Travel Guide to Dubai
Dubai is that city that sprung up and till today, still has everyone talking. I came up with a first timer’s travel guide to Dubai to cover everything we did in the 6 days we visited on a highly relaxed schedule. The fact that this was our first time visiting Dubai made the experience quite exciting to write about.
Dubai has always been on my travel list but for some reason, I never really got to planning it. Then we had Adanna, our little love and Dubai was back on my travel priority list. I had heard from friends that it is a child friendly city where everyone was kind and life in general was tailored to make little humans comfortable. Spoiler alert, they did not lie. However, it is too early in the blog post to tell you that so let us get into our Dubai tale.
About Dubai
Dubai is the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations. Boasting of a 7 star hotel and more 5 star hotels than most countries, it is easy to see why everyone has visited or will visit Dubai at least once in their lifetime.
Dubai’s currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED). We paid for everything with our bankcard but cash seemed to be widely accepted as well.
The Dubaites make up less than 20% of the population. The city is filled with foreigners who live and contribute to its workforce. I found it quite fascinating that all the staff we came across was either from India or Pakistan and a few from African countries.
Important things to note before visiting Dubai
- Download Taxi App, Careem. It is much cheaper then uber and hotel taxis.
- Book popular experiences like Museum of the Future and Burj Khalifa in advance. They sell out quite quickly.
- Research the dates for Ramadan as there are some laws in place when Muslims are fasting in the holy period.
Travel Guide to Dubai - Where to stay in Dubai
I have written all about our fantabulous hotel stay at Fairmont the Palm. I was so particular about this booking because relaxation and luxury were the focus. Although I had considered staying in the Business District, Palm Jumeirah won this round as it just looked so premium and luxury. Our room was a Deluxe Heritage Palm Sea View Room, which was basically a Junior suite over looking the sea with the Marina skyline as backdrop. The hotel is beautiful and it had everything you would want from a 5 star hotel.
Read full review here – Fairmont the Palm, Dubai
I also covered where we ate in my review of the hotel, as our booking was half board. The hotel had a variety of restaurants, so we ate all our meals at the hotel.
A first timer's Travel Guide to Dubai - What to do in Dubai
1. Visit the old town - Deira
Dubai was not always as it is today. Now, we see all the glitz and glam but a day trip to the old town will show you a different side of Dubai. Deira is one of Dubai’s oldest districts and it is there that you will find the gold and spice markets. It feels somewhat neglected; like the rest of Dubai is moving to this fancy style but here, things have stayed the same. I remembered thinking that it reminded me of Lagos and took me back to the days of shopping with my mum in Yaba market.
Once done with the gold and spice souks, we made our way to the Grand Souq for more sight seeing and spice viewings. We paid 2 AED each and crossed the river in a small traditional boat, an abra. This took us to the other side of Old Dubai, known as Bur Dubai and our stop was Al Seef. Al Seef is a lovely market with the shops, a vibrant center and even a starbucks.
A lot of people make the mistake of visiting Dubai without checking Old Dubai out. To me, it is an important part of Dubai that needs to be seen.
2. Explore Emirates Mall and Dubai Mall
Yes, explore both as they give totally different vibes. Emirates Mall is more high street and I can imagine it is where people who are staying longer in Dubai shop.
Dubai Mall is grand and has all the designer shops including Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s; it is definitely more tailored to tourists. It is also the 2nd largest mall in the world and just outside is the Dubai Fountain with the backdrop of the Burj Kalifa. Dubai Mall also has numerous eateries and just across is the Souk Al Bahar. This was the first souk we actually visited and shopped for an abaya* which I thought was very pretty. Mr E bought the traditional white dress for men, the Dishdasha/Kandura, complete with the headscarf.
3. Head out of town to Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Mosque was constructed in 1996 and like everything else in the UAE, its architecture is dazzling. My abaya came in handy for this visit as the dress code to the Mosque is very strict. My scarf slipped off my head a few times and in seconds, I was warned to cover my hair. I noticed that there are rental services for an abaya if you are not properly dressed which I suppose, is helpful.
Now, let’s get back to the stunning Mosque. I don’t have much experience with visiting Mosques but I know about the grandeurs of Cathedrals and Basilicas. Let me tell you, there is nothing I have seen like the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. It can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers and has the most stunning courtyard where Sheikh Zayed was buried in 2004.
4. A sunset yacht ride
“Whatever you do, do not miss a sunset in Dubai”
How better to see a sunset than on a boat? Our room came with sea view so we had caught the sunset a few times on our balcony and thought it would be epic to see it while sailing. We booked a private boat ride for 2 hours to watch the sunset and explore Dubai via its waters. We sailed from the Dubai Harbor, which had a concentration of moored yachts. I mean, it was lovely to just walk around the harbor and feast your eyes even without getting in one. We booked our yacht cruise through our hotel but these are quite popular in Dubai and can be booked though most sites.
Our yacht took us through Dubai marina, Atlantis, Burj Al Arab, Burj Kalifa and even passed the front of our Palm Jumeirah hotel. The sunset was somewhere between Atlantis and Burj Al Arab which was quite a pretty site.
