Dubai
Dubai is a unique city, probably everyone associates this place with luxury and grandeur. Everything here is the best, the most beautiful, and the biggest. There are exclusive hotels but also places that are accessible to everyone. I am not fond of Muslim culture, but the highly developed tourism in the area encouraged me to visit this city. The biggest expense of this trip was the plane ticket (direct flight from Warsaw, but you’ll read about the cost below). After seeing all these architectural wonders with my own eyes, I concluded that it was worth it. After reading this text you will know why😉. I invite you.
It is hard to imagine that everything we see in Dubai today was built just a few years ago. It wasn’t that long ago that the place was a fishing village and a desert. In 2001 the construction of the Palm Jumeirah began, in 2009 the metro was opened, and in 2010 the Burj Khalifa. Dubai doesn’t have enough, new buildings are constantly being constructed and more islands are being built. There is nothing impossible here.
Traveling around Dubai, I thought I had been transported to the future. Everything here is beautiful, aesthetic, clean, and big. It is a very well-planned city. There are no random things or buildings. Dubai is mainly a city of skyscrapers, but they look nice because they all seem to fit together.
Sheikh Mohammed rules Dubai and he does not like modesty. His image is everywhere in the city. In addition to this modern city, Dubai has another side – a mentality from the Middle Ages. Women in this country are still treated as second-class citizens. It is unthinkable for a Western woman to have a man (who could be a husband, father, brother, or other family member) decide for her on almost every issue, such as whether she can get an education, whether she can work, whether she can travel, whether she can see someone, etc.
Local and foreign media are censored. There is no democracy here. You can go to jail for insulting the government. For those interested in exploring this topic further, I recommend the book “The Sins of the Sheikh” by Tom Steinfort.
On the one hand, Dubai is a city of the future; on the other hand, it is still culturally backward. It is a city built mainly for tourists and workers. Many Asian people work in Dubai, and they get a visa for their contract. When their contract expires, they have one month to leave the country unless they find a new job, then the visa is extended.
Where is Dubai?
Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula in Asia. It is located on the Persian Gulf and is one of the seven emirates of the UAE.
Weather
The United Arab Emirates is located in a tropical continental dry climate zone, and the desert has an arid climate. The year is divided into two seasons: summer and winter. The best time to visit Dubai is from October to March when air temperatures are high but not too strenuous. The hottest time is in July and August when temperatures exceed 40°C on the coast and 50°C in the desert.
My visit to Dubai was in March and the weather was very pleasant at 24°C. One evening it even rained and there was a thunderstorm, which surprised the locals, but it was not rainfall on the scale of what Dubai experienced in April 2024.
The tour of Dubai can be divided into the following parts:
The first stage of the tour is New Dubai, which includes:
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is the pride of Dubai and the tallest building in the world at 828 meters. It is located in the heart of the city and is connected to the Dubai Mall. Its construction took six years to complete and the official opening ceremony was in 2010. The main investor was the Emaar Corporation, but the company was hit by a financial crisis during construction. The money to continue construction was lent by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Emir of Abu Dhabi). In his honor, the skyscraper changed its name from the original Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa.
The observation decks on the floors are open to tourists: 124 and 125 “At the Top” and 148 “At the Top SKY”. Tickets can be purchased online (check here) and on-site. Prices vary by floor and time of day. The cheapest option is to visit floors 124 and 125 in the morning or evening. I bought my ticket before my flight for 11 am for the “At the Top” entrance for AED 179. The ticket for floor 148 starts at AED 399.
The elevator ride itself was exciting. There are screens on the ceiling that give the effect of being in the clouds. On the terrace, there is a beautiful view of the Dubai skyline, a souvenir shop, and a man taking pictures at the observation point.
The entrance of the Burj Khalifa to the observation deck is through the mall, so when you leave the metro you are heading towards the shops. This is an important detail because we got out of the subway the wrong way and were late for the entrance, but luckily a nice man let us in.
