Dubai, UAE
My desire to go to Dubai has increasingly grown over the years. As I'm sure you're aware by now, I'm game to go anywhere, anytime, for basically any reason, but the thing that kept drawing me to Dubai, in particular, was the architecture. That and the giant palm island they created in the ocean. What the...?!? How...?! I was dying to see all of it in person.
It was an amazing trip full of giant malls, amazing architectural feats, delicious food, and one very magical Christmas tree. You'll see...
Things To Do in Dubai
Dubai Mall
I'm not one to travel half way around the world just to go to a mall, but let me tell you, this is no ordinary mall. There's a gigantic water fountain, an ice skating rink, a tea house, what appears to be a shoe palace on the bottom floor, and many, many, many stores. While we hadn't planned on going to the mall for more than a moment to see what it was all about, it ended up being our central hub for pretty much everything we did. You can grab the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus there (see more on that below) and get a good meal (gluten free, too).
The mall is so big that if you need to grab a taxi you have to get in a Disneyland ride sized line. If you have dinner plans or a certain time you need to be somewhere, bake in at least 20 - 30 minutes for the taxi line during peak times. It. Is. Serious.
Dubai Fountain (at the mall)
The fountain was promoted rather heavily as a thing to do, but if you've ever been to California Adventure and saw the World of Color water show, you'd realize the latter is more impressive by far. That being said, it was still fun to watch. If this is a maybe on your list and you've got limited time, skip it.
The Walk at JBR
Beautiful beaches, cool stores, and yummy food = my kind of place. You have everything you need right here including some pretty impressive 3D murals. I highly recommend making this a stop on your list for a morning or afternoon of fun.
Burj Al Arab Hotel
Holy rainbow architecture awesomeness! This hotel is so fancy you can't even go see it unless you have a reservation to stay or dine somewhere on site. The guards blocking the entrance will confirm your name, at which point you are allowed to enter...and enter you must, my friends. This place is ridiculously awesome.
Since we're not millionaires and can't afford even one night there, we instead opted for the most magical tea time ever at their on-site restaurant Sahn Eddar. It wasn't the cheapest tea time ever, but we unanimously agreed it was worth every penny.
While we're talking about amazing buildings, let's not forget the
Burj Khalifa. Wow, is that sucker tall! We didn't go inside because we didn't feel like we needed to; the views of this baby from all over the city were excellent.
The Palm Islands
This was somewhat of a disappointment, only because the truth hit me hard once I was on the ground. It looks super cool from aerial pictures, obviously, but in person it just feels like any other normal place. I thought at least the palm frond sections would be cool to check out, but those are private houses and they don't exactly want a bunch of tourists hanging out in their front yards. Those fronds, by the way, are massive in person. Giant stretches of land with huge houses all along them.
As for Atlantis, which is located on the The Palm, there wasn't a whole lot to see or do unless you were actually staying there or going to the water park, aquarium, etc. Our main goal was simply to see what we could, for free, so it was somewhat boring. That being said, we ended up having a great lunch on-site (more on that below), so all in all, it was a good adventure.
Shopping Souks
A souk is a shopping market, and you better believe Dubai has all kinds: spice, gold, old, new. You name it, they have one for it.
The Old Souk: Avoid this at all costs unless you want to be harassed A LOT. We had been checking out all the new, more touristy spots but I wanted to immerse myself in the culture a little more, so I thought this was a great way to go about it. I was wrong. So wrong. So, so, so wrong.
Yes, they offer some items (like local art work) that I hadn't seen elsewhere, but holy cow-OMG-arghhh! It is nearly impossible to even get through the place. Within 3.6 seconds of stepping into the souk we were bombarded by people trying to sell things. Do they take no for an answer? No, they do not. Do they leave you alone when you decline or ignore them? Nope, nuh-uh. Do they take a scarf they're trying to sell you and wrap it around your neck, then pull you into their store? Yes, yes they do. Persistent doesn't even begin to describe what we went through, you guys.
It was exhausting.
Now, for the good.
Souk Madinat: A newer, more modern-ish market. This is the place to be. It's gorgeous, there's a ton of great shopping for all kinds of things, and it's right on a beautiful water way where you can go on a boat ride and have amazing views of the Burj Al Arab hotel. For the most part, no one hassled us here. Only a couple folks tried to get me in their stores, in very polite ways I should add. I found amazing gifts to bring back home, delicious turkish delight (they let me sample
everything and yes, it's gluten free), and the
coolest Christmas tree ever! I could've watched that thing until the end of time. (I tried, actually, but my husband made me leave. Something about having jobs and responsibilities back home and stuff.)
Dubai Miracle Garden
Flowers: Bazillions of flowers everywhere you looked. On giant teddy bears, in the shape of hearts, on life sized adorable ant statues, on a real airplane. Ohmygoodness, wow, was this place incredible. Nothing I say can fully explain the flower magic, so just scroll on down and look at the pictures for yourself.
