Dubai is the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The country’s capital as well as the largest city is Abu Dhabi. Lying across the Persian Gulf’s southeastern coast, it also serves as a prominent hub for many airlines, thus serving as a major jump off point or a stopover point which connects two destinations.
According to wikipedia, Dubai aims to be the business hub of Western Asia.
I planned to go to UAE and luckily my planned vacation leave was approved. I was able to visit Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. I wish I have more time but since I have limited days I only stayed there for seven days. Tried to maximize my stay.
When to visit Dubai?
Anytime you can visit Dubai since there are a lot of attraction and destinations that you can visit the whole year round. Plenty of activities that you can explore and discover.
If you love outdoors, the most recommended time to visit here is during the winter months. However when it's summer it has its own benefits as well especially those who want to experience their temperature.
Summer time in Dubai:
Normally it starts from the month of April and the temperature will reach at its peak, for about 50 °C. Could you imagine that? While in the month of June to July, it's extremely hot and humid.
So if you think you cannot deal with this, better take note that this is not the ideal time for you to visit .
It’s good to know that Dubai is equally charming during this period as the city offers some amazing attractions by way of Dubai Summer Surprises, there are also exciting deals such as EID deals and the likes.
A summer trip to Dubai further offers the added perks of lesser crowds because normally this is the time that most of Dubai residents fly back to their home countries. Thus, lower accommodation rates, discounted theme parks tickets too.
We visited October and it's hot but since I came from a tropical country. I can bear the heat.
Winter time in Dubai:
With a pleasant weather ranging from 12 °C to 22 °C, the winter months from October to March is undoubtedly the best time to visit Dubai. Please note that mercury dips to 5°C in the region’s deserts and mountains during winter. Most prominent events including the iconic Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) take place during these months. Featuring mildly warmer days and colder nights, it’s also the time when you can get wilder with the city’s many exhilarating desert, water and aerial activities.
Must Visit Places in Dubai
Since we have a limited time, we plan our itinerary so that we can maximize our stay. Set our priorities and then scheduled it. Considering our friends schedule as well because we will be with her in some of our activities. She is working in Dubai as an accountant.
Desert Safari
Going to desert safari to start up our adventure!
For just around forty minutes’ drive away from the city, you’ll discover a different side of Dubai with a desert safari.
Here, you will be able to see a landscape that is completely surrounded by the seas of golden dunes.
They offers different adventurous and thrilling activities such as riding a 4x4 dune bashing, sand boarding, camel riding and ATV rides.
If you want to enjoy something more than just the adventure that desert safari is offering, you can try for an evening or the overnight desert safari experience.
What we did is the afternoon adventure. We rode the camel then afterwards we went dune bashing and then watch a show while having our dinner.
We also tried the henna hand painting.
Bastakiya Quarter and Dubai Museum
This place is a well preserved heritage site and it is the heart of the city’s old part.
Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort would definitely take you back to the times when Dubai was just merely a fishing village.
Visiting this would give you a glimpse of the Bedouins before oil was discovered.
Make sure to check out the old houses, the traditional attires, the occupation, etc. of the Arabs in the past at the museum.
Everything about Dubai's past and history can be learned at the museum.
Dubai Souks
After our museum journey, we went next to Dubai souk. This is definitely one of the places where tourists go as well. To check out golds most especially!
The souks of Dubai are famous for their ambiance as well as the variety of products.
The most popular among the souks is the Dubai gold souk where you can actually see golds and jewelries. There are about more than four hundred (400) stores selling golds and precious jewelry.
There is the perfume souk where you can create your own perfume.
Spice souk is next to the perfume souk wherein you can check and choose different aromatic spices.
On the other side of Dubai Creek is the textile souk where you can buy fabrics and clothes in a variety of materials.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is one of our most awaited adventure. Going on the top is indeed one for the books!
Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest man-made structure and evidently the highest point of the Dubai’s glamorous cityscape.
An ascend to one of its sky-high observation decks (on 124th or 148th level) offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see all of Dubai and beyond.
Although it's a little pricey going at the top of Burj Khalifa, seeing its stunning skyscrapers, desert and ocean from a the top is definitely the best view and one of the highlights of my Dubai Adventure.
Dubai Mall
Right next to the highest peak, Burj Khalifa is the world’s biggest mall which is the Dubai Mall.
It has over 1,200 outlets. Aside from shopping and dining experience, there are amusements available such as Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania and VR Park.
It also offers educational entertainment experiences by visiting the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
I must say that you can really spend an entire day at the Dubai Mall.
Dubai Fountain Show
After dinner, we spent our night at the Dubai Mall while waiting for the Fountain Show so that we wouldn't missed it.
It is just outside the Dubai Mall. In the Burj Lake, you can see the grand Dubai fountain show, every evening. I think the show is every 30 minutes. It normally starts from six up to eleven in the evening.
Experience seeing the dancing fountains along with music and stunning colorful lights.
Modes of Transportation in Dubai:
Dubai has one of the world’s most comprehensive and convenient public transport systems.
You have different options that will allow you to explore the city in a variety of stress-free ways.
Metro
Dubai Metro is the most sophisticated mode of transport, being driverless and completely automated.
With a metro station in every other quarter of the city, it’s really very easy to hop from one point to another in a metro.
A metro ticket takes the shape of a smart card, known as Nol card, and the same can be used to travel by Dubai’s buses, trams and water buses.
Make sure that you purchase the card during your travel.
Bus
Dubai’s public buses offers one of most affordable alternatives to get around in the city.
There are over 1,500 buses in Dubai. All of them are air-conditioned and come with comfortable seating and ample leg space.
This is what we used when we went to Sharjah. Take note that here, men and women are separated from the seats.
Boat
This cost-effective transport choice allows you to discover Dubai from water on a traditional abra ride or a relatively speedier Dubai ferry cruise.
We ride this when we transported to the museum and paid 1 Dirham.
Taxi
This may be a bit expensive when compared to other modes of Dubai transport.
In case you are in groups, you can save a little. So far, if you want to arrive at a specific Dubai spot or landmark on time or without any hassle riding a taxi is the most recommended choice.
I hope that my Dubai travel experience will be helpful for you tin case you are planning to visit anytime soon.
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