The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping center in the world by area, which is 112.4 hectares. In addition to the shopping and dining area itself (more than 1,200 stores and 120 cafes and restaurants), the center offers a variety of attractions. These include the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which is one of the largest aquariums in the world. You don’t have to buy a ticket to see sharks or stingrays, as much of the attraction is just seen as you walk around the mall. The mall also features the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink and a huge waterfall, whose cascade was designed by a Singaporean architect and measures 24 meters high. Silver sculptures of divers emerge from under the water. Several other attractions in the mall are impossible to visit in one day. Click here for a map of the mall.
The Dubai Fountain
The Fountain Show takes place every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 11 pm every day on the Burj Khalifa Lake in front of the Dubai Mall. It is a highly spectacular show using water, sound, lights, and lasers. The attraction is free, but you can also take a paid boat ride on the lake during the show. The fountains in the evening were impressive, but I felt unsatisfied because the show only lasted about two minutes.
Wings of Mexico
Wings of Mexico is a metal sculpture in the shape of angel wings. It is located in the background of the Burj Khalifa. It was designed by Mexican artist Jorge Marin. It’s a very Instagrammable spot. Line up here to take an original photo in the background of the world’s tallest building.
The Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future is another architectural and engineering marvel in Dubai. We experience the future both outside and inside the building. The shape of the building is round, which symbolizes humanity. Meanwhile, the green hill on which the building is located symbolizes the earth, and the space in the shape of the building represents the unknown future. At the entrance, you are given a wristband, which you simply put on the reader and the magic begins. Futuristic exhibits await us in the Museum of the Future, focusing on topics such as space travel and life in space, climate change and ecology, prosperity, and spirituality. When we visit the museum, we are transported to the year 2071, which also has its symbolism, as this is the year that the United Arab Emirates will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding. The most beautiful exhibit is the room where we find the most diverse species living on Earth, from bacteria to plants and mammals. They are all engraved in glass using 3D technology and beautifully illuminated. The goal of this exhibit was to create a digital copy of the tropical forests of the Amazon. Tickets for the Museum of the Future can be purchased online (see here) and on-site. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the tour.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is an exclusive neighborhood of yachts and skyscrapers. Surrounding the artificial canal is the Dubai Walk, which is approximately seven kilometers long, creating an ideal environment for outdoor activities. The whole area is surrounded by numerous restaurants and bars. You can experience a bit of luxury and take a yacht cruise (check here), or if you’re short on excitement, you can treat yourself to a rope descent from one of the skyscrapers.
Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural botanical garden in Dubai, featuring an impressive collection of famous buildings and structures completely covered in flowers. In Miracle Garden, you will find a heart-shaped path, an airplane made of flowers, and characters from fairy tales. In a word, it’s a paradise for lovers of nature, flowers, and beautiful compositions that will leave you in awe. I was enchanted by this vegetation. The garden is located outside the city center and can be reached by taking bus number 105, which starts its route under the Mall of the Emirates.
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) it is Dubai’s largest beach in a quiet area with restaurants, hotels, and shops. It is not completely free as some parts of it belong to hotels. The sand on the beach is fine and light and the water is turquoise. An attraction of the beach are camels on which you can buy a ride. The beach also offers an original view of the Ain Dubai Mill Wheel and the underground parking.
The beach is well maintained. There are lifeguards on duty and the swimming areas are marked with buoys. There are several bars and water equipment rentals in the area.
JBR is open 24 hours a day, but swimming is prohibited after sunset.
Burdż al-Arab
The Burj Al Arab is one of the tallest and most luxurious hotels in the world. It is the only 7* hotel in the world shaped like a sail. The hotel is located on an artificial island and unfortunately, access to it is limited. I had hoped to see the hotel up close, but this proved impossible due to the fence and security. The building is partially visible from the nearby beach. The price for an overnight stay in the Burj Al Arab in a Royal-type room is around PLN 45,000.
