The UAE is a federation of 7 emirates (or provinces if you will) united by spirit and common social, economic and cultural background. The 7 emirates are: Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima, Ajman, and Umm Al Quain. Each emirates has a ruling family that overseas its governance and order.
Traditional Arab hospitality awaits you and it is complemented by unbelievable engineering feats, marvelous infrastructure and world-class amenities. The UAE is one of the world’s fastest growing tourist and business destinations that has mastered economic and political stability.
Moreover, the UAE is super luxurious and ultra flashy, which in turn makes you feel fancy schmancy and indulgent. Although once a complete desert, the UAE still has lots of desert to enjoy so it’s not all sexy concrete jungles.
Now getting here is pretty seamless as there are direct flights from Canada and most other major airport hubs in Europe, Africa and Asia. I recommend coming when the weather is tolerable (Nov-Mar) so one can really enjoy all the outdoor activities this country has to offer.
Food and Beverage
Every cuisine in the world has its unique tastes. The signature of the traditional food of the UAE it’s found in the use of cardamom, thyme, and saffron.
Emirati food reflected the region’s culture, climate, and resources. After discovering oil and with the influx of ex-pats, their cuisine underwent many changes. For instance, chicken is a relatively new addition to the food habit in the UAE. Before that, they used camels, goats, and birds like Houbaras for meat.
Rice was not originally a part of the traditional food of the UAE. A few centuries ago, Emirati Arabs borrowed it from Indian and Persian traders. Before that, the main cereal was wheat. Machboos is the most popular rice dish in Emirati cuisine.
Shakshuka is also a local favorite. It basically just scrambled eggs with tomato and pepper. On top of the tomato, there will be thyme and coriander. Chabab is an Emarati pancake. It’s A thin, crisp, and sweet bread that looks and feels a lot like an American pancake. Some Fennel and a dash of turmeric will make it even better.
Barbican is the perfect drink to wash any food down with. It’s a non- alcoholic malt beverage that was first introduced in the Middle East in 1982. It is a trademark brand of Rani Refreshments. I’m also a huge fan of Rani fruit drinks which are quite refreshing with the extra fruit in the bottom of the can:)
Camel milk and other milk products
The Middle East produces delicious real cream. Camel milk is often used to make milk based products. Camel milk is extremely nutritious. Bedouins used it in their traditional diet until the mid-20th century. It offers all the proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates required to face the harsh desert life. Bedouins also used camel fat and milk as sun protection.
Camel milk is actually low in fat. The fat content of camel milk is approx. 50% lower than of cow’s milk and it contains unsaturated fatty acids. The percentage of “healthy fats” is much higher than in cow’s milk.
Camel milk is also incredibly rich in natural vitamin C. It’s a natural immune booster that helps soothes skin allergies and lower cholesterol there fire it is a great choice for people who suffer from diabetes. Surprisingly, there are no known allergies to camel milk, as opposed to common allergies to cow milk. Camels and their milk ROCK!!!!!!!
Things to do in Dubai
Oof, where do I start? When I first started coming here in 2009, this city didn’t look like it does today. It has been built up and its popularity as a result is unmatched. The city of Dubai has its own charm and it is a city of engineering firsts and world record holding in several capacities. For a city that is relatively new, everything that Dubai has now it has only been attained in the last 50-60 years. It used to be a sparsely populated desert with fishing villages and trading posts. Today, is home to various nationalities, in fact only 19% of the population is local in Dubai. The rest are expats enjoying the massive skyscrapers, extravagant lifestyles, colourful nightlife, and exquisite wonders. Among the 7 emirates, it is no wonder that Dubai is considered the most progressive and enticing of all the emirates.
The Dubai Frame
Rising 150 meters above Zabeel Park, the “World’s Largest Picture Frame” opened in 2018. This structure separates Old Dubai from New Dubai and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the skyline while framing views of some of the country’s most iconic buildings like the Burj Khalifa. Visiting can ascend the structure to its 93-meter-long viewing bridge. Once you get to the top, the viewing bridge features a glass-floored walkway which is part terrifying and part amazing!
The Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is the world’s largest destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure, located next to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. the The mall is home to over 1,200 retail stores, a skating rink, the Dubai aquarium, 2 major department stores and hundreds of food and beverage outlets. The Dubai Mall covers an area equivalent to 200 football fields, it’s literally massive!
The Dubai Mall’s fashion portfolio encompasses everything from the likes of Zara, Lululemon, H&M and the GAP, to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Ballengicia, Chanel and Dior to name but a few. Some even have complimentary cafés and restaurants while you decide on your purchase. Many of these high end stores are by order so you would have to wait at least a week to 10 days to get your pre-ordered bag.
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater zoo
This aquarium is actually in the Dubai Mall and at its highest, it rises to the third floor. It is among the city’s most popular attractions enjoyed by adults and children alike. It is home to 140 species of sea life and offers many incredible ways to experience the underwater world.
You basically stroll through a 48-metre tunnel, with the aquarium enveloping you from overhead and around. It’s a complete fish-eye view, with sand tiger sharks and stingrays swimming overhead.
The aquarium also has an impressive amphibian, reptile and desert creature displays. We also got to see sloths, sugar gliders, owls, bats, penguins and parrots:). The 2 ginormous salt water crocodiles were very intimidating especially when you stand in the look through glass above their enclosure.
The Burj Khalifa
Everything about the Burj is over the top and involves huge numbers. For example: there were more than 12,000 people from all over the world who worked on the construction of this masterful building. And: approximately 26,000 hand-cut glass panels were used on the exterior cladding of the building. The Burj Khalifa has residential, office and hotel floors plus a ton of cool shops and restaurants. Would you believe that it takes about 3 months to clean the outside of the building from the top to the bottom? That’s because it stands at 828 meters high (2722 ft). When ascending to the observation decks, your ears actually pop on the elevator ride up. The Burj Khalifa’s stature is impressive and intimidating at the same time.
The individual stalks that rise out around the central spire deflect most wind around the building. Chief structural engineer Bill Baker calls it “confusing the wind”. The Burj Khalifa is designed to sustain seismic activities to a certain degree and it move in any direction about 1.5 meters. True story!
Not only is Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building but it has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure, previously held by the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, and tallest free-standing structure, previously held by Toronto’s CN Tower. There are a total of 166 floors in this building and the VIP observation floors start at floor 148. Once you get there, it feels like you are flying in a plane because that’s how your brain interprets the height…like looking out an airplane window at 3000ft.
Sand Dune Bashing in the desert
What is dune bashing you might wonder? Well, it’s means driving at increasing and decreasing speed intervals due to the surface of the sand that continues to shift. It actually takes a special skill and a special type of car to navigate the terrain. It’s one part exhilarating, one part nauseating from the motion lol
Desert sand dune bashing in the red desert sand outside of Dubai is a delightful way to spend an afternoon or evening. Most tour operators offer camel riding, falconry introduction, belly dancing entertainment, BBQ’s as well as dune bashing. Truth be told, this is one of my all time favorite things to do in any middle eastern country. Being in the desert is humbling and gives me such focus, probably because I feel so small and vulnerable amongst the grains of sand.
Jumeriah Beach
This public beach (also known as Sunset Beach) is perfect for snapping selfies with the Burj Al Arab as a backdrop. The wide, sandy strip has great infrastructure, including toilets, showers, changing cubicles, rental bikes and wi-fi via Smart Palms. There’s also a short floodlit section for nighttime swimming.
The View at the Palm, Jumeirah
This experience is a must see when visiting Dubai. The building stands at 248 meters tall and has 52 floors inside. The observation deck provides a stunning 360 degree view of the world’s most expensive piece of real estate, the Palms man-made islands. Time slots are booked online and are awarded in 30 minute blocks. The busiest time of day starts around 1630 until it’s close at 2100. To be honest, I was completely underwhelmed with this activity in part because I was expecting a better and more comprehensive view.
