48 hours in Dubai - suggestions?
 

I land about 11p on a Wednesday night and leave 8:50a on Saturday.

I'll be getting tix to go up the Burj Kalifa at sunset, and I'm tempted by the Dubai Highlights Bus Tour - get on/get off all day on two different routes, plus a few river trips. But I'm thinking I can probably get around with an all-day monorail ticket.

I'm just starting to research and am looking for suggestions. I'm looking more for cultural, natural, and photographic attractions than restaurants or night clubs. Though I admit I'm tempted by the $65-ish breakfast at the Burj Al Arab, seems to be the cheapest way in the building

I'll be staying at the Four Points Bur Dubai

48 hours are a bit short. Can jam in most major sight.
Hop-on-off is good idea. I used the day pass that covers all metro & buses.
Gold souk, fish market, dubai creek walk, dubai mall, burj al arab etc...

as far photos, see this for reference:
http://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/RTW-R...4169&k=DxWkxfX

The 4-points bur duabi is located between 2 metro stations. Both are short walk. A mall is close to one of the stations. second floor has a food court. Some good food up there.

You will enjoy dubai. Safe travel.

Remember that Fri/Sat is the weekend. Fri morning will be quiet due to prayers, so don't expect to find much open before lunchtime.

Additional thoughts -
- many ex-pats go for brunch on Fri afternoon. Most hotels offer this for an inclusive price. Just pick a location and a budget
- early morning trip into the desert for extreme 4x4 fun on the dunes
- take an abra ride across the creek for AED1 (30c)
- the museum (near the creek so could combine with the souks, etc)
- Jumeirah mosque visit on Thur morning (http://www.dubaicity.com/what_to_see...rah-mosque.htm)

The Burj al Arab is overrated IMHO :)

hth

Russian hookers are popular :td:

I did a desert tour by 4WD, which was great. The company was something like Arabian Adventures, which I think was an EK affiliate.

(I thought Dubai itself was tacky and tawdry, so this was a nice difference.)

I'd say 48 hours is plenty of time for visiting Dubai. I just ran the Dubai Marathon and spent four days there.

My take is that Dubai is a hugely important place in the world right now, but no amount of money can turn a tiny settlement and some date farms into a vibrant city with a distinct civic identity in the span of a few decades. What is Dubai now could have sprung up anywhere in the Middle East with sufficient money and political stability. Apparently without irony, Dubai created "Downtown Dubai" just a few years ago in what had been sandy, undeveloped land.

To be clear, I'm really glad I visited Dubai, and I would still recommend a visit to someone already planning to be in the region. But I say that in much the way I encourage those who want to understand the USA to visit Las Vegas. These aren't horrible places to visit, but before you go, make sure that what these places are fits with why you want to visit them.

BTW, only one must-see for me in Dubai: the Dubai Museum near the creek. Excellent small historical museum. I'd include the Burj Khalifa as a must-see, but you can't help but see it from anywhere in Dubai.

48 hours in Dubai - suggestions?

Rebook your departure and spend 24 hours there instead.

Thanks for the inputs, I picked up a few new things. Interesting perspectives on the city, it should be interesting. I've spend time in most of the European gateways (this is a layover returning from India), so wanted to try something new. It was Dubai or Doha, so I think I made the right choice.

Current plans, mostly cultural/historic and just walking around/people watching. If I have spare time I'll check the malls, peek in at Ski Dubai, etc.

Thursday
• Jumeirah Mosque tour 10a-noon
• Lunch
• Bastakiya - Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding, Al Fahidi Fort/Dubai Museum, Majlis Gallery
• Heritage and Diving Village
• Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's House
• Abra
• Heritage House
• Gold Souk
• Spice Souk


Friday
• Morning Desert Safari w/Arabian Adventures
• Lunch
• Around town via metro/taxi/Big Bus Company – Burj Al Arab, Palm islands, etc.
• Dhow Cruise
• Creekside Park/Walk
• Dubai Fountains
• Burj Khalifa – 6p-7:30 for sunset

Other suggestions/comments?

Thanks again.

One thing to think about if you're looking at more "natural" or "photographic" opportunities would be to take a dhow cruise through the Musandam Fjords.

There are several companies that will pick you up from your hotel for either a half or full day trip. The scenery is beautiful, and completely different than what you would see elsewhere in the area.

That seems to be a good balance CPRich. It's easy to miss the fact that, amidst the glitz and glamour, Dubai does still have some history and traditional Arabic culture.

For lunch on Thurs, there's a nice cafe near the museum, set in a secluded walled garden. Good salads and smoothies.

The malls are open late. so you could do the Dubai mall (all 1200 stores) and aquarium on Fri evening.

To achieve the perfect Dubai experience though, you also need to find a nightclub on Fri night, talk to some russian girls, drink your body weight in 2-for-1 jagerbombs (or bullfrogs) and enjoy the hangover on your flight home the following morning :D

Seems we have another member of the FT "Oman Appreciation Society" ! :D

Shh! Don't tell too many people - it'll ruin it!