Dubai is an interesting amalgamation of deep-rooted traditions and aspiring modern vision wrapped into distinctly reminiscent desert magnificence. I and Richie – my craziest travel buddy – were planning for our Eurotrip to the Netherlands and Spain, when it clicked our mind to make a 8-h stopover in Dubai so that we can get around the city briefly. If you consider the time for clearing the immigration and departing from and arriving at the airport on time for the next flight, you would be left with only 4 hours to explore the city, and we made good use of that time. This was our first-time experience in a Middle-East country and it was splendid.
Highlights of the Day
Gold Souk and Spice Souk
Dubai Creek and Abra-Ride
Dubai Museum
Zabeel Area – Area of Royal Family Palaces
Photo-Stops at Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Public Beach, Burj Al Arab Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm Hotel, and the Palm Islands
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai by Emirates
We booked our flights with the world’s largest passenger airliner – Airbus A380 – with Emirates, which departed Bangkok at 2.40 AM Thailand time and arrived at Dubai International Airport at 6.05 AM UAE time.
Dubai International Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger trafficThe airport consists of three terminals – Terminal 3 is the second largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal in the world, and the terminals are interconnected with each other by underground trains
We got our e-visa prior to arrival with the help of Emirates website that had cost us around 275 AED per person. Clearing immigration was an easy task provided you have your passport and boarding pass handy, along with the copy of your e-visa.
As we had only 4 h in hand to see the city, it was a wise decision to book a private tour to explore the city briefly instead of a join-in group tour. We had sometime in hand to get fresh in the airport and have breakfast before we met our private driver cum guide.
The hummus wrap from Costa Coffee in Dubai Aiport was the perfect start of the day
Gold Souk and Spice Souk
Dubai is divided into Old Dubai called Deira and New Dubai called Bur Dubai, by Dubai Creek, a saltwater river emptying into the Persian Gulf, which passes through them.
Our private archaeologist tour guide was waiting at the airport terminal holding a signboard with our name at around 8 AM.
The tour started with our private guide taking us to the most popular souks meaning markets in Dubai’s commercial business district in Deira – Gold Souk, followed by the Spice Souk.
Dubai Gold Souk consists of over 300 shops, which have around 10 tons of gold, if put together – the souk also has the world’s largest gold ring on display, which is estimated to cost $3 millionSpice Souk is just a few blocks from the Gold Souk, and features romantically narrow alleys and mounds of rainbow-colored herbs, along with kitchenwares like utensils
Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek had always been an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbor in the city. It formed the lifeline for the 19th century settlements in the area. In the early 20th century, the creek served as a minor port for dhows coming from as far away as India or East Africa. Dubai has undergone a rapid transformation from a humble beginning as a pearl-diving center to one of the fastest growing cities on earth. Its pearling industry was based primarily on expeditions in the creek, prior to the invention of cultured pearls in the 1930s.
Crossing the Dubai Creek by boat is a popular mode of transport for many locals and touristsWe crossed the Dubai Creek by a traditional boat that usually cost only 1 AED per personThe boats used to cross the Creek are small motorized water taxis called “abra”The boats can hold around 20 people and offer the cheapest and fastest means of traveling between Deira and Bur Dubai
Dubai Museum
Next stop was Dubai Museum, housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, which is the oldest existing building in the city. The fort was built in 1787, and the museum was opened in 1971.
Two cannons guard the main gate to the fort on the eastern wall, adorned by flags of Dubai and the United Arab EmiratesThe remains of the city walls lie just off the southern wall, where stands a tall dhow (traditional boat) in the middle of a large courtyardAl Fahidi Fort is square-shaped with towers occupying three of its corners – it was built of coral rock and mortar in several phasesThe central courtyard of the fort houses a bronze cannon with cannonballs, a well, and various types of boatsIn the corner of the central courtyard, stands a traditional summer house called Arish – it comprises seating and sleeping areas as well as a kitchen, filled with household furnishings and objects used by the locals in past times
We encountered colorful dioramas and exhibits that depict everyday life in the days before the before the advent of oilThe museum features galleries that recreate historic Arab houses, mosques, Souks, date farms, and desert and marine life, especially in the 1800sThe museum also includes an exhibit on pearl diving, with sets of pearl merchants weights, scales and sieves
Getting Around the City
The city is adorned with so many important and beautiful sights – we stopped by the mosque and few most important hotels of the city as well as the world to enjoy photo-stops. We also encountered few interesting things on the way.
