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I was recently in Dubai during their summer and found it to be a place of opulence and extravagance - and I loved every second of my time there. For those few days I was living a lavish dream and I’d do it all over again.
Before we head into the fun things to do, a bit of advice: Save serious money.
It helps to book and pay for things like your accommodation and tours in advance so when you get there most of your money will be used for shopping and eating out. If you go during Ramadan, you’ll find many special deals on offer.
When in Dubai...Go big or stay home
Here are six ways you can make the most of a three-day stay in a city that fully understands luxury and does things in an incomparable style.
PICS: #MyDubai: A whirlwind photo tour
1. Book at a 4 or 5 star hotel, preferably in Downtown Dubai.
The advantage of going on a holiday during Ramadan is that the rates for most places are lower. We stayed at the Manzil Hotel in Downtown. It’s a 4-star hotel and it’s got everything you need in terms of comfort and luxury. We also got to view rooms at The Palace Hotel and the Vida Hotel. You’re really spoilt for choice here as these hotels are all located centrally and close to the Dubai Mall.
2. Shop until you drop
Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. There is the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates, Souks in various locations around the city. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll probably find. The Dubai Mall, which is currently expanding so that it can be the biggest mall in the world is extremely large (so large that I got lost and inadvertantly found the ice rink inside the mall). It is also home to many international designer brands and even has its own souk inside it where you can find Islamic-wear, jewellery, souvenirs and more. During summer, many of the stores have sale signs up so you might get lucky and walk away with a few designer purchases at good prices.
However, if you’re really looking for good deals, go to the souks. Here you can haggle and bring prices down by more than half. An example: One man charged me 200 dirham for an abaya. After I said no a few times, the price dropped and I managed to get 2 abayas for R160 dirham. I figure their philosophy must be: Any sale is better than no sale.
3. See Dubai from the ground and from the sky
It’s good to get to know the city you’re visiting which is why I love City Sightseeing tours. Getting to drive around Dubai while learning about how the city came to be what is currently is was educational and fun. Like with all City Sightseeing tours you can hop on and off at various stops, but it was so hot out, we stayed in the bus for the entire route, opting to see the Dubai from the airconditioned section on the top of the bus. It surprised me to see people were actually on the beach in that intense heat – it was easily 45 degrees out.
But while seeing Dubai from the top of a double decker bus is amazing and a great way to learn about th city, the best way to see it is from the sky. If there is one thing you MUST do, it’s take a seaplane tour of Dubai. It’s one thing to drive on the “trunk” of the Palm Islands, but to actually see how it’s formed from above is beyond breathtaking. It’s remarkable that someone was able to design and pull off building this man-made island into something so spectacular. It’s a breathtaking marvel and for me, a highlight of this trip.
*Handy hint: If you suffer from sea or plane sickness, take a pill for nausea before taking this tour.
4. Eat, eat, eat
As a passionate foodie, I was excited by all the culinary delights on offer in Dubai. From the amazing breakfast buffet at the Manzil hotel to the delicious lunches at Vida Hotel, the Palace hotel and the Armani Deli to high tea at Atmosphere Lounge to traditional Emirati foods at The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, I was in food heaven. The Levantine cuisine on offer at most of the places we dined was something new for my palate and I loved every morsel of the new things I tried.
A three-course lunch at the Vida hotel included traditional Arab starters like hummus, baba ganouche and fattoush salad, flat breads and more. It was followed by main courses that catered to every taste: steak and veg; roast chicken breast; fish and steamed veg and a vegetarian pasta. All the food was served family-style and everyone helped themselves to a bit of everything that was on offer. So while all the food was gourmet standard, the service style made us feel at home and relaxed.
While you’re there, book a lunch reservation at the Armani Deli inside the Armani Hotel, where you’ll find sumptuous Italian cuisine. I chose a beautifully cooked seafood risotto and followed that with a slice of cheesecake, but there are loads more yummy Italian meals to choose from.
If you’re as into high tea as I am, you’ll absolutely adore At.mosphere Lounge’s high tea offering.
Situated inside the Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa, the high tea at Atmosphere Lounge is literally high up in the sky. At 122 floors up, you’ll have high tea with a magnificent view of Dubai. Don’t even dare think about your diet as you dig into all the sweet treats on offer. I only wish they had a few more savoury options on offer to balance things out (I prefer savoury to sweet ), but that is a small complaint for an otherwise perfect afternoon.
5. Get educated on Emirati culture and Islam
There should always be time to learn more about the culture of the country you’re visiting and while the City Sightseeing Tour offers a learning experience about how the city was built, The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) is a fantastic place to get to know the people of the Emirates and their way of life.
While you’re there, you’ll learn about Islamic practices and Emirati culture. You’ll also get to ask questions and get honest answers and you’ll find that Islam isn’t scary like many media outlets would have you believe. It was great to see how this cultural centre helps non-Muslims understand Islam.
6. Explore some more
Go to the Dubai Mall for more than just a shopping trip. Visit places like the Aquarium or go to the ice-rink, both of which can be found inside the mall. You can also go indoor skiing to add some more adventure to your luxury stay.
If fancy yourself a coffee aficionado, you might want to make a trip to The Coffee Museum in Old Town, where you’ll learn all about the history of coffee and the various ways coffee is enjoyed around the world. I have to say, the Arab way of being served coffee has become one of my favourite things. The coffee is flavoured with cardarmom and is served in a beautiful espresso-sized mug. You’re also given a date so the sweetness of the date offsets the bitterness of the coffee.
One spectacle you have to take in is the Dubai Fountain Show. We watched it from a balcony at the Address Hotel but there are many points in the city from which it can be viewed. Watch the video.
Full disclosure: I was part of this media trip during the Islamic holy month and while I’m a practising Muslim it coincided with “that time of the month” for me so I was exempt from fasting. I do, of course, have to make up for the missed days before the next Ramadan rolls around.
Disclaimer: Aneeqah Emeran is a News24 Social media and community content producer, and was hosted by Dubai Tourism on behalf of Traveller24 for a media trip which included all flights, accommodation and meals.
