Would you choose Dubai as a holiday destination?

@AsFunAsEnglishWeather - yes- despite me not liking it I can honestly say I wasn't bitten once - so it wins points on that!!

No - I've been and thought it was exceptionally boring for a holiday - the sea and beach wasn't nice and it was way too hot sat round pools even in May - ( 46 when we were there) - the one thing I did enjoy was the dunes buggy driving - I didn't think food was that great either , it all had a fake slightly American kind of feel and it was very expensive and drastically expensive if you want to drink at all.

As I understand it, Rome and the US have now stopped enslaving people.

Awful backward country run on slave labour. You're nothing without millions. Too hot, too sexist and too "religious" though what they get up to behind closed doors doesn't bear thinking about.

No. It wouldn't be for me and also it's too hot.

Nope. I know lots of people do enjoy it but I'm afraid that their record on women's rights is so appalling I could never bring myself to go.

For the last few years we have gone for New Year and it's fantastic. Me and DH goon Boxing Day and have 3 nights on our own then move to Atlantis for the New Year celebrations where we are joined by our adult DC and its fabulous. Great weather, great service and a totally relaxing break.

It was beautiful and different and no crime and hit and sunny ❤️
hotel was superb food was out of this world ❤️

I regularly went to Dubai for holidays until a few years ago, because I had family who lived and worked there. Nothing nicer than a fortnight in the UAE in February. Safe, sunny, culturally fascinating if you care to probe a little. It really isn't all naked exploitation, although I appreciate that if your family are migrant construction workers then their experience is going to be different to my family, who were European management consultants and accountants.

Absolutely not, why anyone would choose to go there is beyond me.

No, I have no interest in going to Dubai or anywhere similar on holiday. I have been to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar before to visit family or had 24 hours there in between connecting flights, and there is nothing for me in countries like that nor in big cities really. Mind you, I feel exactly the same about Las Vegas or Disney world, or even staying in an all inclusive hotel with a shared pool anywhere - lots of people desperately want to go to those places and I couldn’t imagine anything worse! We’re all different I suppose - I like a villa with a private pool either by the sea or up in the mountains and I know some people would hate that.

Yes. I’ve been to all the Emirates. Dubai wouldn’t be my first or second even choice but it’s fun for a visit.

Been to Dubai twice. Cannot imagine choosing it as a holiday destination especially with kids

Not really, it's just an influencers bucket list destination, but if that moves you.

A while ago, I did see a foodie/travel program which featured the original old town. That was quite interesting, featuring individual local people, not the got rich, or international, insulated residents.

God no. Way too hot and sod all to do so far as I can see.

I really enjoyed it there, my daughter loved it there's so much to do for children
We are going back next year April
It priced up cheaper than Spain

I’ve been a couple of times because a friend wanted to go and it was sort of convenient flight wise. I wouldn’t rush back. We did a few excursions, went to the top of the world’s tallest building, had lunch at the Armani hotel …pretty swanky. And drank a camel milk mocktail. The weather is as expected … as hot as a desert and as two women travelling alone we were stared at an awful lot! The water park at the Atlantis was pretty fun.

Husband was working there and my youngest and I joined him for a week. Had interesting conversations with taxi drivers, they were promised triple earnings only to find that wasn’t the case and their passports were all confiscated (Pakastanis and Bangladeshi’s) many reside in work camps that resemble prisons. The general lower caste workforce are treated abominably, never saw a happy face amongst them.
The Emirates rule with a rod of iron, their word is the only one heard. That country was built on suffering!

Dubai is good for families, very safe and kid friendly. Don't know why so much hate, kid places are void of plastic influencers

What does that mean?

Nope, not my thing at all. Capitalism and misogyny at its finest, plus a multitude of other things. Superficial sparkly stuff and shopping seems to be popular with some people though, and I guess it appeals to them?

DH and I got engaged there on a work trip of mine several years ago. Spent 5 days there. It’s malls, man made beaches / resorts, large hotels, highways, taxis to everywhere, hot af. Once was nice but not a holiday destination in my opinion.

I've no interest in skyscrappers, shopping malls or "international" cuisine. My preferred destinations are Italy or Wales and I imagine Dubai is the complete opposite of both.

No. I take some heavy duty medication occasionally and I’ve always been worried that I’d be arrested at the airport 😂

No, definitely not. It’s illegal to be gay, the economy props up oppressive regimes. Other reasons but those are enough. I’m not gay but if my son can be thrown in a very abusive prison for just being gay in private then the entire shitshow of the Emirates can all fuck off.