You can enjoy all the top sights and enjoy the perfect introduction to the city in different commentary languages by Big Bus Tours Dubai provided you have the whole day’s timeThis is one of the underground metro stations in DubaiThese are the huge ration stores gifted by the Queen of England to the Sheikh of Dubai
CWe passed by the Zabeel area, which houses the palaces of the royal family
Dubai Frame, standing at 492 ft, is an ongoing project – it is positioned in such a way that representative landmarks of modern Dubai can be seen on one side, while from the other side, visitors can as well view older parts of the cityWe made a photostop at the stunning Jumeirah Mosque built entirely from white stone in the medieval Fatimid tradition, with towering twin minarets framing a large central domeJumeirah Mosque is the only mosque in Dubai that welcomes non-Muslim guests 6 days a week and it is large enough to hold up to 1,200 worshipersWe crossed the Burj Khalifa, also known as the Burj Dubai before its inauguration, which is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai, and is currently the tallest structure in the world since topping out in late 2008Jumeirah Public Beach is great for soaking up the sun and swimming – it has a nearby jogging track tooFrom Jumeirah Public Beach, you can also see Burj Al Arab – one of the world’s most luxurious hotels set up on its own private islandThe distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab is more than just a stunning hotel, it is a symbol of modern Dubai – built on a triangular man-made island, it is the third tallest hotel in the worldMadinat Jumeirah, designed to resemble a traditional Arabian town, is a luxurious 5 star resort in Dubai and is also the largest resort in the emirate, spreading across over 40 hectares of landscapes and gardensThe resort comprises three boutique hotels (Al Qasr, Mina A’Salam, and Al Naseem) and a courtyard of 29 summer houses called Dar Al Masyaf and also waterways, and the resort has over 40 restaurants and barsApproached along a tree-lined avenue, adorned with beautifully sculpted Arabian horses, the hotel took our breath away
On the way to the Palm Jumeirah, we came across a beautiful flyover whose pillars look like tree branches – they look differently beautifulOriginally names the Al Kazim Towers, these two 53-floor towers were renamed as the Business Central Towers, a more friendly name for all foreign companies in both buildingsThe entrance gate leads to the world’s first and largest man-made island – The Palm JumeirahPalm Jumeirah is the world’s first man-made island – it looks like a stylized palm tree from above, was the first offshore development of its kind, and was originally billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World – and Atlantis, The Palm is a luxury hotel resort located at the apex of the Palm JumeirahThe artificial island has many luxurious hotels and this is one of them – there is also a plan of two more Palm islands in other parts of DubaiThis is one of the beautiful residential houses built on the series of artificial archipelagos in the emerald waters of the Arabian GulfFrom the Palm Jumeirah, we got a nice view of the Dubai Marina – one of the first and largest of its kind waterfront developments in the region
Dubai Marina is characterized by a dramatic skyline of skyscrapers and residential apartment blocks
There is always some construction going on the still-developing Dubai Marina, and this is Dubai Eye, which will reach 260 m to become the world’s largest Ferris WheelWe also drove across the Sheikh Zayed Road – the longest road in the Emirates running roughly parallel to UAE’s coastline along the Persian Gulf
Our half-day Dubai City tour ended by noon when we were dropped back to the airport on time to catch our flight.
Lebanese food – hummus, baba ganoush, with pita bread – made a tasty lunch menu before we boarded our flight to AmsterdamDubai Duty Free became the largest airport retailer in the world in terms of sales in 2012It was an amazing experience in the Airbus A380 – this double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner is one of its kindThe food served in the Emirates was delicious, and they also took care of my food choice, which was the best part
Recommendations
If you have a short layover in Dubai, this private-tour is a must. But if you have longer hours, you can visit the same places at a cheaper rate in a join-in group tour. Make sure your tour operator picks you up and drops at the airport so that you do not waste time traveling to and from the city. Also, I would highly recommend to stay in Dubai for a night as all these places would look breathtakingly beautiful when they lit up after dusk. I would love to enjoy Dubai in the evening next time I head there.
Net Expense for 1 person (in AED)
Let us have a look at the expenses of the half-day layover trip in UAE – Dubai.
Breakfast for 2 at Costa Coffee: 70
Private Dubai Sightseeing Tour in 4 h: 700
Lunch for 2 at Airport: 130
Miscellaneous: 100
Total expense (roughly) for 2: 1000 AED
Hence, total expense (roughly) for 1: 500 AED
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I didn’t know about getting an e-visa! Good thing I saw this post! It’s also good to know that there are many things to do in Dubai even in a short amount of time!
