To ask anyone who has been to Dubai...

[dubai2021]

Me and my partner (no kids) are going to Dubai for 10 days over Christmas this year.. eeek!!

I wanted to ask for recommendations on the MUST DO things out there? And the best restaurants (not necessarily food wise, but maybe view, experience etc - as I'm acrually quite a fussy eater!)

Also, any recommendations on what we should do on Christmas Day?

Thanks xx

The water parks are really a lot of fun! Its also awesome to do a desert safari - dune bashing up and down the dunes in a 4x4, stopping for a beautiful meal in the desert tents and music, bellydancing, henna painting etc or maybe a bird of prey display.

Spice Island is my favourite restaurant, although I haven't been to the UAE for a couple of years.

www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295424-d790226-Reviews-Spice_Island-Dubai_Emirate_of_Dubai.html

I'm mostly place-marking to follow the telling off you're in for for considering visiting Dubai.

Are you allowed to stay in the same hotel room if you’re not married in Dubai?

Make sure you get the entertainer app. I think it costs £40 ish but it gets you 241 on loads of restaurants (inc high end places) and attractions.

Are you allowed to stay in the same hotel room if you’re not married in Dubai?

Yes.

I'm mostly place-marking to follow the telling off you're in for for considering visiting Dubai.

From people that have never been there and base their views on Daily Mail articles 😂

One of my favourite excursions is to walk along the creek Deira side and see the commercial shows ready to sail to the Indian subcontinent. Then take an abra across the creek, and have a look around what remains of old Dubai. Don't bother with Sheikh Saeed's house (current rulers grandfather) - there's nothing inside except photos. Come back across the creek, grab a fresh fruit juice and pick up a cheap bit of jewelry from the gold souk, or just look at the windows absolutely dripping with gold.

Book the burj Khalifa for lunch (tallest building in the world). It is quite expensive but I think they do a 3 course set menu for £50 pp. it’s really worth it!

Oooo this is going to make me hungry and sad... lived there for 4 years.

Ravis - best curries ever, dirt cheap, plastic everything, absolute opposite of Dubai glamour and you have to sit in Satwa traffic to get there. Still the place I miss the most.

Nobu - absolute opposite end of the scale from Ravis but to die for food. But very very pricey.

Elevation burger - dirty hangover burger (though even GBK is inifinitely tastier in Dubai and tend to be more convenient).

Claw (Souq al Bahar) - brilliant for a booze up with a group. The swamp dip is amazing and strawberry daquiris and prawn enchiladas yum yum!

You absolutely have to see the fountain show between Souq al Bahar and Dubai Mall. My best tip is to book a table (well in advance) on a terrace at one of the Souq al Bahar restaurants (Dubai Mall side doesn't serve alcohol). This way you get to see a few shows (I think they are every 30 mins from 7pm). I used to love Karma Kafe and at the time if you went on a Tuesday it was Ladies night and you got free drinks and massive discounts on food. I think the MeatCo also had fountain views on their terrace if that is more your thing but call to check.

Aprons & Hammers (the one on the boat at the Marina next to Barasti is the best) for a bucket of crab.

You must must must do a Friday brunch. They are everywhere but they are not all equal. It also depends on what you like (i.e. preference for top quality food vs party atmopshere or somewhere in between).

Most people do a brunch on Christmas Day.

I have just read you are a fussy eater though whereas food is my favourite thing in the world so I am probably the worst person for advice.

Definitely the fountains though! I've seen them gazillions of times and they still make me emotional.

Not everything in Dubai is expensive.

For cheap shopping and a fascinating experience try the old soukh including the gold and Bur Dubai fabric soukhs.

A trip down the creek is also a leisurely experience with plenty of photo opportunities and a magnificant view of some of the wonderful modern architecture of Dubai. You can hire a boat down by the ferry. There are also some creek side restaurants and snack bars where you can sit for an hour and watch the traffic go by.

Had a magical meal at Kaftan which has beautiful fairy lit outdoor dining with views of Burj Al Arab.
Just bear in mind you need to eat in a hotel to be able to consume alcohol.

