Best Places to Visit in Dubai - Guest Post
Man-made islands, the tallest skyscraper in the world, a hotel designed as a yacht’s sail which is deemed to be the only 7 star and souks that roll back the years as soon as you step in the zone – Welcome to Dubai!
Located on the south-east coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai has established itself as a top tourist destination across the globe. The biggest industry, in fact, is tourism, supported by aviation, hospitality and services sector. Tourism for experiences like shopping, adventure, modern architecture and beaches generates the major chunk of revenue in the industry. The Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai Museum, Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah Island are the best places to visit in Dubai. Dubai constantly appears in the top ten cities for travel in online surveys and tourist polls alike. In 2016, Dubai welcomed a whopping total of 15.3 million guests ranging from casual backpackers to celebrities.
Dubai Mall
Let’s start with the biggest shopping arena in the world – the Dubai Mall. There are about 1200 stores of top brands from across the world selling almost everything manufactured on the planet. Besides shopping, entertainment never stops at the Mall as it has a huge aquarium with more than 30k creatures – yes, it is that big. The entries to the mall offer a free map which guides the tourists inside the mall to different stores and sections like the movie theatres and eateries, etc. The mall has no admission fee for wandering about but certain sections do charge separately inside the mall like at the kids’ fun-zone. The Dubai Musical Fountains are near the Mall and a must visit for everyone touring the city. These musical fountains have been designed on the lines of the iconic Las Vegas Musical Fountains of The Bellagio. The shows begin at the evening and are a spectacle indeed with the fountains dancing to the tunes of Arabic as well as Western musical tunes.
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab leaves visitors out of adjectives more than often, why? – You’ll know why when you view the hotel lit up at dusk standing tall on a man-made island on the sandy shore of the Persian Gulf. Since its opening in December 1999, Burj Al Arab has garnered worldwide attention and has often been crowned as the king of all luxury hotels in the world. Due to its luxurious portrayal and global appeal, people often refer to it as a 7 star hotel which is a holding like none other. The stay inside the hotel is quite expensive with prices as high as 4000 USD per night for a room. A much favoured way to experience the hotel however is to book a dinner reservation inside the hotel in any of its nine restaurants and bars like the Sky View. To appreciate the architecture from outside wouldn’t cost you a penny though from the nearby Jumeirah Beach. The principal architect Tom Wright with the constructors that designed and built the hotel share an interesting insight – they were asked to create an icon like the Sydney’s Opera House or London’s Big Ben. Could they deliver? Indeed.
Jumeirah Beach
The Kite Beach is meant to quench your thirst both literally and figuratively if you are a water-sports enthusiast. The beach is the face of modern Dubai with a skating arena full of skaters rolling around and open-air cafes serving the coolest of cocktails in their menus. Water sports, especially kite surfing thrive on this beach on the tranquil waters of the Persian Gulf which is mostly non-turbulent. The beach goers can relax on the couch provided at the cafes and restaurants to simply enjoy the ocean breeze while sipping their favourite drink. Jumeirah Beach Area is the most visited beach and the biggest shoreline overlooking the Persian Gulf in Dubai city, slightly away from the dedicated kite beach. The view of the city’s skyline is worthwhile from the beach with Burj Al Arab nearby forming a more than decent backdrop.
Choosing a strategically located hotel in Jumeirah would be wise as it is advised to visit the beach during the evening since the direct rays of the sun during the day are harsh and can cause skin damage on the sensitive skin.
Burj Khalifa
What really needs no introduction in Dubai is the tallest building in the world – Burj Khalifa. At 2716.5 feet, it is the tallest free standing man-made structure in the world with the highest observation deck located on its 148th floor. The visit to the building can be booked in advance to view Dubai from up-top through the observatory on the 124th floor. The best time to visit the building’s observation point is just before dusk when the sunset and lighting up of Dubai become visible together. Also, the Burj Khalifa tower should be viewed from all sides while on the street as each side offers a different angle on the architectural efforts. The visitors are advised to book their observation bookings in advance to avoid the last moment rush when near the tower. The average entry fee for adults to visit the 124th floor’s observatory is around USD 35.
Dubai Gold Souk
Dubai is home to infinite experiences, visiting the Jumeirah Mosque in the evening is one such fine experience as it gives a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. The tourists are advised to dress modestly in long sleeves and full pants respecting the tradition. Bastakiya Quarters are rated very highly on travel websites by the tourists who have been to Dubai. The name Bastakiya comes from the tribe of traders that settled in this fishing village after migrating from Iran. The Dubai Museum is located nearby too which offers a view in Dubai’s history and the significance of this territory originally inhabited by pearl divers. Entrance to the museum is less than one dollar for adults and a visit is mandatory if you want to be inside the oldest building in Dubai – Al Fahidi Fort.
Dubai theme parks
Have become a huge tourist attraction as well like the LEGO inspired theme park LEGOLAND. Dubai Bollywood Parks are a huge attraction especially for the tourists coming from the Indian subcontinent. Also, a visit to the gold and ornaments souk in the Dubai creek is quite an experience for the cultural exchange between the old Dubai and the modernization that has got in there. Then there’s Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is a good way to spend half a day too as it provides a relaxed excursion from the bustling city tour in the desert.
The old and the new co-exist in Dubai which quintessentially is the main charm of this top destination in the whole of Arab.This is a guest post by Neha. Check out her page! http://www.dubaiwikia.com/
