Dubai: Unveiling the Wonders of the UAE’s Dynamic Metropolis
Dubai UAE
If you’re seeking a city that gives you culture, adrenaline, delectable food, and warm-spirited locals, then look no further than Dubai UAE. On the surface, this gleaming city is known for its towering architectural masterpieces, sprawling malls, and luxury hotels. But if you spend a few days in Dubai then you’ll soon realize how much more the Middle Eastern mega-city has to offer.
Dubai UAE must be one of the few places in the world where you can sunbathe on pristine beaches, surf down giant sand dunes, and wander around historic alleyways all within the same day.
With so much to do, it can seem a tad daunting but don’t worry, I am here to help! Here’s a list of our highlights after our week in the “City of Gold”. You can also click any of these sections to skip ahead:
- Quick Guide
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Where to Eat
- Best Pool Bars
- Top Sites
- Best Things to do / Attractions
QUICK GUIDE TO DUBAI UAE:
Language: While Arabic is the official language, English is the language of business and is spoken by most in Dubai.
Voltage: Dubai UAE is 220V/ 50HZ, and G is most standard outlet type.
Currency: Dirham (Dhs). While most places accept credit cards, it’s always a good idea to carry cash.
Dress Code: It can get very hot in Dubai, but you should be aware of keeping your clothes more on the conservative side. Be sure to pack light layers with a few long sleeve shirts and pants. The only places you must dress modestly are the mosques.
Tipping: Tipping in Dubai is not generally expected, but it is always greatly appreciated. It’s common to leave a 10-15% tip for waitstaff. At hotels, a 5-10 AED for the bellboys and 5-10 AED per night for the maids is common. For Taxi’s, a 5-10 AED or round up the fare.
Alcohol: Alcohol consumption is allowed and is readily served in licensed hotels, hotel bars and restaurants. You cannot, however, purchase alcohol from stores and supermarkets as you need a special license for that. It is highly illegal to drink or be drunk in public and the crime is punishable by up to 6 months in jail, plus fines.
Affection: Public displays of affection, like hand holding are okay in certain places, but anything more than that is not acceptable. Use discretion and air on the side of caution.
ACCOMMODATION:
Dubai has so many options for accommodation. You can stay in high luxury, 5 star hotels and resort to home stays and small apartments. No matter what you are looking for, you can find it here within your budget:
Hostels:
If you are more interested in parties, nightlife and having automatic meet ups then maybe a hostel is for you! Check out the options here.
TRANSPORTATION:
Dubai UAE is well-served by taxis as well as the ridesharing apps like Uber and its Middle-Eastern equivalent, Careem. Dubai has both metro and public bus systems in place. The metro operates across two lines – red and green. To use the metro and the bus, you will need to pick up a rechargeable Nol card which you can use to travel on both networks. We opted for taxis the majority of the trip however. I highly recommend this if you are going between downtown and the palm area frequently.
- taxi from airport to Airbnb was 20 minutes and cost (90 AED/ €25) and from the Airbnb to the airport (49 AED / €14) . These are average to high end prices, so taxis are quite affordable compared to other large cities.
Where to Eat in Dubai:
Galito’s
This place was right next to our apartment in business bay. We arrived at 21:00 we wanted to eat quickly. We each ordered a Summer Cooler to drink (22AED) and I ordered the Flame grilled chicken Tacos (28 AED) while my partner ordered a fried chicken wrap (39 AED). Total cost (111 AED~ €31)
Baron restaurant:
*no alcohol served. We ordered Meat Sambousek, fried cheese roll, Cream soup (chicken mushroom corn), AKKAWI CHEESE flatbread, Orange & pineapple juice and a Diet Pepsi. Total Cost ~ €40
Arabian tea house:
You absolutely must visit one of these while you are in town. They have multiple locations but we went to the one in Old Dubai. I ordered the Egyptian Breakfast Tray. It includes beans, falafel, boiled egg, musaqaa, fried potatoes, hummus, white cheese with tomato, fresh cream and honey and served with fresh tanoor bread (78 AED / €22). It was incredible !!! My partner ordered another main dish and we both ordered juices. Total cost: ~€57
Circle cafe:
One evening I had a string sweet craving so we went downstairs to the cafe and ordered two slices of cake and a coffee (26$)
Time Out Market
This is basically an upscale food court located across from the Dubai mall. You can download their app and order from any of the restaurants in the market. The prices are a bit on the high side but if you go after 18:30 and sit on the deck you can have a great view of the fountain show!
Magnolia bakery:
It is located on the lower ground floor of the Dubai Mall. They have an assortment of delicious sweets and we choose a chocolate raspberry cheesecake and a peanut butter chocolate cheesecake (€31 )
Saya cafe:
There are a few of these cafes around the city. I suggest you go for breakfast at opening time 9am to the city walk location. It’s one of the most Instagramable cafes in the city and is everything pink ! We ordered Salted Caramel Spanish Latte (44 AED) , Pancake fluff – Strawberries and cream ( 52 AED) and the French Toast (58 AED). Total cost ~ €61
Wing stop:
After our long day to Abu Dhabi and back we were tired and wanted to veg out at home. Wing stop was downstairs so we ordered one of the family packs. This includes 24 wings, 3 flavors, 3 dips, 3 rolls, fries and onion rings = Total Cost: 129 AED (~€37)
Forever Rosé Café:
This is a unique concept cafe founded by Ebraheem Al-Samadi. The cafe is designed as a 2D illustration (go for breakfast at 8am)
BEST POOL BARS:
Barasti:
I cannot oversell this place. We went back 3 times !! It has literally everything you could want. A covered vine shaded pool with the bar right next to your loungers and cabanas. The beach has tons of teepee, hammocks, couches and loungers to sprawl out in the sun. They also have a daily deal of 2 liters of wine / 10 bottled beers with 1 L of water + a fruit platter / pizza for 299 AED ~ €85 . This is close to the cost of a single bottle of wine or 2 beers in the UAE.
