Dubai Airport in itself is amazing. The city is often referred to as the shopping mall of the Middle East and so it’s hardly surprising that the airport gives arriving visitors a taste of what’s in store. As a massive transport hub and one of the busiest airports in the world, within its spacious interior, travellers are more likely to feel like they’re in a shopping Mecca rather than a transit centre with lavish retail stores, fine dining restaurants, bars, fast food outlets, gyms, spa, and a 5-star hotel. It is truly one of a kind - much like many of the buildings in Dubai.
The city is the home of the world’s tallest building. The Burj Khalifa stands 828m and was opened in 2010. To put that into perspective the Burj Khalifa is twice the height of New York’s Empire State Building. There are observation areas on the 124th and 128th floors, and on the 122nd floor, there is a restaurant-bar. And here’s the tip - purchase your viewing tickets 30 days in advance and save on the price of this jaw-dropping adventure.
IMG Worlds of Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park, it is the size of 28 football fields. The park is divided into five distinct themes; Marvel, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure, Cartoon Network, IMG Boulevard, and Novo Cinemas. For some outdoor action and fun under the sun, the Wild Wadi Waterpark should also be on your list of places to visit if you’re travelling with family. These adventure parks are the perfect way to spend quality time with the kids and put a smile on everyone’s face.
There’s Atlantas Resort too. This is a must-do stop or stay during your Dubai visit. Within the ‘hotel’, you’ll find water slides, an aqua venture waterpark, dolphin bay, wave house, scuba diving with 65,000 marine animals, celebrity restaurants, health and beauty spas and of course the hotel itself.
Dubai takes a basic concept and makes it extraordinary. As mentioned earlier, Dubai has 300 days of sunshine, so having a ski slope in the middle of the desert is not something that comes to mind. Not only have they built a 5-star ski slope resort in the middle of the city, but it has the world’s first 400-metre indoor black run. Just like the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas, The Fountain of Dubai was not-so-coincidently built by the same gentleman. The fountain itself is the largest fountain display in the world, it has 6,600 lights, 25 colour projectors and shoots water up to 500ft into the air, all carefully choreographed to music.
Burj Al Arab is what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. It is the 7th tallest hotel in the world, and the hotel stands on an artificial island. The hotel is shaped to represent a sail and the only way to connect to the mainland is with a private curving bridge. For its guests, who are used to only the best, the hotel owns a number of Rolls Royces in case guests need to do the odd spot of shopping and there’s a helicopter pad for those living in the fast lane.
Shopping is the national pass time and Dubai is famous for its local markets. The Flea Market is a nighttime event, where you can pick up everything from silk scarves to electrical goods. For the jewellery lover, the Souk Market is an absolute must for you. Whether it be traditional or modern gold jewellery pieces, this is where you gold at bottom basement prices. Karama Market is where the foodies head for fresh farm produce, seafood and spices. And of course the Dubai Mall. It is the largest mall in the world. With 1200 shops and 22 cinemas, it is the one-stop destination that has everything you could possibly desire.
When you’re all shopped out, just off Jumeirah Road, Kite Beach has great views of the Burj Al Arab. It is very clean and super safe with heaps of fun beach activities such as beach tennis, volleyball, kayaking and of course kite flying! Might I also mention that this beach does have wifi so you can still be connected to your socials and the world! It has all the important amenities a bathing beauty could ask for and food trucks and cafes to keep those hunger pangs at bay. Jumeirah Beach sits on the Persian Gulf coastline. With outdoors and rooftop bars, clubs, restaurants, and resorts, it’s an easy place to relax and lap up some rays.
If you go to Dubai and you didn’t go on a safari, did you really go to Dubai? Luckily Gifting Owl has the ultimate experience gift packages where you can drive through the deserts on 4x4 SUV or quad bikes, ride on camels, sandboard on desert dunes, or go offroad and hit the horse trails for an afternoon of riding.
For the adrenaline thrills, an F1 driving experience will definitely get your heart pumping. Whether driving solo or with a professional driving instructor you’ll feel the rush of being behind the wheel of an F1 car, and taking the bends like a pro. These are the real deal too. The cars you drive are from previous F1 drivers Heinz- Harald Frentzen and Eddie Irvine. Or you might like to take things to new heights, why not give skydiving a go and get a brilliant birds-eye view of the great landmarks of Dubai such as the desert, or Palm Jumeirah Island. And if that doesn’t take your fancy, a night flight or dawn helicopter tour is a great way to see the city sparkle.
A complete change of pace for those who love to indulge in the local culture is the Dubai Museum. Built in 1787, Al Fahidi Fort is the oldest building in Dubai. And this is not just a place for interesting local artefacts that pre-date the 1960s. The museum looks to the future as well and is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon.
A tribute to love, the Miracle Garden was built in 2013 and launched on Valentine’s Day. For lovers and those in love with the idea of love, this beautiful attraction is bursting with 150 million colourful blooms arranged into magnificent displays and sculptures. What a great gift idea for a wedding, Valentines Day or anniversary!
Jumeirah Mosque is arguably the most beautiful mosque in Dubai. Unlike most mosques, it welcomes those of different faiths. However, it is recommended to wear appropriate and modest clothing (head covered with a scarf, long pants, long sleeves). Guided one hour tours reveal a wealth of details about the building, Islam and Emirati culture.
Dubai is a gleaming city; a shiny place where the lustre of luxury burns brightly against the sparkling yellow desert and azure coloured sea. It is a modern city with towering new buildings that stand in contrast to its ancient history. This is a city of remarkable experiences that you will not see and do anywhere else on the planet. Once you’re here, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to visit!
