Dubai is a city that had always intrigued me. Even though I never wanted to go spend a long holiday there because I’m not that much of a city type of person, I’ve been meaning to go for a short stay since I’ve been living in Europe. The opportunity would just never come up… until my friend Vanessa told me she was going to visit me in Paris early November. It turns out, she has lived in Paris before and knows the city by heart, meaning she didn’t mind going somewhere else together for a little getaway. That’s how we ended up booking a 5-day stay in the UEA. In this blog post, I will be sharing everything that we visited while in Dubai. We spent a total of three days in this city.

Old Dubai

The old neighbourhoods of Dubai are located further north/east from downtown. That’s where you’ll find the most traditional architecture as well as all the local markets. It has nothing to do with what you see of Dubai everywhere on the internet. The city has changed so much over the past decades. If you want to see the “real” Dubai, that’s where you should go. In fact, I believe it is best to go there first. That way, you will start your trip with a glimpse of the old town, and then you will be able to compare with what has been built downtown. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with the old architecture.

Tip: the Old Dubai can get really packed early in the day and late at night. Beware of traffic jams and try to go there very early!

Souqs

“Souq” is the name used by Arabic & Berber people to describe their local markets. They’re typically outdoors, and most of the time they are covered. Dubai has lots of different souqs which all have their specialty. For instance, the gold souq and the spice souq are very famous and both offer typical products. We went there to purchase our outfit for our upcoming desert safari.
Tip: Always negotiate prices!

Iranian Mosque

After we were done shopping, we took an old dhow (traditional boat) to cross the river and go visit the Iranian mosque (or Ali Bin Abi Talib mosque). The facade of the building is just outstanding!

Arabian Tea House

Before we headed downtown, we wanted to grab a bite to eat but more importantly, we needed to get a fresh drink because it’s hot AF in Dubai! 🔥 I had come across this place online: the Arabian Tea House. I had read very good reviews so we decided to go see for ourselves. The charming restaurant did not disappoint. Food was delicious!

Downtown Dubai

The city center of Dubai is where the Burj Khalifa is (the world’s tallest tower). That’s also where you’ll find the famous Dubai Mall, a lot of luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, and most tourist activities.

Palace Downtown

We didn’t really feel like climbing up the Burj Khalifa, instead we tried to find the best spot to admire the tower from outside. It turns out there is a hotel nearby that offers a really nice view. The place is called Palace Downtown. You can see the tower directly from the hotel entrance, which isn’t gated or anything. Feel free to walk by.

Dubai Mall

We then headed to the mall for a little bit of window shopping. The Dubai Mall being one of the world’s biggest malls, we wanted to see what it was all about. The place is so huge. There is an aquarium, a fountain, an ice rink, and many more things like that in it.

Shangri-La

We spent the rest of the afternoon tanning by the pool of the ikandy ultralounge, which is located in the Shangri-La hotel.

Miracle Garden

The next morning, we were up early to go visit the Dubai Miracle Garden. We wanted to get there right when it opens to avoid massive crowds of people and the mid-day heat. The botanical garden is very well-made and impressive; it is composed of hundreds of metal structures covered in flowers. I would really recommend visiting early or late during the day because the place gets very hot!

Jumeirah

Jumeirah is possibly Dubai’s most sought after neighbourhood. One of the main reasons why is because it is located right by the beach. If you’re looking for a beach getaway, then you should definitely stay in one of Jumeirah’s coastal hotels.

Kite Beach

A long white sand beach where you can come for a swim or to do some water activities. The beach is very long and spacious, and you can slightly see the Burj Al Arab in the background.

Burj Al Arab

This place is the seventh tallest hotel in the world. All the beaches on the south side are actually private so you’ll need to pay for a daybed if you want to get access. An alternative is to go to Bahri Bar for a few drinks and you’ll get a view like the one on the picture below!

Marina

The marina in Jumeirah is surrounded by skyscrapers on both sides. When we went, it was surprisingly very quiet. The best spot to go get a picture of the marina is inside the mall on the last floor where the food court is.

Drift Beach Club

If you’re looking for a nice beach club with a chill atmosphere to go relax or grab a few drinks by the sea, I highly recommend checking out DRIFT @ One & Only - Royal Mirage. The place is absolutely stunning and you can rent a daybed by the pool to get your tan on! The place offers amazing views on the Dubai Marina skyline as well as Palm Island. There’s a French restaurant right by the pool for you to enjoy lunch with a view. Another option would be to do grab some drinks at the Jetty Lounge, which is located on the beach. Unfortunately it was closed when we went due to the Prophet’s birthday.

East Side

This place isn’t very well known (yet) because it is still under construction. This is the part of town where they will start building the world’s new tallest tower in Dubai Creek Harbour. Thus, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Creek Tower will be located on both sides of the creek, facing each other.

Dubai Creek Harbour

There is currently a nice walk to do by the water in Dubai Creek Harbour. Even though the place is still under construction, the seaside is finished and offers really beautiful views on the city center. I suggest going there for sunset!

Intercontinental - Festival City

Last but not least is Dubai’s Festival City. On our last night in Dubai, we chose to stay at the Intercontinental hotel to treat ourselves and relax by the pool. I had specifically chosen this hotel because of its glass-bottom infinity pool :) The hotel is also home to Pierre’s Bistro, a very good French restaurant located on the ground floor. At night, there is a laser and water fountain show happening right behind the hotel in the heart of the neighbourhood.

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