Five Palm Hotel:
This luxury resort has two separate pool sections. The first is part of the hotel area and cost 300 AED for men and 150 AED for women to enter. The money is redeemable on food and drinks. If you plan to have more than 3 drinks or a drink and food then it’s well worth it. If you choose to go to the beach pool instead, it’s free entry. You can lay on the loungers, use the pool and go to their swim up bar. They also serve food at each lounger if you are hungry.
La Mer Beach:
La Mer Beach, located in the prestigious neighbourhood of Jumeirah 1, is a world-class beachfront venue by Meraas. It flaunts luxurious residential properties, the hottest dining spaces, beachside shopping, breezy walkways and graffiti art, to name a few. They have 130 shops, 50 restaurants, a water park, trampoline park, movie theater, water sports and free WiFi across the whole park.
Bla bla:
Great vibes, amazing food but also on the expensive side. We didn’t end up spending any time here as we felt the other options suited our interest and needs better.
SITES IN DUBAI:
Museum of the Future:
The Museum of the Future is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services, and products. Located in the Financial District of Dubai, UAE, the Museum of the Future has three main elements: green hill, building, and void. Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation. If you don’t want to go inside I still recommend visiting because the structure itself is incredible from outside.
Burj khalifa:
One of the obvious must do’s when in Dubai UAE is visit the tallest tower on the planet. The cloud-piercing Burj Khalifa measures an incredible 830 meters (2,720 feet) in height. Wherever you go in Dubai, you’ll constantly be under its gaze. Whilst you can appreciate the architecture from the ground, visiting the observation deck gives you the best views across the city and Persian Gulf. It’s a bit pricey but trust me, it’s totally worth it! ($45 per person) for morning ticket to floors 124-125.
Dubai mall :
Even if you’re not a fan of shopping, no Dubai itinerary can be complete without a trip to one of the city’s prestigious malls. Even if you only want to window shop. Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world in terms of land area – yes, another world record for this Middle Eastern city! You can shop for clothes, interiors, toys, fragrances, and beyond, plus there are loads of places to grab some breakfast. In addition to all the shops, there are some cool installations dotted around the plaza, like the Waterfall Wall.
The Green Planet:
Tropical rainforest within a bio-dome sheltering colorful birds, reptiles & sloths, plus a cafe.
Old Dubai:
The shiny futuristic buildings and mega malls may overshadow the quiet historical places in Dubai. But if you look closely, you can still see echoes of the city’s humble past. This guide is for anyone who wishes to look beyond the city’s glamorous surface and get a glimpse of the old, authentic Dubai.
1. Arabian Tea House & Local House Cafe
2. Oasis Guest House
3. Coffee Museum & Cafe
4. Make Art Cafe & Alserkal Art Space
5. XVA Hotel & Cafe
6. Old Dubai Wall
7. Architectural Heritage Society
8. Diwan Mosque
9. Coin Museum
10. Architectural Heritage Department
Wings of Mexico:
The Wings of Mexico in Dubai is a sculpture that stands in front of the iconic Burj Khalifa. Created by Mexican artist Jorge Marin.
Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis:
One of the most famous spots of the city is at the Atlantis hotel on the Palm. Inside you can find the Lost Chambers Aquarium. You can either buy tickets to go inside or you can admire the aquarium from many viewpoints in the halls of the Atlantis hotel. You don’t need to pay entry for the hotel. Once you walk down the stairs you will immediately spot the Ambassador Lagoon. There is even a cafe located right in front of the aquarium.
Top Things to do in Dubai:
Red Dune Safari :
Platinum Heritage has a lot of claims to fame – they are #1 for safaris on TripAdvisor. They’re the Middle East’s leading desert safari company, and the world’s only safari to use 1950’s museum quality, vintage Land Rovers, etc. They’re also eco-friendly! We did ours through Get Your Guide. Dune bashing- $88 for the tour for two, plus additional Dune quad – 250 AED ($75)
Abu Dhabi day trip:
The capital city of Abu Dhabi is only 2 hours away. It can easily be a day trip during your stay. We were able to visit the Yas mall, Yas marina, the market, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. For both of us it cost $72
Abu Dhabi: Day Trip
Phew, that was a lot ! I hope that this one week in Dubai UAE itinerary has shown that there is so much more to this city than sky-high buildings and sky-high prices. Dubai is a phenomenally diverse city in a truly fascinating country. Plus, you can visit it on a relative budget or go full-blown luxury. If you are planning your trip to Dubai UAE I hope you can use this guide to make your experience as magical as ours was!
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