Dubai is fast becoming the world’s leading tourism hub and a popular transit city for flights between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. As a result, the city is a true blend of culture, food, and activities. Tourism has become a major industry in the city, and with the penetration of Western culture, the local culture is starting to disappear, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come here. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can ski in the desert, take an Uber helicopter, or watch sharks at a shopping mall. So, on your next intercontinental flight, be sure to stay in Dubai for a few days.
How to Get to Dubai
The most common way for people to travel to Dubai is by taking international flights, as there are direct flights all over the world. It is a common stopover for flights between Asia Pacific and Europe. The airport serves a number of airlines, including Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, British Airways and Air Canada.
How to Get Around Dubai
Uber and Taxis
UberX is currently not available in Dubai, so Uber is not the cheapest option in the city. However, it is reliable, and the quality of the car is better due to the higher price. Taxis are the cheapest way to get around Dubai, especially from the airport. Take a beige taxi and enjoy excellent service and great prices.
Train
Trains are the most cost-effective way to get around Dubai. Tickets are cheap, and you can get a one-day pass for about 3 trips, so it’s quickly worth the money. It connects many popular tourist attractions such as Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, and Burj Khalifa.
Walk
It is only recommended to walk short distances around specific locations, not as a mode of transportation. The weather in Dubai is very hot, so if you plan to take a long walk, make sure to hydrate enough and bring water.
Where to stay in Dubai
Ramada Chelsea Hotel
A 4 star hotel for a reasonable price. They have smoking and non-smoking rooms, a gym, and an indoor rooftop pool. The room was a good size, the bed was comfortable and most importantly, the air conditioning was good! Please note that there is a mosque across the street and the sound of morning prayers can easily be heard in the hotel room, which can be bothersome for light sleepers.
Burj Al Arab Hotel
If you are financially well-off, this is the place to live. Burj Al Arab is known for its exceptional service and exquisite rooms. If only you could live there without having to mortgage your house.
Atlantis, The Palm
Atlantis, The Palm is located at the pinnacle of Palm Jumeirah. It was the first hotel to be built on an artificial palm island. It is a five-star hotel with many fine dining options, a large swimming pool, sea views and a water theme park.
What to Wear in Dubai
A common concern for tourists visiting Dubai is what they should wear. You’ll be pleased to know that Dubai’s dress code is the most relaxed in the Middle East. When in the city or any tourist area (shopping malls and other tourist attractions), you can wear the clothes you will wear when you go home, preferably covering your shoulders and knees. However, when traveling further afield (to other towns, mosques, or other areas where tourists are not visible), you are better off wearing long sleeves, long pants, or long dresses that do not show cleavage or belly as a sign of respect for the culture. Except for mosques and religious sites, headscarves are not required.
Best of Things to Do in Dubai
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates is one of the world-famous shopping malls in Dubai. There are more than 500 shops, 85 food stores and a ski center! It has train stations on major train lines, so most of the city can be easily reached. You can spend hours or even days here, spending your hard-earned money on anything you dream of, from clothes and jewelry to cars.
Ski Dubai
The ski centre is located inside the Mall of the Emirates. There are ski slopes, chair lifts, yo-yo slopes, tobogganing, tobogganing, and even penguin shows. The temperature in the snowy area is maintained at minus 3-5 degrees to ensure that the snow remains frozen and the penguins do not sweat. Tickets cost around $55 and can be used for basic admission to the park, and for an additional $20 you can upgrade your ticket to include rides, and prices for skiing or snowboarding start at $60. Other options include giant snow-capped mountain rides and penguin encounters where you can meet penguins. Waterproof pants, jacket and boots are included. It is recommended that you wear some warm clothes underneath.
Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in the world, with more than 1200,120 stores,300food outlets, and an aquarium with more than 22 species of marine animals. It also houses the world’s largest confectionery store, a SEGA Republic indoor theme park and 22 screen cinema. The mall is located next to the Burj Khalifa and can be reached by train.
Burj Khalifa
At 828 meters high, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. There are 160 floors, of which 124,125and 148 have observation decks at an altitude of 555m. On a clear day, the view is incredible and you can see the whole city. Tickets are best booked online in advance and cost AED 124 (about USD 125) for floors 125 and 35 during off-peak hours and AED 124 (about USD 125) for floors 148,500and 135 during peak hours. The website is subject to an additional fee upon arrival. The building is accessed via the ground floor of The Dubai Mall and is accessible by train.
Desert Tour
One of the most rewarding activities in Dubai is a desert safari to the Dubai Desert Sanctuary. The tour begins with a well-equipped 4WD vehicle crossing the Red Sand Mountains. Your heartbeat will stop temporarily because there seems to be no ground under your feet, but the driver is trained to know when it’s time to stop. If you are prone to motion sickness, take your pills before the start of your trip.
Before continuing our journey through the desert reserve, we will stop to take photos so that everyone can capture the scene. You may even be lucky enough to see antelopes, native desert antelopes and the national animal of neighboring Qatar. When the sun begins to set, you will be taken to the viewing area at the top of one of the dunes. When the sun sets, the colors of the dunes come alive.
After sunset, you will be taken to a desert camp where you can participate in many activities common in the area, including camel riding, sandboarding, falconry, hookah-smoking, and henna tattooing. When you’re ready to relax, sit back and watch a belly dancing show while enjoying a buffet feast featuring local delicacies. After the show, all the lights are turned off and you can lie back and look up at the sky and watch a million stars twinkle.
Dune Dinner Tours are operated by Arabian Adventures and start at AED 6 (USD 275) per person in a shared vehicle (up to 75 passengers per vehicle) and up to AED 1960 (USD 535) in a private car, with alcoholic beverages dinner.