Dubai: A City of Superlatives

DXB Adventures

Part 1 of 5

January 1, 2017

Est. 2:00 PM (Dubai time)

After a three-hour flight from Kuwait, finally, TOUCHDOWN DXB!

And yes, after all the hassle of the delayed flight, the plane was filled with the passengers’ applause. Woohoo!

I had the first taste of Dubai’s grandeur on the first day of my year. It was a new year and a holiday, so I guess it was the best (and worst) day to witness the city’s strength in tourism.

The stories were true – busy airport, high-rise buildings, state-of-the-art architecture, diverse tourists and the obvious Arab wealth.

I was feeling all giddy and excited to set foot on another foreign land. Obviously, I know nothing about the city’s routes and transportation. Thanks to Ate Mack and Acho, my sister-in-law and cousin-in-law, respectively, for picking me up from the airport and letting me experience Dubai despite their lack of sleep (Thank you, Coldplay!). Haha! #AppreciationPost

Based on the Mastercard Global Destination Index of 2015, Dubai ranks 4th as one of the top destinations for international travelers just after London, Bangkok and Paris. So, expect tons of activities that you can do here. I’ll also be breaking down my Dubai posts into 5 parts because, you know, countless activities.

First things first.

Top must-know traveler info:

The following are basically the same with Abu Dhabi. Check out my Abu Dhabi post here.

Currency: AED subdivided into Fils (AED 1 = Php 13.50)

Mobile Network: Etisalat or Du

Plug & Socket Type: Type G (see different types here)

Religion: Islam

Drives on: the right

Dubai International Airport to Dubai Mall

Since my in-laws are staying in Abu Dhabi, we decided to make the most of our short time in Dubai. So, first on our list – The Dubai Mall.

How to get there?

If you want to explore Dubai via its public transportation services, definitely get first a Nol Card. It’s basically a smart card that allows you to pay for the use of various Road and Transport Authority (RTA) transport modes in Dubai with a single card. You can use this to travel on Dubai’s Metro, Buses, Water Buses, Water Tram as well as pay for RTA’s paid parking. To know more about the Nol Card and what type of card to use, click here. We used the Silver Card, which is intended for visitors and light users. It costed around AED 25 (Php 340) and can be loaded up to AED 5,000.

When you take the metro from the airport, it will take you around 30 to 35 minutes to arrive at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall stop and will cost you around AED 3 – AED 5. When traveling to Dubai (or in general), make sure to wear shoes that are made for walking! That’s definitely one important thing I’ve learned. After descending from the metro, you still need to walk for around 10 to 15 minutes (depending on your pace) to The Dubai Mall. If you have your luggage with you, don’t worry, you can use the walkalators.

Heads up!

There are certain rules when you ride the Dubai Metro. Make sure you stay in the area specifically designated for ladies or gents. Also, you can’t carry alcoholic drinks inside public transport facilities. Spitting, smoking, resting your feet on seats, littering, eating (particularly chewing gum) and drinking (particularly water) inside the train are prohibited. Violation of these rules may cost you a fine of AED 100 to AED 2,000.

If you’re with a group and still have lots of things with you, I guess it will be more convenient to take a taxi. It will take you around 10 to 15 minutes and will cost you roughly AED 65 to AED 85.

Hitting Two Birds at the Same Time

When you reach the Dubai Mall, you can now see and experience the world’s largest and tallest. You may now have your retail therapy via the world’s largest mall with over 1,200 stores. And from there, you can witness the magnificence of the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa.

The Dubai Mall

With over 92 million visitors in 2015, you can definitely say that most Dubai travelers usually never leave the city without going here. Dubai has been called as the “shopping capital of the Middle East.” Well, thanks to this mall and the Dubai Shopping Festival, which usually happens every January.

So, what else can you do here aside from shopping?

Well, here are a few spots to visit.

1. The Souk

Gold, perfumes, textile, carpets, jewelry and souvenirs – name it! They’re all here.

2. Dubai Fountain Show

Relax for a while, take pictures of the Burj Khalifa and witness a marvelous water dance with the Dubai Mall’s fountain show. Prepare for goosebumps! And oh! It’s the world’s LARGEST choreographed fountain system. Take more “ESTs” in, traveler!

Performances take place every 30 minutes from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm on weekdays, and from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on weekends (Thursday to Saturday). Click here to see a sample performance repertoire.

3. Dubai Dinosaur

Diplodocus Longus
Late Jurassic, 150-155 million years
Discovered in 2008. Wyoming, USA

4. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

This is considered as the LARGEST suspended aquarium in the world! This 10-million litre aquarium tank is located on the ground level of the mall. We didn’t really go inside because there were more to see outside. 😉

Prices range from AED 100 to AED 250. To view a complete detail of the price list, click here.

5. Other things to see

The Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa, originally known as the Burj Dubai, is the tallest structure in the world, standing at 2,722 ft. It was included as part of the emirate’s development called Downtown Dubai. During the 2008 economic recession, the Dubai emirate needed some help from his older brother, Abu Dhabi, to pay off its debt for the construction of the building. It was then named in honor of Abu Dhabi's ruler and UAE's president, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Although it broke many records, it’s sad to say that most of its offices are unoccupied due to high rental rates.

It’s like the universe telling us that sometimes, it’s really lonely being on top. Ouch!

The Burj Khalifa also boasts its fireworks displays, which makes it as the HIGHEST New Year’s Eve fireworks display in the world.

On a happier note, it reminds us that no matter how people look at you, you can always fill the world with your brilliance. And when you’ve already reached your peak, give it your best shot! You went through a lot to have it. 😉

More of Dubai soon! 😉