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai (located in the Mall of the Emirates) was officially opened in November 2005. Its indoor artificial snow resort features an 85-metre-high indoor mountain (equivalent to a 25-story building) and comes with 5 slopes of varying steepness and difficulty for skiing and snowboarding).
It also has a 400-metre-long run, which incidentally is the world’s first indoor black diamond run. A chairlift and a tow lift ferries skiers and snowboarders up the mountain. Equipment such as skis and jackets are provided with the ticket and one can buy equipment in the nearby stores. Yes, this happens here…buying equipment for this attraction. Adjacent to the slopes is a snow park play area that has sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, giant snowballs and an ice cave.
Penguin Encounter
Ski Dubai is also home to a 10 of each of Gentoo and King penguins species (equally divided between male and females) who are let out of their enclosures several times a day to interact with people. Gentoo and King penguins are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. This is largely because of apparent significant population declines on the sub-Antarctic islands on which they live. Melting ice due to climate change severely impacts the survival rate of birthing penguins as they need to stay dry. When ice melts, the baby penguins get wet (because they are born with feathers and feathers don’t dry when wet) and stay wet without any recourse to be able to stay dry. Sadly, this leaves them to die slowly from the cold. Yes, climate is real and its effects are felt by the world’s most vulnerable populations! In fact, scientists studying penguin colonies in the Antarctic were amongst the first to witness the devastating effects of melting ice.
Unlike many other penguin species, Gentoo penguins rear two chicks a year opposed to one. Gentoo penguins have long tails that sweep from side to side as they walk, giving them the most prominent tail of any penguin species. Male and female gentoo penguins take turns incubating their eggs, which lasts for 34 to 37 days. How gender equal of them!
King penguins are the second largest of the penguin species. They are the closest relatives of Emperor penguins. Kings are thinner and the colouration of their ear patches differs from that of emperors. Their flippers are larger in proportion to their body size than those of emperors. King penguins do not build a nest, but incubate the eggs on their feet.
These penguins tend to form large, dense colonies and several hundred thousand breeding pairs occupy the largest populations (found at South Georgia and Crozet islands). The colonies occupy beaches, valleys and moraines free of snow and ice. They prefer level ground near the sea. At Ski Dubai, there are 5 married couples of these soft and silky species!
The Gold Souk
A trip to Dubai isn’t complete without a visit to the famous Gold Souk, one of the oldest and most fascinating traditional markets in the Emirates. Whether you’re just browsing, or genuinely on the hunt for even the smallest amount of precious gold, walk through the glittering bazaar to find designs from around the world crafted with a variety of carats.
Back in the 1940s, traders from India and Iran operated their stalls in the Deira area of what is now the sprawling metropolis of Dubai. Today the Gold Souk has an estimated 10 tons of gold present at any given time and the narrow lanes are lined with over 300 retailers dealing almost exclusively in gold. The Gold Souk is supposed to be one of the cheapest places in the world to buy gold. The government keeps tight control over the quality of the merchandise in the stores, so rest assured that any purchased made at the Gold Souk are genuine.
I spent my 50th birthday in Dubai so naturally my husband opted to buy me some 21k gold. Both pieces together were around 10 grams and cost under 1000 CAD. Gold prices will vary as it depends what the price of gold is for that day. On the day we went shopping it was 82 CAD per gram. In one store, the shopkeeper asked my husband how many wives he had. Now given the locale, that really isn’t an odd question however, what made it funnier was the fact that there was a gentleman at the counter beside us who had brought his 4 wives in to buy them all gold. My husband responded with “I couldn’t afford another wife” lol
The Dubai Miracle Garden
For the last decade, as the weather begins to cool at the onset of winter, the gates reopen at Dubai Miracle Garden making November a perfect time to visit. This is the world’s largest natural flower garden that is home more than 150 million flowers.
