When you think Dubai, the first thing is the glitter, the sky scrapers and the Burj Khalifa. But Dubai is so much more than just that. It is a city trapped between time and worlds. It’s a conservative culture and is laden with old traditional values. Though at the same time it’s very much like Vegas – anything goes, just so you know the right place and time. There’s a lot of cultural activities, tours, museums, and other attractions that will keep you entertained throughout your trip.
Dubai - A concrete paradise
1 Things to do when in Dubai
Take a desert safari, if you want to get a feel of the desert city head out on an all-day safari. You will explore the desert, eat some traditional food and may be catch a glimpse of some wildlife. You’ll get to go on camel rides, and desert jeep tours.
Explore the Dubai Miracle Garden this garden opened up in 2013 also popularly known as the world’s largest natural flower garden. This garden homes over 150 million flowers and all kinds of plant sculptures. With all the natural beauty around you can also experience various performances and a daily flower parade with live music. And if you get the hunger pangs there are over 30 food and beverage options.
Visit Global Village an entertainment extravaganza, with dining, shopping, and many live performances, engulfing the audience into a surreal experience. This place showcases the many various cultures of the Middle East.
An experience at Kite Beach if you love the water, and enjoy the many facets of water sports then kite surfing is for you my friends. The artificial beach is one of the most popular attractions in Dubai. It features sugary white sand, it has food and beverages. So, don’t worry about packing a picnic. It has a full-fledged kid’s section, so moms and dads can enjoy some quiet time. This place is also loaded with a library. Where are my bookworms at? Usually during the afternoons, the wind picks up which a good time to hit the water or just lay back and savor the view.
Visit the Grand Mosque which is located in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It was built between 1996-2007. The mosque is surrounded by gardens that span over 30 acres. The whole place is a pristine white, which gives it a majestic look. Please make sure you wear appropriate clothes to this mosque.
Explore Old Dubai the famous markets, small shops lining the streets. Take a boat across the Dubai Creek to Deira and wander around aimlessly around the streets, eat some fabulous traditional food, explore the art district and explore Dubai as it was once a upon a time.
Visit the Souk Madinat Jumeirah the souk market is a modern building designed to look like it came out straight from ‘Lord of Arabia’. It homes some incredible restaurants with a beautiful courtyard which also has a pond in the center of it.
Hit the slopes. Sounds crazy doesn’t it, hit the slopes on the dunes? Well no. at the Mall of Emirates you can enjoy the indoor slopes which includes snowboarding, sledging and Skiing. Try your hand at making some snow men/women. Don’t forget about the twin track bobsled experience or take some time out and hang out with the resident penguins.
2 Weather for Dubai
Dubai has two seasons, Hot and extremely hot. The best time to go to Dubai is between November to April. The weather is cooler and perfect for desert safaris, with daily highs averaging around 27 degrees. May to August is the low season as Dubai get way too warm. Temperature spiking to 41 – 45 degrees. Which makes exploring the city unbearable.
Hope you find yourself immersed in the beautiful lanes of Dubai, and the starlit evenings.
If you need assistance in planning your perfect getaway reach out to the House of Travelers.
Happy Exploring!
3 Places to stay
Dubai doesn’t have too many hostels so you may want to book a bit earlier if youre planning a trip on a budget and want to stay in a hostel. There are a few hostels that have been given wonderful reviews.
- Bombay backpackers DXB
- Bohemian Backpackers
- Green Sky Apartments
If you’re looking to have a fancier and luxurious stay there is always the
Al Maha, a luxury collection desert resort and spa A hotel against the rolling sand dunes. 42 individual suites with their own private pools. Over looking at the orange desert.
Atlantis, The Palm This hotel and waterpark are an over the top playground for kids and adults both. Featuring rooms that look out at the Arabian Gulf and even underwater suites were guests can see sharks and stingrays from their bath tubs.
XVA Art hotel This boutique hotel feels like stepping back into a time capsule with its romantic shaded courtyards, rich textiles and dark ebony wood. It has 15 individually designed rooms all located around the courtyard. Don’t miss a chance to walk down the hotel’s art gallery.
Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach This hotel is located across the street from the most popular beach in Dubai. All the guest rooms overlook the water and have a private balcony, featuring teak furnishing and warm colors all around.
4 A Shoppers Paradise
The Dubai Mall holds the Guinness World Record for the largest shopping center in the world. More than 1300 retail outlets. It’s so big you could easily get lost for days. The mall also has an Olympic sized ice rink, an aquarium and of course more shops to shop at. The thing to notice in all of this as well is that the décor of the mall changes depending on which part of the mall, you’re in.
The Mall of Emirates is slightly smaller than the Dubai Mall, but it still features more than 630 brands and more than 100 places to grab a bite. With that it also has an indoor skiing slope and a brilliant bowling alley.
Textile and Gold Souks a traditional souk sells everything from souvenirs to beautiful scarves. You can choose from the towering racks of fabric in the historic Bur Dubai neighborhood or hop across the Dubai Creek to browse endless rows of jewelry stores selling gold bangles and sparkling gems.