose from.

Planning tip: Purchase tickets online ahead of time for better rates and to avoid long lines.

8. Etihad Museum

Opened in 2017, the striking Etihad Museum engagingly chronicles the birth of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, spurred by the discovery of oil in the 1950s and the withdrawal of the British in 1968.

Documentary films, photographs, artifacts, timelines and interactive displays zero in on historic milestones in the years leading up to and immediately following this momentous occasion, and they pay homage to the country's seven founding fathers. Free tours of the adjacent circular Union House are available, which is where the historic signing of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates took place.

9. Gold Souq

For a dose of Arabian Nights flair, head to Dubai's historic core and plunge headlong into its charmingly chaotic warren of markets. The famed headliner is the dazzling Gold Souq . Even if you don't have a thing for bling, a walk through here will feel like you've entered a giant Aladdin's Cave. It's fun to just watch the action, especially in the evening. If you're buying, sharpen your haggling skills, whether shopping for teensy earrings, an engagement ring or a red-carpet-ready necklace.

Planning tip: Bargaining is expected. When you find a piece you’re interested in, start by offering a price lower than what you are willing to pay. Sellers will then counter with something higher but also lower than the original price.

10. White Dubai

Dazzling rooftop bars, chill beachfront lounges, classic pubs, cool karaoke joints, speakeasy-style nightclubs, live-music venues – with such variety, finding a party location to suit your mood is hardly a tall order in Dubai. One of the biggest draws for nocturnal action is White Dubai. The mega-venue, with its impressive light and sound systems, sits smack dab on top of the grandstand of the Meydan Racecourse.

Planning tip: Avoid casual wear as this exclusive nightclub has a dress code.

11. Desert escapes

The Arabian desert, with its weathered mountains, undulating sand dunes and wide-open spaces, exudes a special mystique that can easily be savored on a day trip from urbanized Dubai. There are numerous tour operators to set you up with everything from camel treks to sandboarding or overnight desert safaris. The best ones offer an authentic look at local culture through encounters with Bedouins and traditional meals. Alternatively, consider hiring a 4WD and staying at a desert resort, so you can appreciate the magnificent scenery on your own schedule.

Read more: Top 9 day trips from Dubai

12. Dubai Museum

Housed in Bur Dubai's Al Fahidi Fort, the city's oldest surviving structure, Dubai Museum, provides a well-laid-out introduction to the history of the emirate. Marvel at its turbo-evolution from simple desert settlement to futuristic metropolis in just a third of a century. Dioramas recreate traditional scenes in a market, at home and in the mosque, while other galleries focus on life at sea and in the desert. An archaeological exhibition illustrates the ancient history of the region with a display of items unearthed during excavations at local digs.

13. Dubai Design District

This hub for creatives lures visitors with its edgy architecture, contemporary restaurants, public art, galleries and calendar of cultural events. Visitors to Dubai Design District can tap into this laboratory of tastemakers by browsing showrooms and pop-ups, eavesdropping on bearded hipsters in sleek cafés, checking out art exhibits in building lobbies, or attending free screenings and workshops.

Planning tip: Visit during Dubai Design Week in November for a full range of activities, exhibitions, and workshops.

14. Dubai Butterfly Garden

If you want to deepen your knowledge of these pretty flying insects, pop into the Dubai Butterfly Museum , located next to the Dubai Miracle Garden. Some 15,000 butterflies flutter around nine indoor domed gardens, and you can see for yourself how they begin as caterpillars and evolve into their flying adaptations. Don’t miss the Butterfly and Insect Museum, which features in-depth analysis and information about thousands of colorful butterfly species from around the world.

15. Museum of Illusions

It opened in 2018 and the Museum of Illusions in the Al Seef district is fast becoming a favorite of families and Instagram fans. Kids will love the 150-plus illusions, including the rooms of mirrors, distorted perspective and various other optical illusions, while parents can take memorably wacky photos. Avoid visiting at weekends, if possible, as visitors are restricted by number and you may have to wait your turn.

Detour: After visiting the museum, take some time to explore the Al Seef district, which offers a blend of modern and traditional architecture, along with various dining options.

