Dubai Holidays - Top 5 Choices - Suggested Day Itineraries
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Dubai holidays can vary hugely in scope and style. Whether you're keen on scuba-diving, serious about sightseeing or simply a shopaholic, there should be something here for you. Our list of the top five Dubai holidays will help you get the most out of your trip.
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Activity holiday
For some people, the draw of Dubai is the desert, surrounding the city like a big adventure playground. Sandboarding is one of the most physically demanding activities; you climb up the dunes and ski down them. The climbing (without the aid of a ski-lift) can be very tough in the desert heat. Always do this as part of an arranged tour - some even have camels to carry you up the dunes! Our page of tips for Dubai tourist s explains that other desert craze: dune-bashing. For a cooler experience, go scuba diving. Al Boom Diving, Al Wasl Road, is a good shop to start with, as you can book a trip and rent equipment at the same time. Combine cooling water with scary rides at Wild Wadi water park, discussed on our Dubai attractions page. And for real childhood regression, head to Magic Planet in the City Centre mall, Jumeirah, where you could spend an afternoon lost in the world of arcade games.
Beach holiday
Dubai holidays wouldn't be complete without a bit of sunbathing. All the swankier coastal hotels own their own beaches, some of which are open to the public for a fee. But there are public beaches too, like the one opposite the Jumeirah mosque, which is quite central and equipped with showers and toilets. Al Mamzar Beach Park in the north of the city has tennis courts, a children's play area and a swimming pool. Entry is for a nominal fee, and you can pay to hire a private chalet for the day.
Nightlife holiday
Clubs in Dubai take it in turns to hold the title of "best place to see and be seen". But there is a wide choice of styles: whether you like bhangra, Latin music or cheesy disco, there will be a club in Dubai to suit you. Expats whine about drink prices, but they're really quite reasonable considering that each club has to have a special licence to serve alcohol. However, the nightlife scene does shut down during Ramadan, so clubbers should plan visits carefully.
Sightseeing holiday
Whether you're interested in the flood of wealth which poured into this city when oil was found, or in the indigenous Bedouin culture buried beneath it, there is so much to see here. Hotels like the Burj Al Arab are tourist destinations in themselves, while the Heritage Village and Diving Village on the Creek give a well-designed, interesting look at Dubai's past. Don't forget to admire some of Dubai's 200 mosques, particularly the Jumeirah Mosque on Jumeirah Beach Road.
Shopping holiday
Some shopaholics organise holidays purely to load themselves with bargains. And why not? However, the prices in Dubai's many malls aren't always much lower than those in other countries. The really exciting shopping action is to be had in the souks, where you can buy anything from spices to gold jewellery. Don't forget to haggle. See our page on shopping for more tips.
Dubai - City of Gold
