Travel to Dubai, adventures as a single woman in the UAE.
I recently traveled to India for work and was fortunate to have the opportunity to stop in Dubai for a few days on my return home.
The highlights of my trip in no particular order are the following:
- Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Mall (plus the fountain show)
- Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach
- Dubai Museum
- Dhow Cruise, Dubai Marina
- Heritage village
- Gold Souk
- Spice Souk
- Palm Jumeirah
- Desert Safari
The Burj Khalifa, best known as the world’s tallest building, was opened in 2010 for the world to appreciate. Reaching approximately 2,700 feet, this building has an impressive 163 floors. I didn’t go up into the building during this trip, but it’s definitely on my list for next time- be ready to spend some money if you plan to do the same. This is a must visit if you travel to Dubai. There are 2 observation decks for tourists- one on the 125th floor which is roughly 200 AED per person (about $50) and another on the 148th is roughly 500 AED per person (or $125).
The Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest shopping malls. You can find just about anything here so it’s a great place to get a souvenir. There are several floors and numerous shops and with the crowd it’s easy to get lost so make sure you know where your group is located and where you’re going.
The Fountain Show was inspired by Las Vegas’s show at the Bellagio, but in Dubai they like it bigger and better. The shows start at 6 in the evening and goes every half hour until 11 with a couple of afternoon stints between 1 and 2. Check out the video on the bottom of this page if you want to see for yourself. Both are great experiences for those that travel to Dubai.
The Burj Al Arab is easily one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. With starting prices at $1,700 per night, one would surely believe it. This hotel is one of the world’s largest, located on a man-made archipelago featuring its own private beach, which is visible from Jumeirah beach. I’ve heard rumor that the luxuries make the $1,700 and up price tag worth it, even including a private butler and pickup and drop-off in a Rolls Royce. I might just have to find a way to afford such an experience on my next trip.
The Dubai Museum is a great place to immerse oneself in the history and culture of Dubai. A majority of the museum is located underground, but there are some old artifacts and “Al Fahadi Fort” on the upper level. What makes the museum most memorable are the staged scenes that capture the various parts of Arabic life- some feature characters making pottery, selling goods, building ships and taking part in other parts of historical life. This is a great experience for tourists that travel to Dubai. The museum is open daily from 8:30 to 8:30 with shorter hours on Friday.
Another great experience for those that travel to Dubai is to take a Dhow cruise. It’s the best way to experience the Dubai Marina. Most of the boats are fairly small, but sturdy and can still fit a good group of people. It’s a popular activity and a decent way to cool down on a hot day in the city, especially if you aren’t used to the hot weather.
Heritage Village is located right by Dubai creek. It contains some of the oldest remaining buildings in Dubai. The architecture is beautiful- a great location to get pictures (hint, hint photographers and adventurers that travel to Dubai). Many of the buildings were saved from being demolished or relocated for new development roughly 10 years ago- good news for those that appreciate Dubai’s history!
Gold, gold and more gold, including the home of the world’s largest ring (with a Guinness World Record to make it official). The Gold Souk is a representation of the wealth and luxury available in Dubai. There are even suits of armor made of gold! The vendors are insistent, so be wary if you plan on spending time here. It’s definitely worth at least a peak, even if you don’t plan on spending any money.
The Spice Souk is a great place to get exotic spices to take home- for a good price too! The vendors are also quite insistent here- don’t let them talk you into anything. I found it best to be firm, but polite. This is a great place to get something unique that will surely add great flavor to a favorite recipe- a must for those that travel to Dubai and love to cook with unique spices.
The Palm Jumeirah is a man-made archipelago given its name due to the design- a palm, of course. This region of Dubai is undergoing a lot of new construction- hotels and such to accommodate a growing tourist population. Atlantis, another one of Dubai’s grand 5 star hotels is located here with a great view of the Gulf. The hotel is conveniently located near the Aquaventure Waterpark and Lost Chambers Aquarium.
By far, Dubai’s desert safari was the favorite part of my trip. It started with a drive through the desert- sand dunes and all. Just a note- it’s a good idea to avoid eating anytime near this adventure. A few people in my group got sick which ruined much of this part of the experience for them, unfortunately. A video of the drive is at the bottom of this post- feel free to take a look if you’re curious.
