Some of the best hotels in the world are in Dubai. The Atlantis Hotel for example is located at the Palm Jumeirah. It has its own waterpark and lots of exciting attractions.
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A must for all shopping enthusiasts is a visit to the Mall of the Emirates. The shopping centre comprises 630 retail outlets., 7900 parking spaces, over 100 restaurants and Cafes, 80 luxury stores and 250 flagship stores. Besides shopping there are two splendid food courts there and on the lower floor there is a big Carrefour supermarket where you can buy almost everything for acceptable prices.
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Built into the Mall of the Emirates is a gigantic artificial indoor ski resort – Ski Dubai – with 22,500 square meters of indoor ski area. It features an 85-metre-high indoor mountain, a quad lift and a tow lift carrying skiers and snowboarders up to its peak. Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-metre Snow Park play area including sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, an ice cave and giant snowballs. Ski Dubai also houses a number of penguins who are let out of their enclosures several times a day.
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Helicopter flights can be booked from 12 – 40 minutes according to your budget. A typical flight will cover the Palm Jumeirah island, the Burj al Arab, a glimpse to the World Islands and later on a view to Downtown Dubai with the Burj Kalifah.
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Many skyscapers offer shade over the harbor area at the Dubai Marina with a long pedestrian zone and lots of restaurants and bars. You can find anything from shopping to a nice place at the beach at Jumeirah Beach Resort also known as JBR. It is a 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long, 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) gross floor area waterfront community located against the Persian Gulf in the Dubai Marina. JBR offers a great view of the uprising Bluewater Island with the Dubai Eye, the largest ferris wheel in the world.
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Dinner in the Sky gives you the opportunity to enjoy a lovely meal 50 meters above the ground. Go there for a meal at night and for a breathtaking view of the sea of lights from the Dubai Marina skyscrapers.
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On a desert safari, or Dune Bashing tour you will be taken to the sand desert west of Dubai in a four wheel drive car and drive through the sand dunes pretty fast for about half an hour. Typically, the trip ends in a desert camp with dinner and a belly dancing show. These safaris are fairly touristy. For fewer people on board, consider a private trip.
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A Musandam tour is a boat tour to Khasab which is about two hours from Dubai. You will go there by bus, crossing the border of Oman which is possible with a tourist visa for the UAE. The boat tour will bring you to one of the most beautiful places in the area and give you the chance to swim in the Arabian sea and a nice meal is included.
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For a shopping experience with some Arabic charm visit the Souk Madinat which is located close to the Burj Al Arab hotel. They offer all kinds of goods there, the outside area offers a nice atmosphere and many good places to sit down for a cool drink or a snack.
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The Dubai Frame holds the record as the largest frame in the world. It is 150m high and 96m wide. The frame features a museum about Dubai’s rise from a pearl diver town into what it is today. There is also a glass floor at 150m. Before leaving, there is an area about the possible future of Dubai and the Emirates.
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The Burj Khalifa is located in the heart of downtown Dubai. With a total height of 830m it has been the tallest structure and building in the world since 2009. There are two different ways of going up for a visit, both of which must be pre-booked. The standard way is called “At The Top” and will bring you to level 125 and 124. The more exclusive way is “At The Top Sky” which will bring you to level 148 at 550m or 1.821 feet. Additionally, there is a laser light show on the Burj Khalifa building that takes place every half an hour from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
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The Dubai Mall is right next to the Burj Khalifa and one of the biggest shopping centers in the world. With around 1200 shops, all the great and luxurious brands of the world are represented. The mall also contains a gigantic aquarium, an ice rink and so much more.
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Next to the Dubai Mall there are the Dubai fountains. This is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system shooting water up to 150 meters or 500 feet. Performances take place twice at noon as well as every 30 minutes in the evening and are all accompanied by music played through speakers around the lake.
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Alongside our Ayo information and travel guide here are some additional Ayo recommendations for your visit to Dubai.
Getting around in Dubai is easiest and very cost-efficient when using a taxi and shisha bars are very popular there. Unless you have world-wide unlimited data, remember to switch off data roaming when arriving in the country.
It is Ayo recommended to visit Dubai in the winter as it is very hot there during the summer and the temperature can go up to about 50°C. The sun shines most of the day all through the year, so don’t forget sun protective clothing and sun cream. The United Arab Emirates have a very strict drug policy which means it is important to check the ingredients in any medication you may be bringing and compare it with the rules and regulations of the UAE.
There are a few cultural norms that must be considered when visiting Dubai as the United Arab Emirates are a muslim state. This includes not doing anything with your left hand, especially not eating or shaking hands and also includes not kissing or showing any for of affection in public. Be sure to respect muslim norms by wearing modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees. We Ayo recommend going over the Ayo packing list and packing video to be sure you’ve packed everything you need to make the most of your trip to Dubai.
There is a wide range of bike rental places available in Dubai. The broad streets make it possible to cycle around the city but it is important to keep in mind that Dubai is very hot and cycling in such a heat can make you very sweaty and exhausted and put you at risk for a sunburn. The afternoon is certainly better than during the day time for a bike ride but either way it is not particularly Ayo recommended.
To rent a car in Dubai you need an international driver’s license, a passport and third-party insurance. The fuel prices are very low in the UAE making renting a car quite affordable. The best time to drive on the nice wide rows of Dubai is from 10am to 3pm. It’s quite a nice experience but during rush hour and generally in the afternoons and evenings the traffic is very bad and driving then is certainly not Ayo recommended. Even when driving outside of peak traffic hours there is a lot going on on the streets of Dubai so be sure to always plan enough travel time.
In Dubai the taxi is the cheapest and easiest way to get around. Make sure to get an official taxi with a fare meter and not a smartphone and an official license. Avoid having to get a taxi during rush hour and always make sure you leave early enough and plan enough travel time if you have an appointment or booking.
Busses are a very common way to get around and are very affordable in Dubai. There are also hop on hop of busses which are Ayo recommended for sightseeing on a budget.
The Dubai Metro is a fully automated and driverless subway above ground, offering great views of the city. The metro is reliable and fast, there is a separate area for women and children and a first-class carriage at the front of the metro. To ride the Dubai Metro you require a NOL card which are contactless and can be bought at the stations. There are silver and gold NOL cards with the gold allowing access to the first class carriages. The card balance is shown on the display when entering the gate at the metro.
Train running times: Saturday – Thursday: 6am to 11pm; Friday: 2pm – 0:00
Most stations for the tram line are in the Dubai Marina. The tram is a practical way to get from the metro to the Palm Monorail. For further information on Dubai’s public transportation and plans click here.
The monorail was specially built as an access point to the Palm Jumeirah Island. It is driverless, has many windows and gives passengers a futuristic feeling when traveling over the water as if floating above the ground. A place at the front is definitely Ayo recommended for the best view.