16. Jumeirah Mosque

Snowy white and intricately detailed, Jumeirah is Dubai's most beautiful mosque and one of only a handful in the United Arab Emirates open to non-Muslims. It's particularly beautiful at dusk and visitors are allowed in six days a week. One-hour guided tours are operated by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding .

Planning tip: Any style of modest dress is preferred, and traditional clothing can be borrowed for free.

17. Dubai Fountain

The dancing Dubai Fountain is spectacularly set in the middle of a giant lake against the backdrop of the glittering Burj Khalifa and free for all to enjoy. Water undulates as gracefully as a belly dancer, arcs like a dolphin and surges as high as 459 feet, all synced to stirring classical, Arabic and world music soundtracks played on speakers. There are plenty of great vantage points, including a 893-foot-long floating boardwalk, which takes you just 30 feet away from the fountain.

Other good viewing spots include some of the restaurants at Souk Al Bahar , the bridge linking Souk Al Bahar with Dubai Mall, the Dubai Mall waterfront terrace, or aboard a 25-minute Dubai Fountain Lake Ride on a traditional wooden abra boat.

18. Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

The long-running annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature brings authors and thousands of book fans together to celebrate all things reading and writing. Held over nine days in March, the festival hosts talks, panels and a special program just for children, with many activities free to attend. It offers attendees a chance to meet local and world-famous authors, attend literary debates and workshops, participate in competitions and be inspired by their literary heroes.

Planning tips: If meeting authors is a priority, look for signing sessions and Q&A events.

19. Global Village

The carnival-like Global Village is a bit like a ‘world fair’ for shoppers, and you'll find it on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). Each of the 30-something pavilions showcases a specific nation’s culture and products. Aside from shopping, there's also lots of entertainment – from Chinese opera to Turkish whirling dervishes – as well as a funfair with dozens of rides from tame to terrifying.

20. Burj Al Arab

This landmark luxe hotel, with its dramatic design that mimics the billowing sail of a ship, floats on its own artificial island and has become the iconic symbol of Dubai’s boom years. Found on the stunning man-made island of Palm Jumeirah, which is shaped like a palm tree, the Burj Al Arab's interior is all about impact, drama and unapologetic bling, with dancing fountains, gold fittings, shiny marble and whirlpool baths your butler can fill with champagne if you so wish. If a stay exceeds your budget, you can still partake in the opulence by making reservations for cocktails, afternoon tea or dinner in the underwater restaurant.

21. Dubai Frame

Opened in January 2018, this 492-foot rectangular “picture frame” sits in Zabeel Park , right between historic and modern Dubai, and provides grand views of both parts of the city. Galleries on the ground floor of Dubai Frame tell the story of Dubai (the past) before visitors are whisked up to a viewing platform at roof level (the present). The final stop is another gallery depicting a vision of Dubai 50 years from now (the future).

22. Al Qudra Lake

One for the nature lovers, Al Qudra Lake is a series of man-made lakes set amidst the rolling dunes of the Saih Al Salam desert on Dubai’s southern outskirts. Part of the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, the surrounding area is unspoiled. Swap skyscrapers for wide open dunes and oasis-like pools where you can spot plenty of free-roaming wildlife, more than 100 species of birds and several desert plants.

23. Kite Beach

This long, pristine stretch of white sand, off Jumeirah Road and next to a mosque, is very clean and has lots of activities, including kitesurfing, beach tennis, beach volleyball and kayaking. There are showers, Wi-Fi, toilets and changing facilities on Kite Beach , plus lots of food trucks and cafés. It offers great views of the Burj Al Arab, and gets very busy on Friday and Saturday when a seaside market with crafts and gifts sets up.

Detour: Jumeirah Beach , about 3 miles from Kite Beach stretches along the coastline with the same iconic views but in a more relaxed atmosphere that is best for tranquil lounging.

24. Perfume Museum

The waterfront Perfume Museum is part of the Al Shindagha Museum restoration project and is the former home of a Dubai sheikha who loved all things perfume. The old building has been restored and its interactive exhibits are based around scent, smells and fragrance. Keep your entry ticket and you’ll get free access to the nearby Dubai Creek House .

