Whether you are visiting the UAE for the first time, or the 500th time; allow me to be your guide. Having only had the privilege of being a resident here for a little under a year; I have sniffed out every nook and cranny for all your tourist destinations. Whether you want adventure, a romantic couple's retreat, visiting with kids or after something for the gram - my Dubai Guide has it all...
First things first, let's talk about accommodation. It's hard to find a grotty, budget style hotel in Dubai - even the 3 star resorts, feel heavenly. But where everything in Dubai is bigger, better and more luxurious; the price tag can also match. There are many holiday havens which cover beach and marina views, venues overlooking the palm and more extravagant views within the surrounds of the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. Even whilst residing in the bustling area of Downtown Dubai and Business Bay; you are still guaranteed a pleasant and peaceful night's sleep. Some of my personal hotel recommendations are:
Steigenberger Hotel - perfect if you are visiting for a business trip/long weekend.
The Address Range Hotels - great for everyone.
The Rove Range Hotels - great if you are on a budget.
Atlantis Resort - great for families who are after all inclusive.
W The Palm - great for the gram and a girls holiday.
The Amwaj Rotana - great for everyone.
The Hilton JBR - great for everyone.
The Ritz Carlton - great for those luxury hunters.
Bab Al Shams - great for a romantic getaway.
I could sit and scroll through Dubai hotel options for hours, it's my biggest weakness after looking at real estate that I can't afford...but I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your research! There are many UK based travel companies, which do flight and hotel combos - this is definitely worth while looking into, however I would also recommend scrolling through Trivago, or a similar price comparison site, to get a real feel for the hotel and surrounding area first.
Travelling around Dubai couldn't be easier, with taxis and public transport available 24 hours of the day, right at your fingertips. The RTA is a great way to get around, from the tram, metro, water taxis and regular taxis - it's half the price of London and everything around the city is accessible within no more than a 15 minute journey. Taxis are safe, despite the rumours you may have read online, and even as a solo female traveler; I could not feel any safer or reassured. There are female only carriages on the metro, likewise there are female only taxis with women-drivers. Just look out for the pink-topped roofs of the typical yellow cabs. Alternatively you can get around with the Careem app (our version of Uber). You will get a discount off your first ride, and if you are a MasterCard holder, there seem to be endless promotional offers available. If you decide to opt for the metro however, make sure you have an activated noll card first. This is like our version of oyster cards, but a fraction of the price, and wherever you travel around Dubai; a single trip will always cost you AED5 - just make sure you always tap in and out to avoid any hefty fines.
So you have enjoyed your first night in your very luxurious and very comfortable hotel, and today is all about being a tourist. There are so many attractions, it can appear overwhelming if you want to try and squeeze everything in. Remember, the weekends start on a Friday here in the UAE, so try and avoid Downtown Dubai (or anywhere surrounding the Burj Khalifa and Fountains on a Thursday night) if you don't like big crowds. I would recommend getting the majority of tourist attractions done earlier on in the week (Sundays and Mondays are typically the quietest), however the beach can get quite hefty later on, due to weekend sunbathers, sleeping off their Friday Brunch hangovers (but we'll get onto the topic of brunch in a moment...) If you are completely new to Dubai, then here is a recommended 7 day itinerary:
Day 1 - Hop on Hop off Bus Tour or Speed Boat Tour
This is a great way to see Dubai by day and by night and gives you a good sense of what is around you. Not only can you use your bus ticket for 24 hours, it is also a cheap and easy way to also use as a taxi service.
If you are feeling slightly more adventurous however, then a 90 minute speedboat tour is high on my recommendation list. Leaving the Marina every hour from 10am, you can whizz off around the Burj Al Arab, Atlantis and see the skyline of Downtown Dubai. It's great value for money, costing less than £50pp which includes photo stops and refreshments, using a company called Xclusive Yachts. if (like my father), that adventure isn't quite enough; at your departure dock is the start of the zipline adventure. Where you can reach top speeds of 90kmph and take in the astounding sights of the Marina. If you want something more low key, then The Beach at JBR is a short, 5 minute walk away over the bridge. Here you can soak up the sun, grab a spot of lunch and even hire a jetski. There are some fabulous restaurants in this area (Eggspectation is one of my personal favourites), as well as Lock, Stock and Barrell in the Rixos hotel, which serves up traditional and delicious Sunday roasts.
Day 2 - Souks and Desert Safari
If you wanted a taste of Arabian traditions, then this is what today is all about. The Dubai Desert Safaris typically pick up from hotels at approx. 3pm, so you have the morning to explore the Souks - you have two options here: You can either head to 'Old Dubai' in a place called Deira and visit the traditional spice and gold souks. I personally didn't enjoy my time here, as it was very bustling, is a less fortunate part of Dubai and extremely difficult to navigate around and drive to/park. I prefer a place known as Souk Madinat. Whilst this isn't a traditional souk, as it's all man made; it creates the perfect blend of new and old Dubai with Arabic facades, markets and dining options; all over looking the beautiful Burj Al Arab. Here your pallet can get a taste for traditional dishes, take in the smell and exotic ambience of oud and sail along the man-made river on a dhow. It's here where you will find one of the most whimsical restaurants I have come across during my time in the UAE: Pai Thai. A stunning Thai restaurant, only accessible by boat. After a magical river journey through twinkling lights and feeling the calm evening breeze; your taste buds will be tantalized as you discover a 30 page menu. This is a great place to wow that someone special in your life.
