Dubai is already a huge stopover hub for round the world trips en route to countries like China, Japan, India, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand and it is also the home of Emirates, one of the world biggest airlines.
So the question should really be; if you have to stopover in Dubai, and you have the chance to spend a few days exploring this unique city as an added extra, why the heck wouldn’t you grab the opportunity with both hands?!
The sad thing is, many of those travellers won’t even see outside of the airport departure lounge as they spend a few hours sat in Burger King and stocking up on duty free before carrying on with their journey.
Maybe that’s because many people aren’t aware of the option for a longer stopover, maybe it’s because they don’t have the time, or maybe it’s because they’ve been sucked in by a few age old myths about travelling to Dubai.
Think Dubai’s Not For You? Think Again!
Below are 5 myths we commonly hear about travel to Dubai. Reasons which, somewhat unfairly, stop people from making the decision to explore Dubai for themselves. So it’s time to bust them – once and for all!
Dubai Myth 1 – If You’re Stopping-Over There, You Only Get A Chance To See The Inside Of The Airport
If you’re stopping over in Dubai you could choose to spend a few hours within the confines of the airport departure lounge. Or, you could extend your stopover (for free!) and spend a few days becoming better acquainted with the exquisite Arab state.
Adding a few days stopover to your Emirates or Qantas flight itinerary is easy peasy, and even if Dubai has never particularly entered your list of places to visit, if you’re passing through then what better opportunity to spend just a few days exploring?!
Some stopover packages of 1 or 2 nights, although if you have time, we would recommend staying for 2 so that you can enjoy the best things to do in Dubai like taking an exhilarating ride through the desert on a 4WD Desert Jeep Safari and settle down for an authentic Bedouin dinner under the stars. This a great opportunity to get a taste of both modern and traditional Dubai in a short space of time, and all taken care of as part of the stopover package.
Dubai Myth 2 – There’s Nothing To Do In Dubai Except Go Shopping Or Chill By The Pool.
Wrong! Oh, so wrong.
There are tonnes of other things to do in Dubai! Obviously the shopping and tanning opportunity here is the biggest draw – Dubai sits up there with great cities like New York, London and Tokyo when it comes to shopping and thanks to the incredible weather and gorgeous beaches, the tanning potential is extremely good.
But, Dubai also has water parks, desert safaris, golf, river cruises, skiing (yep really), museums, a dolphinarium, horse racing and you could also book yourself onto a city tour to make sure you see the most amazing sights (there are a lot) in a short space of time. Check out our Ask the Experts blog post about making the most of Dubai for some help on how to spend your time.
Dubai Myth 3 – There’s No History Or Authentic Culture
Dubai is a new city, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something for history and culture buffs. A great example is the ancient Arab ruins at Ras Al Khaimah not far from the city, where you can wander round remains of buildings dating back to around 2,500BC!
There’s also the Dubai Museum to explore, meaning an afternoon spent enjoying something a little more culture and history heavy is never far away. Or, if you’re feeling reeeeeeeally adventurous the Sultanate of Oman is not far away at all, therefore allowing you to embark on your own mini Middle Eastern tour.
There is a lot of history to be found just outside the modern glitz and glamour.
Dubai Myth 4 – It’s Expensive
Dubai is as expensive as you’d like it to be! Yes, it’s a land of excess – some of the luxury hotels in Dubai are among the most expensive in the world – but depending on how much of a treat you’re allowing yourself, you’re sure to find something in your price range.
Ok, so you won’t find any mixed bed hostel dorms to enable you to keep your spending to an absolute minimum, but there are tonnes of reasonably priced hotels. A couple of our favourites are the Ibis Deira City Centre and Arabian Park Hotel.
Other ways to cut down costs include buying flights and accommodation in-advance and using public transport.
Dubai Myth 5 – You Can’t Drink Alcohol
This is a common misconception, and is something what you should know before visiting Dubai. Most of the hotels in Dubai have licences to serve alcohol, as a Muslim country, Dubai is a little more strict on the consumption of alcohol, for example you’ll need a permit to buy it outside in off-licences.
However, most nightlife in Dubai is now confined to within the hotels, meaning you can easily get a drink in a bar, restaurant in a nightclub or enjoy one beside the pool. But beware, alcohol is one of the things that is actually pretty expensive here, you should expect to pay around 10USD for a small beer, so it’s maybe a good excuse to give your liver a holiday too!
Dubai is one of the highlights of the Middle East and hopefully our article has given you some inspiration to see something a little different to the inside of the departure lounge on arrival. You might to also like to check out our useful Arabic phrases for tourists if you want to impress the locals.
