After five days in Dubai we were left wanting more of the UAE. Every day we battled with the heat to marvel at its world class architecture and vibrant districts. Here is what we enjoyed in our brief taste of the Emirates:
Architecture
One of the main reasons we wanted to see Dubai was for its architecture. The city is ambitious in its pursuit to be a global leader. From the well known Burj Khalifa to the Burj Al Arab/Palm districts to the lesser known corporate buildings, resorts, and apartments it is something to behold. We learned that Dubai has started making their own copies of buildings that are renowned from around the world. We found a version of Kuala Lumper's Petronas Towers, Singapore's garden's by the bay, and a still being constructed ferris wheel that will exceed the London eye.
The Burj Khalifa puts on a great free evening fountain and light show which we found to be a riveting performance!
Dubai Mall
One of the worlds largest and most grand shopping malls. Our budget doesn't allow much for shopping and everything is at a location premium compared to the lesser malls on the city's outskirts. However, it was still well worth the trip to see the aquarium, waterfall, and other grand displays. The mall is also right beside the Burj Khalifa which makes them easy to do together.
Souks & Markets
There are also plenty of souks outside of the city for those that are more interested in bargaining, such as the Gold and Spice Souks. One evening we went with the family we stayed with to the Dubai Fish Market in Deira, a large indoor market built alongside a meat and vegetable market. There are plenty of spots that allow you to shop the market and bring your food to a restaurant for a chef to cook. We chose Paluto for our feast.
Bustling Districts
Our favourite district in Dubai was La Mer. It was just completed sometime between 2017-2018 and features plenty of restaurants, café, beaches, and street art. The beaches are well equipped with public showers and changing rooms, and is seen as an exception to the cities usual expectation of modest dress.
Perhaps our favourite spot here was a small theatre called the Roxy Cinema. It had large comfortable reclining chairs with a full three course meal. Before the film we were taken to an air conditioned lounge and the staff were all very helpful and accommodating. Highly recommended as a date night or family outing.
Jumeirah is also a great spot to enjoy much of the same. It is considered the main expat area in the region. Another area to check out would be Al Hamriya.
Old Dubai & Museums
The Dubai Museum was a great stop to learn more about Dubai's pre industrial past time. The area is mostly a new construction but gives an idea of what the old structure of the kingdom would have looked like.
Another museum we stopped at after walking through Old Dubai was the Coffee Museum. They have a great exhibit of coffee's history both locally and throughout the wold.
The Arabian Tea House Café is a great place in the area to stop and try some of the local Emirati teas and cuisines.
Apart from this there are plenty of tours into the desert, boating trips, high-end restaurants, sky diving above the palms, and more. During our time there we heard plenty of suggestions to check out the other Emirates (Dubai is one of seven with the other most popular being Abu Dhabi).
Some other items to be aware of:
Transportation
For the most part it is best to have a car. The train system was limited but can be used to get to some of the main highlights like Dubai mall/Burj and the Old Dubai area. We were lucky to have friends and family that took us around to many of the spots and used the train and Uber when we were on our own.
Weather
June to September is going to be blistering hot but at the beginning of June we found it to be bearable. From a price perspective you should be able to save some money travelling here at this time of year.The peak times of November to Aprl are when the city is likely to be at its busiest.
Ramadan
We were in Dubai during Ramadan which meant open consumption of food and beverages during the daytime was prohibited. There were, however, restaurants still open for non-Muslims and children. You just need to walk into a food court or behind the curtains covering the windows and you will be fed.
ATM
Cash withdrawal was easy and free of additional charge by the local banks.
Expo 2020
Dubai is set to be the next host of the world expo in October 2020. The expo is an event for all countries to display their latest innovations and improvements and has a history dating back to the 19th century. One can expect Dubai level grandeur and a flow of tourism to the area over a six month period.