DUBAI – ABU DHABI
Most of the time, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are just transit points, airports you pass through on your way somewhere else. I’d been curious about what these emirates actually had to offer for a while, and as one of my best friends is living there, it felt like the perfect excuse to finally stop and find out. I was flying Melbourne to Paris anyway, so breaking up that kind of journey makes a lot of sense.
Honest take
Fun for a few days, genuinely. But could I live there? No. It feels a bit manufactured, you need a car for absolutely everything, part of the year is just too hot to function outside, and it’s not cheap.
That said, I totally get why people stay. The food scene is insane, the service culture is on another level, basically if you’re willing to pay, anything can be done for you. Need someone to unpack your suitcase? Easy. Whatever you need, there’s someone to do it for you. It’s very safe, clean and it’s a great base to travel from. Life there is just very easy.
Itinerary
Day 1 :Arrival + walk around Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall + rooftop drinks at Alto 54 or C’est La Vie next door
Day 2 :Brunch and pool + desert buggy + evening show included
Day 3 :Rent a boat in Abu Dhabi or Dubai for the day
Day 4: Dubai Old City + bike ride from Jumeirah Beach to Dubai Marina (Careem bikes app) passing by Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah souk + The View at Palm Jumeirah for sunset + dinner at Time Out Market with the fountain show
Day 5: Abu Dhabi day trip : Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque + Louvre Abu Dhabi + dinner back in Dubai in the City Walk area (Daikan Izakaya restaurant)
If you have extra days: Museum of the Future, Miracle Garden, Global Village, beach clubs
Practical info
- Careem app = basically Uber, you can also order food and rent bikes on it.
- Try to avoid June to September if you can, it’s too hot.
Burj Khalifa + Dubai Mall
You can’t miss it as it’s the tallest building in the world, you will see it 😉 The mall next to it is basically a small city : aquarium, ice rink, a dinosaur skeleton in the atrium. Also really nice to just walk along the lake outside with the Burj Khalifa right in front of you.
- I skipped going up the Burj, tickets are pricey depending on which floor you go, and from up there you can’t even see the building anyway😂
Rooftop Alto 54 / C’est La Vie
Two rooftops right next to each other with views of the Burj Khalifa. Alto 54 is a bit more upscale, C’est La Vie is more casual. I went to Alto 54.
Desert buggy + evening show
You head out into the dunes in the late afternoon, drive a buggy, and it ends with a camp dinner and an evening show : music, dance, fire show. Very fun activity.
Boat day in Abu Dhabi or Dubai
We rented a boat for the day in Abu Dhabi and took a taxi to get there. We stopped at a beach to have a barbecue, and you can also do water sports on the spot. The same kind of boat day is possible in Dubai too.
Dubai Old City
A nice change from the glass towers. Worth a few hours: good for souvenirs, and the walk along the water with the old buildings is really nice. I got there by Careem.
Jumeirah Beach + Burj Al Arab + Madinat Jumeirah souk
Rent a Careem bike and ride along the beach towards the Burj Al Arab. You can’t go inside without a hotel reservation but the exterior is iconic enough on its own. Just behind it, Madinat Jumeirah is a souk built around canals, nice to walk through and to buy some souvenirs.
Dubai Marina
Continue on the bike to the Marina : towers, yachts and waterfront restaurants.
The View, Palm Jumeirah
An observation deck on top of Palm Tower with a full view over the palm-shaped island. Go at sunset if you can.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
A must do for me, it is really stunning. I booked the combined trip with the Louvre on Get Your Guide. You must wear an abaya, you can buy one just before entering the mosque.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
The building itself is stunning and worth it. The collection covers art and artefacts across civilisations.
Daikan Izakaya
A great way to end the trip. Really good ramen and City Walk is a pleasant area for a walk after dinner.
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