Dubai: A city of superlatives

They say that Dubai is a city of superlatives – and rightly so. Largest? Tallest? Longest? Most expensive? Well, it’s all here in Dubai! From the big, to the bold and over-the-top experience, Dubai’s got it.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is also one of the world’s most progressive business and leisure hubs.

And don’t worry, even if Dubai is in an Arab country, it is a very much open city—with the largest immigrant population in the world.

Last January, I was able to visit this dazzling city. I must say that I instantly fell in love with Dubai’s mix of old-world tradition and modern glitz and glamour.

So, here goes my top picks for the must-go to attractions in Dubai and be dazzled by this hotspot just like me!

DESERT SAFARI

What would you do in a city that is in the middle of a desert? Of course, have some sand adventure! It‘s a sneak peak at Arabian traditional culture while having fun!

There are various travel agencies offering desert safari tour packages. They basically have the same inclusions. Just do your research online and pick out the best option for you.

I was expecting an ATV-ride ala-Paoay sand dunes, but it was actually dune bashing inside a 4x4 vehicle (they mostly use Land Cruisers or Range Rovers). I guess this is better for me because it’s more comfortable and less frightening for me. There are still tensed moments, of course. But I mus say that drivers here are really experts in maneuvering over sand dunes.  

There’s a sort of a stop where the riders can get out of their vehicles and take some photo ops of the lovely desert. Just a word of caution tho-it’s really hard to stand, much less walk over the fine sand! I’d also suggest that you take this tour when the sun is about to set, so you can capture that lovely color when the sun sets over the desert horizon.

I didn’t time the ride, but I surmised it was about 30 minutes. After that exhilarating ride, you can opt to have a camel back ride (which has a separate fee), or you can lounge around the desert camp. At the desert camp, there are various stalls selling snacks and souvenirs or offering various activities like shisha-smoking and picture-taking.

Everyone will then have an Arabian dinner whilst sitting on a pillow, under the stars. How charming, right? And this is while watching performances like belly dancing, fire dancers, and the likes. 

It was a truly memorable experience of having that sand adventure and a chill dinner with entertainment. Definitely, an authentic Arabian experience that you shouldn’t miss!

DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN

Didn’t I say that Dubai is a city of superlatives?

Well, one of them is the Dubai Miracle Garden, the world’s largest flower garden, featuring about 150 million flowers (whoah!). These are not just beautiful flower arrangements, mind you, as the flower displays are such a spectacle and so extravagant.

Upon entering the Miracle Garden, you’ll immediately feel like you’re in Disneyland—with your favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, etc greeting you as massive floral structures. The 55-ft tall Mickey Mouse holds the Guinness World Record for tallest topiary supported structure.

Set aside 2- 3 hours for you to be able go through the various sections of the 72,000 sqm park. There’s a clock display, gigantic floral felines, a floral castle, a ship adorned with flowers, and an Emirates Airbus A380 that holds a Guinness title for Largest Floral Installation.

I can go on and on but there’s just so much to see! After those hours of walking, you can have that much needed rest and meal in a really nice area—it’s right under colorful umbrellas!

The Garden itself is a miracle--imagine having all these flowers in the middle of a desert! So, definitely this park is not open the whole year-round. Better check out their website: https://www.dubaimiraclegarden.com/ for schedules and ticket prices.

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

The world-famous cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2 permanently docked in one of the world’s most eclectic cities sounds just about right? Right?

This floating hotel on the docks of Port Rashid Marina, is one of Dubai’s latest attractions, having just opened last April 2018. We included this in our itinerary, as an overnight stay in a historic and legendary ship sounds like a relaxing and unique experience!

Upon checking in, you can ask for the free guided tour schedule. I would say that this is a must for you to be able to appreciate the ship’s storied journey. Plus, you wouldn’t want to get lost in a ship that has so many decks and about 960 ft long!

