Dubai Travel Guide | My Life Trips

Dubai

Information

Dubai is the largest and the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Dubai Emirate, one of the seven emirates that make up the country. Dubai has emerged as a global city and business center in the Middle East and is also an important hub for passengers as well as global transport. Dubai’s oil revenue has helped accelerate the city’s growth but its stocks are limited and the production levels are low today, less than 5% of the Emirates revenue comes from oil.

The city has become one of the most famous tourist destinations worldwide, mainly for the skyscrapers and some impressive projects that are truly engineering miracles. Right now in Dubai is the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, a building that really scares with its height, which reaches 829 meters !!!

From 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East. It is definitely the world’s fastest growing city with impressive buildings and businesses growing over the last 20 years. Many believe that Dubai is finally a tourist trap due to its unbelievable growth and as soon as the oil reserves are depleted then its image will change dramatically in relation to the image of absolute luxury we meet today. Only time will tell….

The currency of Dubai is (AHR) and 10 Euros equals to 45 Dirhams. For the latest updated exchange rates visit the XE Currency Converter page.

What To See...

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa currently holds the world’s tallest building record, with a height of 829 meters. On the outside of Burj Khalifa there is a huge fountain, which only this construction cost $ 217 million !!! If you want to climb to the top of this incredible building for a coffee the ticket costs 125 (AED) about 27 euros.

Burj al Arab

Burj al Arab is a luxury hotel, 321 m high and ranked as the fourth tallest hotel in the world. It has been built on an island, 280 m. and is connected to the Jumeirah Beach by an arched bridge. Reference point is the sail shape of the whole construction, and its designation as “the only 7 star hotel in the world”! An truly amazing experience is to go up and have a drink at the hotel’s bar and enjoy the stunning views of the city! Of course you will need a reservation if you want to do so.

Jumeirah Beach

Jumeirah beach and generally the whole area is one of the most beautiful places in Dubai and here there are some of the city’s finest hotels and restaurants.

Ski Dubai

Ski Dubai is an entire ski resort into a huge shopping center! A huge ski resort with ski slopes, cable cars, and many more are some of the crazy things you can meet in Dubai. So Ski Dubai is definitely one of them. If you are a fan of winter like us then it is an ideal choice to escape from the suffocating atmosphere and the incredible heat that prevails in the city. The ticket per person costs 255 (AED) approximately 56 euros and includes basic equipment such as blankets, gloves, etc.

Madinat Jumeirah

Madinat Jumeirah is a luxurious 5-star resort in Dubai and is also the largest resort in the Emirate. It stretches over 40 hectares and is designed to look like a traditional Arab city. Within this luxurious complex you will find many shops and beautiful canals where you can strolling around!

The Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah is an archipelago in the United Arab Emirates and is part of a wider range of islands called Palm Islands, including Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira. It is located in the Jumeirah coastal area of the Dubai emirate and is a relatively a recent project.

Wild Wadi Waterpark

Wild Wadi Water Park is an open-air water theme park in Jumeirah Beach, next to Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The Jumeirah International Hotel operates the water park and includes water slides, lakes, and even surf wave machines! The ticket for adults costs 270 (AED) and 220 (AED) for children.

Mall Of The Emirates

The Mall of the Emirates is a huge shopping center with international department stores, cinemas and the Ski Dubai ski resort we mentioned above! You will need several hours to see this huge mall, but it is definitely worth a visit.

Nearby Excursions

An amazing experience if you find yourself in Dubai is the desert safari! We are sure that it will be one of your best moments in Dubai as most of the companies that organize such safaris usually include in the price a very nice traditional dinner with Bedouins! The excursion always starts with the safari in the desert where experienced drivers do incredible things with their jeeps on the sand hills in the middle of the desert! Of course, the exciting thing is that you are inside these jeep!!! Many times happen also unpredictable things like a jeep stucked in the sand, but with the help of the others the problem is solved very quickly.

Then you can usually see camels near you, take a photo with them and climb up for a short walk. Your day is ending late in the afternoon with the sunset eating traditional food and watching closely the life of Bedouins. At this meal you will have the opportunity to dance with them, try their traditional costumes and also have a tattoo for free from this night in rememberance. The trip costs around 50 euros per person for the whole package along with dinner and it is a great experience that we recommend.

What To Eat

Muslims are forbidden to eat pork, so they are not included in their menus. Meat, fish and rice are the main foods of the Emirates cuisine. Lamb and sheep meat are the most common meats, after goat and beef. If you are not a fan of Arabic cuisine with lots of spices like us, in Dubai there are almost all major restaurant and fast food chains so it will not be hard to find something to eat any time of the day. We will recommend the Chili’s Restaurant, which we visited and had excellent dining in a very beautiful location in the Dubai Marina at Jumeirah Beach. Classic American restaurant where you can find very good food and very nice desserts.

Another suggestion is the Cinnabon store where you can enjoy your coffee with the world’s best Cinnamon roll! Cinnamon rolls are cinnamon buns that are very famous in United States and you will find them in various combinations. Try the caramel pecan cinnamon roll and thank us later for our suggestion after you have returned from your trip in Dubai!!!

How to move

Transportation in Dubai is quite expensive and is an extra cost that you should calculate in your trip. A very good solution in Dubai is taxis as it is not very expensive and so you can move in comfort and avoid the dreadful heat and too much walking. The starting price for a taxi is about 12 (AED) about 2.6 Euros and the charge is per kilometer. For a distance of 10 km you will pay 32 (AED). An alternative option is of course the bus, although the system is a bit complicated as tickets are divided by zones. A single ticket costs 11 (AED).

Where to stay

Accommodation in Dubai can be incredibly expensive if you want it but fortunately there are infinite luxury choices ranging from 60-100 Euros for high class hotels with breakfast included. In any other city for similar rooms you have to pay from 200 euros and maybe higher. Our suggestion is to choose a hotel near Jumeirah Beach because there are the most attractions you will find in Dubai and so you will save enough money from your trips and you will be near the most popular spots of the city. You can make your reservations via Booking.com

Booking.com