Dubai

Dubai is a major city in the United Arab Emirates. Well known for extravagant shopping, modern skyscrapers and a lively nightlife scene. Icons like the Burj Khalifa, Atlantis, and Dubai Mall all reside within the city, and it’s a cultural melting pot in the middle east.

We came to Dubai on our way to India, and found that the city truly lived up to our expectations. Convenience and modernism are the two prominent factors throughout the city, and everything was simple to figure out. Most of Dubai is a place of luxury, which is evidently shows in its many malls and restaurants.

We also took time to explore the old part of Dubai, which is starkly different than the new, modern development. Walking through the souks of gold, spice, and perfume showed a completely different side to Dubai, and riding the water taxis (abra’s) was a great experience to see the Dubai creek. Walking around old Dubai also showed us the income disparity in the city. We ate an entire meal for $4, while anything in new Dubai cost at least $15.

One week in Dubai was enough time to see the major attractions, but given more time and a larger budget, one can experience much more. We highly recommend a visit to Dubai either way, and have a long list of things to do at the bottom of this page!