25. Spice Souk

Steps from the Deira Old Souk abra station next to the Dubai Creek, the sound of Arabic chatter bounces around the lanes of this covered market. Dubai's famous Spice Souk is filled with intoxicating sights and smells. Its vendors work hard to unload cardamom, saffron and other aromatic herbs photogenically stored in burlap sacks alongside nuts, incense burners, henna kits, shishas and dried limes. Away from the tourist-oriented main thoroughfare, tiny shops also sell groceries and other household goods.

26. Dubai Parks

Dubai Parks and Resorts covers an impressive 25 million square feet, making it one of the largest integrated theme park destinations in the Middle East. The complex welcomes you with a central Riverland Dubai , featuring themed dining and retail options in a picturesque setting that harkens to a 1950s American boardwalk, and allows you to experience the magic of Hollywood at Motiongate Dubai . The only Hollywood-themed park in the Middle East, rides in this theme park are inspired by blockbuster movies like The Hunger Games and Shrek .

Families with younger children will especially love Legoland Dubai , while the Legoland Water Park provides adventure with water slides and fun-filled zones perfect for children ages 2 to 12.

Keep planning your trip to Dubai

Best things to do with kids in Dubai The best time to go to Dubai Top neighborhoods to explore in Dubai

This article was first published Jun 4, 2021 and updated Sep 21, 2024.

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This Dubai chocolate candy bar has gone viral and now you can get it in Wilmington

Chocolate confections are nothing new. But that doesn’t mean a new candy bar can’t cause a stir. One sweet treat has been getting millions of views on social media, especially TikTok, for the past several months.

As a result, demand has boomed all over the world and copycat bars can be found all over the internet. And now, the viral sensation has recently landed in Wilmington.

What is it?

It’s a stuffed candy bar with flavors inspired by the knafeh, a pistachio-filled Middle Eastern dessert. It usually includes a pistachio cream mixed with toasted kataifi, a shredded phyllo dough, and tahini. It’s encased in chocolate and typically decorated with gold leaf or a splash of edible paint. People love the play of tastes and textures that make it sweet, salty and crunchy.

Where did it come from?

Most credit Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai with creating the original. They make a variety of stuffed candy bars. But with the popularity, a variety of other makers – both professional and home-based – have created versions.

Where can you get it in Wilmington?

Carolina Candy Company & Gifts makes most of their own confections, but they will also source something unique. That’s the case for the Dubai chocolate bar. After searching for the right maker, they decided to import them from the Ritonka chocolatier in Austria. They recreate a version that’s thick, like the original. It's about $30 for two chunky bars decorated with flecks of gold leaf and a dainty pistachio. So far, they’ve brought in two batches of the candy bars and they’ve been big sellers. While the process for importation has been difficult, at times, they’re considering bringing in one more shipment. They are at 894 S. Kerr Ave. in Wilmington.

Meanwhile, Kerri Beard with Half Cup Confections has been making her own version of the bar. It’s a thinner bar, but with the same crunchy pistachio cream in the individual squares. Hers also have a bronzy sheen and with a slightly less filling-to-coating ratio, they are more chocolate forward. The former caterer operates as a pop-up business, where she also sells stuffed cookies, cake pops and other treats, usually for about $5 a piece or in bundle specials. She’s often at The Bend in Ogden on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as a rotating selection of breweries and festivals.

STAY CONNECTED:   Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the  Port City Foodies newsletter  and following us on  Facebook  and  Instagram . 

Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: TikTok famous Dubai chocolate candy bar in Wilmington, NC

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Dubai woman says husband bought her private island worth $50m so she could wear a bikini

The influencer shared a video of the island, but declined to say exactly where it is, article bookmarked.

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Louise Thomas

A Dubai -based woman has claimed her husband bought her a island so she could wear a bikini in the safety and privacy of their own beach.

Twenty six-year old Soudi Al Nadak shared an Instagram video of the private island her husband bought her, writing: “POV: You wanted to wear a bikini so your millionaire husband bought you an island.”

