Dubai – 4 Days in the City of Gold
Detailed Itinerary/Sights
DAY 1: FLIGHT FROM UGANDA TO DUBAI
It was a long day of travel to get from Entebbe, Uganda to Dubai, including two flights and a four and a half hour layover in Ethiopia. Our first flight left Entebbe at 3:55 AM. It was two hours (with horrible food and no air conditioning). We then had a four and a half hour flight to Dubai, arriving at 4 PM.
Before we could head to the hotel, we had to pass through customs and pick up our bags. From the airport we were able to easily find an ATM and then grab a taxi to our hotel. It was a 30 minute ride from the airport to our hotel, which was in the Jumeirah area (the taxi cost around 125 AED but should have been 65-80 AED).
We checked into our gorgeous hotel. It had 2-3 kilometers of private beach and several pools, hotels and restaurants connected by a waterway. After settling in, we took the complimentary boat along the waterway to a Lebanese restaurant on the resort. Before heading to bed we had nightcaps at a bar onsite that had ladies’ night.
View from the Hotel Beach
Note: Alcohol in Dubai can be expensive (our friend paid $40 for a double Vodka). However, some bars have ladies’ nights, which means free or cheaper drinks.
DAY 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF DUBAI
We ordered room service for breakfast and ate outside on our large balcony (until the heat drove us inside).
Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa
Once fueled up, we grabbed a taxi at 9 to head to Burj Khalifa. The taxi driver dropped us off at the entrance to the Dubai Mall, which is connected to Burj Khalifa. We walked through the massive mall, to get to check in area. We had booked tickets online (for the 10 AM slot) a month in advance (website here). While you can buy tickets when you arrive, we opted to buy them in advance since they sell out.
There are several options that determine how expensive the tickets are. We decided to pay more (around 500 AED) for tickets to the highest observation deck, which was on Level 148. There was also an option just for the observation deck at Level 125. The group size for the higher observation deck was smaller, thus it was less crowded. As part of our ticket, we received complimentary drinks and snacks at the top. We wandered around (both inside and outside) and were rewarded with views of Dubai. It was amazing to see how much construction was happening in the city. We also learned about the history of the building, including that the observation deck at Level 148 was only opened in October 2014.
View from the Top of Burj Khalifa
We had a limited amount of time at Level 148 before we had to head down. Once we were done at the top we wandered through the mall, which had an ice skating rink and a giant aquarium. We were able to easily find a taxi back to our hotel.
Note: The dress code in public is more strict and conservative in the U.A.E. than in other countries. While we did see a few tourists in short shorts and tank tops, we opted to respect the dress code.
Jumeirah Mina A'Salam Souks
We arrived back at the hotel around lunch time and tried an asian noodle restaurant at the resort. After lunch, we spent an hour exploring the souks (marketplace) connected to the resort. There were a variety of shops selling clothing, souvenirs, etc.
Evening Desert Safari
At 3:30 PM we had to be in the hotel lobby to meet our driver for our evening desert safari (with Desert Safari Dubai for 185 AED). We drove 40 minutes outside of Dubai to begin the “safari.” It started with a dune bashing ride through the desert. I had no idea what to expect, but it was like a roller coaster ride with the driver speeding over and around sand dunes.
After 30-40 minutes we stopped to take pictures in the desert before heading to the “camp” for the dinner and show. There were a bunch of other groups there as well. Before dinner, there were various activities including, henna tattoos and camels rides. Initially we thought (and hoped) we would be riding camels into the desert, but in reality we just rode them in a small circle.
Camel Ride
After enjoying the sunset and activities, we had a buffet dinner and traditional dancing performances until heading back to the city at 9. It was a fun experience but a little touristy and overrated.
DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO THE MUSANDAM PENINSULA, OMAN
Dhow Boat Trip around the Musandam Peninsula
Our driver picked us up at 7:30 AM to start the drive to Dibba, Oman for our dhow boat trip around the Musandam Peninsula (through Viator). It was a two hour drive through barren landscape. However, our driver shared information about the seven emirates that make up the U.A.E. At the border to Oman, the border guard looked at our passports before waving us through.
Soon after crossing the border, we arrived at the dock where our boat was. We were on a traditional two-story dhow boat that had cushions on the floor as seating. Typically the boat holds 120 people. However, there were only 11 of us, making it a relaxing and quiet ride.
Dhow Boat Trip around the Musandam Peninsula
We cruised along the coast before stopping for an hour to swim and snorkel. The guide even encouraged us to jump off the second story of the boat. The water was very warm, salty and clear. We then went to a second spot where we took a small boat ride to a cave. Following the cave tour, we had more time for snorkeling before lunch. Lunch was buffet style with traditional barbecue style food from the region, including rice that was cooked underground.
Along the ride the guides explained that the towns along the coast there are so remote that they had to helicopter in power lines one at a time They also have fresh water brought to them every week by boat.
We arrived back at the dock around 3/3:30 PM. On the ride back to the Dubai we stopped to feed camels.
DAY 4: RELAXING AT THE HOTEL
Since the resort was so beautiful we wanted to spend time enjoying the beach and pool. Once again we ordered room service for breakfast. At 9 AM we headed to the pool for a refreshing swim (I think we picked the hottest time of the year to go to Dubai). We also took a quick dip in the sea.
Hotel Pool
We grabbed lunch at an Italian restaurant at the resort before wandering around the souks in the afternoon. In the evening we splurged on Japanese food for our last night at the resort.
DAY 5: ABU DHABI AND FLIGHT HOME
We had late night flights out of Dubai so we spent the morning relaxing by the pool before checking out at 12:15 PM. We grabbed lunch at a Persian restaurant at the resort. At 1:30 we met a driver (we had arrived through the hotel) to take us on a two hour tour of Abu Dhabi (it was 600 AED for roundtrip transportation and two hours in Abu Dhabi).
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
It took a little over an hour to get to Abu Dhabi. We first stopped at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (also called the Grand Mosque). It was beautiful and huge! Before entering we passed through security. A woman also inspected us to make sure we were adequately covered (they do have complimentary robes and head scarves that visitors can borrow). Once in the mosque we had to remove our shoes. We walked around for a few minutes before heading back to the car (since it was so hot outside).
Note: The mosque is closed on Fridays.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
Lunch at the Emirates Palace
After the mosque, we asked our driver to take us to the Emirates Palace, which is a fancy hotel in Abu Dhabi. We decided to stay for a drink and lunch. We both order a cappuccino made with camel milk and gold flakes (yes it was real gold). We also ordered a camel burger (which was surprisingly delicious) and chocolate cake with gold foil.
After lunch we had our driver take us directly to the airport, even though we still had a few hours to kill. We weren’t able to check in until three hours before our flight, so we hung out until we could check in and go through security.
You would have found camel milk ice cream and chocolate truffles as surprisingly delicious as the burger, had you had a chance to try them. Maybe next time…