When a person thinks of Dubai, images of wealth and beauty instantly spring to mind. Situated in the United Arab Emirates, its location has helped it to become one of the most important trading hubs in the world.
As of 2012, Dubai established itself as the 22nd most expensive city in the world. With a location full of so much beauty, what could be better than visiting with the added luxury of a cruise ship?
What can I expect in Dubai?
Intricately designed mosques, gargantuan shopping malls, luxurious spas and mile after mile of once uninhabited desert await you in this jewel of a location. It’s definitely a massive cultural hub in comparison to other places you can visit by cruise ship.
One of the astounding things about Dubai is the architecture. There’s a great mix of both traditional and modern architecture which will constantly catch your eye. The diversity of these buildings is as if two beautiful countries combined together to make a singular paradise.
It’s one of the best places to relax and immerse yourself in the culture of the Middle East, sporting some of the most recognisable landmarks that have truly cemented themselves into the history books.
What kind of weather does Dubai have?
Other than the rich businesses in Dubai, this location is well known for its glorious weather. As you sunbathe on the deck of your cruise liner, you’ll be sure to soak up your fair share of rays. In summer you can expect a temperature of 40 degrees, and in the winter months it averages at around 20 degrees.
The majority of cruise liners that sail to Dubai will have balconies, generous deck spaces and open top lounge rooms, allowing you to make the most of the sun no matter where you are.
What are some of the must-see locations in Dubai?
Dolphin Bay
For a lot of people, their dream is to swim with dolphins. People that have been lucky enough to have this experience state how it has had a massive impact on their life. Science has proved that it has been useful as a treatment for depression. If this has been something you’ve always wanted to do, then Dolphin Bay is the place for you.
Dolphins are well known to be friendly with humans, in some cases even saving their lives. Dolphin Bay has a variety of packages you can choose from, all providing an amazing experience that anyone could enjoy. This can range from hugs and kisses from the dolphins, a ride along underwater, and even a game of dolphin catch.
Dolphin bay is the world’s largest dolphin enclosure. If you aren’t comfortable with being in deep water, you are able to watch as a visitor, and it’s definitely well worth doing.
Burj Khalifa
Standing at an impressive 829.8 metres tall, the Burj Khalifa is one of the tallest man made structures that can be found in the world. It features an observation deck which is outdoors, nicknamed ‘at the top’. Here you can find the Behold Telescope. This allows any visitors to view Dubai’s stunning landscape in real time, as well as accessing images saved previously.
What may surprise you is just how versatile the floors are of the Burj Khalifa. Over the 163 floors you can find mechanical floors, communication floors, corporate suites, an observatory, restaurants, residential floors, a sky lobby, and Armani Hotel suites.
It’s truly an amazing sight when you view Dubai from the tallest building in the world. You can try to spot other notable locations as well, although it may be difficult as everyone will look like ants from that high up!
Ski Dubai
We’re sure that you’ll find it hard to believe that you are able to ski in a location that has so much sand and high temperatures, but it really is possible. Part of the Mall of the Emirates (the world’s largest shopping mall), Ski Dubai covers 22,500 square meters of indoor skiing area.
There are five slopes to choose from, with each having a different difficulty and steepness. One of these slopes consists of a 400 metre long trail, being the first indoor black run in the world. On the trails you can find various features that enhance the experience, such as kickers, boxes and rails, and they get changed around on a regular basis to keep things fresh and exciting.
Desert Safari
Obviously, you’ll have heard of safaris before, but much like the rest of Dubai, a desert safari is like no experience you’ve ever had. These tours take you past some of the most beautiful natural sites, and even a camel farm. If you choose the right time you can watch sunsets like you’ve never seen them before.
Once you reach the campsite you can go for a camel ride, try out sand boarding and even have a henna design painted onto your body. Once you’ve worked up a hunger, you can enjoy one of the most divine barbecue dinners you’ve ever tasted. When you eventually return to Dubai you can relax by a campfire after an exhilarating day.
The Dubai Fountain
If you’ve ever visited Vegas and seen the Bellagio, you may think you’ve seen the most amazing fountain display in the world. Dubai blows that out of the water though, by doing it bigger, taller and even louder than America. You may have previously thought that fountains were boring to watch, but wait ‘til you see the Dubai Fountain.
It’s one of the world’s biggest choreographed fountain system in the world, being situated in the manmade lake situated outside of Burj Khalifa. You can expect to see 6,600 lights, 25 coloured projectors, and water being shot 500 feet into the air. And all of that is without mentioning the way the displays are carried out with both traditional and modern music.
Dubai, the place to be
In this blog we’ve only covered a small part of Dubai. There’s just so much to do and enjoy that it’s impossible to describe everything you’ll find there in one piece of writing. It will be one of your most memorable holidays, especially if you choose to visit by cruise ship, sailing across the sea to a place where impossible is possible.