Dubai

10 days in Dubai

Dubai was on my ToDo list for many years. it was little like Las Vegas so different that I had to see tit but no really knowing what to expect.

in March 2014 I started a cruise in Dubai, so I got the chance to see Dubai in one day. It was a teaser but not the real thing so I booked a tour and planned it specifically to be at the same time as the Gold tournament Rase to Dubai. It is final tournament for the season on the European tour so if I did not like t Dubai i could enjoy the 60 best European golf players. I booked a golf ticket which turned out to be free of charge. I guess they are happy for everybody that turns up. I don’t think there were more people than I had seen to a much smaller tournament in Denmark, Dubai has so much to offer to both tourist and locals so a big golf tournament is nothing for them.

I “planned” my days as I usually do but were primarily looking forward to have time off and enjoy summer in November and was not disapointed. The weather was fantastic and I think November is the best time to visit Dubai. During our summer is is way to hot, January & February are fine too but I know from the annual golf tournaments that i can be misty and even rain.

I had a fantastic time and really like the place and enjoyed every day. It was so easy to get around with the Metro, inexpensive to take a taxi and easy to get delicious food when hungry. A year later when they were playing another end of season tournament same place I very much wished I was back and I hope I will be in the future.

What to see:

Old Dubai

A visit to old Dubai is a must, it is the area around the creek. It is still here you find the most charming part of the city and here you will find some of the old authentic Dubai. Here’s Old Souk, Gold Souk and Spice Souk. You can easily and inexpensively cross Dubai Creek with one of the small boats called Abras. Visit the old quarter Bastakia, which unlike the rest of the city is very quiet. I would also recommend Dubai Museum where you can learn about the development from pearl fishing, to todays business.

New Dubai

With the metro it is easy to get out to the many shopping malls and other attractions. Dubai Mall with Burj Khalif and a show with water and music each evening every half hour. Mall of Emirates with a skiing slope. Dubai Marina is like a city within the city and you can enjoy nice cars, (even the police a driving Ferraris,) nice boats and lots of skyskrabers. From the Marina you can get to the Palm with a tram and if you wish to see the palm you can take the Palm monorail and visit Aquaventure and see Hotel Atlantis.

Dubai has plenty og beaches as a great part of the 20 km coastline along the city is beach. Although Dubai has more sand then most, the beaches has been filled up with imported white beach sand. If you want to see the dessert sand, there are also lots of safari trips to choose from.

Race to Dubai Golf

The annual end of the European tour in golf – Race to Dubai – has for a few years nos been played on Jumeira Golf Estate. In 2014 is was with Rory McIlroy as the winner of the annual race for the second time. Henrik Stenson won with a very strong finish on the last 2-3 holes the to current tournamen, which was also for the second time. (In 2015 Rory won both the tournament and the race again)

Abu Dhabi

On a full day tour to Abu Dhabi, I visited the beautiful Grand Mosque and Yas Iceland, which is known for the Farrari World and a Formula 1 track.  With regard to buildings Abu Dhabi is a mini Dubai with the same desire to be big, bigger and biggest but it will take more than a one day visit to judge the city. The mosque was a beautiful building and worth the visit.

WAFI 

I did not stay at Wafi City, which is inspired a the old Egypt wit pyramids and Farao sculptures, but it is central and convenient place to stay. The Metro har a stop very close, the highways are just behind making it easy to get to by taxi. WAFI is Raffles Hotel, Wafi Mall, Wafi Souk and Cleopatras Spa and Wellness. The Mall is not very interesting, but it includes a shopping center so you cab buy food – read fruiting something to drink. The center has a few good restaurants and a cafe with breakfast menus and there is a park very close. If you visit Dubai for the first the the Hop on Off busses are a good way to get around. There are 2 routes, and they start and stop a the Wafi center, so it is easy to change between the routes here. There is also an evening tour that finish with a Egyptian lightshow displayed on the Wellness building.

All in all a very convenient place to stay and I can also recommend Cleopatras Spa and Wellnes if you need to relax for a few hours.