Once you have finished exploring the Souks, it's time to head off on safari. Nearly all the safari tours are very similar, having 6 of you in a 4x4, however I prefer using the company, Ocean Air Travels - purely based on their exceptional customer experience and interpersonal skills and their tour in particular, being extremely good value for money. Firstly, you will be driving for approx. 1 hour towards Hatta - this is because the dunes this part of the country are higher and you get to see the traditional red, Arabian sand. You will first have a 30 minute quad biking session, which then leads to camel feeding and riding. After that is where the real fun begins, as your tour then gets taken off road (note, if you suffer from motion sickness, back pain or are pregnant, then from this point on, the tour is a big no no). You will dune bash for approx. 30 minutes, before heading to the high dunes for some sand surfing. I have done this tour 4 times now, and still can't master the skill of standing up on a board. Once all the adventurous side of things is complete, you will be taken to the tour's camp, where you will get to view a traditional desert sunset, enjoy the complimentary BBQ, as well as free shisha smoking, henna tattoos and evening entertainment which includes fire breathing, belly dancing and star gazing. After a 6 hour experience, and only £80 poorer, you will be taken back to your hotels. Like I said, I have done this activity 4 times now and never tire of the fun and adventure it brings.
Day 3 - Atlantis & Aquaventure
Whilst this part of the world, you have to explore the beauty that is Atlantis. I have been fortunate enough to see both resorts here in the UAE and also the Bahamas - and they are both equally as stunning. If you are into your water slides, then Aquaventure is the one place to go to. They offer many combo tickets and you also have the oppprtunity to swim with the dolphins for an additional fee. Aquaventure will take you nearly a full day guaranteed, but you also get free tickets to the Lost Chambers aquarium next door. After all that fun, I highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat in one of their delicious restaurants. Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen and Wavehouse are more of their budget friendly eateries, but you also have Ossiano and Hakkesan for something more classy and upmarket. Ossiano is the famous 'underwater' restaurants, where you are essentially eating in an aquarium. It really is beautiful, but be expected to splash the cash, with the cheapest dish on the menu costing you £50. Hakkesan serves up traditional Japanese cuisine, whilst Ronda Locatelli blends traditional italian food with a hearty vegan menu.
Day 4 - Global Village & Miracle Gardens
Dubai Miracle Garden is beautiful, and whilst taking in the sweet smell of geraniums and cherry blossom; it's easy to forget that every sculpture and piece you see, is 100% made from genuine, fresh flowers. The have a large butterfly dome next door and this is a great place to get some stunning instaworthy shots. Entry is only £10pp and you can easily spend a few hours there. Once you have finished taking in the floral sights, then 10 minutes up the road, you have the exciting Global Village. I personally was expecting something like Disney's Epcot World Showcase, and was slightly disappointed - but for £3 entry fee, it's still a great place to visit. There are many countries you can explore, enjoy their traditional markets, dining and entertainment (pretty much like Epcot but on less of a budget). You can explore mini Russia, The Americas, Europe, Egypt, China and Africa, as well as stroll along the floating market; which serves up street food on traditional Arabic Dhow boats.
Day 5 - Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Fountains
Without sounding biased, (as it's my company which own this part of Dubai) Downtown is a fun, exhilarating and picturesque area. Fellow shopaholics can enjoy the Dubai Mall (the world's largest shopping centre) - if you can't find it there, you can't find it anywhere (except for Primark, much to my disappointment). You can also enjoy the marvelous Dubai Fountain Show, which puts the Bellagio in Vegas to complete shame. Shows start at 6pm and run every 30 minutes, with a Burj Khalifa projection mapping light show, being your pre-show every 15 minutes. There are also x2 daytime fountain shows at approx. 12:30 and 13:30. If you want to enjoy views of both the fountain show and the Burj, without getting stuck in the large crowds, then I highly recommend combining it with booking dinner at either Thiptara or Zeta where you get exclusive views of the vista.
As for the Burj Khalifa, that is a vision and experience in itself - whether you go up it or not. At the Top is busy, regardless what time of day you go. Try and avoid early mornings (any time before 11am), especially this time of year when the seasons are changing, as you will get a lot of fog and not a great view. Also note that ticket prices alter throughout the day - if you want to go up for sunset, from 4-8pm, the tickets are about 25% more in price. Average time is about 1-2 hours up there, but it is essentially a self-led tour, and once you have experienced the world's fastest elevator ride, in the world's tallest building and gotten your view pics from the 125th floor, it's easy to be done and head off. You also have the option to experience afternoon tea at Atmosphere (the world's tallest restaurant), whilst it's cool to say you have done it, like Aqua Shard in London, I would suggest you go elsewhere - it's overpriced and the food isn't all that. It's very much a venue which relies on the unique selling point of its view, rather than the delicious food.