Built in 1967, they tried to restore the ship back to its old glory. The cabins and suites were renovated but they kept the original porthole. Of course, modern amenities were added, like TV, phone and wifi. Across the ship, they kept period furniture and paintings.

how the rooms looked like back in the days

Some of the original restaurants were revived like The Chart Room (bar with the old world-maps still in there), Gin Bar, Golden Lion (traditional British pub), Yacht Club (my favorite is the al fresco terrace because it was a good place to just chill and—and meet strangers, but oh, that’s another story, haha), Queen’s Grill (featuring their 1969 menu prepared by QE2’s former chef! I’ve also heard that this restaurant was also frequented before by the royal family), and Lido (where we had our breakfast buffet of hearty continental dishes).

There’s also a spa, a sort of convenience store, duty-free shops, a pavilion for events, and a cinema. The terminal has a mini–museum and a library-slash-café featuring items from the 1960s.

At the time of our visit, the floating hotels isn’t really complete yet, as other features will be rolled out in phases (duh, no functioning swimming pool yet!) But, what can I say? It’s the next best thing to an actual cruise—looking at the horizon feeling the sea breeze on your skin—without leaving the port. It doesn’t hurt that this ship is an iconic one at that.

(For inquiries, visit their website: https://www.qe2.com/ )

LA MER DUBAI

Wind in your hair? Sand in your toes? Then Dubai’s got Jumeirah beach for you! For that ultimate Dubai beach experience, we headed on to La Mer, one of Dubai’s latest attractions.

We strolled along the walking paths and took in the view of the beautiful beachfront, the refreshing landscaping with artificial ponds, and the cool outdoor showers, among others.

You can rent umbrella and sun lounges, or just bring our own towel and chill under the sun. You can also try the various watersports (with a fee, of course) like paddling, boarding, etc.

This modern, sprawling development also has a waterpark, mini-playground and an outdoor trampoline park.

I also loved that this fun hotspot also has cool street art and murals. It also houses the trendy shops and boutiques like Sephora. The colorful buildings are differently styled, giving a hip vibe.

And after hours of beach bumming, strolling or shopping, you can dine at classy restaurants and cafes. There’s Italian, Greek, Turkish and so much more! It’s quite difficult to look for an affordable place to eat, so we ended up at Five Guys (which isn’t bad because hey, this is America’s favorite burger brand!).

This one’s a truly #mustvisit where the serenity of the beach contrasts, but matches (paradoxical, right?) the sophisticated and chic development.

For more information, visit their website: https://www.lamerdubai.ae/en/

BURJ KHALIFA

Of course, don’t leave the city of superlatives without visiting the tallest building in the world—the Burj Khalifa.

At a staggering 828 meters with 200 stories, the Burj Khalifa is probably the most iconic structure in Dubai.

The skyscraper is very accessible, as it is just located in downtown Dubai, right beside Dubai Mall (which incidentally, is the second largest mall in the world by total land area). The ticket office is actually inside the mall, but you can also buy tickets online (Check out their website: https://tickets.atthetop.ae/atthetop/en-us). We bought tickets for the At the Top observation deck.

We walked towards the elevator at the base of the tower. Along the way, there are interactive displays giving information about the building.

I was quite nervous upon entering the elevator. Imagine, having to ride up to 124 floors! But amazingly, the ride took just a few minutes and I really didn’t feel anything. Perhaps, because I was intently watching at the digital projections inside the elevator.

the view from the deck

When we got off at the observation deck, there were already plenty of tourists, so it’s kinda difficult to have an unobstructed photo-op. Levels 124 and 125 are basically just the same, just different “mini-attractions” on each floor. There are viewing telescopes, various “instagrammable sections” and a souvenir shop.

Taking in the spectacular views from the deck and just having those photo-ops may take you about an hour. On the way out, you’ll pass a different area that also has displays about Burj Khalifa’s history.

Indeed, Dubai is a city that seeks to impress and it does so with so much success! And these are just some of the reasons why this city of superlatives should be your next #travelgoals