What to do in Dubai?

[mysteryfairy]

DH and I are going to Dubai in a couple of weeks. It's not somewhere we feel very comfortable with going, but it is to visit BIL who is working there. We feel we need to go as there is little family to visit him and the contrast with my own brother who gets loads of family visits in USA us included makes us sad.

We will have 3 days when BIL/SIL are at the office. What should we do? I'm hoping they will move on in next year or so and I'll never go back. Our DCs are at uni and on school trips so just 2 of us going.

A dhow down the creek. Go up the Burj Khalifa. Have wander around Dubai Mall and visit the aquarium. At the aquarium take a glass bottomed boat and have a ride across the water. Maybe if you feel brave go diving with the sharks. Watch the Dubai fountain in the evening. Have high tea at the Burj Al Arab. Go and watch the camel races. See if there is any horse racing on at the Meydan Race Track. Book to go dune bashing. Go to Alantis, The Palm and have an ice cream from Stone Cold Dairies, watch as the toss the ice cream to each other and do tricks and stand in wonder at the sheer bling and glitz of the place. The Big Bus Tour is a must too.

Dubai Aquarium

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

Burj Khalifa

Burj Al Arab

Dubai Fountains

Big Bus Tour

Camel Racing

Dubai Mall We love the bookshop in here and the aquarium and the Rainforest Cafe and walking outside along the promenade outside to Shakespeare and co for scrummy food. Watching the Dubai Fountains as well.

foodie tours in old Dubai

Ooooh! that looks good Mrs Gubbins, next time we drive up there I think we may try that.

Marking my place on this as going to Dubai in September

Go and wander round the Madinat and have a coffee/meal overlooking the canals and the Burj AL Arab.

In the old town....Visit the Dubai Museum (the big bus tour drops off there) and wander round the souks, taking a boat across the creek, visit the traditional houses in Al Bastakiya and drop in at the Sheik Mohammed Centre for cultural understanding.

If there is racing on spend an evening at the Meydan racecourse.

Drive out into the desert/go on a desert safari

Go to the beach!!

Visit one of the 5 star hotels and gawp at the bling- many sell day passes for the pool etc.

Go to the waterpark at Atlantis or Wild Wadi

Go skiing at Mall of the Emirates

Go to Karama and buy genuine fakey, fakey handbags and watches

Take the guided visit to the Jumeirah Mosque - really informative and free

Take in a film - the cinemas are all fab if a little chilly.

Persuade DH to take you to the Gold and Diamond Park on Sheik Zayed Rd near Mall of the Emirates - every woman should leave Dubai with more gold/diamonds than she went with!!!!!!!

The weather should be good - not too hot.

Agree with all of the above - except - last time I took friends to Karama (at their request!) the "genuine fakes" were no more! I even asked a bloke from the one shop I knew to take me to the secret room and he just looked blank

Oh no!! It's a couple of years since we left Dubai. Perhaps the police have finally got a grip on the fakes. No more dodgy secret rooms - the end of an era. I always went to the shop on the corner of the alleyway just beyond the little covered section - I think it was called Green something or other. But I would never go on my own! They would take you through the alleyway into a shop that looked like it was empty, through the door at the back and there were 2 floors of handbags etc.

Thanks for all the ideas.

I'm a fairly picky disordered eater and don't do big meals plus am teetotal and vegetarian so the brunches etc leave me a bit cold - unfortunately looking at reviews I just see them as a bit of an ordeal I'll have to get through! BIL has already booked something for the Friday we are there though. I'm a bit nervous re whether that needs to be dressy - I find dressy harder to do in summer clothes and my legs are blue currently to make it worse.

DH has requested a reservation for afternoon tea at Burj al Arab despite the eye watering cost so I hope that will be fun to see. Tell me if it's disappointing though as its a lot of money wasted if so. BIL lives about 10 minutes walk from Burj Khalifa apparently so we've booked to go up at sunrise having left it too late to get a sunset booking.

I don't think I could cope with dune bashing - looking at a sedate Heritage tour in a vintage land rover. Any views on those tours?

DH is keen to go to a water park, but after 19 years of holidays with DC it seems odd to be planning to go somewhere like that without them. I pretty much ditched swimming when youngest DC turned 8 and only have bikinis I've worn at villas in last few years with no audience beyond family so I would need to buy a tankini or something to feel presentable. I'm only going to bother if it's really something adults would do without any children in tow?

Also DH is urging me to get some jewellery but tbh it kind of daunts me. Is there any particular shops to go to and is it transparent pricing? My best friend is from an Indian background and has a lot of very yellow gold jewellery bought as a dowry in Dubai. We laugh at how hideous it is (and it didn't do the trick as she's not married!) - presume that it's possible to buy stuff more to western tastes?

RE jewellery, as I mentioned above, I really recommend the Gold and Diamond Park - NOT the gold souk.

The gold and diamond park is air conditioned, there are cafes ("More" is great) and there is loads of choice. You can window shop without being hassled and you really just have to be firm if the shop assistants are too attentive. Remeber that arabic culture prefers much more attentive service than Brits. Once you go into a shop, just be polite, but not too keen and do haggle on price. There is loads of stuff for western tastes not just indian style bling. speaks with the voice of experience and a nicely filled jewl box Remember also that most items are sold on the weight of the gold or gems, so make sure you know what you are getting.

Cara is a really popular store but I find it a bit manic. I prefer the small shop Chetan's across from Cara or Manoj or Safari Gems.