Day 6 - Brunch
So Friday Brunches are a really big thing here, except it isn't like the traditional brunch you might be used to. Despite the UAE being an Islamic country, for the most part, it definitely isn't dry. Brunches are a huge cash cow, and many binge-drinking tourists (and us locals), will flock at the opportunity of unlimited eating and drinking in 4 hours. There are hundreds of venues which host brunch, and it will take you 2 hours at least of going to a new one every Friday. The most popular 5 are:
Biggles - a pub grub brunch for under AED100
Jazz @ Pizza Express - traditional italian bites with live jazz music, if you want something cheap and cheerful for AED200
Amwaj Rotana - if you want to mix gourmet pub grub with Benihana sushi - dust off the wallet for AED300. There's also Zero Gravity, Trader Vics, The Maine Oystter Bar & Grill, The Lion by Nick & Scott, Masterchef, Marina Social and BOCA for the same price.
Bvlgari Yacht Club - very french and classy if you have just been paid for approx. AED350, along with Asia Asia, Gaucho, Nobu, STK Downtown, Armani Deli and the Hell's Kitchen Experience for a similar price.
Jumeriah Al Qasr - an array of live cooking stations at the stunning Al Qasr if you are prepared to splash the cash, with prices starting at AED400. You can also enjoy James Bond themed steakhouse, Prime68 for a similar price and experience.
Day 7 - Beach and Dubai Glow Gardens
After all that drinking and brunching - it's best to chill out and catch some rays at the gorgeous Jumeriah Beach. You can also enjoy Ain Dubai (Bluewaters Island opposite) or Kite Beach - I personally prefer JB, but it does get busy. Here you can ride a camel, enjoy water sports and take in the amazing sights of the very brave and very awesome sky divers. If you prefer something a bit more up beat to your beach day, then getting a day pass at either Barasti, Nikki Beach or Zero Gravity is recommended. Whilst the venues are lovely and very grammable; they typically are a natural habitat for Cabin Crew and girls in itsy bitsy bikinis - you don't need to be put off though, they aren't uppity, judgy places.
If you are lady however, Dubai Ladies Days might not be news to you. Everyday there seems to be something going on around the city - typically Tuesday nights, but there are endless venues where ladies get 50% throughout the week, purely just by having that girl power. One of my favorite places to enjoy a ladies day offer is the W Palm Hotel, where you can enjoy a pool day with unlimited nibbles and drinks and a live DJ for AED150 - think giant pink flamingo lilos and lots of glitter - perfect for the gram.
Once you have finished being a lady or chilling, you can head a little further past Downtown (towards the Dubai Frame) and enjoy Dubai Glow Gardens - an outdoor LED garden and walk through experience. A similar experience to Miracle Garden, but with a luminous light trail instead.
So that is pretty much Dubai in a nutshell, but if you have spare time, you should also try checking out the following:
The Pointe - a great outdoot shopping experience, with great views of the Palm
City Walk - a lovely boardwalk for shopping and dining
La Mer Dubai - shopping and dining venue which boasts a more traditional side of Dubai
Green Planet - an indoor biodome which is home to exotic creatures, plantation, unique eco-systems and Australian wildlife
Dubai Opera - try and catch a show at the opera, or even just take a glance and visit our stunning opera house
La Pere - where Dubai meets Cirque du Soleil. A fantastic theatrical performance.
Dubai Frame - the iconic gold frame where old and new Dubai meet.
The Observatory - located inside the Marriott, this is a great venue for cocktails and to get envious views of the stunning palm from up top.
Bluewater Islands - a great location with the world's largest ferris wheel, beautiful views of JBR and endless dining and eateries.
If you are happy to travel further afield, then you definitely need to check out:
Hatta - located on the Oman border, this is where you can experience Arabian heritage by taking in the views of the stunning mountains and lakes. If you are into hiking and desert camping, then this is the place for you.
Ras al Khaimah - this is where many of us go for staycations, to get away from busy city life. The deserts are home to unique wildlife, you can enjoy hot air balloon rides and take in the sound of silent tranquility; being at one with nature. The Waldorf Astoria and Ritz Carlton offer unique relaxation experiences here and their spas are to die for. I haven't yet visited, but they are on the to-do list.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - the closest experience you will ever have to real-life Agrabah located in Abu Dhabi. This mosque is truly beautiful and breathtakingly gorgeous.
Nurai Island - a taste of the Maldives without leaving Abu Dhabi. A private island resort, only accessible by boat is the perfect romantic getaway destination. It does come with a premium price tag, but with your own beach home, white sandy beach and crystal clear waters; it's hardly going to be cheap...
I love living in Dubai and exploring my city surrounds - so if there's something I haven't mentioned, let me know and I would love to taste and discover it. Hopefully you found this little article helpful and we look forward to you gracing Dubai with your fabulous presence soon. Stay classy and have a great week! Danie x
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