5. Palm Jumeirah Promenade
We were lucky to be staying in Palm Jumeirah and our hotel sat on the Promenade. So, most evenings, we would walk out the back and stroll down the promenade. It was always stunning especially if we managed to catch the sunset before our stroll. One evening, we stayed out quite late and watched as the promenade came alive. Beach clubs turned into nightclubs as people sauntered through their doors.
Fairmont’s private beach was just off the promenade and next to it is Kyma beach house. Further along the trail, there are other popular beaches, clubs and restaurants. It is just a really fun area to walk down and captures the vibe of Dubai.
6. Dubai Miracle Garden
If there was one place that defined who I am as a travel person sans history, it is Dubai Miracle Garden. The prettiest garden ever used to actually be a desert and has now been turned into the world’s largest natural flower garden. We paid 75 AED each (apparently this price has gone up dramatically in the last year) and we purchased tickets from the entrance. The garden opened at 9am, we arrived by 9.30am and it was already a little busy. We spent about 1 hour 30 minutes wandering and taking photos.
Dubai Miracle Garden is worth a visit; fantastic for kids (Adanna loved the colours and kept reaching out to touch the flowers), it is also quite calming. I noticed that some spots were more concentrated like the love trails; however, further into the garden, there were still lots of tranquil spots. There was a smurfs theme running which I found super cute and charming.
7. Beach Day
You cannot come to Dubai without booking a beach day out. Dubai is quite famous for its beach clubs and a few are actually kids friendly. However, thankfully our wonderful hotel had a private beach so of course, this was our cue to have the best last day. We saved beach day for the day before flying home because we knew it was going to be a “staying in” kind of day and it did not disappoint.
For the adventure junkies, Dubai is a perfect location for skydiving, falling off tall buildings and all those adventurous experiences. Mr E and I are low-key scared of heights and are the least adventurous when it comes to these sort of experiences. Therefore, we were ok to lounge on the beach and sip our daiquiris.
A first timer's Travel Guide to Dubai - My 7 day Dubai Itinerary
We had a very relaxed itinerary as usual. Travelling with a baby meant that time slowed down a lot and Dubai was filled with plenty of chill hours. My itinerary suits any 1st timer trying to go slow in Dubai and most especially, parents of young children.
On Day 1
- Arrive Dubai
- Check in Fairmont The Palm, take it easy, explore Hotel
Mall Visits – Day 2
- Emirates Mall
- Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Souk Al Bahar – all 3 are in the same location
Historic Dubai – Day 3
- Old Town – Deira (Gold and Spice Souq, Grand Souq)
- Old Town – Bur Dubai (Al Seef)
- Back to Hotel – Palm Jumeirah Promenade
Instagrammable Vibes for Day 4
- Dubai Miracle Flower Garden
- Back to Hotel – Pool Day
- Sunset Boat Cruise
Culture on Day 5
- Sheik Zyed Mosque Abu Dhabi
Rest day – Day 6
- Beach Day
Day 7
- Hotel Check out
- Dubai – London
FAQs - Travel Guide to Dubai
Is Dubai child friendly?
YES. Dubai is very child friendly. It is a very family friendly destination and quite popular with families wanting a lovely holiday where they can enjoy themselves as well.
What do I wear in Dubai?
Dubai is quite modern now and as you can see from my photos, I wore shorts and dresses where I had my shoulders out. I was careful though, and always had a scarf with me incase but I never had to use it. You can wear your normal swim suit in the beach and pool areas. I also saw people wearing shorts downtown so I suppose it is as modern as possible. However, UAE is a conservative country so I rather respect that and dress more conservatively in public areas.
Is alcohol sold in Dubai?
Not everywhere. You can buy alcohol from and consume it at your hotel and some licensed places. However, you won’t find alcohol being sold in shops as you would in Western countries. The sale of alcohol is restricted in Dubai.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
Between October and April. Otherwise, it is unbearably hot.
Is PDA allowed in Dubai?
Now, while it is not illegal to kiss in public, it is frowned upon. We did hold hands in public places but it is best not to PDA out of respect.
Travel Guide to Dubai - My Thoughts...
In writing a first timer’s Travel Guide to Dubai, it is important to state that it is the side of the world where basic human rights are not available to everyone. The UAE is not particularly kind to a lot of minorities and I can understand why a lot of people will categorically not visit Dubai.
Dubai is like marmite I have come to understand. You either really love it or you loathe it. As for me, I loved it as a place to spend time off and holiday in. I absolutely enjoyed our time and I can imagine it is because I do not live there. For me, it is one of those places that you love from afar.
There is so much more to do in Dubai whether you travel with kids or even more especially, if you are sans kids. I had wanted to do a Dubai Safari tour but I imagined the sand and speed of the 4x4s would be too much for my little bubba. We also would have loved to check out some of the other Emirates and perhaps, stay for about 3 days in Abu Dhabi. I’d most likely revisit at some point, perhaps when Adanna is older so she can enjoy all the activities for kids as one thing is for certain, Dubai is very child friendly.
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
*abaya – a loose fitting long dress worn by some Muslim women in some parts of world.
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