British-born Soudi is married to Dubai businessman Jamal Al Nadak, and describes herself as a “full time housewife”. The couple met when they were studying in Dubai, and got married in 2021.

Her Instagram, with 336,000 followers, details her extravagant lifestyle. She has a series of videos titled “How much my millionaire husband spent on me this week”, spending anywhere between $50,000-$1m (£37,266-£745,325) at least.

She recently posted a video of her wedding, writing “I had to marry outside my culture because I refused to pay on dates and I only accept gold as gifts”.

In an interview, Soudi talked about them wanting to buy an island as an investment. She said the island was bought for $50m (£37.25m).

“It was something we were looking to do for a while for investment and my husband wants me to feel safe on a beach which is why he purchased one,” she told Indian news daily Hindustan Times .

“For privacy reasons we aren’t sharing the exact location but it’s in Asia and it was $50m.”

Comments on her post range from disbelief to outright criticism of her flaunting her wealth.

“Does he have a brother? I ask for my friend,” asked one user.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

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The Best Travel Purses, From Chic Shoulder Bags To Packable Crossbodies

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The best travel purses are stylish, lightweight and can hold and organize essential items without feeling cumbersome. We spent hours researching options from a variety of brands to find the very best travel purses; our winner is the MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe , which is made from a durable and waterproof material and has eight useful pockets. We also evaluated purses from lululemon , Baggu , Cuyana , Lo & Sons and more to help you find the best option for your needs.

The best travel purses are durable, versatile, and can hold and organize essential items.

Before making a purchase, consider your travel purse’s primary use. Outdoor enthusiasts might want a water-repellent option , while travelers seeking a day-to-night bag might prefer a leather purse . It’s also helpful to evaluate the bag's size, weight, interior organization and security features, which can be especially important if traveling internationally. Below, the best travel purses of 2024.

• Best Travel Purse Overall: MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe
• Best Affordable Travel Purse: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag
• Best Crossbody Travel Purse: Lululemon Everywhere Crossbody Bag
• Best Anti-Theft Travel Purse: Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag
• Best Leather Travel Purse: Cuyana Double Moon Saddle Bag
• Best Sling Bag For Travel: Lo & Sons Bond Bag
• Best Small Travel Purse: Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag
• Best Large Travel Purse: Coach Lana Pebble Leather Shoulder Bag

Best Travel Purse Overall

Stylish, waterproof and great for organization, mz wallace small sutton deluxe.

I am a commerce editor for Forbes Vetted covering beauty, fashion, travel and home. Prior to joining Forbes, I held positions at BuzzFeed and Dotdash Meredith where I was responsible for curating lifestyle content and testing products for real-world insights. My work has appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, BuzzFeed, Brit + Co, Everyday Health and more. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Creative Writing from Marist College and currently reside in Brooklyn, New York.

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Dimensions: 9.8 x 5.5 x 10.2 inches |  Weight: 1.1 pounds |  Colors: 19 total |  Materials: Rec Oxford, leather trim

• Durable and waterproof exterior
• Eight pockets
• Detachable, adjustable crossbody strap
• Exterior pockets are not zippered

The MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe earned the top spot on our list thanks to its compact size, well-organized interior and stylish yet durable design. It’s crafted from Rec Oxford fabric and has a padded, almost quilted appearance. The material is waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about the exterior if caught in the rain. There are eight pockets total (six on the inside and two on the outside) to keep you organized on the go, and the main compartment is spacious enough to fit a water bottle, book, passport, wallet, phone, sunglasses and more. Other helpful features include a zip top closure to keep everything secure, a detachable crossbody strap, a phone pocket and a key ring strap. 

Best Affordable Travel Purse

Compact, adjustable and under $20, uniqlo round mini shoulder bag.

