Dubai, either you love it or you hate it
we arrived at dubai international airport a sunny December morning. And at the exit, the first sign that nothing here is very conventional: a row of brand-new pink taxis driven by women awaits us at the terminal. The 'Ladies Taxi' is a company created in 2006 to prevent women from traveling alone with male taxi drivers. And in a taxi of an unusual color, we left for the city of 900 skyscraper , whose cranes unstoppably undertake the construction of the most futuristic city in the world.
DAY ONE
10:00 a.m. Heading to heaven. We begin the visit by climbing the tallest skyscraper in the world, the Burj Khalifa with 828 meters and 160 floors , true emblem of the city. From the 'At the top' observatory located on the 124th floor, 452 meters high, you will have exceptional views over the desert and the amazing dubai architectural paraphernalia . The tower originally received the name of burj dubai (Dubai Tower) but just before its inauguration, on January 4, 2010, the financial system of the small emirate collapsed leaving this city-state practically in bankruptcy . The providential rescue of Abu Dhabi would allow Dubai to resume its economic growth, but in exchange, the iconic building was renamed Burj Khalifa in honor of the president of the UAE, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan.
To go up to the Burj Khalifa We recommend that you make your reservation in advance online. Will cost 100 dirhams (about 20 euros) compared to 400 (just over 80 euros) if you decide to go up at the moment. Access is directly from the Dubai Mall.
This is how Dubai can be seen from a few meters above the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa
11:30 a.m. Crazy shopping. Back on land we take the opportunity to enter the dubai mall that with his 1,200 stores It is considered the largest shopping center in the world and one of the highlights of the tourist boom of the emirate. In 2011, a whopping 54 million people They visited this giant bonfire of the vanities.
In The Dubai Mall you will find literally everything, from Galeries Lafayette to the most globalized brands and other niche ones. "Today everyone who wants to be someone in the world of fashion has to be here ”, tells us one of the people in charge. Not to be missed are the shoe section, the decorated paraphernalia and its galleries set in the manner of a souk.
Dubai's Galeries Lafayette is part of the Dubai Mall
1:30 p.m. Loaded with bags (impossible to resist the consumerist temptation) we settled on the terrace of the Dean & DeLuca (replica of the famous New York cafe) to delight ourselves with some delicious sandwich at the same time that we contemplate in the first row the extraordinary light and water show of The Dubai Fountain (The Dubai Fountain), another of the city's tourist attractions. Designed by the promoters of the famous Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas , the propelled water reaches the dizzying height of 150 meters (approximately the same as a 50-storey building, almost nothing!) Pay attention to the opening hours of the performance . Currently in the noon schedule they were set for 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m. Spa time. It is a fact, in the most hedonistic oriental city, the Body care occupies a fundamental place. According to our guides, "it is impossible to leave Dubai without having tried one of its magnificent spas ”. The options are many. Here are the recommendations from our local resident experts:
- One&Only Spa, book the eastern hamman for a comforting steam bath and a divine peeling.
- SensAsia Urban Spa, for women only
- Brush&Co, if you want to stay in your hotel room, call these home care experts.
- Assawan Spa, in the so-called 'world's only seven-star hotel' , the Burj al Arab , you will find the Assawan Spa , 5,000 square meters dedicated to beauty and body care. In this place nothing is casual, like the silver teapots with which tea is served on cups of fine Chinese porcelain.
Assawan Spa, relaxation in the 'only seven stars in the world'
6:00 p.m. After the relaxing break, we take a taxi to the deira district , the old commercial center of the city, where nostalgics can inhale the traditional scents of myrrh and glimpse the Arab customs already forgotten in the consumerist universe of Dubai transformed by oil. The Deira Gold Souq (gold souk) and the Deira Spice Souq (spice souk), are places that still preserve the magic of the old oriental souks. Don't forget to buy the famous frankincense , incense extracted from the Dhofar trees in Oman whose fragrance permeates the environment.
And after the tumult and whirlwind of haggling, relax contemplating the majestic dhow (the typical boats of the Persian Gulf) on their tour of the Dubai Creek to t beginning of dusk.
A boat ride on Dubai Creek
9:00 p.m. Dinner time. We flee from the plethora of restaurants run by renowned chefs to head to Theater ( Rotana Tower Hotel , Sheikh Zayed Road) an already, unfortunately, open secret, of the Dubai gastronomic scene. A true legend where it is possible meet the occasional local prince or even Venus Williams , one of the regulars during her visits to the emirate. Delicious food and excellent price. Reservations in advance are recommended.
The Teatro restaurant is an open secret
00:00 To go out for drinks. For the height of snobbery and glamor head to the **Club Cavalli at the Fairmont Hotel**. Fruit of the collaboration with Roberto Cavalli, this club is one of the favorites of the moment. Good music, fabulous decoration in the purest Cavalli style and a designer accessories store open until 3 in the morning, in case between drinks and drinks we feel like buying a bag.
- Note: drinking alcohol in dubai is extremely expensive . A simple glass of wine (not very full, anyway) in a trendy club is around 15-20 euros and a cocktail can easily go up to 25 euros. So be careful not to order drinks with too much joy if you don't want to get the scare of your life.
The height of glamour, one night in this club
DAY TWO
05:00 a.m. into the desert . For the most seasoned adventurers, going into the desert with a hot air balloon in the early hours of the morning is priceless. Stretches of red sand, emerald-colored oases, camels… an astonishing panorama far removed from flashy urban Dubai. (Inquire at your hotel about these excursions; the price per person is around 200 euros).
Dubai desert by balloon: the ultimate experience
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. . Back in the city and after a short break, it is time to head to the Persian quarter of Bastakiya , a charming swarm of well-restored alleyways, lined with small art galleries and traditional houses, many of whose courtyards are open to the public.
If the camel is the animal of the desert, one of the typical specialties of Bastakiya is the camel burger . The best? In the restaurant LocalHouse (House No 51, Al Bastakiya). a resounding success for health food freaks since this burger does not contain fat or cholesterol. A possible idea for Burger King and company?
Bastakiya, the Persian neighborhood of Bastakiya
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Well deserved nap at the hotel or perhaps better a little beach taking advantage of the good weather. You have two options of Marine , full of expatriates or that of jumeirah bigger and full of kitesurfers. Attention: topless is absolutely prohibited.
Marina Beach, not topless on the Dubai coast
8:00 p.m. To finish our trip we headed to the fashionable area, Jumeirah full of bars and restaurants . There, we find another of the city's iconic buildings, the ** Burj al Arab ** whose shape imitates the sail of the typical Persian Gulf ship, the dhow . Visits to the interior of this architectural feat are not allowed except for its famous Skyview Bar suspended 200 meters high and with breathtaking views (reservation essential; minimum consumption of 225 dirhams, about 46 euros ) .
Another good option is to have a **360º cocktail at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel*, recently considered one of the best bars in the world. With privileged views over the Burj Al Arab and with Ibizan decoration, the 360º has the perfect atmosphere to say goodbye to this eccentric and fascinating city.
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Have a cocktail at 360º, the finishing touch to 48 hours in Dubai