The drive took us to a small village in the middle of the desert with an array of activities including camel riding, horseback riding, 4-wheeling, henna for the women, shopping (including clothing in typical Arabic styles), hookah, a buffet and entertainment including a firebreather, belly dancer and other various dancing and music. If you decide that you want to enjoy a similar experience then keep an eye out for prices and features included with the various packages. Some options only include a drive out to the desert and prices can vary by demand (to the point that those in our group found that we had paid different prices for the same experience). Regardless, it is definitely an experience I would recommend!
Hotels
The city offers a wide range of hotels with varied prices, a bonus for those that travel to Dubai. I found that you could get a pretty decent hotel for a good price. I paid roughly $60/night (surcharges included) for a 4-star hotel that I would gladly stay at again. If you’re looking for something grand and luxurious, Dubai has numerous enticing options with luxuries beyond belief. To my surprise, I actually found a lot of Airbnb’s were more expensive in Dubai, when it’s usually the other way around. I compared prices online and got a pretty good deal through hotels.com.
Transportation
If you’re looking for cheap transportation, the metro is definitely the way to go. I picked a hotel near a stop intentionally so that I would have easy access to what is probably the nicest metro I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the safest as well- the king famously took a trip himself on the metro simply so he could prove how safe it was for his citizens.
For those that are looking for more flexibility, there are decent car rental options from the airport. Taxis and Uber are also available, but are more expensive. Personally, I found the metro very easy, low-priced and convenient, even with all of my luggage.
Shopping
An expat living in Dubai told me, “in Dubai, we say Do-Buy.” The city has grown to better accommodate tourists and so, there are many options for shopping. A word of caution, as I mentioned earlier- vendors are very insistent, so it is best to be cautious, yet firm. Most vendors expect you to barter with them, but not all are willing to budge much, if at all. You can get a much better deal if you buy more than one item- in this case, vendors are generally more willing to give you a package deal.
There are many good options for souvenirs, some of course are better deals than others so the best approach is to take your time and compare prices between vendors- many of which will sell the same kinds of goods. I myself purchased 2 jewel carpets (spendy, but beautiful), several metal bowls, spices and a few small trinkets. If you’re looking for liquor or cigars, you’ll probably be disappointed. Drinking is not allowed in much of the city, nor is the sale of liquor (except in rare cases). However, you can purchase liquor in the airport (which I also did). Most liquor is well priced (especially Scotch), but some liquor wasn’t priced much better than US prices- compare where you can!
Activities
There are plenty of options for entertainment. Since I only had three days to spend in the city, I focused my time on sight-seeing, but there is plenty more to do beyond that. There are water sports (including anything from jet skiing, diving and water slides), theme parks (including Legoland, Motiongate, IMG Worlds of Adventure, among others), museums, indoor skiing and many others. If you’re looking for something particular let me know, I’d be happy to help! Just a note of warning- most businesses have limited hours on Friday since it’s the holy day in the UAE. Be sure to check business hours before you plan your day.
For the Yogi
Dubai’s climate is peaceful, especially out in the desert, but it is also very hot. If you plan on doing yoga outside come prepared. Bring a hat or some kind of head covering, lots of water and try to find some shade. I would recommend practicing during the early parts of the day or later in the evening. In Dubai it gets much too hot in the middle of the day to stay outside for long. Relaxation poses are great out in the desert, focus on strengthening poses inside.
For those with Chronic Illnesses
If you’re like me, then you might need easy access to a bathroom in a hurry. In the desert, one is hard to come by so be prepared. If a bathroom before and afterwards is not within reason, you might want to avoid this activity entirely, or at least bring a change of clothes in an emergency. I opted to bring the change of clothes. The city has reasonably good access to restrooms, but beware there could be some surprises. The first restroom I found in Dubai was in the airport and had no toilet- it was literally a hole in the floor (not something I was prepared for at the time!). Also, right before prayer many people will wash themselves, leaving a wet mess on the floor. It’s a good time to avoid the restrooms, if you can manage.
A Special Note
Another word of warning- I understimated how miserably hot Dubai could get. If you are sensitive to the heat or sun, make sure you time activities to limit your exposure. Definitely bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and adequate clothing coverage.
Regardless of your chosen activities, the city has a lot to offer and I would definitely travel to Dubai given another opportunity
Have a question or wish I would have mentioned something else? Connect with me through social media or go to the “Contact” page to send a message.