If you’re looking to start traveling to the Middle East, Dubai is a great option. It’s very people friendly and safe for solo travelers! I even ventured out on my own for a day around the city and did not feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The six other Emirates include Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. I was also able to spend a day in Sharjah, as it is a neighboring Emirate.
What to expect?
The high skyscrapers, city life and high-class lifestyle makes Dubai more unique than other destinations. With that, comes the downside…the high prices. Dubai is more of an upscale place, so expect to drop some dough if you plan to visit. The good news is there are plenty of ways to stretch the dirhams (currency in UAE).
Another thing to keep in mind about Dubai is the weather. Dubai has the desert climate with lots of sunshine and very high temperatures. The best time to visit would be between November and March, when it is a bit cooler. (I lie… it’s still pretty hot during the daytime, but cooler in the early mornings and evenings.) Although it is very hot during the day, everyone is dressed modestly and shows very little skin.
I spent a week in Dubai early January and below are all the things I did while I was there! I was accompanied by my aunt and we did some of the tours together. We stayed at a relative’s residence within the Marriott, which offered a beautiful view each morning!
Burj Khalifa & Dubai Fountain
The obvious number ONE thing to do is spend time staring at the Burj Khalifa. As the tallest building in the world, the Burj did not disappoint. We drove by it several times during the week and the view of it is amazing. There are times where you can’t even see the very top of the Burj because of the fog and clouds. Below the Burj is the Dubai Musical Fountain, a great entertainer with it’s choreographed light’s and music water shows. Hundreds of people gather in the outdoor area to see these shows, which play every 30 minutes during the evening hours. Inside are many restaurants, shopping areas and more.
Where to book tickets?
I purchased the tickets online for a late afternoon slot. This allowed us enough time to get to the top and view the city during the day time and stay for the sunset. There are several packages to choose from and you can book your ticket 3 months in advance. From around 4pm-6pm, the rates are a little higher, but once you get in, they don’t force you to leave at any specific time. You are welcome to stay as long as you want. I booked the 330pm slot 😉
Click here to book your tickets on their official page.
Timings: Slots for tickets are from 930AM-1000PM
Fees: Varies based on package. Lowest package: ~150AED for adults, ~115AED for children below 12, free for under 4.
AED = Arab Emirate Dirham
1 USD = ~3.67 AED
Would I do this again?
Yes and No. If I get a chance to visit Dubai again, I would love to see the Burj and spend time around it. I probably wouldn’t go to inside and to the top floors. The view of the Burj was better than the view looking out from it. But, I’m glad I got the chance to do it once!
Tip: DO NOT purchase any souvenirs from the top of the Burj. I fell into the temptation and spend a good amount there. A few days later, as I was touring the city, I saw the SAME exact souvenirs for one fourth of the price.
Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall is one of the biggest shopping malls in the UAE. It contains every high end brand you could possibly think of and then, some more. The Dubai Shopping Festival, is not only the biggest annual sales event, but also includes fireworks, concerts and more. It starts towards the end of December and lasts until the end of January.
and it smells so good!
Dubai is known for their gold jewelry and aromatic fragrances and perfumes. Besides that, you can also get a variety of designer apparels, leather goods, electronics, watches and more! I didn’t do any shopping since this was only my first stop of my 5 week trip and I was headed to India in a few days.
Mosques
The official religion of Dubai and the rest of the UAE is Islam. UAE has some magnificent mosques that lights up during the night and stand tall during the daytime. There are very limited mosques that tourists (and women) are allowed to enter for touring purposes. The ones in Dubai are Jumeirah Mosque and Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, both of which I unfortunately didn’t get to visit this time round. The most famous and biggest of them all is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Stay tuned for the blog post on what to know before entering holy places, such as mosques, temples, and churches.
Desert Safari
Our relatives booked us a desert safari tour, which offered pick up and drop off to our hotel. Our driver and tour guide was a cool dude, who took his time to explain in detail about the desert. We drove half an hour to the desert and made a stop. After that first stop came the real desert safari drive, which was extremely fast and shaky! The sand dunes were very steep and we all held on tight! There were several other SUVs in front of us and behind us. We drove to a high area, parked the car and spent time outside to see the sunset.
