Mid-November, I had the opportunity to visit Dubai for a week to celebrate my friend’s wedding and it was a dream that I didn’t know that I needed to see. This was my second trip to Asia (I visited China in 2013 for a month). But, it was my first visiting the Middle East region. Dubai was never on my travel list. I had no intention of visiting. However, this first trip there told me that I need to plan another trip sometime in the future. I learnt a lot about the history of Dubai, experienced the art, culture and cuisine in just a week.
Dubai is roughly a 7 hour flight from Geneva, Switzerland. If you are looking for a trip to experience a different culture, go ahead and book a flight to Dubai. I feel like I have a great first time guide to Dubai. Here is everything that you need to know including the Covid measures.
COVID MEASURES
It is mandatory to take a PCR test at least 72 hours before departure, regardless of your vaccination status. You must carry your Covid pass and your resident permit (if you live in Switzerland). You only need to do another PCR test if your returning country requires it. Switzerland did not have this rule in place in November 2021. A mask is required to enter all indoor and outdoor establishments including in taxis and Ubers. If you are entering any indoor restaurant, you must wear a mask until you are seated at your table. For hotels, you must wear a mask in the hotel at all times until you reach your room. For outdoor establishments, there is a mask mandate but your mask can be removed once seated. They are strict with the rules.
BEST TIME TO VISIT DUBAI
The best time to visit Dubai is during November to March and these are considered the winter months. The temperatures range from 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. You can enjoy the summer-like temperatures and avoid the peak of the heat. June to August are considered as the hottest months. It can get as hot as 40 degrees Celsius, with a lot of humidity. Hotel prices are lower during these month but, the heat and humidity can become unbearable. This might limit what you can do during your visit.
MAKING MONEY MOVES
The currency used in Dubai is the Dirham (United Arab Emirates Dirham) AED and 1 AED is 0.25 CHF. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world. It is best to change up money in the shopping centres as they have better rates. Most places including taxis and Ubers do take credit cards and debit cards. Make sure it is a metered taxi as the other taxis will charge you a hefty price. Try to use cash as much as possible to avoid the transaction fees. I would also keep a credit card handy for bigger charges such as hotel charges.
WHERE TO STAY
I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel for my first night in Dubai. It’s a beautiful hotel. It is far from Downtown Dubai but there are things to do within the hotel. There are shopping centres within walking distance. The hotel is within the area called the Jumeirah Village Circle. It is close to the Dubai Marina, it has a very calm ambience surrounded by lush gardens and canals. It has a sense of serenity and it is a lot slower than the FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel.
This is one of the most pricey hotels in Dubai. It is a hotel and resort in one with pools and several restaurants in the outdoor areas. Beach access is free to all guest staying at the hotel. Again, this hotel is far from Downtown Dubai where most, if not all the main attractions are located. It is close to the Dubai Marina and there are a few shopping centres within walking distance from the hotel. The Marina Walk, Skydive Dubai, Dolphin Bay and the Ain Dubai Observation Wheel are nearby attractions to experience. The architecture of the hotel itself is incredible. It has an amphitheatre design with a central glass cube. It infuses luxury and hospitality to give you the tropical landscape by highlighting the beauty that Dubai has to offer.
WHAT TO DO & SEE
Book a Desert Tour
If you are going to visit Dubai, you cannot miss out on the desert safari! I opted for the evening desert safari. I was able to take a scenic tour through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve with Arabian Adventures. There were a range of activities to do such as sand boarding, camel rides and observing their wildlife creatures. Then the evening ended with some henna painting and an all-you-can-eat buffet with three live performances. I would definitely recommend doing it with friends, family and couples. It was the best way to start off my trip. They do have other options such as the morning desert safari, the overnight desert safari and the desert dune buggies. Unfortunately, quad biking was not included in my package but I’m sure that there are others that offer it.
Visit & Haggle in the Deira Souks
One thing that I love to do when I visit any new place is to go where the locals go. Visit the Deira Souks (markets), specifically the Perfume Souk. These are a strip of stores in Deira that sell a variety of fragrances and mix-your-own scents in a bottle. Then there are other souks nearby such as the Gold Souk, the Textile Souk, and the Spice Souk. It was a perfect stroll to start my day. In addition, it is very hard to flag a taxi down around that area in the afternoon. It took me around 20-30 minutes before I was able to get one.
Wander through Dubai Miracle Gardens
This was one of my favourite places to visit during my trip. I was surrounded by a display of plants and flowers constructed in an aesthetic architectural style. It’s a stunning area to take pictures. The scenery and the views are unmatched. It’s the perfect destination to wander through nature. While visiting, make sure to stop over at the Dubai Butterfly Garden and the Global Village Dubai nearby.
The next time I visit Dubai, I want to take advantage of the region. I’d like to book a guided tour of Abu Dhabi. It would be incredible to explore other areas in the UAE and even book a guided day trip into Oman.
WHERE TO EAT
Ce La Vie – Don’t let the name deceive you. It serves contemporary Asian cuisine. It is located in the heart of Downtown Dubai on one of the highest rooftops in the city. I really enjoyed my meal that night. The food was really fresh. I ordered vegetable fried rice as a side dish and my main dish was the grilled salmon. Presentation to me is everything and trust me, it was hard to maintain that exceptional display whilst eating my meal. Before dinner, take pictures on the swing on the rooftop. I would suggest going in the late afternoon and early evening to catch the sunset.
Nammos – Unfortunately I was not able to eat here due to clashes in my schedule. However, I would recommend that you eat here. Picture this. Ancient Greek temple vibes intertwined with the luxury and calm of the Mediterranean elegance. In addition, with a hint of the Arabian Sea and the Dubai Skyline. That is Nammos. If I can plan a trip to Greece before I go back Dubai, I’ll eat at the Nammos there. You do not want to miss that experience!
Praia Dubai – Praia is a luxury lounge and restaurant that serves Mediterranean dishes and artisan shisha. It is located in the heart of the FIVE Palm Jumeriah, where I stayed for the majority of my trip, along the West Palm Beach. The service was really good and the atmosphere was lively and fun. I believe I ate very late in the evening whilst chilling outside with a group of friends and opted for their Diablo Beef Burger with a side of chips.
Other restaurants to eat at in Dubai: Shanghai Me and Roka Dubai
WHAT TO WEAR
Packing for Dubai was not easy at all. There is a lot of conflicting information regarding what to wear in Dubai. Here is my take on it. Wear clothes that is appropriate enough for children to see you wear in public.
Resorts are more open about letting tourists dress as they want. The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country that follows Sha’aria law and all residents and tourists are required to dress modestly.
My number one recommendation when visiting any country is to obey their laws and follow the local culture. I suggest bringing clothing that doesn’t show too much skin and wear dresses that cover your knees. I read that your shoulders shouldn’t be out. Therefore, I carried a shawl or a shirt that I could use to cover my shoulders in those instances. To visit a mosque or go on a tour in Abu Dhabi, the dress code would be more conservative.
Make sure to check out my Dubai In 8 seconds Instagram Reel and Dubai Highlight to see what I got up to! Unreleased footage of my Dubai trip will be coming to TikTok, I’ve finally decided to try that out in 2022. If you have ever been to Dubai, eaten at other restaurants or visited other places, please share them in the comments below. I’d love for this post to be a resource for you and others who would like to visit Dubai in the future.
Until next time,
Folakemi
