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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dubai for a holiday

151 replies

user1492877024 · 24/02/2018 21:51

Apologies in advance for posting here instead of the travel section, it's just that I know AIBU gets more traffic. DH and I are considering visiting Dubai for a week and I was wondering if anyone could advise on the best time to visit, places to stay and eat etc. Am struggling between visiting Omen or going to Dubai. Has anyone visited both places?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:
BadLad · 25/02/2018 03:48

It's nice if you want a beach, pool, luxury-hotel and shopping holiday. There's not much in the way of sightseeing there.

We like it, and intend to spend winters there when we retire.

HappenedForAReisling · 25/02/2018 03:59

Sorry, DRTFT but as someone who lived there for 10 years I'd say November, March or April. Nice and (very) warm but not horribly, shittily humid.

AstridWhite · 25/02/2018 04:28

Assuming you've read all of the above and still want to go, I've been to both, more than once, at all different times of year so feel qualified to advise.

Oman is less flashy and glitzy, a more beautiful landscape with natural wonders to explore. It will be much lower key than Dubai and a more authentic Arabian experience if it's something approaching actual culture you want rather than just gawping at flashy Arab money and flashy Arab sports cars. Omanis are working people and very friendly so it's easy to rub shoulders with them whereas Emiratis don't tend to do ordinary jobs if they can help it and where they do come into much contact with tourists they do they can be a bit lofty and sniffy.

The shopping and nightlife/restaurant scene won't be as good in Oman but you don't need go to the Middle East to spend your time in a shopping mall full of chain stores that are cheaper back home anyway.

Dubai is great fun for a week if you just want some winter / off peak sunshine. It's very soulless Las Vegas/Sun City type of place. All man made and modern, but impressive nonetheless.

The nicest months weather wise are October and November then March, April and May.

December tends to be sunny and bright but not warm enough to lay by the pool or go in the sea. It can rain and can be very overcast in Jan and Feb. It might be perfect weather, but it might not. Whereas if you go in my recommended months it will almost certainly be glorious. June and September are too hot. July and August don't even think about it.

March and April even if the weather is hot the sea can still be a bit chilly but if you go in October of November it will be beautifully warm as it's warmed up all summer. November less humid than October.

I'd pick November or April.

TheHulksPurplePants · 25/02/2018 05:42

Muscat is a bit more expensive in terms of F&B than Dubai, and the hotels tend to be a bit pricier too, especially with the ongoing conflict with Qatar. It's a beautiful country and wonderful people though, especially if you want to do sightseeing and hiking. Dubai is great, but its urban. If you want a relaxing, lounge by the pool style holiday, than Dubai is the better choice.

SandLand · 25/02/2018 05:46

What do you want from a holiday?
Big city- go to Dubai.
Culture - go to Oman.
Sitting on the beach/ in the pool - either.

Probably October, November, March or April for warm, but not blistering heat.
I prefer Oman (but live in the middle east, in a different country again, these places are both short hops for me)

SandLand · 25/02/2018 05:48

Oh, if you are looking at Spring 2019, I'd avoid May, as it is Ramadan, and so will be more restrictive, and things may have reduced opening hours.

Shutupanddance1 · 25/02/2018 06:12

Ditto what people said above - I live in the region and Oman is definitely my preferred location over Dubai. Dubai doesn’t have anything that I’ve found in the way of culture and in some places like the malls etc you’d find it hard pressed to believe you are in the Middle East and not in an American mall.

Oman’s lots of fun, really friendly people and lots of beautiful scenery. We stayed in the Shangri la as it was so family friendly but did day trips out!

Can’t speak for Abu Dhabi but I am heading that way next month for a weekend away.

BeverlyHillsBillie · 25/02/2018 06:49

Shutup Abu Dhabi is great. Like Dubai but less tacky and flashy. But they are so close together you could easily split the week half and half.

I live in Qatar and used to go to Dubai and/or Abu Dhabi for long weekends but can't do that now due to the blockade. I will have to reacquaint myself with Oman I think. I went there years ago and it was lovely but I imagine it's changed a bit now.

BeverlyHillsBillie · 25/02/2018 06:50

Sorry, I meant anyone going from the UK for a holiday could split the week. Obviously as you live in the region you know that.

nippey · 25/02/2018 06:51

I have lived in both and wouldn’t go back to Dubai (hated it) but Oman is lovely, very welcoming and lots to see and do.

Shutupanddance1 · 25/02/2018 06:55

Thanks Beverly.

I’ve heard Abu Dhabi is much more family oriented so we are excited to go for the weekend. We are based in Bahrain but no one ever knows where that is Grin

TheHulksPurplePants · 25/02/2018 07:02

Shutup, Abu Dhabi's quieter than Dubai, and I found them to be equally family oriented. Yas Waterpark is way better than Wild Wadi, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is breathtaking. Enjoy!

TheHulksPurplePants · 25/02/2018 07:02

will have to reacquaint myself with Oman I think. I went there years ago and it was lovely but I imagine it's changed a bit now.

I first went 12 years ago, and again 2 weeks ago. It's barely changed at all!

Alessandrocopper · 25/02/2018 07:11

This is so silly. It's only people with a narrow vision of the world, along with an element of snobbery (Dubai is common and Essex-ish) that makes these people respond this way. Human rights are far, far worse in other places, I recently went on a work trip to the new Education City in KL, not just the labour conditions saddened me but, worse, the little female babies in hijab from the day they are born, total lack of womens rights etc. Same when I have been on similar trips to other JV areas across the world. Actually, the UK isn't all that either.

