Dubai was better than I feared.
I must admit that I doubted whether I would like Dubai and arrived with prejudices that it was not for a budget traveller. And yes, fine-budget hotels and cheap accommodations are difficult to find. However, I did find a lovely Airbnb flat. It was not very central, but still, for the price, I was happy, even if it meant I had to spend between 30 minutes and one hour to see many of the sights.
Why go to the United Arab Emirates in the first place?
After hitchhiking and travelling around Oman for almost two weeks and knowing there was a sufficient bus going between Muscat and Dubai, I thought it would be stupid not to take the opportunity. It sounds cheesy to say that I felt I had to go to Dubai. But I had no urge to go there, just like Qatar, Bahrain, or Kuwait. However, it is difficult to be convinced that a place is terrible before visiting it. And most places deserve an opportunity to prove me wrong!
I will split my posts for the United Arab Emirates as follows:
- Dubai, in general, and first impressions
- Dubai, museums and interesting sites
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi
Easy to get around in Dubai
It is pretty easy to get around in Dubai, but there are long distances. And if you plan to walk, there is so much construction going on that suddenly, the road you had planned to walk loses its sidewalk or is closed altogether. The Metro is an excellent way to get around; even though it is only one line along the whole city, it is pretty far away from the sea, for example. I arrived in the afternoon and went to my flat first. It started to get dark, but I went to the JBR walkway bridge and saw all the skyscrapers lit up and the restaurant boats floating on the artificial river by Dubai Marina.
I guess many tourists shop in Dubai. Thankful for my project of travelling light with just a handbag, I have no space for more luggage, so I am exempt from shopping. One of the giant shopping malls is Dubai Mall. I had to walk through there to get to the back, see the fountain music show, and see the lighting up of the world’s highest building, Burj Khalifa. The Mall is so large that I had big problems finding the way to the Metro when I wanted to leave.
Artificial islands
As many seaport cities have experienced over the last decades, the trend is to build artificial islands. This is also the case in Dubai, of course. Dubai may be one of the most creative in this sense, and I am thinking about the Palm Jebel Ali. Unfortunately, when you are close to it, or even on the island, you can not see what an extraordinary project this must have been. You must know the map or fly a drone to capture this unique, intricate island. A private Metro Line is going out to this island.
I just took the Metro to the end and back again because I did not have much time that day, but I wanted to glimpse how the rich and famous spent their money. And I got to take a picture of the Atlantis the Palm.
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab
The last thing I want to write about in this post may be Dubai’s most well-known landmark. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Hotel. Again, without a drone or the possibility of going offshore, getting a good shot of this waste building is not easy. The security of entering the premises seemed strict as well. I saw some people try to enter but were refused at the gate, so I did not even try. However, I did get an okay view of it from the public beach, which was not too far from the complex.
What are my impressions?
First, I admit that I am attracted to large metropolises like NYC, Hong Kong, and Singapore. So, Dubai is in the same category in terms of high skyscrapers, glass buildings, and modern architecture. I do not miss seeing poor people and run-down places, but you get a feeling that the whole city is built up as a facade. It is common knowledge that people from abroad build up the country, and I have seen the buses they are transported in. I can only imagine where they are stored up for the night. Therefore, the city has a bitter/sweet taste. Secondly, as in most arab countries, the LGBT+ rights community does not exist. But this does not mean that the gay apps and things are not happening here as well. You can also find tiny cousy Tea houses if you keep your eyes open.
