Blog Details

I had not planned a trip to Dubai for this year, but when United Airlines offered to fly me in business class anywhere in the world that they fly, I chose to come to Dubai. It was somewhere that I had never been, and I was curious to see both modern Dubai and some of the historic roots of the United Arab Emirates. I ended up visiting all 7 Emirates in a week and even had time for a side trip to a corner of Oman.

Table of contents: (Hide)

Day One – Dubai Creek

Dubai is a city of contrasts, and I started my trip by exploring its oldest part before diving into its glittering skyscrapers and modern attractions. 

I spent the first two nights at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa near Dubai Creek. On my way to the creek, I walked through the old market area, which had a distinctly South Asian feel—not surprising, given that many of the shop owners and workers are from India and Pakistan. In fact, at times, it felt more like India than the UAE, especially when I passed a Hindu temple tucked into one of the alleyways.

Dubai Creek is a natural saltwater inlet that was the city’s lifeline long before oil or skyscrapers. Walking along the creek, it was possible to imagine Dubai as it once was—a small but thriving trading port where merchants from India, Persia, and beyond came to do business.

Next, I wandered through Al Seef, a newer development designed to look old—with traditional square wind cooling towers, sand-colored buildings, and narrow alleys that give it a historic feel. It reminded me a little of a movie set, where everything looks authentic but is actually less than a decade old. Still, it was a pleasant place to walk, with plenty of cafés, boutiques, and shaded courtyards. I grabbed lunch before my afternoon walking tour.

Afternoon: A Walking Tour of Old Dubai

One of the highlights of the day was a walking tour of Old Dubai, led by Abdallah from Sudan, who wore a traditional Emirati robe and shared insights into Emirati culture, dress, and history.

We talked about traditional Emirati clothing:

• Men’s attire: A white robe (kandura) with a head covering secured by black elastic rings, which could double as a camel hobble if needed.
• Women’s attire: A black abaya and headscarf, which could range from modest to ultra-conservative, depending on personal and religious preferences.

One of the more interesting stops on the tour was the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding, where I learned that traditional Emirati homes had separate entrances for men and women as well as separate living rooms. This allowed women to entertain guests without mixing with men outside their immediate family.

We walked back through the local market I had visited earlier and then crossed Dubai Creek on an abra, the wooden boats that have been ferrying people across the water for centuries. The fare? Just 1 dirham. A great deal for a ride with fantastic views of the city’s old and new sides.

On the north side of the creek, we visited two of Dubai’s most famous souks (markets):

The Spice Souk: A feast for the senses, with vibrant colors and the smell of saffron, cinnamon, and dried limes filling the air. If you’re a photographer, this is a must-visit spot.

We stopped in one shop where we sampled some of the local sweet treats, like a local chocolate bar with a green pistachio paste in the middle or candied dates. This is definitely one of those markets where someone is always reaching out to have you smell some different spice. 

The Gold Souk: Row after row of elaborate gold jewelry, with strict quality controls to ensure authenticity.  Abdallah pointed out that there was relatively little security. Dubai is a safe place. 90% of the population are guest workers, and if they commit a crime, they will get kicked out of the country. If you buy something, you can have it assayed for free—and if a seller is caught cheating, their shop gets shut down.

After a day of walking, I was ready to slow down and enjoy a good meal. There are plenty of authentic Emirati restaurants in the city.  Abdallah recommended the nearby Al Fanar or Arabian Tea House, both of which offer a traditional dining experience.

After spending my first day exploring the historic side of Dubai, today was all about the modern, luxurious, high-rise version of the city. And at the center of it is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Morning: Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall

I started my day in Downtown Dubai, a gleaming district that feels almost surreal. The kind of place where, if you were dropped in blindfolded and asked to guess where you were, you might guess Las Vegas—except bigger, newer, and with fewer casinos.

I switched hotels to one by the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Metro Station. The Dubai Metro was a great way to get around. It was cheap, clean, and easy to use. I bought a card at the ticket machine and loaded it with enough dirams for my trip. One zone on the metro is about 5 AUD, which is about $1.5. 

My first stop was Dubai Mall, the seventh-largest mall in the world. It is still absolutely massive. You could easily spend an entire day here and not see it all. It has more than 1,200 stores, an indoor ice rink, a three-story aquarium, and, for some reason, a full dinosaur skeleton on display. Because why not?

