Originally Posted by
flo-e
We are arriving at DXB tomorrow at midnight and leaving again at 7am. Since we will be well rested, there is no need to catch some sleep right away and we wouldnt mind exploring a bit. Is Dubai completely dead at night? Is hiring a cab driver for an hour or so an option? Too late to grab dinner somewhere downtown? What are the costs for a taxi and a regular meal somewhere downtown (nothing fancy)?
Unfortunately, Dubai is not like Singapore or other places that offer 24-hour attractions. The bars will still be open after midnight, but few restaurants will. You could take a taxi to Deira, the old city, and find some activity, including a casual Arabic or Indian restaurant open at that hour. It will be cheap (less than $20 per person for sure).
You'll have no problem finding taxis, and driving around for an hour to catch the sights would be a decent way to kill time, although there is not much to see at night (the visibility is often low due to the humidity, I guess). You could ask the driver to take you in a loop down Shaikh Zayed road (the main highway) to the Marina area, then loop back and drive along Jumeirah Beach and under the creek to Deira. This should take more than an hour, as traffic can be heavy at midnight. You could wind it up with a nightcap at the Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Millenium, or other hotel in Deira or near the airport (although I am not certain how late they serve).
Taxis are also inexpensive; to get from the airport to Deira should be $10 or less. This whole route should be less than $50. Just get some local currency on your way out at the airport.
There's also the Irish Pub at the airport, which has decent food and is open 24 hours.