Dubai Stopover
On my way to London I stopped over in Dubai for five days. What I love about Dubai is how diverse your experience can be. You can have a relaxing resort/beach like experience one day, and then find yourself shopping in the largest mall in the world on another day, or even end up in the desert for a truly unique nature experience. Often seen as a layover destination for a few nights, there is so much this city has to offer for short or extended stays! The list of things to do is endless! Below you’ll find just a few of the many things you can see/do in Dubai, and what we got up to on our latest visit.
OLD DUBAI – AL FAHIDI HISTORICAL NEIGHBOURHOOD
There is only one way to truly appreciate Dubai’s exponential growth, step back in time to experience it’s rich past. We started our day at the Dubai museum which captures the history of Dubai through pictures, artifacts and slideshows. Just a five minute walk from the museum you’ll discover the narrow streets, winding lanes and wind tower of Old Dubai leading to the houses of the Al Fahidi historical neighborhood. Make sure to stop by the Arabian Tea house for some lemonade or a bite to eat for lunch.
SPICE & GOLD SOUK SHOPPING
From old to new, across Dubai creek you’ll discover the Spice and Gold Souk. Getting there is all part of the fun! Step a board an Abra – a traditional wooden boat and enjoy the organized chaos as the boats vie for position to cross the creek. Upon disembarking you’ll notice the aromatic souk heaving with the fragrance of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg. Saffron is the best spice to buy here. I always love a little market shopping, and getting into my haggling mode! Some of my favorite things we found here were jewelry and accessories! The market is quite spread out throughout the neighborhood from the spice souk through to the gold souk. So much can be found here beyond spices and gold, from lamps to rugs to clothing and shoes, as well as plenty of homewares. TIP: Make sure you arrive with an empty bag!
THE DUBAI MALL
Bigger is truly better in this city. Everyone knows you can find the tallest building in Dubai, but it’s also home to the largest mall in the world. Here, you will find everything you are looking for from luxury designer stores to your everyday retailers like Zara and H&M as well as many department and home stores, cafes and restaurants. Pretty much anything you can think of can be found here! Every time I go to this mall I get lost, it’s huge! Try to find Candylicious (one of the worlds largest candy shops), Book World of Kinokuniya (it stocks half a million books), the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and The Dubai Fountain. The Dubai Fountain is a dancing fountain of music and light.
MALL OF EMERITES – SKI DUBAI
Having seen old and new Dubai, it’s time for another contrast – Ski Dubai is the worlds largest indoor snow covered theme park. It’s crazy to think a ski field of this size could be in the middle of a desert. There are five different ski runs that all vary in difficulty. If ski sports isn’t your idea of fun, theres also the snow bullet – the worlds first indoor zipline, 16m above the ground or simply check out the snow caves, toboggan slopes and tube rides. Most importantly be sure to keep a look out for the Gentoo and King penguins waddling through the snow park.
A NIGHT IN THE ARABIAN DESERT
We took a tour with Arabian Adventures to experience a night out in the desert. It’s roughly an hour drive from the city to reach the desert, and from there the ride begins! The cars drive in a convoy along the sand dunes to reach a sunset spot for photos, canapés, wine and an interaction with a falcon. The drive is part of the entertainment and gives you a great view of the Arabian desert. Upon reaching the final destination you will have the opportunity to ride camel across the desert to an Arabian style camp, set up in the middle of the desert for a buffet and belly dancing show. The whole experience is roughly six hours, from hotel pick up to hotel drop off.
ATLANTIS THE PALM
While in Dubai we stayed at Atlantis the Palm. This aquatic themed resort made me feel like I was literally a guest in the little mermaids home. The hotel is filled with amazing interior décor and aquatic life. The hotel sits at the very top of the palm and also boasts a vast beach as well as an enormous marine park where visitors can swim with dolphins and slide down almost vertical slides through shark tanks. The Atlantis also has an extensive range of restaurants and bars. While staying at the Atlantis we dined at the Ossiano. This under the sea restaurant was the true definition of fine dining and a truly unique experience. There’s something magical and memorizing being surrounded by life under the sea.
Find out more information about Atlantis – The Palms here
ABU DHABI – SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE
To experience the true beauty of the middle east, hire a car or ride public transport to Abu Dhabi to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This Mosque is the eighth largest mosque in the world and it’s artitechual beauty is striking on first sight. The stained glass and unique detail from floor to celing is unlike any other building in Dubai. Make sure to dress conservatively, wearing loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs. This applies to both men and women. When inside the mosque, women should also wear a head scarf. Out of everything to do and see while in Dubai, this is something I wouldn’t miss and a place I would visit time and time again.
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