Exploring Dubai beyond the shopping malls

Dubai is most renowned as one of the hottest shopping destinations in the world. But Dubai is so much more than the shopping malls.

The best time to visit is November-March (December being the peak month).

Visa for Indians: Indians can apply for the visas to UAE through the agents or the nearest visa application centers. Now the UAE provides Visa on arrival for Indian passport holders with US green card or residence permits.

Stay: There are numerous 2,3,4 and 5-star hotels that you can book according to your budget. Make sure you compare the prices in various sites before booking the rooms.

Dress code: Dubai is the fashion capital of the UAE and the dress code is very liberal here as compared to the other Emirates. But make sure the dresses don’t offend the locals.

Currency: The currency of the UAE is known as Dirhams(Dh) and 100 fils make a dirham. 1 AED= 17.57 INR.

Things to do in Dubai:

Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort: Dubai fort and museum is situated in the near the creek area.

Entrance: 3Dh

Timings: From Saturday to Thursday, from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM, and Fridays, from 2:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

The place offers insight into the rich cultural heritage of Dubai. There are ancient items like pottery, weapons etc. The place is a must visit in Dubai.

Visit the gold and the spice souks :

Visit the world famous gold souk of Dubai. The gold souk is situated near the Dubai Creek. The visitors remain astonished at the sight of so much gold. All that glitters is gold in the gold souk. The spice souk is quite near the gold souk. You can smell the place before you see it. The tantalizing aroma of all the spices is amazing. Besides the spices, one can get basmati rice, dry fruits, and various other materials in this souk.

Visit the miracle garden and the butterfly garden: This park is the regions' largest flower gardens with around 45 billion flowers blooming at a time. This place is a treat to the eyes. The Garden is closed during summer months. Tickets: 35 AED pp

The Dubai water canal:

This is the newest attractions of Dubai. This is the extension of the Dubai Creek till Business Bay. One can take a cruise ride in the water canal in the evenings or simply take a walk around the place.

Visit the Palm islands and the Atlantis lost chambers aquarium:

I would recommend visitors to take a tram to the Palm Islands (from JLT stop) so as to see the crescents of the palm clearly. The tram tickets cost 30 per person ( to and fro). One can either spend time taking photos outside the Atlantis (in the jogging track) or visit the Aquaventure waterpark or the Lost Chamber aquarium ( entrance starts from 100 Dh)

Go Dune bashing and Desert Safari: Take a Desert safari and enjoy the dune bashing in an SUV. The desert safari costs around 150 Dh per person and it is worth the money. The tour offers you a pickup and drops from the hotel. After the dune bashing, the tourists will be taken to the desert camp site where there will be Tanura show, belly dancing, Hookah bar followed by the dinner at the camp. Though the dinner is not so praiseworthy, the overall experience is amazing and one of the must haves in UAE.

Visit at the top –Burj- Khalifa: Visit the observatory at the top of world’s tallest building at 124th floor. You can view the entire area from the telescope. The tickets cost around 150 Dh per person.

The beaches:

There are many private and public beaches to spend quality time with family here. The Jumeirah beach is a chilled out beach here.One can take awesome snaps of Burj-al-Arab from here.

Kite beach is famous for the kite surfers here, one can enjoy several water sports on this beach.

Barasti Beach: This is a private beach and bar in Dubai and one of the most happening places. There are several events organized here. One can enjoy the chilled beer and hookah sitting on the beach side.

Visit the madinat jumeirah : It is a souk very near to the Jumeirah beach. Visit the souk to check out the souvenirs and local handmade items. There are also good restaurantsand bars in that place.

Enjoy at the global village: The global village is world’s largest exhibition. It features over 25 pavilions showcasing the art, merchandise, and handicrafts of the countries across the globe. This place is a must visit in Dubai. The global village remains open from November to April. Timings: 4 PM- 12 AM. The entrance ticket is 15 Dh per person.