It really isn't intimidating.

It sounds like you are nervous of Dubai, don't be.Depending on were you are going, the dress code for brunches is very relaxed, just look decent - no need to really dress up. And water parks are for all ages, but I know they're not everybody's thing.

If you say why you are uncomfortable about going to Dubai, perhaps I or the other Dubai ladies can reassure you.

matey'smum I think the Expo 2020 bid may have ended Karama as we know and love it....funnily enough it was in Green Eye that I accosted the man who denied all knowledge of secret rooms despite taking me there a gazillion times before

I love Cara - slightly biased as my engagement ring is from there and they grab it off my hand and scrub it clean and shiny for me every time I go near the place! It is usually heaving though

Burj al Arab tea worth the price - stunning views and lovely champers.

I also love Aquaventure on the Palm - have been with other adults as often as with kids tbh. It's a less boring way to sunbathe

Maybe visit Abu Dhabi as well - the Grand Mosque is gorgeous. Also there are some amazing spas if that is your thing.

You do sound very negative about Dubai OP - it's not everyone's cup of tea, but there is plenty to see and do.

I'm not keen on busy holidays - we tend to go fairly isolated e.g. villas in Corsica or west coast of Portugal and cottages in Ireland where my family is from. We both have hectic jobs and generally just like to chill when we can. I know I'm annoying because I don't like eating out and it winds DH up on holiday - think that could be more contentious than normal as there seems to be such an emphasis on it.

I really didn't like the pressure in places like Morrocco and India round buying stuff so would forgo jewellery if the experience was going to be like that. However DH thinks that it would be a shame not to get at least something so I obviously don't want to not consider having a look if it's not too aggressive. Thanks for the suggestions of places to look.

I tend to feel slightly uncomfortable with the ethics of Dubai in general. It's completely hypocritical as both DH and I work in an industry which put us very far from the moral high ground anyway. Friends have been quite sneery about us going for the most part and that's made me more apprehensive.

If you like to chill, I would seriously recommend going to a spa LurkingBeagle is probably more up to date on the best ones than I am. Or as I said pay for a day by the pool in a lovely hotel.

Do as little as you like but eg. a Creek Cruise is relaxing and enjoyable

Don't turn DH down on the jewellery. The souk can be a bit of a hassle, but follow my recommendations above and I really don't think you'll have a problem. It's nothing like Morocco. And remember if someone does start to pressure you just say firmly "no thank you" and walk out of the shop. Simples!!

Re eating out, there are so many options and at a brunch or afternoon tea you can pick and choose. There's usually plenty of veggie options.

I would just say if you are going all that way,set your prejudices aside and enjoy . It will be different from what you would normally choose, but hey variety is the spice and all that. You may never go back and like it or not Dubai is an experience - try and make the most of it.

Definitely go to the Aqua park at Atlantis. You can just float around in a ring and they have water escaltor things so you just sit in ring and go up, no need to get out and use stairs!

Good thing about Dubai is the clothing restrictions tbh. Outside of a hotel you really need to cover arms and legs so no need to worry about blue legs! Get a few maxi dresses, and add a thin cargian/ jacket when needed

It's actually not very hot at the moment, I am in Qatar and am currently wrapped up in a blanket, I've got jeans and a jumper on and my daughter is wearing tights and a cardi.

Go with an open mind. Yes there are issues in the Middle East,but the truth is a long way from some of the prejudices held on mumsnet. There are people being treated like shit, there are also many workers who want to be here and send significant amounts of money home every month to look after their families in poorer countries. The ethical issues that is westerners think of are very complex in reality, so go with a truly open mind and found out as much as you can about the issues that bother you.

You don't need maxi dresses. Just don't go around in a spaghetti top with your norks hanging out. though lots of people do

I used to wear a knee length skirt and t shirt - or crop trousers - pretty much standard wear for lots of expat women

Thanks for all your advice. I'm determined to have a nice time and try and see as much as possible. Certainly don't want BIL and his wife to think we are there on sufferance. I think some of my general unease is that DC2 and 3 were originally coming but have opted for school trips, one of them skiing so extra stress as the school never seem to organise a ski trip without a few breaks. It's hard to imagine a holiday without them and also being a bit further away if anything goes wrong (though DH reckons only about 3 extra hours to fly to them compared to if we stay in the UK) is scary.

The jewellers advice is wonderful to have and gives me confidence to plan for a browse at least!

I'm quite distinctive as 5ft 10 and though I don't think about it most of the time feel like I stick out if I go somewhere where people are on average shorter e.g. Japan so I do want to get clothes right. I do have some summer maxi dresses from Me and Em that I was panicking are too casual so might take those plus have various capris and 7/8ths denim I can wear.

I live in my Me+Em maxi dress. Don't worry, you won't need to dress up that much. Relax and enjoy yourselves :)

love it there, go 4 or 5 times each year. Some brilliant suggestions made by others. Also a vote from me for Cara jeweller at the gold and diamond park.

Not sure how veggie friendly the tea at the Burj will be- I had my 40th birthday tea there and one if the courses was beef Wellington!! Maybe ask for a veggie menu to be sure

Thanks - we've done that and they were fine with it though if they hadn't been I expect DH would have scoffed it! I don't drink so he gets extra champagne at least

You should visit Burj Khalifa, Dubai Garden glow, and have a nice trip with a boat or yacht in Dubai.