The flowers here are in full bloom, and cover an area of 72,000 square meters.This flower heaven is a walkable paradise that is colorful, creative, picturesque and sweet smelling and the perfect self-care activity.
Dubai Miracle Garden is botanical dream come true from peacock shaped display to the heart-shaped archways, every corner of the garden promises a visual treat. Enjoying it will help you decompress as you surround yourself with nature, I promise!
Deep Dive Dubai
Boasting a record-breaking depth of 60 meters, with multiple levels, Deep Dive Dubai provides a whole range of amazing and unique scuba and freediving opportunities. In 2022, Freediving champion Alexey Molchanov set a new record after he swam to the bottom of Deep Dive Dubai and back up to the surface in 57 seconds.
This stunning underwater attraction is like a discovery park and is themed to resemble an abandoned sunken city inspired by the UAE’s rich pearl-diving heritage. It’s nothing short of an engineering marvel! I was actually quite surprised at how small the surface of the pool was compared to the actual size of the tank itself. This building is so state of the art that it is equipped with its own medical facility and a luxurious decompression chamber.
The pool is 200 feet deep making it four times larger than the previous record holding dive center. It currently holds 3.7 million gallons of water and the water is kept at a balmy 30 degrees Celsius. The pool is equipped with 56 cameras to ensure eyes are always on divers. Additionally, there are modern State-of-the-art lighting, technology and sound systems located in the water to create various themes and atmospheres for divers.
Zabeel Palace
Zabeel Palace is the home of Sheikh Rashid, UAE’s former prime minister. It is constructed in the Zabeel area, which was formerly just bare land covered with sand. Today, it is surrounded by all the glitzy buildings that make up the skyline of Dubai. This palace was constructed in the 1960s and was used as a residence till the 90s. The Arabic word ‘Zabeel’ stands for ‘Thanks’.
The Atlantis, Palm
This Dubai icon is not only a 5 star hotel but the ultimate foodie destination. Options range from celebrity chef restaurant Nobu, Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Dubai’s all-time favourite hangout Wavehouse.
We booked a table at Plato’s in the Atlantis Palm for afternoon high tea and the experience that goes with that. The decor was exquisite, specifically the spiralling shell located in Coffee & Tea lounge. The inspiration for its design clearly came from the ocean. The chandelier is comprised of approximately 35,000 cut beads in three shades of blue. To create the illusion of being underwater, about 4500 almond trimmings on 180 hanging points float around the shell. It is simply mesmerizing!
And the food….well I’ll just post some pics since they are a perfect mouth watering visual descriptor!
The Atlantis Aquadventure Waterpark
This is the world’s biggest waterpark and it is home over 105 slides, attractions and countless experiences!
We came to conquer the world’s tallest water slide: The Odyssey of Terror and it did not disappoint. The zero gravity experience was thrilling to say the least. There are a variety of rides that you can do on tubes (single or double), carpets, body or by big tube that fits 5-6 people. The park has so much more to offer than just water slides. The rapids for example were cool; you put on a life jackets and let the current take you down rapids which is super relaxing!
The Lost Chambers Aquarium which houses 65,000 marine animals, is also brilliant and you can enjoy motorised and non-motorized water sports while in the park. There is also resident dolphins and sea lions at Atlas Village and the park offers interactions with them as well.
The Shark Tank water tubing slide was epic! To complete it you have to bear the majority of it in a dark tube all the way down until you hit the aquarium. You basically come out in the aquarium in a clear tunnel running through it as the sand, nurse and black-tip reef sharks swim around you.
The Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque
Inspired by the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the design follows a similar Ottoman style with Andalusian influences. The Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque is one of the first mosques to open its doors to non-Muslims and boasts a visually stunning architecture both inside and out. Its height is around 30 metres and is one of the biggest in the UAE, accommodating up to 2,000 worshippers.
