Do Dubai

Now, first things first, where to stay?

I was visiting some friends so it made sense for me to stay close to the OUD METHA  district . It's pretty much the heart of  the food scene and every place is easily accessible from here - the FRAME, the MUSEUM and AL SEEF and AL FAHIDI are all like under 15 minutes from here.  Close to Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai, and Downtown, this is a quieter, residential area with excellent metro links to Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and the beaches — ideal if you want a central base without the high prices of more touristy zones.  Hyatt is an excellent option located right by Oud Metha. However, choose to stay near the Marina for the city vibes, JBR for the beach, and if chasing the ultra luxe feel, go all out for Burj Al Arab Jumeirah or Armani Hotel Burj Khalifa.  Going from Ultra to Budget, here's some recommendations- 

££££ Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is the ultimate luxury stay in Dubai — the iconic 7-star style hotel on its own island with stunning Arabian architecture, world-class service, and unforgettable views.

££££ Armani Hotel Dubai is a sleek 5-star property inside the Burj Khalifa, offering elegant design, direct access to The Dubai Mall, and a stylish, sophisticated atmosphere for discerning travellers. (The view at the top comes free here)

£££ JA Ocean View Hotel sits right on JBR The Walk, offering spacious rooms, sea views, and easy access to beach activities and waterfront dining — a great mid-range choice for beach lovers.

££ Rove Downtown is a fun, mid-range hotel with modern rooms and a great location near the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa — ideal if you want comfort and convenience without breaking the bank.

Here's a glimpse  of the suggested itinerary- 

Day 1: 

• Breakfast  with dates and Arabic tea on the side - you shall do this everyday while you are here 

• Miracle Garden + Butterfly Garden ( takes 3-4 hours)

• Late Lunch

• Dubai Mall fountain show + Burj Top (early evening - catch sunset views)

• Night stroll and dinner in JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) Sea views, great dining options, and easy access to Beach and water taxis. 

Day 2:

• Kite Beach (early morning)

• Desert tour pick up early afternoon

• Night at the Desert Camp

Day 3:

• Morning return from the camp post breakfast

• drop off at hotel pre-noon

• Marina Yacht tour with lunch optional (post noon)

• Al Seef and Al Fahidi district (early evening)

• Spice and Gold Souk (late evening)

You can interchange day 2 and 3 depending on your flight schedule on day 4 :)

Day 1

Start the morning in Dubai slowly with a delectable breakfast accompanied by sweet dates and fragrant Arabic tea. There’s something grounding about this ritual, and I quickly decided it would be my daily habit here.

By mid-morning, we headed to the Miracle Garden - home to elaborate arches, heart-shaped tunnels, and whimsical sculptures made entirely in flowers. We spent over 3 hours here and still had parts we skipped. A quick stop was made to the adjacent Butterfly Garden which had young ones screaming in joy.

Lunch was a quick stop - do try the Thai coconut if you have a chance - its sooooo coconutty and creamy - its like a meal in itself.

As the afternoon softened, we headed to Dubai Mall. Electric energy, the smell of oud, glitz, glamour and gold - you get to see it all.  The fountain show is a free joy not to be missed -  magical, rhythmic, musical - a reminder that Dubai loves drama and does it well. Then watch as the city transforms from daylight to gold, from the unreal height of the Burj.

End the evening with a stroll and some more through JBR. Soak in the lively, relaxed atmosphere and the cool breeze. 

Day 2

This day was all about the desert experience - post lazing by the kite beach, we were picked by our guide for this amazing experience. We did this tour and can't recommend it enough! (NO ADS). You can also reach this place yourself directly  if you have a car - it's only about an hour and half from the city - it's called Al Marmoom and they have both Bedouin tents, and domes with private pools, which are the height of glamping with very fine, traditional activities like camel rides, henna painting, sword Yola dance and fire show, falcon and horse shows etc (no belly dancing and NO LIQUER). The buffet is a 5 star alfresco experience in itself. The sunset and the sunrise in the desert is ethereal. There was also a star-gazing and sheesha session included late night.  And not to forget, the bathrooms were cleaner than 5 star hotel loos. There was free flowing Arabic tea and coffee of course - I can keep going on but you need to experience it for yourself. 

Day 3

After the surreal start of the day in the desert, the morning camel ride, the hot breakfast platters and sunrise - we reached our hotel by 10 am. Post freshening up, we headed for the Dubai Marina just after noon — the perfect time to see the city glinting under the sun.

Al Seef welcomed us with winding walkways, heritage-style buildings, and lantern-lit courtyards hugging the edge of Dubai Creek. It felt cinematic, like a carefully preserved memory of old Dubai - which interestingly it is not! (Spoiler Alert - it is only 8 year old, fashioned in old style of neighbouring Al Fahidi district). 

When the sun dips, notice the golden light bring the textures of the old walls to life.

Some top tips - 

💋 Avoid PDA, it's not really a problem in Dubai but not appreciated. 

📳Download Botim or get a international calling plan- Whatsapp calls don't work in Dubai, neither does facetime.

🚕Download Careem App (Uber is way more expensive - Careem is reliable, cheap and readily available)

👔Wear respectable clothing in religious areas, cover your shoulders and knees. 

🫰Bargaining is the norm - just be polite and keep smiling while you indulge in it

👚Carry extra layers for your night at the desert as temperature drops by 5 degrees easily.

🪙If you really want to buy/invest in Gold, there's no better place than Dubai - do your research and look around before you decide on a shop - Souk shops offer a better rate than airport, and few shops also waiver the making charges which is a big win.

🫖Do try different teas if you are into herbal teas - they are fragrant and delectable! We bought little rose tea and later kicked ourselves on skimping out. 

🛍️Don't forget shopping for Dates if you like them,  go for Medjool dates from Bateel or if feeling indulgent, go for dates from the Qinwan store.