What do you think of when you think of Dubai? Innovation? Luxury? Modernity? Dubai is truly an innovative city where eastern value meets western culture. The people are very welcoming, and the city is unbelievably futuristic. Dubai is a city that’s living in 2050, and the rest of the world needs to keep up with it!
Helpful Apps
Uber is a fast and easy way to get around Dubai! Traveling by train through Dubai Metro works too; we purchased a ticket each time we went to the station.
Google Maps is accurate and helpful to find your way around.
Careem is the “everything” app in the Emirates. It includes rides, delivery, & payment.
Food
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly which foods were the most amazing in Dubai because it’s such a multicultural city. They have food of all different nationalities whether it’s Thailand’s Pad Thai, Chinese hotpot, or Italian pasta. I didn’t really try these dishes, so I cannot confirm whether the flavors are authentic. However, I did try various Arabic food– asking workers to serve whatever they recommended! This is a fun way to get out of your comfort zone and really immerse yourself in a new culture. Many of the Arabic dishes contained meat (especially lamb) and Middle-Eastern rice, which is typically cooked in various spices and colored yellow or orange.
However, I do recall that Indian food was absolutely phenomenal! This makes sense because there is a huge Indian population in Dubai. Indian cuisine was served at our hotel’s breakfast buffet, and I devoured EVERYTHING! They had an assortment of curries that were sweet or spicy or savory; soft, chewy roti that paired so well with the curry; and other side dishes that were tangy and refreshing (like yogurt). Typically, I’m not much of a breakfast person and would opt out of eating anything in the mornings. However, the Indian dishes were so delectable that I couldn’t miss the opportunity.
Activities
Dubai is one of those places where there is something for anyone. Whether you’re young or old, nature-oriented or city-living, loves to relax or prefers to party, there are a PLETHORA of options!
- Shopping
If you like to spend the day shopping at a mall, wait until you see the malls in Dubai. It will make malls in every other country look like trash cans. The malls here are absolutely gorgeous; it’s like you’re entering a new, futuristic civilization. There are so many malls to choose from, but if there is one mall that you must visit, it is Dubai Mall. Located at the heart of downtown Dubai, it’s next to other famous landmarks like the Burk Khalifa (which is the tallest building in the world) and the picturesque Dubai Fountain.
If you’re heading to Dubai Mall, I recommend checking out their website to plan accordingly. These are not like regular malls! They offer other fun activities like an Aquarium & Underwater Zoo as well as an ice rink! Walking through the entire mall can easily be a full-day activity. Make sure to walk through the mall in its entirety because you’ll see that each section of the mall is designed and themed so differently. It really feels like you’re walking through a work of art! It’s hard to describe the eminence of it in words, so I tried my best to capture it in my vlog below!
- Excursion to ATV Ride, Sand Surf, & Stargaze
This is an all-day excursion that will last from morning to night! It’s exhausting, but SO worth it. In fact, it should be mandatory to partake in an excursion like this in Dubai. We booked this excursion through Viator and couldn’t be more happy with the overall process. The guide is extremely attentive and helpful; they’re knowledgeable about the entire city and able to answer any questions you might have.
For this excursion, we were taken to the red dunes where we could ATV ride and sandsurf in the red dunes. l was holding on for my life as I rode across the vast, mesmerizing sand. Afterwards, the group went to a camp to enjoy a BBQ buffet along with a live show of a traditional Arabic dance. There were a lot of other fun activities like camel-riding, horse-petting, and getting a beautiful henna design!
- Jumeira Beach
Jumeira Beach is an absolute spectacle famous for its man-made island in the shape of a palm tree! Fittingly, this area is known as “The Palm” and offers so many fun excursions for beach-lovers! Although I wasn’t able to go in the water, I deeply regret it because as I walked along the bridge, I noticed so many people playing in the water.
There was even an inflatable water park called “AquaFun”! They had an entire obstacle of inflatable toys including trampolines, slides, and so much more. I regretted so much that I didn’t bring my bathing suit on this trip. PLEASE DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE I DID. Pack your swimsuits, sunblock, and sunglasses and head to Jumeira Beach for some fun in the water! However, as a caveat, make sure to also bring a change of clothes and/or a cover-up because institutions will deny entry if not dressed appropriately! Please be respectful and mindful of their customs.
- Al Fahidi
For a change of pace, Al Fahidi showcases Dubai’s historic neighborhood. It’s a sharp contrast to Dubai’s modernity and innovation that it boasts everywhere else. The buildings in this neighborhood are rectangular and small; it’s made of materials like stone and soil. I love that the government preserved an area like this to highlight its historic heritage and traditional architecture. Nearby, there’s also an option to take a boat ride across Dubai Creek. This is a great and affordable option to get familiar with the old neighborhood!
- Global Village and Miracle Garden
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to Global Village due to jet lag. However, from the stories that I’ve heard, this is a must! It’s situated next to Miracle Garden, which looks like a child’s dreamland. Miracle Garden has towering shrubs that have been snipped into all sorts of animals and shapes. There’s also a world of smurfs, and you can visit them in their little town.
As for Global Village, it’s just like what you’d expect– a village of global cultures and cuisine. They usually open in the late afternoon (around 4PM) and will brighten the night sky with its neon, fluorescent lights. The food choices are diverse and extensive; they also offer entertainment and shows! It’s like traveling the world within a single night.
Scenery
Dubai is located in the Arabian Desert, but when you first get off the plane, that will be your last thought. It is incredibly scenic and lush with green grass that you’ll be questioning if the pilot landed in the correct destination. There’s beautiful flowers of all colors and assortments growing throughout the city. Gardens are maintained so well that it looks like a dreamy utopia.
Moreover, it is insanely clean. It’s probably one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever visited– which makes sense because the police will fine those with dirty cars! Also, given their culture, the people are very respectful of each other as well as their environment. Littering, graffiti, vagrancy and begging are all strictly prohibited leading to hefty fines or even imprisonment.
Lifestyle
There’s rich and there’s wealth. Dubai is a city of wealth. It’s common to see people driving the most luxurious cars in the world or walking around wearing watches that are easily worth $500,000 USD. Due to how safe the city is, the people don’t have to worry about getting robbed!
Another unique quality of Dubai is that it feels much more westernized compared to other Muslim countries. In fact, even compared to other popular cities in the UAE, like Abu Dhabi, Dubai is much more lax when it comes to outerwear and etiquette. For example, I received looks of contempt when I wore a skirt in Abu Dhabi. However, in Dubai, no one seemed to mind. Since Dubai receives significantly more tourists than Abu Dhabi, the locals seem to be more comfortable with crop tops, skirts, or tank tops.