Just over fifty years ago, there was no such thing as the United Arab Emirates, and the city of Dubai was just an inconspicuous town in the middle of the desert. However, thanks to competent leadership and the discovery of oil, the world gained a city of the future, capable of capturing the imagination of even the most discerning tourist.
This city has its downsides — unbearable heat and high humidity. Nevertheless, Dubai is one of the largest tourist centers in the world. In 2022 alone, it was visited by 14.3 million people, which is almost twice as many as the previous year. What is the secret? Let's try to figure it out together with Yana from Belarus, who visited Dubai with her husband in early February.
About choosing a hotel
You won't have any trouble finding a place to stay — there is a huge selection of accommodation, from inexpensive hostels to luxury five-star hotels. It all depends on your budget. As in other resort cities, the rule in Dubai is that the closer the hotel is to the beach, the more expensive it is. However, there is nothing to stop you from finding accommodation in a neighboring city and traveling to Dubai by public transport.
Our trip took place in late January-early February. We arrived after a week of rain and cool weather. While we disperse the clouds on May 9, they do the opposite there, and they overdid it, which is why there was so much precipitation.
We settled in the city of Ajman. The hotel was on the shore of the bay, on the first line. If you pay an extra $100, you can get a room with a view of the bay. Without the extra charge, you will have a view of the slums. The hotel was nothing fancy, but it had a free heated pool, a bathhouse, a sauna, and a gym. Everything was free. We got to Dubai by ground metro and also during excursions.
Entertainment for every taste and preference
There was also a huge selection of excursions and entertainment. You can visit theme parks such as Flower Park and Global Village, the Museum of Illusions, Warner Bros. Park, and Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. You can even book a helicopter ride and see the main attractions from above.
It seems that Dubai has everything. Extreme sports enthusiasts can go hot air ballooning, skydiving, walk along the edge of a skyscraper, or learn how to flyboard. And if you want to broaden your horizons, visit the Museum of the Future, the Al Shindagha Museum, or the Alserkal Avenue complex.
We took two tours. The first was a sightseeing tour of Dubai with a trip up the Burj Khalifa tower. The tour cost $105 per person. It included a trip to the 124th floor, which alone cost $40 per person. The ascent took about a minute, which was very fast, and even made my ears pop. But it wasn't worth the money, just to tick the box that "I've been there." You could spend as much time as you wanted at the top, but there was nothing surprising there. The same amazing views, only from below, can be seen from the ground. The same tour included photo stops near the Dubai Frame, Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai Venice, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina with dinner on a boat.
The second excursion was a full-day desert safari in an off-road vehicle and a visit to a Bedouin village. It cost $45 per person. It was possible to ride a camel, but I didn't do that. The animal was very tired from constantly going up and down. We spent the whole day in the Bedouin village, but the safari itself took about an hour and 15 minutes. We didn't have enough time to enjoy the beauty and just walk around.
You don't have to spend money to enjoy all the beauty Dubai has to offer. There are many places you can visit for free, such as the Coffee Museum in Old Dubai and the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.
The enormous aquarium at Dubai Mall can be admired from the outside, and the Imagine Dubai Festival City multimedia show, which takes place every evening, may change your perception of beauty.
Themost beautiful and free thing I saw in Dubai was the Singing Fountains near the Dubai Mall. The spectacle was so stunning that it brought tears to my eyes.
Will it be interesting for children?
If you decide to take a vacation with your children, they won't have to be bored. You can visit Legoland Water Park, KidZania children's entertainment complex located in Dubai Mall, or the zoo (Dubai Safari Park). And at Ski Dubai ski resort, children can meet penguins.
Dubai is for millionaires, and everything there is expensive.
That's not true. Yes, Dubai is far from being the cheapest city, but to save money on shopping, it's best to check the schedule of sales and festivals that take place in the city throughout the year before you travel.
For example, a three-day sale with a 90% discount in 2023 is planned for May and October, a sale of well-known brands is planned for June, and the final sale will take place from December 5 to 25. There is still time!
The largest shopping and entertainment center in the world, where you can simply walk around for hours, is the Dubai Mall. It covers an area of 1.2 millionsquare meters and has more than 1,200 stores. To avoid getting lost, you can download a special app for your smartphone. Fortunately, there is free Wi-Fi inside.
In addition to shops and boutiques, Dubai also has markets. Apart from fruit, grocery, and fish markets, it is worth visiting the spice market and the Gold Market, one of the city's attractions.
But according to Yana, this is not entertainment for the faint-hearted. The Belarusian woman vividly remembers the strong smells of spices from every shop and the cries from all sides: "Shakira! Shakira! Discount!"
When shopping at the market, you can save a lot by bargaining. Bargaining is a natural part of buying any goods in Dubai.
Any price on the market can be safely halved. When looking for a specific type of tea, we found prices ranging from 7 to 180 dirhams (local currency). To our surprise, the merchants replied, "You've been everywhere and come to me, which means you couldn't find it anywhere else." At the end of the day at the market, we got carried away and haggled to the bitter end. So much so that we were almost kicked out of the store because we wouldn't budge. But constant haggling is very tiring, so if you value your time and nerves, it's better to shop in stores.
What kind of vacation is it without the sea?
Dubai is not only about skyscrapers and entertainment centers, but also excellent beaches. Most beaches are free, but even the ones that charge a fee are inexpensive — about 100 dirhams (about $27). This price includes a towel and a shower token. The most popular beach with good ratings and developed infrastructure is Marina Beach. It's a great option for a family vacation. The downside is that it gets very crowded.
Although the UAE is a Muslim country with strict rules regarding clothing and behavior, you can sunbathe and swim in swimsuits on beaches and in hotel pools. No one will punish you for this. However, if you decide to go out on the town, it is better to dress modestly. Women are advised to wear loose-fitting long dresses that cover their arms and shoulders.
I didn't like the local color and the constant stares. I tried to dress according to local customs: covered shoulders and so on. People still stare, point fingers, discuss and hiss (a sign of contempt). It's also better not to wear tight-fitting T-shirts — a girl wearing such clothes is considered a sex worker.
I've tried this somewhere before...
It is not illegal to visit Dubai and not try Arabic cuisine, but we strongly advise against it. Finding a place to eat is easy—the city is full of various eateries, from inexpensive cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants.
Most national dishes are prepared according to the following principle: take the best food from neighboring countries, add unique spices, and call the recipe national. Dishes such as Balalit, Mansaf, Makbus, and Habisa for dessert are worth paying attention to.
The food was delicious, but after a week, I got so tired of the local spices in the food that I just wanted some simple mashed potatoes. On the day I arrived home, without even unpacking my suitcases, I went to make potato pancakes.
Dubai is a versatile city, ready to please every visitor. It is a city of innovation, a cultural center, and a place to relax. Respect for local traditions is a small price to pay for the unforgettable experiences it can offer you.