Make the effort to go to the mosque in Abu Dhabi, it’s SO worth it!
Love the Cheesecake Factory for food, Shakespeare cafe and garretts popcorn

Love the Cheesecake Factory for food

We love it there too….. our guilty pleasure 😂

Al Fahidi/Bur Dubai part of town is less 'plasticky and fake' than a lot of other parts of town and there are some very good restaurants round there.. a walk along the creek with a juice is a must.

Off Sheikh Zayed Road there's a fab Japanese restaurant...or there used to be...Its a while now since I left.
Check the dates for Global Village, its another experience.

Bruch is a must do...most expats will go for Friday/Xmas bruch.. just dont plan on doing anything for the rest of the day
Pp suggested the mosque in Abu Dhabi, definitely needs to be on your list...as is AD in general.
If you fancy a change try and get a trip to Al Ain, or if you want to stay by the beach then Ras Al Khamaih or Fuhairah woukd be an option. Musandam is another option.
The Irish village near the airport isn't a bad place ...and there are loads of other cafes and restaurants round there as well.

@19lottie82

I'm mostly place-marking to follow the telling off you're in for for considering visiting Dubai.

From people that have never been there and base their views on Daily Mail articles 😂

Or consider them too ‘cultured’ to go there. Snobbery plays a part in this moral superiority too.

Just a warning that getting to Abu Dhabi is difficult now with covid. Residents need to take a PCR and I don't think tourists even are allowed to cross the border, at least until they have been in the UAE for 10 days. You'll also need the local app to prove vaccine status to get in most places in Abu Dhabi now but it's not needed in Dubai. Hopefully things will change before your visit because it is worth the trip.

Lots of good ideas from people. One to add would be to visit Madinat Jumeirah for dinner or evening out. It’s a hotel resort type place with lake inside and souk style setup. Very nice in the evenings.

We’re looking at Dubai too.

@Muststopeating what’s the weather like at Christmas?

I did a day trip to the desert with this company. They have various options.

www.platinum-heritage.com/

@Muststopeating I grew up in Dubai years ago and you have just made me go down memory lane - Ravis!!! Oh it's a must.
Also 2nd wonder down the creek, goto the souks and try and find some of the old dubai.

Currently live in Dubai and you are going to have the BEST time. The weather will be wonderful, beach days for sure. Also paddleboarding at Riva on the palm is really nice, I usually go early in the morning and the views are beautiful.

Can recommend all of the resturants people have stated already. Check out Bounty Beets in the Marina for a really nice breakfast, one of my faves. Also EXPO 2020 is on at the moment which is well worth a visit, you will get free tickets with your flights so deffo take advantage.

I love the Atlantis waterpark and they have amazing resturants there too - Nobu brunch on a Friday is well worth the money. So much incredible food & drinks included. Also love Bread Street kitchen there for a roast and apparently Gordon Ramsey's new resturant on Bluewaters is fabulous.

Time Out Market is also a must visit - can sit outside and watch the fountains at Dubai Mall and there are so many wonderful food places to try. Everyone can choose their own food and sit together, they also have great cocktails and deserts. Pitfire Pizza & Pickle burgers come highly recommended.

Honestly there is so much to see and do (and eat) that you will have a ball.

I was there in the summer, the best restaurant I went to was a place called CZN Burak. It is across the street from the Dubai Mall. My husband wanted to visit as the man who owns this chain I very well know in his culture. It’s a Turkish restaurant and was absolutely amazing, there was a particular dish that was brought out to a big fanfare of drumming which was fun.

Green planet Dubai was a nice place a giant indoor rainforest with free flying birds and other animals.

Wild Wadi water park and the shopping area and beach nearby are brilliant. You can rent jet skis there too.

Of course the Burj Khalifa, you can eat there (but we didn’t) and Dubai Mall.

We stayed in an air bnb in the financial district there were 4 towers with a pool in the centre, 3 towers were private residences (where we rented our place) and the 4th was a hotel. It was called the Paramount Hotel and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Oh I forgot this show, absolutely amazing

www.laperle.com/en

This is making me want to go again.

Definitely try the table booking opposite the fountains.

Jumping on board, we are meant to go next week (pcr tests permitting!). Are there any good not too pricey restaurants in the marina? Have ain dubai booked and was going to go for a walk after.