Things to do in Abu Dhabi
Home to soaring skyscrapers, dazzling and glitzy hotels and an opulent traditional city centre, This Capital city is the richest in the world and occupies most of a small triangular island of the same name, just off the Persian Gulf coast. One of the UAE’s most famous emirates, the once laid-back fishing village transformed into a mad and modern city-state in just four decades. Japanese architect Dr Takahashi, with guidance from Sheikh Zayad, designed the city in 1967. Originally built for 40,000 people, today it can accommodate over 600,000 people.
It is home to the Capital Gate Building, also known as the “Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi”, is a 35-storey skyscraper that reaches over 160 metres (520 ft) high. It inclines at an angle of 18° westward, which is 14° more than Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s most ambitious urban planning experiments. The UAE first announced its plans for an innovative city in 2008. It was set to be the first-ever human settlement with no negative environmental impact….that means zero waste, zero carbon and fed by recycled water.
Fun Fact: Most bus stops in Abu Dhabi are fitted with air conditioners, seats and floor-to-ceiling glass panes, so you won’t miss out on the views. Currently, over 100 bus stops feature the facilities, though there are plans to build more. That’s one way to beat the heat!
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
When you enter Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. People from all over the world and from different walks of life come together to take in the architectural grandeur and beauty. Standing in front of it does give you a deeper understanding of religion, culture and dedication in the UAE. The mosque is one of the world’s largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – the Founding Father of the UAE.
Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall’s carpet which is the world’s largest.
As you make your way through the marbled halls, you’ll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard’s vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst & jasper embedded columns. When you’re outside, the sheer size and height of the mosque’s 4 stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 meters are enough to leave you amazed.
The Corniche
Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Road stretches across an impressive eight kilometres of uniformly manicured waterfront that includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants, and the stunning view of the ocean.
The beach is home to turquoise water and a soft white sand shoreline and it also boasts a gorgeous seaside boardwalk, with well-kept walkways. Each side of the walkway is adorned with manicured gardens and benches overlooking the picturesque Arabian Gulf.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the epitome of luxury in sun-kissed Abu Dhabi. These world famous and exclusive accommodations are palatial; each guest room and suite is steeped in Arabian decor, has a private balcony or terrace, and offers 24-hour butler service for suites! This place is too extra:) There are 14 dining venues serving unique concepts, tantalizing even the most discerning of palates. There’s also the Emirates equipped with 167 berths.
Ferrari World
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is known for many record-breaking achievements, but it’s also known for its striking red roof blazoned with Ferrari’s iconic prancing horse logo. It is home to more than 20 record-breaking attractions, including the highest loop ride, and it all happens underneath the tallest space-frame structure on the planet.
Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like riding the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa. Riders will get to experience what it feels like to go from from 0 to 240km/h in 4.9 seconds while soaring 52 metres in the air.
Worth the visit or not: WORTH
The UAE is a bucket list destination that is sure to blow your mind. It offers unique experiences and epic activities! Dubai is certainly worth visiting for anywhere from 6 to 10 days. Dubai is a cosmopolitan and modern city in the UAE with luxury resorts and futuristic skyscrapers. It’s an ultramodern city with a luxurious vibe decorated with many manmade wonders. As desert cities go, the luxury shopping malls and unique adventures that tourists can experience, Dubai is certainly enticing.
The architecture in these parts is next level! From incredibly tall skyscrapers, to stunning palaces, it’s unquestionable that the UAE really did a great job when it comes to construction. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two cities that will truly wow your senses and blow your mind when it comes to epic activities.
There is an expectation in this part of the world to be treated like royalty, so this is the gold standard for anyone that is traveling to the UAE. While we felt it was a bit over the top from what we are used to, this is definitely something that will make travelers have a glitzy, glamorous and stress-free vacation. Arabic hospitality is second to none. People are kind, helpful, respectful and this is reflected in the zero crime rates in the UAE
Finally, the food is to die for. Having hummus for breakfast is my way of starting off the day happy and energized! But besides Middle Eastern options for cuisine, the UAE is a hub for international cuisines of all types and fusions! I always seem to eat my way through the Middle East and this only one of the many, many reasons why I love this part of the world so much.
Happy Travels 🙂