 

I grabbed lunch at the mall, which, like much of Dubai, felt expensive if you’re eating in a tourist area but surprisingly reasonable if you go where the foreign workers eat. I noticed this contrast in pricing throughout my trip.

Afternoon: The Burj Khalifa

From the Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa is right there, towering above you. So naturally, I thought it would be easy to find the entrance. I was wrong.

I walked out of the mall toward the building itself, only to eventually realize there was no direct entrance from outside. Instead, you have to go back into the mall and down to the bottom floor to find the ticket office. No signs were pointing me in the right direction on the floor I was on, so I ended up wandering the mall for 45 minutes before finally making it to the right place. Lesson learned: if you’re going up the Burj Khalifa, start at the Dubai Mall’s ground floor.

The line to get into the Burj Kalifa was an hour long, and there was no place to sit down while you waited. Some portions of the building did have screens showing its construction or shots of Tom Cruise climbing it in the Mission Impossible movie. If you are in a hurry, you might consider a skip-the-line ticket.

The elevator ride up is an experience in itself—124 floors in just 60 seconds, and they make sure you’re entertained the whole time. Screens inside the elevator show an animated journey through space, which helps distract you from the fact that you are shooting up into the sky at ridiculous speeds.

At the top, the views were spectacular, though a bit hazy from the blowing desert sand. What struck me the most wasn’t just the glittering skyscrapers or the artificial islands but how quickly the city fades into an empty desert. Dubai has grown at a breakneck pace, but even from the tallest building in the world, you can still see the sand dunes waiting just beyond the skyline.

Something else that stood out: most of the apartments you see aren’t for Emiratis. If you’re an Emirati and you get married, the government gives you land and a 300,000 dirham interest-free loan to build a house. So, all these shiny high-rise buildings? They’re mostly filled with foreigners and expats, while Emiratis tend to live in villas outside the city center.

I had planned to explore more of Downtown Dubai and maybe head to Jumeirah Beach, but I wasn’t feeling 100%. Instead, I called it an early night and took the metro back to my hotel. If I had done it again, I might have paid twice as much for the Gold Class carriage on the metro, just for a little more breathing room during peak hours.

Day Three: A Day Trip to the Musandam Peninsula, Oman

After spending the first two days exploring Dubai’s historic and modern sides, I decided to leave the UAE briefly and venture into the Musandam Peninsula, an enclave of Oman that is just a short drive from Dubai. Sometimes called the “Norway of Arabia” for its “dramatic fjord-like” coastline, Musandam promised a day of boat cruising, swimming, and scenery. Mostly it promised a new country for my list. I took a tour called the Sharjah/Dubai/RAK: Dibba Musandam Trip & Dhow Cruise.

The day started early as I made my way to one of the pickup spots at the Dubai Grand Hotel by Fortune. The drive on a van and then a bus took us north through the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) before reaching the Omani border.

One thing to note: you need your passport for this trip. Crossing into Oman means going through border control, and while the process is generally smooth, there was a bit of a wait while our tour group cleared immigration. You also need to send your passport photo to the company a couple of days before so that you can register to clear the border.

Once in Khasab, the main town in Musandam, we boarded a traditional Omani dhow, a wooden boat with cushioned seating, shaded decks, and a relaxed vibe. As we left the harbor, the coastline quickly transformed into a landscape of rugged mountains plunging into the sea.

We cruised north for about an hour along the coast. While Omanis traditionally used these waters for fishing and trade, today, they are best known for tourism and marine life. Our dhow anchored in a bay with other boats, and we had the option to swim, snorkel, or relax on board. The water was not warm in January and the visibility wasn’t the best for snorkeling.

The coastline did not remind me of fjords or Norway. I thought it was more like Baja California, with rugged desert landscapes offset against the blue waters.

For those looking for more adventure, the crew also offered rides on a jet boat or a banana boat. They pretty much guaranteed that if you went on the banana boat, you would get dumped in the water.

Lunch was a buffet of Omani and Middle Eastern dishes, including grilled meats, salads, and fresh fruit. The warm sea breeze and dramatic landscape were in the background. Tea and soft drinks were available. You could pay a bit more for freshly grilled shrimp.

