When returning from our holiday in the Maldives, my family and I decided to break up the long flight back to Los Angeles by stopping in Dubai for three days. Since we had already traveled across the world, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to visit this vibrant, over-the-top city. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is incredibly diverse; with so many ex-pats and immigrants living there, it is one of the most international cities in the world. Dubai is also famous for luxury shopping, modern architecture, and lively nightlife. The most ideal months to visit are November through March. During this time you will have the best chance to experience mild sunny days, comfortable evenings, and low humidity. Read on for some of the highlights from our trip.
We decided the best way to tackle this Middle-Eastern playground on our first day would be with a private city tour to get to know the lay of the land. We were picked up at our hotel and taken by private car through both old and new areas. We drove through the shiny marina with its skyscrapers and yachts, then made our way onto the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree and full of luxury 5-star, beachside resorts.
From there our tour drove us by the Dubai Creek in Old Dubai. We stopped to explore the famous gold and spice souks. This area is quite touristy, but the gold souk is one of the largest retail gold markets in the world so it’s worth a stop to find something special to bring home. It’s also a great way to experience the juxtaposition of old and new Dubai.
Since we were short on time, we couldn’t make it to Abu Dhabi (a little over an hour drive from Dubai) to visit the Grand Mosque, so we opted for a tour of the Jumeirah Mosque which is a perfect reflection of modern Islamic architecture and detail. This is a place of worship, so you are expected to wear modest clothing and a headscarf. I suggest packing one, but if you aren’t prepared they will give you a covering to borrow.
From Old Dubai, it was back to the modern city to experience the architecture of the Burj Al Arab. This seven-star resort resembles the shape of a sail and the only way to get a peek inside is if you are staying there or if you have a reservation at one of their fabulous restaurants. You didn’t have to twist our arms! We had a reservation waiting for us to enjoy a late lunch at this opulent landmark. The interior decor won’t be to everyone’s taste but it is definitely worth seeing.
After a long day of exploring, we went back to our hotel to relax before heading to a late dinner at Bagatelle to enjoy some Parisian flair in the heart of Dubai. The highlight of the night was when my son Alex, currently in the music school at USC, was asked to help DJ there after dinner!
No holiday in Dubai would be complete without a desert dune-bashing adventure, followed by an authentic Arabian dinner under the stars. Once the thrill of soaring over the dunes in our four-wheel-drive landed us safely at the site, we experienced a culturally immersive evening complete with traditional entertainment, henna painting, and a Bedouin feast.
Dubai is known as a luxury shopping destination so we couldn’t let our time here slip away without a trip to the world's largest mall. Inside, there are more shops and restaurants than you can imagine, a huge aquarium, ice-skating rink, and my very favorite…the world’s largest shoe store! I was in heaven shopping at Level Shoes and luckily I had a little bit of space left in my luggage so I could add to my shoe collection. It was also very interesting to see many of the local people wearing Dubai’s traditional clothing while shopping—the men dressed in dishdashas and women in abayas.
The mall is so large it could take an entire day on its own to explore, but the Burj Khalifa was calling. Taking a trip to Dubai without going inside this iconic landmark would be like visiting Paris and not going inside the Eiffel Tower. It’s the tallest building in the world and looms above the skyline at 2,717 feet. The views from the 124th floor were truly breathtaking and with the Armani hotel right inside we had great dinner options. After dinner, we stepped outside to enjoy The Dubai Fountains performing their water dance to lights and music. A spectacular free show that rivals the original one at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Shop some Dubai essentials below!
This trip was a whirlwind, to say the least, and there was still so much more to explore. I’m just happy we decided to stop and get a taste of what Dubai has to offer. It’s a long flight, but worth it.
xxMelissa