Dimensions: 11 x 6.7 x 3.9 inches |  Weight: Not listed |  Colors: 12 total |  Materials: Nylon shell and polyester lining

• Adjustable strap
• Two interior pockets
• Water-repellent finish may wear off over time

If you’re looking for an inexpensive option that you won’t have to be too precious with, we recommend the Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag. It’s shaped like a half-moon and has an adjustable strap to ensure a secure fit. The 100% nylon fabric has a slightly crinkled effect and is treated with a water-repellent finish (although the manufacturer does note that it may wear off over time). There are also two smaller pockets inside for stashing smaller items like a backup charger and wallet. Although the construction is not as thick or durable as our top pick, it’s a great choice if you’re on a budget or want several different colors for variety.

Best Crossbody Travel Purse

Practical, sporty and water-repellent, lululemon everywhere crossbody bag.

Dimensions: 7.7 x 3.1 x 5.3 inches |  Weight: Not listed |  Colors: 2 total |  Materials: Nylon body and recycled polyester lining

• Water-repellent fabric
• Removable, adjustable crossbody strap
• Large exterior zippered pocket
• Limited color options (rose blush/silver and bone/silver)

Crossbody bags allow you to go hands-free when traveling and provide enough room for all your essentials without feeling bulky. This iteration from Lululemon has a removable, adjustable crossbody strap, silver hardware, and multiple pockets to stay organized. The exterior pocket zips close to keep your belongings secure, and the back slip pocket keeps your iPhone handy so you can whip it out when you need to make a call. Its casual look makes it best suited for everyday adventures rather than dressier occasions.

Best Anti-Theft Travel Purse

Rfid blocking pockets and slash-resistant straps, travelon anti-theft classic mini shoulder bag.

Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 2.3 inches |  Weight: 0.90 pounds |  Colors: 12 total |  Materials: Slash-resistant nylon

• Slash-resistant body and strap
• RFID-blocking pockets and card slots
• Fun colors and patterns to choose from 
• Design isn’t as stylish as other options

For international trips or getaways to busy locales, you might feel more secure choosing a purse with anti-theft features. The Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag stands out among the competition for its many security components, durable materials and uncluttered design. It’s made from slash-resistant nylon, and the strap has a stainless steel wire that runs through it, so thieves can’t cut it. The bag’s main compartment has an organizer with RFID-blocking pockets and the front zippered pocket locks to keep your valuables secure. Plus, it’s easy to wipe down with a damp cloth when it gets dirty. Reviewers say it’s the perfect size for travel, and it doesn’t feel too bulky or cumbersome, even when filled.

Best Leather Travel Purse

Elegant and well-made, cuyana double moon saddle bag.

Dimensions: 7 x 8.5 x 3.5 inches |  Weight: 1.1 pound pounds |  Colors: 3 total |  Materials: Italian pebbled leather

• Made from genuine leather
• Two spacious main compartments
• Add-on accessories cost more

Cuyana is known for its sleek, modern pieces made from gorgeous Italian leather—and this saddle bag is no exception. The pebbled leather is buttery soft, and the elegant shape can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. There are two main compartments—each with its own flap—and a back slip pocket for anything you need quick access to. Both compartments have a magnetic closure, so you won’t have to fumble with zippers when you’re out and about. You can further customize your bag with add-on accessories like an AirPod Case or cardholder .

Best Sling Bag For Travel

Spacious and sleek.

Lo & Sons

Lo & Sons Bond Bag

Dimensions: 9.3 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches |  Weight: 1.2 pounds |  Colors: 3 total |  Materials: Sheepskin leather

• Converts to a fanny pack
• Interior key leash and three mesh pockets
• TSA-approved lock can be used with the zippers
• Only three color options

Whether you’re planning to shop, hike or catch a live show during your upcoming travels, the Lo & Sons Bond Bag is a great companion. This sling bag will keep your hands free, and its main compartment typically swings to the front of your body, keeping your belongings safe and secure. The main body has three mesh pockets and one zippered pocket with three built-in card slots, so you don’t have to carry a wallet. There’s also a handy key leash and exterior pocket for your phone. 

I’ve owned this bag for over a year and constantly reach for it, whether I’m headed to a sports game, outdoor concert or casual lunch with friends. It looks sleek no matter what I wear it with and is surprisingly spacious for a sling bag.

Best Small Travel Purse

Compact and easily washable, baggu mini nylon shoulder bag.

Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 2.8 inches |  Weight: Not listed |  Colors: 13 total |  Materials: Recycled heavyweight nylon, recycled ripstop nylon lining 

• Adjustable, quilted strap 
• Made from recycled, washable nylon
• One interior zip pocket
• May not hold up to years of frequent wear
• Lighter colors, like Dove, are a bit see-through 

If you’re looking for a compact shoulder bag that’s functional but still stylish, the Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag is an excellent pick. It has a structured body that can stand on its own, and it’s made from recycled heavyweight nylon that can be machine-washed. (It’s the only bag on our list that’s washable.) The capacity isn’t huge, but it feels spacious for a smaller bag and works well for everyday use. Customers also appreciate the fun color options and say it’s incredibly lightweight.

Best Large Travel Purse

Three sizable compartments for all your belongings.

Neiman Marcus

Coach Lana Pebble Leather Shoulder Bag

Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.1 x 7.3 inches |  Weight: Not listed |  Colors: 3 total |  Materials: Polished pebble leather, fabric lining

• Made from polished leather
• Three distinct interior compartments
• Protective feet on bottom of bag
• Strap is not adjustable

Easily the largest bag on our list, the Lana Shoulder Bag is a beautifully crafted travel purse that can hold sizable items like an iPad, MacBook Air or an extra pair of shoes. It’s made from pebble leather with a layer of gloss that gives it a stylish sheen, and its flat shoulder strap has a ten-inch drop. Inside the bag, two distinct compartments are divided by a zippered pouch in the middle (within the zippered compartment, there’s also a smaller slip pocket). The two main compartments are ideal for storing a book, electronics, a water bottle, a sweater and other bulky essentials. Although it’s the most expensive bag we highlighted, it’s a well-made investment piece that will last a lifetime.

The 54 Best Gifts For Women That Never Go Out Of Style

The best walking sandals for women, tested for miles, why trust forbes vetted.

• The Forbes Vetted team consists of avid travelers who are passionate about sharing their luggage shopping tips with readers. We’ve published dozens of in-depth roundups on travel products , including the best travel totes , best weekender bags and more.
• This article was overseen by senior travel editor Astrid Taran , who has used travel purses on countless trips to more than 35 countries. Two of her favorite travel purse brands are MZ Wallace and Cuyana .
• Katherine Louie , the author of this piece, is a lifestyle editor with extensive experience covering travel and lifestyle topics. She owns the Lo & Sons Bond Bag and uses it constantly, whether traveling internationally or heading on an outdoor excursion.
• This story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible.

How We Chose The Best Travel Purses

To find the best travel purses, we researched dozens of best-selling options, compared features and asked our team of experienced staffers for insights.

• We relied on expert advice, independent reviews, research and personal experience to make our recommendations. Louie has over a decade of firsthand experience testing bags, shoes, and other accessories and personally used one of the bags on this list. She also spent more than seven hours researching the best options on the market before making her final selections.
• We analyzed several important features, including dimensions, weight, materials, available color options and interior organization, to help readers pinpoint the best option for their needs.
• The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the safest type of purse to travel with.

Generally, crossbody bags are safer when traveling as they can’t be grabbed off your arm or shoulder. Look for bags made from thick, sturdy materials—such as leather—which make it harder for thieves to slash. The safest travel purse on our list is the  Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag because it’s constructed from slash-resistant nylon, and the strap has a stainless steel wire that runs through it. There are also RFID-blocking pockets inside to keep your credit cards secure.

What Kind Of Travel Bag Is Suitable For Short Trips?

All the bags we highlighted on this list are suitable for short trips. They can hold the essentials without feeling heavy or bulky. If you need to pack a few more items (or want to leave room for souvenirs on a day trip), the  Coach Lana Shoulder Bag is the largest bag we recommend. It has three spacious compartments and a comfortable, wide shoulder strap. 

What Color Bag Is Best For Travel?

While the type of travel purse you buy largely depends on personal preference, dark colors are better at hiding stains and spills. Neutral colorways—like black, tan, grey and white—are also good choices because they’re easy to pair with any outfit.

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