Dubai – November 2018
The United Arab Emirates, formally established in 1971, consists of 7 Emirates, of which Dubai is one. Additionally, Dubai is the largest city and is called the “center of now”. It is known for its luxury shopping, modern architecture and artificial islands. So of course, I was excited to check it out for myself.
Epic Things to do in Dubai:
1. Burj Khalifa
2. Dubai Fountains
3. Dubai Mall
4. Walk the new and old cities and the waterfront
5. Enjoy the food
Burj Khalifa – Currently this is the tallest building in the word at 2,716.5 feet tall. It is so tall that you can see the sunset twice in the same evening. First from a lower floor and then again from the top. It is almost surreal. Of course, you can take a ride up to the 163rd floor but you must be pre-purchase your ticket. Honestly, this building is just insane to look up at – it is epic!
The Dubai Fountains are in between the Dubai mall and the base of the Burj Khalifa and watching the daily shows are a must. There are two shows during the day and several evening shows so plan to catch a least one!
The Dubai Mall – I usually avoid “malls” but this one is something special to walk around in! There is a waterfall, an aquarium, luxury stores, restaurants, an ice-skating rink, cinema, and so much more. You could easily spend an entire day here exploring.
Explore the city and the waterfront – The city is not walkable but there are certainly many areas to explore. There is the new city area, where the buildings themselves are the attraction, there is the old city area, the Al Fahidi Historic District, with old markets and waterfront areas and then there is the beach waterfront. Kite Beach is a great place to explore with many activities in the area. Walk the Jumeriah Beach area and the gorgeous Residence walk and see the Burj Al Arab Hotel.
The food is all good, and you can find whatever you want. There is a lot of Indian influence in many of the dishes, which I love.
Overall – this city is like an oasis in the desert. Whatever you can dream up can be a reality in this city. If you have lots of cash, you can literally do it all. If that means luxury shopping, downhill skiing in the inside ski dome or living it up in amazing hotels or tasting gourmet meals. One thing to note is although the population is very diverse, people are dressed conservatively. But is it certainly a city like no other!
