One of the best things about Emirates Airlines is that if you travel from west to east and vice versa, you will almost always have a layover in Dubai. On my trip to India a couple of weeks ago, I decided to take advantage of that layover and make a separate trip out of it, extending my 4 hour stop to 48 hours in Dubai with a stay at the Taj Dubai. Emirates and Dubai actually encourage a layover, by offering enticing discounts on hotels and transportation.
Dubai, 1 of 7 Emirates that makes up the United Arab Emirates, is a city devoted to tourism. As many people I met discussed, when the tourists start to dwindle after May (June being the hottest month of the year there and off-season for tourism), the city dies down. Also around the time of June (though a different date each year depending on the lunar calendar) is Ramadan, an extremely religious time for people of the Muslim faith, and close to 60% of the residents of Dubai are Muslim.
What surprised me the most about Dubai was how modern, clean and safe it was. There is a metro that is easy to use to get around the different parts of Dubai, though cabs are also pretty cheap with all of the oil available in Dubai! Over and over again residents told me how safe they felt and how safe they were living in Dubai. I felt comfortable, as a single female traveling on my own, to take a taxi cab at night. Safety is at a high in part because the fines for forbidden actions are severe – imprisonment and banishment from the city – so don’t spit or slip the middle finger in public! The cops in Dubai often don’t dress up in uniform, they are out on the streets in regular clothes making them impossible to see.
Hotels
There are a number of hotels in Dubai, basically split into two areas – The downtown area and the beach. I chose to stay in the downtown area because it was close to the airport, more centrally located, and right near the Burj Khalifa. In fact, my hotel, the Taj, looked out on to the Burj Khalifa (see picture above)! The Taj Dubai also has an amazing bar called Treehouse, which is a great place to grab a pre-dinner drink and watch the sun set along the Burj Khalifa. With glorious views and amazing hospitality, If I ever go back to Dubai, I will definitely stay at the Taj Dubai again.
One last note before I begin my list of things to do: The weekend in Dubai is on Friday and Saturday, with many people having a half day on Thursday, so keep that in mind when planning a trip, in particular if you want to enjoy the nightlife!
Day 1
Dubai is split into an old town and the more well known newer parts of town – the downtown area (with the Burj Khalifa), Jumeirah beach (with the famous 7 star resort Burj Al Arab) and the marina.
On your first day in Dubai, its best to understand what makes Dubai the great city it is today. So, start with the historical parts of Dubai. Here you will find many traditional souks (markets), the Grand Mosque, and the Dubai Museum. The Dubai Museum is built in the former Al Fahidi Fort, and is also the former home of the monarchy of Dubai. It is over 200 years old, and very unique in its architecture compared to modern Dubai. The museum isn’t large, and you can easily cover the entire museum in less than 1.5 hours. From there, you can venture further north (and for some, across the Dubai Creek) to the souks. In close proximity to each other you will find the spice souk, the gold souk, the textile souk and other general souks where you will find an assortment of goods and treasures. Don’t forget to bargain a little at the souks, it’s expected and prices are often marked taking that into account! 😉
After you have spent your morning and afternoon wandering around the old town, come back towards modern day by making your way to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. You can book your tickets ahead of time to visit the observation deck or buy them on the spot. There are two observation decks, one that is higher up (“SKY”) and serves refreshments, or a lower level, both for stunning city views. Note that during Ramadan, SKY does not serve refreshments until sun down.
Finally, end your first day in Dubai by visiting the Dubai Mall, right across from the Burj Khalifa. The mall is considered one of the main attractions in Dubai, especially the fountain in front of the mall and its spectacular light show. With the backdrop of the Burj Khalifa, the light show is an amazing display of water and light with traditional music playing in the background. I loved seeing the fountain show!
The Dubai Mall is considered the largest in the world by area, and one of the largest in terms of the number of shops. There are numerous fine dining establishments as well as shops, with its own gold market within the mall and an aquarium! The Dubai Mall was by far the coolest mall I have ever been to. It was also the place where I saw the highest number of local Emirati people in my time in Dubai, since only approximately 20% of local Emirati people make up the entire UAE, with the rest of the UAE’s population consisting of expatriates!
Day 2
On Day 2, devote your day to exploring the rest of modern Dubai and lounging. Enjoy brunch, which has become very popular in Dubai, and then make your way to Jumeirah beach for a day out in that famous Dubai sun. Take in the glory that is Burj Al Arab (just like I did)!
After Jumeirah Beach, head over to the Palm Islands (man-made islands off the beaches of Dubai with a number of hotels and stunning ocean views) and/or the Atlantis resort, for further relaxation and amusement. If you are lucky, there will be a concert or some other event going on at Nasimi Beach, Atlantis’s event venue on the beach. Note that the best way to really view the full Palm Jumeirah, on which Atlantis resides, is to take the Palm Monorail to Atlantis, since the monorail rises in elevation a bit allowing for a fuller view of the full Palm Jumeirah (unlike taking a taxi cab which doesn’t allow for this view). Finally, end your day by heading over to the Marina area for dinner and drinks (Buddha Bar is a great pick for this) and don’t leave without stopping by the fabulous Barasti (a favorite in Dubai) for a beer or cocktail by the water!
Hope you all get the chance to visit Dubai and enjoy it to the fullest! I absolutely loved my stay.
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