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A quaint Middle Eastern fishing village turned metropolis, rising from the desert like an urban oasis, Dubai hugs the coast of the Arabian gulf offering the best of very hot desert weather with the beach lifestyle. Known for extravagance in every way, from indoor skiing in the desert to the world’s tallest building, Dubai is sure to impress any first time visitor. A short flight from India, Europe, Eastern Africa, and the Far East – Dubai is becoming a popular stopover destination for college students using cheap airfares from the United States to Asia. The combination of Arabian and western culture makes for an interesting and unique society and a very diverse city.

Dubai Pictures

Things to do in Dubai

Relaxing on the beach in Dubai is an absolute must. While most of the new buildings in Dubai are banks and large corporations, the Burj Dubai building is the world’s tallest building and the Burj Al Arab is easily one of the most extravagant hotels you could ever imagine, shaped like a 1,000ft tall sail with a helicopter pad turned into a tennis court jutting out of the top. Dubai also has a large mall culture, the largest of which, the Mall of the Emirates, even has an indoor ski slope where you can rent equipment and a jacket before taking the chairlift to the top. If you want to take advantage of the always nice weather, Wild Wadi is a large waterpark designed for everyone to enjoy. Dubai has a lot to offer for people looking to enjoy the warm weather and enough distractions for when you’re ready to get out of the heat.

Nightlife in Dubai

While the United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, Dubai allows hotels and clubs to serve alcohol to non-nationals. 360 Degrees at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is at the end of a marina with the cool breeze coming in at night and amazing views of the city from the water. The Rooftop Swimming Pool at the Dubai Creek Hilton is a small bar that offers spectacular sunsets over the city. Wherever you end up in the evening just remember to bring some sort of ID as a young person, the drinking age is 21 in Dubai and you may not get into bars and clubs without an ID if you look like you’re too young.

Dining in Dubai

The food in Dubai is as diverse as it’s people. With different options for every price range, finding where to eat can be a difficult decision. Most high-end restaurants are attached to expensive hotels, but when you travel beyond the hotel you will find some incredible and authentic Pakistani and Indian cuisine at reasonable prices. If you are looking for a little taste of home, Dubai offers many American and Western options. Just like any other large city, you can pretty easily find a Starbucks to get your morning coffee.

Shopping in Dubai

Dubai is a shopping mecca. The Dubai Shopping Festival is a massive city-wide sale with almost every retailer offering a discount. For anyone willing to brave going to a mall bigger than most small towns, the Mall of the Emirates is the largest shopping center outside of North America and even includes it’s own indoor ski slope. The Deira City Centre is the Middle East’s most popular mall and is definitely worth a visit. If you are looking for a more stereotypical middle eastern shopping experience, the Gold Souk historic market is known for its collection of gold vendors and the Spice Souk is likewise known for it’s spices. Both markets were established early in Dubai’s history, and while they are often visited by tourists, they are not considered to necessarily be ‘tourist’ destinations.

Dubai travel tips

• The weekends in Dubai are Friday and Saturday, so Thursdays and Fridays are the best evenings to experience the local nightlife.
• The weather in Dubai ranges from extremely hot in the summer to just plain warm throughout the winter. January has an average temperature above 70 and August has been known to see temperatures approaching 120.
• Taxis are fairly inexpensive and can provide a good way to get out of the heat and to get you where you need to go around the city.