This is the 3rd post on Dubai I’ve read today! I guess I should see it for myself soon! The Dubai creek looks beautiful, so peaceful too, and I’d love to visit the museum, I’m sure there’s plenty of interesting things to see.
You know, it’s crazy that in all the years I’ve been traveling, all the countries I’ve been to, I’ve never had a layover in Dubai. I’ve not traveled there as it’s so exciting but as another post on Dubai pointed out there are so many things to do for free too. At some point I’m sure mine and Dubai’s paths will cross and this post will come in very handy.
You did manage to cover a lot of ground for 4 hours, I’m guessing you would have been on the road for most of the time? I usually recommend people to visit The Dubai Mall and go to At the Top Observation Deck if they have a short layover but this is not a bad itinerary either, at least you get to see (if not visit) some more key areas such as The Palm and Burj Al Arab.
i luv this post..i live in Dubai for last 7 years and i am ashamed to say even i havent been to all the places..you have given me some checklist for the weekend..lol
Wow, you really got to see a lot in just 4 hours! I’m glad you decided to make use of such a long layover! I love adding that little bonus to my travel itinerary when I can!
You have shown a different side of Dubai and I liked it. Before this post, the only Dubai I can conjure in my head is an image of splendor, of modern skyscrapers and majestic buildings. But here I’ve seen more like the museum, the port, and the spice souk, and they are all different from all the Dubai photos that I’ve seen before. You had a pretty productive day for a layover I must say. You were able to see a lot. Good call on getting a tour guide.
Nice Post ?? Travel Binz is like a friend who suggests you the best holiday package considering your requirement and the experience gathered over the years in the industry.
I’ve only been to Dubai for a connecting flight, but clearly there’s plenty to see and do. It’s nice you managed to visit the souk and the creek too. It seems the most natural part of the city! The Burb hotel and other attractions will easily make up a full day itinerary too.
I didn’t know about getting an e-visa! Good thing I saw this post! It’s also good to know that there are many things to do in Dubai even in a short amount of time!
Yes, you must check if there is an e-visa for your country. This 4-h layover trip is actually good!
This is the 3rd post on Dubai I’ve read today! I guess I should see it for myself soon! The Dubai creek looks beautiful, so peaceful too, and I’d love to visit the museum, I’m sure there’s plenty of interesting things to see.
There is more to Dubai than this. This was just a short layover trip. You must visit it soon!
You know, it’s crazy that in all the years I’ve been traveling, all the countries I’ve been to, I’ve never had a layover in Dubai. I’ve not traveled there as it’s so exciting but as another post on Dubai pointed out there are so many things to do for free too. At some point I’m sure mine and Dubai’s paths will cross and this post will come in very handy.
Fly with Emirates. Dubai layover is guaranteed! ???
You did manage to cover a lot of ground for 4 hours, I’m guessing you would have been on the road for most of the time? I usually recommend people to visit The Dubai Mall and go to At the Top Observation Deck if they have a short layover but this is not a bad itinerary either, at least you get to see (if not visit) some more key areas such as The Palm and Burj Al Arab.
Yes you are right. Now I have a brief idea, so next time when I go there and stay there for few nights, I know which places to hit ?
i luv this post..i live in Dubai for last 7 years and i am ashamed to say even i havent been to all the places..you have given me some checklist for the weekend..lol
Lol… this happens to me to Ritika. The place I live in I seldom visit and end up exploring other places.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful post , love these pics , hope i will visit these destinations in my next Dubai trip
Sure, please share your experience!
Wow, you really got to see a lot in just 4 hours! I’m glad you decided to make use of such a long layover! I love adding that little bonus to my travel itinerary when I can!
Yes, though I would prefer an overnight layover to see the city in the night as well.
You have shown a different side of Dubai and I liked it. Before this post, the only Dubai I can conjure in my head is an image of splendor, of modern skyscrapers and majestic buildings. But here I’ve seen more like the museum, the port, and the spice souk, and they are all different from all the Dubai photos that I’ve seen before. You had a pretty productive day for a layover I must say. You were able to see a lot. Good call on getting a tour guide.
Yes, the tour guide set everything on time!
Nice Post ?? Travel Binz is like a friend who suggests you the best holiday package considering your requirement and the experience gathered over the years in the industry.
Wow, I will surely have a look.
I’ve only been to Dubai for a connecting flight, but clearly there’s plenty to see and do. It’s nice you managed to visit the souk and the creek too. It seems the most natural part of the city! The Burb hotel and other attractions will easily make up a full day itinerary too.
It was a short time for me there, but nice.