We made an hour stop at an ATV riding area and shopping/souvenir center, which was catered to tourists. They had very talented souvenir artists there, who made bottles with different colored sand. I still have this souvenir with my name written inside it and every time I look at it, I picture this place in my head.
Our guide knew several people at the ATV center and rented this one out for me for free! It was a bit shaky at first but once I got used to it, it was a great experience.
Our last stop of the night was for dinner, at a tented area within the desert. For dinner, we had a heavy meal with lots of meat options.
They had a belly dancing show going on, which was pretty impressive. I took some time to do the camel rides, which were off to the side of the tented area.
Within the tents, they also offered henna painting and picture opportunity with burka and the head piece for men.
Tip: Sit next to the food & be the first in line! Since it’s chilly at night, the food can get cold easily, even though it’s on top of a warmer.
Would I do this again?
Yes! This was a great experience and I loved every bit of it. I highly recommend you do a desert safari tour if you are in Dubai. If I go a second time, I might pick an overnight tour package, just to try out something different.
I wish I had brought a scarf with me for the tour, so I could have used it for the ATV ride and the desert stop. It would have also been useful after the sunset, when it became a little chilly.
Tip: Bring a sweater and scarf (or jacket) depending on how much you like the cool nights.
Dubai Miracle Garden
For our last day in Dubai, we visited the Dubai Miracle Garden and it was beyond beautiful. Out of all the gardens and flower based centers I have seen, I would have to say this one topped it. With a total of 18 acres, this garden is the world’s largest garden!
Location: Al Barsha South 3 Dubai, UAE
Hours: The garden is closed for renovation during summer months because of the excess heat and sun. Hours will be posted on website when garden re-opens.
Fees: Children 2-12: 40 AED, Adults: 50 AED, Children under 2: Free
Click here for their official website.
Would I visit again?
Although the garden was nothing short of amazing, it’s definitely a one time thing. However, if I am ever in Dubai with someone who has not been before, I will gladly take a second trip with them to check out the new and updated sections of the garden.
Tour the City on Foot/Tour Bus
One afternoon, I booked a bus ticket and hoped on a tour bus by myself with a cell phone, a map and some cash . The map and information provided by the bus company was very clear and made it very easy for tourists to view all the major attractions in a fairly convenient way. Of the three major tour bus companies in Dubai, I chose the City Sightseeing Dubai Hop on-Hop off Tour Bus Company. The service was great and the drivers were very helpful. The five routes are all color coordinated and the map shows all the major attractions and things to at all stops.
I took a 1-day pass, but there are also 2, 3 or 7 day pass as well (all of which includes all five routes.)
Prices: 1 day starting around $60USD online.
I am pretty sure you can get it for cheaper at the bus station in Dubai.
Click here for their website.
Would I do this again?
If I visit Dubai again, this would be my main source of transportation and way of seeing the attractions I missed last time. It’s the best way to explore any city, in my opinion. I would take the 3 day ticket and tour the whole city!
Was it safe?
YES!!! I felt very comfortable and safe, even when I was waiting at the bus stop. Of course, I started small talk with other people standing at the bus stop. Even though I was traveling alone, I did not feel any danger or threats from anyone.
So what all did I miss?
Here are some more helpful ideas if you’re planning to make a trip to Dubai!
– Burj Al Arab Jumeriah Hotel
– Spend time in the Palm Islands
– Go to the Aquaventure Waterpark
– Go to the Wild Wadi Waterpark
– Check out the Lost Chambers Aquarium
– Splash Tours/boating from the Dubai Marina
– Helicopter tours over the Palm Jumeriah
– Mosque tours
– Sky diving, for the brave hearted!
– Hot Air Balloon rides over the desert
– Overnight desert tours
– Kayaking, Paddle boating, Jet skiing, Scuba diving; any water sports you can think of.
This list can go on and on… because Dubai is just that diverse. Besides sight seeing, there is also so much to eat! If you’ve visited Dubai and have done some amazing things, comment below and let me know!
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