By mid-afternoon, we started making our way back to Khasab and then back across the Omani-UAE border. The return journey gave me a chance to take in more of Ras Al Khaimah, an emirate that feels much quieter and more rugged than Dubai.

This tour is not a cultural tour. You won’t get a lot of commentary. It is more about water fun. Most of the people on my boat happen to speak Russian. I would have enjoyed the trip even better had I been traveling with a group. 

Day Four: A Journey to Abu Dhabi

After spending my first three days in Dubai and beyond, today’s adventure took me south to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and its wealthiest emirate. Rather than taking a guided tour, I opted for a more independent approach and took the bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. A guided tour or a car would have been easier if I wanted to visit sites like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre, or Ferrari World, as they are not close to downtown Abu Dhabi.

The Route 100 bus runs regularly from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, and at only 25 dirhams (~$7 USD), it was affordable and comfortable. Because this is a Dubai bus, I could use the same card I had for the Dubai Metro to tap on and off.

The journey took over two hours, passing through Dubai and then the open desert landscape that stretches between the two cities.

One of my main goals for today was to see Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi’s oldest standing structure. Originally built in the 18th century as a watchtower, it later became a fortress and the home of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Today, it’s been beautifully restored and turned into a museum showcasing the emirate’s history. Right next to the fort is an exhibit that highlights traditional Emirati crafts, including weaving, pottery, and pearl diving techniques.
Unfortunately, the fort was closed for a festival during my visit.

My next stop was the Corniche, the city’s beautiful waterfront promenade. Stretching for eight kilometers, the Corniche is lined with white sand beaches, cycling paths, and parks, offering some of the best skyline views in Abu Dhabi.

While I didn’t go for a swim, the public beach here is clean and well-maintained. The turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf looked especially inviting. With its palm-lined paths and shaded benches, this area felt much more relaxed and spacious than Dubai’s busy streets.

Day Five: Platinum Heritage Desert Safari

On Day Five, I ventured into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with Platinum Heritage Desert Safari, opting for an eco-friendly and cultural desert safari over the usual dune-bashing.

Riding in a vintage open-top Land Rover, I explored the stunning sand dunes, spotting Arabian oryx and gazelles along the way. At sunset, I watched a falconry demonstration and learned how Bedouins traditionally used falcons for hunting.

In the evening,  we went to a Bedouin-style camp, where I enjoyed a camel ride, a traditional Emirati feast, and cultural performances. I finished the night with a star navigation session. This experience provided a deeper, more authentic glimpse into the UAE’s desert heritage, making it a true highlight of the trip.

Read more about my tour at Evening Desert Safari – Dubai – A Must-Do Cultural and Adventure Experience.

Day Six: The Other Emirates

On Day Six, I set out on a road trip to explore the five lesser-known Emirates beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi—Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Ajman. The journey took me through mountainous landscapes, historic forts, and coastal towns. I took the 6 Emirates Private Tour From Dubai In One Day.

Starting in Fujairah, where I visited a 16th-century fort and the UAE’s oldest mosque. In Ras Al Khaimah, I explored a heritage village showcasing the region’s pearl-diving and fishing history. Ajman offered a fascinating museum inside an old fort, while Sharjah, the UAE’s most conservative emirate, featured a rich Islamic history museum and local markets.

This day was a deeper dive into the UAE’s history and culture, revealing a side of the country often overshadowed by Dubai’s modern skyline.

Read more about my tour at 6 Emirates UAE Day Tour – History in a Hurry.

Day Seven: What Next

While I flew home on day seven, there is more to see in the United Arab Emirates. The one thing that I regret that I did not see was the UNESCO site of Al Ain in the desert of Abu Dhabi. This is one of the UAE’s best-preserved historic towns. 

Of course, you might want to add a beach day, a day at a theme park like Ferrari World, or maybe a dune-bashing trip. 

Dubai and the UAE can be about the modern and the luxury or the old and the historic. Personally, I enjoyed a mix of the two.

When to Travel to Dubai

One of the reasons I ended up in Dubai was that I needed to travel in January. While January can be cold and dark in much of the world, it is a pretty ideal time to travel to the United Arab Emirates. During my trip, I saw no rain and only needed a jacket or sweatshirt when I was out in the desert at night.