Dubai & Abu Dhabi, UAE
I’ve listed below all the places we visited while in Dubai for 5 days in the middle of summer 2021. I definitely wouldn’t recommending going in the summer as a lot of places (especially the beach clubs) are closed due to the extreme heat.
For transportation, we mainly used Uber, which worked out for our 4-person family. For most communication with locals and companies, we used WhatsApp.
Dubai Marina’s Pier 7 & JBR Walk
Dubai Marina and the JBR Walk are great to stroll around at night. I’d pass on Pier 7 for food and stick to less touristy spots.
Barasti Beach Club
Barasti Beach Club was one of the few beach clubs open while we were there in the summer and featured a ladies only deal — 75 AED for one main course and unlimited mojitos, piña coladas and daiquiris! The beach was scorching hot and the ocean water was like a hot tub, but the shaded/cooled pool was the savior of the day. I can see how this place can be pretty lit during prime season.
Private Yacht Rental
For $65 USD per person, we rented a 70 ft. private yacht for 16 people, which also came with dinner! It was a nice change of pace and interesting to see Dubai from the water. However, the water itself was still hot and extremely salty (AKA not refreshing), but it was still nice to lounge on the decks and relax!
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame is another tourist attraction. I’d stop by if you had time or if you really wanted to see it.
Dubai Mall / Mall of Emirates
Everyone recommends going to the malls because they’re big and have air conditioning — there’s only so much you can do outside without getting heat exhaustion. I found them to be a bit overrated. However, we did get to go skiing at Ski Dubai which was a nice break from the hot sun! The drag lift was tough to use but was the fastest way to get back up.
Ski Dubai
1OAK Dubai & Soho Garden DXB
Because it was mid-summer, most of the clubs were closed, so we were only able to go to these two. I liked the vibe at Soho Garden over 1OAK, but both were fun and had ladies deals.
Desert Safari
We booked a Desert Safari with Arabian King Tours for $35 USD per person, which was a steal compared to other companies. What’s nice is that they pick you up and drop you off at your hotel/wherever you’re staying.
Dune bashing was my favorite part — the camel rides and sand boarding were meh, and the quad bike ride was similar to what we could do in the US. The BBQ buffet dinner was nice after a long day out and the shows were entertaining. Next time, I would find a tour that focused on dune bashing and the dinner, instead of finding a tour that contained all the activities possible.
What’s Included: Dune Bashing in 4×4 (3 private cars), camel rides, sand boarding, 30-minute quad bike ride (8 double bikes), tea, coffee, soft drinks, water, hinna tattoo, BBQ buffet dinner, and 5 entertainment shows (belly dancers, fire shows, tanura shows).
Burj Khalifa At The Top
For $40 USD (if you buy in advance online), you can go to the 125 floor of the Burj Khalifa and experience 360-degree views of the city. We spent an hour total here (including getting to the top and back down). I only went to say that I did it, but honestly, I’d pass on this in retrospect.
Palace Downtown
Cool picture spot of the Burj.
Abu Dhabi City Tour
We hired private tour to Abu Dhabi with Raptor Tourism for $30 USD per person. They also pick you up and drop you off at your hotel/wherever you’re staying. The tour guide was very helpful in getting us through customs to cross the border, however, we didn’t really enjoy the stops that were provided because we only stopped outside most of them and didn’t really go in to see them.
In retrospect, we would probably buy tickets and go directly to Qasar Al Watan, Sheikh Palace, and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and skip the rest. Definitely recommend saving the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for last to see it during sunset. However, they did help us set up a lunch at a local restaurant, which ended up being more like a feast!
List of POIs:
- Ferrari World (photography outside)
- Dates Market
- Heritage Village
- Emirates Palace
- Qasar Al Watan (photography outside)
- Sheikh Palace (photography outside)
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Overall, it was nice to check Dubai off the bucket list. If I were to ever go back, I’d go for a long weekend (during any other time but the summer) for 3-4 days max, and hit up the beach clubs that we missed. Basically, it’s like a trip to Vegas but in the Middle East.