I personally didn't like working in Dubai, the expats are brash and you get housewives walking around thinking they are better than everyone else because of their handbags. I much prefer other areas of the ME. But for a holiday, it's ok, nice enough. It's far safer than many other places and for all the people who go to Thailand, Vietnam etc, far, far less exploitative and repugnant.

If you buy your underwear on the high street and wear primark and other crappo makes, own a mobile phone etc, you are implicit in the exploitation of humans. Getting on your high horse about a place you have never been and know nothing about is just sad. The region has some incredible things going for it, it may not be for you (because of the common people) but your pearl clutching is a waste of time and could be used to do real things in real places where things are happening. Staring with on your own doorstep, where homelessness and child poverty are out of control. What do you contribute?

BeverlyHillsBillie · 25/02/2018 07:28

I personally didn't like working in Dubai, the expats are brash and you get housewives walking around thinking they are better than everyone else because of their handbags.

I've heard that so many times about expat women living in the gulf, but speaking as one myself I think it's nonsense. First of all, just because they like designer handbags and can afford them (or buy fakes) I am really not sure how that equates to thinking they are better than everyone else? You can really only say that about someone you know personally, you can't make an assumption like that about another person's character based on their choice of bag, or car or any other material possession for goodness sake.

Secondly, that description applies to some women here, and it also applies to plenty of women at home. It's easy to find that very WAG-ish culture here if you go looking for it, (less highly visible in Qatar where I am than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi admittedly) but it hardly applies to everyone, or even most women.

I've met a very broad range of 'types' since living in the gulf and the only obvious thing we have in common is that we are all live here. There is no stereotypical tribe. That's a bit of a hackneyed trope if you ask me.

Alessandrocopper · 25/02/2018 07:32

That's true, fair point. I just found people less friendly. I 💘 Qatar and can see us staying long term.

SandLand · 25/02/2018 07:35

@Shutupanddance1 Bahrain is just the other side of The Bridge!
No-one really knows where lots of stuff is in the ME.

robyn65 · 25/02/2018 07:38

I'd highly recommend the Shangri La just outside Muscat. Stay at Al Husn if you don't have children with you. It's blissful.

I've been to Dubai many times, most recently last week. Consider Madinat Jumeirah if you want to be by the beach. It's mostly a choice of beach or city hotels. The Palm is a long way from everything else but has some stunning hotels. One of our favourite places is the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach in Fujairah. It's about 90 minutes from Dubai airport and the staff are amazing. If you just want good food, sunshine and to relax without blowing the budget you'll be as well to go there. We sometimes spent ten days there then four in Dubai.

Last week it was 29-31C and cloudless, perfect.

eurochick · 25/02/2018 07:53

I've been to both - Dubai for work and Oman for a holiday. I wouldn't choose to go to Dubai for pleasure. I thought it was a dreadful place. Very brash and cultureless. Plus the awful record on human rights and women's rights. However I have friends who are living out there and love it.

Oman has a nicer feel to it and there is more culture (not that we could see most of it as we went with a toddler). I had the impression that it was more liberal with regards to women than it actually appeared to be when I was there. I definitely felt like a second class citizen at times. It was an ok destination for winter sun but I wouldn't rush back.

FluffyWuffy100 · 25/02/2018 07:56

I do find it interesting that Dubai gets panned for being fake and over the top.

But surely everything is ‘fake’ when it is first built?

SpeckledyHen · 25/02/2018 07:58

We did a 2 night stop over in February on the way to Oz . We arrived in the evening and it was raining . Febuary is the wettest month I believe . We attempted to go for a walk in the morning but it was impossible due to the wind and sand being whipped up . We decided to get the metro to the old town but It was closed whilst we waited for a train because a construction crane had collapsed near the track further along the line .
We got a taxi instead and loved the old town . Taxied back to take a look at The Palm but the top frond was flooded due to high winds and water so we had to turn round at the the end of the tunnel . Not a good day .
The following day was sunny and a good temperature for sightseeing and we managed to cram in a lot of sights by taxi .
Wouldn't return as there is nothing to attract other than shopping and sunbathing which I have no interest in .

TheHulksPurplePants · 25/02/2018 07:58

I'm curious that people are saying that they wouldn't go to Dubai because of the women's rights, yet have no issues going to Oman... Hmm

Dubai is a feminist wonderland compared to Oman, which is still very much behind the times.

Alessandrocopper · 25/02/2018 08:01

I've been to the Shangri La in Muscat. Pool is about 5 steps from the room. And the lazy river! Beautiful place and so much cooler than Dubai because of the mountains.

BeverlyHillsBillie · 25/02/2018 08:01

I have two really close friends in Dubai and I’m gutted I can’t visit them from Doha any longer. One lived in Dubai for years then Doha then back to Dubai. The other went to Dubai after many years in Doha. Both will tell you that on the face of it Dubai seems better but Doha is a smaller, easier more friendly place to live. I have another friend who went to Oman from Doha and says it’s a beautiful place but she still misses Doha. But then that’s living here/there. Different kettle of fish to holidaying altogether. I don’t recommend anyone books a holiday to Doha. Grin

BeverlyHillsBillie · 25/02/2018 08:08

Ah but Thehulks no one has read a stream of vitriolic highly biased articles in the Guardian about Oman so it doesn’t count. Wink

In the Guardian and therefore on MN It’s okay to take intrepid holidays in all sorts of culturally challenging and more romantic places where human rights abuses and crimes against women and animal are absolutely rife, endemic and culturally imbedded, so long as it’s not Dubai or Qatar, for reasons I’ve never fully understood.