Next on the tour is Old Dubai
Old Dubai stretches across both sides of the creek and you won’t find skyscrapers here, just low-rise sand-colored buildings. It is an authentic place that shows how life used to be in the city. The population lived mainly from pearl fishing, fishing, and trading. On one side of the creek is the Gold Souq and Spice Market, and on the other side is the historic Al Fahidi district. Water taxis run between the two sides for AED 1. Walking through the Gold Souq market was not very comfortable for us as we were accosted at every turn (two blondes) and we quickly swam to the expensive side where it was much quieter and very nice. You can easily reach this part of Dubai via the Green Metro line.
The obligatory spot is a trip to Safari
One afternoon we went on a desert safari. We bought the tour from a Polish tour guide in the UAE (check here). The trip was in a 4×4 jeep with a local driver and took about 6 hours. The vehicles are designed for 6 people plus the driver, and the drive from downtown Dubai to the safari takes about 40 minutes. The first stop is at a camp with the option of a paid quad or buggy ride. Then we headed out into the desert dunes with a driver who tried to give us a little adrenaline along the way. We made a stop for photos and for those who were willing, there was an opportunity to enjoy sandboarding. At the end of the tour, we had a BBQ dinner. I highly recommend this tour.
The next step of the tour is Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and an emirate about 140 km from Dubai. When you enter Abu Dhabi, you immediately feel that you are in a different city. It is a quieter city than Dubai. There are fewer tourists and people on the streets. The reason may be that Abu Dhabi does not advertise for tourists as much as Dubai because it is the richest emirate in the UAE. They owe their wealth to oil, as 10% of the world’s reserves are located here. As you cross the border between the cities, you may notice that the color of the road changes from gray to red, which means that you are in a different emirate from Abu Dhabi and that different traffic laws apply. Many people renting sports cars and speeding from Dubai to Abu Dhabi do not realize that they are crossing the city border and will be fined for speeding. As a driver, it is important to remember that there are differences in traffic laws between the emirates. In Dubai, speeding is tolerated up to a maximum of 15 km/h, while in Abu Dhabi you can’t exceed the posted limit by even 0 km/h.
We went to Abu Dhabi on a one-day organized tour (check here) during which we visited the following places:
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a major attraction in the capital, and many people visit Abu Dhabi for this reason. It is one of the largest mosques in the UAE and the eighth largest in the world (it can accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers). It is a place of daily prayer, but also an important cultural center. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is open to visitors of all faiths and provides an opportunity to experience the rich Islamic culture and traditions. Its construction took 12 years (1996-2007) and was initiated by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, the founder of the UAE. His idea was that the temple would become a symbol of the openness and modernity of the United Arab Emirates.
To enter the mosque, you must first go to level -1 to register. Then our backpacks are scanned and we can rent or buy an abaya. The dress code is very strict. Women have to cover their heads, shoulders, wrists, knees, and ankles, while men only have their shoulders and knees. We borrowed an outfit from our guide. During the tour of the mosque, two comments were made to us: one that our hair was sticking out under the hood, and another that my cleavage in the abaya was too large. There is an alley leading to the mosque with shops and a food section like in a shopping mall.
The snow-white exterior, covered with marble and 24-karat gold, glistens in the sunlight and creates a stunning visual experience. Its structure contains 82 domes of various sizes, with the largest central dome measuring over 32 meters in diameter.
The interior of the mosque is also breathtaking. Inside you’ll find the world’s largest hand-woven carpet, weighing 35 tons and covering more than 5,600 square meters, and one of the world’s largest chandeliers, made from millions of Swarovski crystals. Materials used include marble, gold, semi-precious stones, ceramics, and crystals.
Admission is free and the mosque is open daily from 9 am – 10 pm (Fridays 9 am-12 am, 3 pm – 10 pm). Hours are reduced during Ramadan.