Dubai Global Village
Like Epcot center, but with way more countries. The Global Village wasn't even on my radar, you guys, but we got stuck in some epic traffic and our taxi driver recommended we detour here and enjoy ourselves vs. sitting in the car going nowhere. It was an excellent recommendation even though there weren't any rides or characters running around greeting you. It's more of a "get to know these countries" experience. You can walk into Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, China...the list is long. Inside each massive building are stores, food, and shows- all of which are local representations of the country you're visiting.
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| Just a smidge of the giganticness that is the Dubai Mall |
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| A beach near The Walk at JBR |
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| Amazing street art at The Walk |
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| Burj Khalifa |
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| Dubai Miracle Garden |
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| Dubai Global Village |
Gluten Free Dining in Dubai
Eggspectations
Hit this baby up for a yummy, right by the beach breakfast. Not only was the gluten free breakfast sandwich wonderfully awesome, but the restaurant itself is super cute. When you're done, go for a stroll on the beach. And after that, go for a stroll on the main shopping strip (The Walk at JBR) because there's a boatload of awesome to check out.
Coya
A super cool tapas style dining service with so many gluten free options I was in food heaven! I highly recommend the chicken anticuchos. *wink wink*
Zuma
This uber chic Japanese restaurant impressed the heck out of us. The calamari and the black cod are musts, you guys. If you go here, order those. You will not be disappointed.
Burj Al Arab Afternoon Tea at Sahn Eddar
This seven course afternoon tea was the highlight of our trip. Not only did we get three hours of eating, drinking (tea), and relaxation, we got to see the gorgeousness that is Burj Al Arab. A win all the way around.
The majority of my gluten free items were amazing while there were some flavors that I didn't personally enjoy, like the saffron pudding/gelatin. All in all, it was pretty doggone awesome. One of the most significant differences between this afternoon tea and others we've tried is that you get endless tea. You can order a new pot, a new flavor, over and over and over and over. The service here was also excellent. These folks were on top of everything, every minute of the experience.
Bread Street Kitchen and Bar
Located at Atlantis at The Palm, this huge and superbly decorated restaurant offered some great gluten free options along with seriously delicious gluten free bread. You know, like the bread "normal people" get in a bread basket when they sit down at a table. I haven't had a bread basket in years. It was legit exciting to be treated like a "normal person." (Technically, it was a bread plate, but whatever. You get the idea.)
Arabian Tea House
This adorable outdoor tea house felt like a true nod to authentic Dubai cuisine. I was a little concerned they wouldn't have any gluten free options, but the waiter was helpful and I was able to try a couple different dishes. Plus, the house tea is worth trying. The outdoor setting was relaxing and pleasant, making the overall experience quite enjoyable.
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| Zuma |
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| Mmm mmm calamari |
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| Eggspectations |
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| Arabian Tea House |
Dubai Helpful Hints
Getting Around: Tram vs. Taxis vs. Hop-On Hop-Off Buses
The Tram
When it comes to getting around Dubai, the easiest thing to do is take the tram. It is by far the cheapest, fastest route to just about anywhere. One thing to be aware of is the section on each tram that is for women only. My husband accidentally got in there and a nice woman helped us understand that was a no-no. Don't worry, it's labeled once you realize what you're looking for.
Taxis
Most do not accept credit cards (as of this post), so be prepared to have cash on hand. They are quite convenient and a must if you're going to places like the Dubai Miracle Garden or Global Village.
Hop-on Hop-Off Bus
Skip it! Normally, hop-on hop-off buses are excellent ways to get around and see everything, but not in Dubai. The traffic situation is terrible. It will take you HOURS to get around on the bus. You'll waste half your vacation sitting in traffic.
Attire
Cover yo'self. That's the rule of thumb if you're traveling to this part of the world. In hotels, restaurants, and yes, even malls, knees and shoulders should be covered (for both men and women). Pack lightweight clothing because it is nice and toasty, even in December. And pack your best digs. They have very specific dress code rules for basically everywhere, so expect to be dressed up all the time out of respect for their culture.
One Night in Abu Dhabi
I have been wanting to see the
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for years, so it was a true miracle when our flight schedule allotted one evening in Abu Dhabi. While I would have enjoyed spending more time here, the two hour window we had before the mosque closed was all I needed.
The mosque is free of charge, but does have a strict dress code. I was covered head to toe and still had to put on one of their traditional burqas, which they also provide free of charge at the entrance.
For the one night we were there, we stayed at the Marriott Hotel Al Forsan. Luckily, this hotel is very gluten free friendly. I was able to get sliders (sliders, you guys!!!) for dinner. It was a great end to an awesome trip!
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| SLIDER heaven! |
(Photos from Dubai posted to my
Society6 page)