The Presidential Palace Qasr Al Watan
The Presidential Palace (Qasr Al Watan) is a beautiful and modern building where the most important decisions in the UAE are made, and can indeed be called a palace, as its interior is exquisite. Inside you will find ornaments, mosaics, arches, domes, and countless architectural details combined with the ubiquitous marble. In a word, you can feel the luxury and splendor. The interior enchanted me and I can’t imagine how much work and money it took. Several rooms are available for visitors, including the Presidential Banquet Room, the Presidential Gifts Room, the Great Hall, and the Library. A sword of Alexander Kwasniewski can be found in the Presidential Gift Room. The palace was built to preserve the rich culture and national heritage, showcasing magnificent works of art and offering a large dose of knowledge about the country’s history and culture.
Admission to Qasr al Watan is AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for children. Opening hours are 11 am – 6.30 pm (check here).
Like the mosque, the palace has a dress code.
We also visited Ferrari World, but did not enter the entertainment center, instead looking at the souvenir shops. We drove through the Al Bateen district, home to the huge mansions of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, and stopped to shop at a date market.
Transportation
Looking at the map, we can see that most of the points are close to each other. When planning this trip, I assumed that 5 days would be enough to see these attractions. However, we were a bit overwhelmed by the distances. Of course, the plan was carried out 100%, but a bit on the run. I didn’t mind too much because I don’t like to sit in one place. Visiting each successive point was a pleasure for us. Something we had never seen before.
Dubai is very well connected. There are two metro lines: the Red Line and the Green Line. The red line starts at the airport and goes through New Dubai and is above ground on pillars so we can admire the city from time to time. On this line, you will meet people who work in all those skyscrapers. The green line is an extension of the old Dubai. On this line, you can see more middle and working-class people. It is interesting to note that there is a separate compartment for women and children in each car on both the Red and Green lines. Of course, this is a choice, not a necessity. The subway tracks are closed with glass doors that open when the train arrives. You have to admit that this is very ingenious.
In addition to the subway, there are buses and trams. Everything is very well coordinated. You don’t have to leave the subway station to change to a tram that will take you to the beach.
Despite this good communication, you have to keep in mind that the distances are considerable. To get to the metro itself while already at the station, it takes about 10 minutes to walk through the tunnel.
Sometimes we use Uber to save time. The prices were not exorbitant, but we found that the final price differed from the original price in the application, and unfortunately to our disadvantage.
Still, we averaged about 20,000 steps a day.
Cost per person:
- – Flight WAW – DXB – WAW 1928 PLN.
- – First Central Hotel Suites 988 PLN (5 nights with breakfast)
- – Burj Khalifa 124&125 floor ticket 179 AED (197 PLN)
- – Travel insurance 64 PLN
- – Museum of the Future ticket 149 AED (164 PLN)
- – Full-day tour of Abu Dhabi 333 AED (366 PLN)
- – Afternoon safari 225 AED (247 PLN)
- – Miracle Garden ticket 95 AED (105 PLN)
- – Nol City Card 50 AED (55 PLN)
- – Food and Uber 491 AED (540 PLN)
The total cost is PLN 4606 for 5 nights per person. Whether this is a lot or a little, you can judge for yourself.
Supermarket prices of the products I bought in AED: banana bread 2,75, watermelon 1,99, camembert cheese 125g 15,75, fruit salad 16.00, avocado smoothie 14.75, bananas 4.99, water 1,5L 2,00
Restaurant prices: Margerita Pizza 60.00, Salad 45, Shisha 45
Below is our complete schedule:
Day One: Abu Dhabi, Dubai Marina
Day Two: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Wings of Mexico, Museum of the Future
Day Three: Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Safari
Fourth day: Burj Al Arab, Old Dubai, Dubai Miracle Garden, Burj Khalifa Fountain Show
Fifth day: Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), return home.
I think my plan is good, although next time I would extend my stay with additional relaxation on the beach and a visit to Palm Jumeirah.
