The first thing you want to do, once again in Dubai, is to make up for the lost impressions of visiting local attractions. It is difficult to refuse a walk through the territory of the Madinat Jumeirah hotel complex, which is located at the edge of the azure waters of the Persian Gulf, surrounded by a lush park and beautiful water channels and consisting of the two most luxurious hotels in the United Arab Emirates - “Mina A'Salam” (Mina A'Salam Hotel), Al Qasr Hotel, as well as twenty-nine summer and seven royal villas. The architecture of this complex is a true oriental citadel, where exquisite luxury and sophistication are combined with centuries-old historical and cultural traditions. It is also worth looking at the indoor eastern market located next door to feel like the heroine of an oriental fairy tale, to breathe in the most astringent and spicy smells of the Arab world, which, in my opinion, are most felt here.
Moving further towards the Old Town area, one cannot help but linger at the “singing” Dubai Fountain, built on an artificial lake, which is the most expensive and largest fountain in the world with special effects. But to stay there, it is worthwhile to stand still and enjoy ... The height of the jets of this miracle of engineering rises to a height of a 50-storey building - 150 m, and the width of its bowl is more than 275 meters. In addition to technical innovations, the fountain has a unique design consisting of five circles of various sizes and two arches. A special nozzle system allows both to shoot water high up and to spray it with various bizarre shapes. During the operation of the fountain, at each individual moment in time, about 100 thousand liters of water are in a sprayed state.
Water extravaganza harmoniously moves to the sound of music framed by a light show. More than 6,600 state-of-the-art lamps are used to illuminate the Dubai Fountain, and 25 multi-colored spotlights give in combination more than 1000 different color and light compositions. At night, a fountain glow is observed from space, and bright reflections from the laser show spread over 20 km around.
Thanks to its design, the Dubai Fountain combines the dance of water, music and light into a single composition, when flowers of unprecedented sizes and shapes alternately blossom, then vertical jets soar to the music, creating new silhouettes and colors. The fountain is accompanied by the sound of selected compositions of Arabic folk music and classical music performed by world-class orchestras.
Without leaving the Old Town area, it’s worth going up to the “At The Top” observation deck, located nearby in the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper (Burj Khalifa, 828 meters). The site occupies the entire 124th floor and not only provides the opportunity to enjoy the views of the city from such a height, but also to appreciate the scale of the architectural and engineering miracle that the whole world speaks of. From the very beginning of the "ascent", the history of Dubai and the history of the construction of the Burj Khalifa building, presented with modern multimedia tools, gradually unfold before visitors. Ascent to the 124th floor is carried out using a two-tier elevator, each of which accommodates up to 14 people. It moves at a speed of 10 meters per second. Already directly on the observation deck through the glass walls you can admire the panorama of the day or night city. Special telescopes make it possible to travel through time - through them you can see in the smallest details the surroundings of a skyscraper, as well as see how they looked in the past and how they will look in the future, and at any time of the day. You can go to the outdoor terrace and feel the height differently. By the way, do not deny yourself the pleasure of admiring the Dubai Fountain again, the view of which is amazing from a 500-meter height. Water jets draw intricate bends, and it seems that this invisible oriental craftswoman embroiders a pattern on a black canvas with golden threads.
Fortunately, this picture can be observed once every half an hour, from 18.00 to 22.00 daily. And visiting the observation deck is not limited in time, and you can be there as much as you like. Traveling to the “top of the world” will cost 100 dirhams (US $ 27.3) for adults and 75 dirhams (US $ 20) for children under 12 years old. For children under 3 years, admission is free.
It is no coincidence that I began my story not with one of the most expensive and luxurious hotels in the world, “Burj Al Arab”, popularly known as the “sail”, since its visit is not free. This hotel stands in the sea at a distance of 280 meters from the coast on an artificial island connected to the coast by a bridge, at the beginning of which there is a checkpoint where the visitor will have to indicate the reason why he is eager to get into the hotel. There are not many reasons known to me.
The first and, of course, the main one is the direct accommodation at the Burj Al Arab hotel. It has many restaurants, the most famous of which is Al Muntaha, located at an altitude of 200 meters above the Persian Gulf, and offering breathtaking views of the sea and the city of Dubai. Ascent to it is made on a panoramic elevator. Another restaurant, AlMahara (from Arabic: “oyster”), into which visitors are delivered on a ship simulating a submarine, is decorated with a huge aquarium with sea water with a capacity of more than a million liters. If you book a table in advance in one of them, the security guard at the checkpoint will check this information with his list and let you in the hotel lobby. This is the second reason that will open the doors of the world famous hotel and, finally, the third: pop stars, including Russian, often perform in their banquet hall with their programs, you can also attend concerts by purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets cost 650-2000 dirhams (US $ 177-546).
The unique building of the Burj Al Arab Hotel of unusual architecture, built in the form of a mast with a sail, is faced with double Teflon-coated glass. The most sophisticated materials were used for interior decoration: marble, precious wood, natural stone, leather, and precious metals. Huge windows all over the wall provide fantastic panoramic views.
In about 10 minutes by car or taxi (the cost will be no more than 10 dirhams, this is less than US $ 3) you can reach the man-made bulk island Palm Jumeirah, symbolizing the richness of luxury and harmony of well-being. This unique location is a 30-minute drive from Dubai International Airport. It allows people living on Palm Jumeirah to enjoy sea sunrises and sunsets everyday and be warmed by the bright rays of the sun on a golden sandy beach, cooled by a sea breeze with a light cool in the evenings.
This artificial island is located in the Persian Gulf in close proximity to the best shopping and entertainment centers, business centers, parks and entertainment in Dubai. Stylistically, Palm Jumeirah resembles a date palm - a cult tree of local residents, it consists of three elements: a "crescent" (Crescent), a "crown" of 17 branches (Crown) and a "trunk" (Trunk). It is worth noting that Palm Jumeirah has enormous dimensions: the diameter of the island is 6 km, and the length of the outer radius of the breakwater is about 12 km, and all this man-made beauty is visible from space.
The Dubai authorities also took care of transport links by connecting Dubai and Palm Jumeirah with a monorail line. A submarine longitudinal multi-lane tunnel has been laid in Palm Jumeirah, connecting the base of the "palm" with its "crown" and the "crescent", which serves as a breakwater. In the very center of the “crescent” is the Atlantis The Palm Hotel Dubai, which occupies an area of 46 hectares, 17 of which are reserved for the aquatic theme park Aquaventure.
The most unusual feature of this resort is perhaps the artificial ecosystem, one of the largest in the world, inhabited by 65 thousand marine animals, including several dozen dolphins. The idea of a grandiose project recreates the fabulous atmosphere of ancient myths: a magnificent palace with a giant arch and towers crowned with bizarre domes with twisted spiers, exquisite works of art, magnificent sculptures and wall paintings wonderfully intertwine here with traditional Arabic style. Without even staying at this hotel, it is possible to try the magic cuisine that is offered to all guests in the Japanese restaurant Nobu or in the restaurant with international cuisine Kaleidoscope, the average bill for which at lunchtime will be about 200 dirhams (about US $ 54).
Talking about cultural sights can take a very long time, but it’s worth a little to cover the active and entertaining side of your stay in Dubai. Active activities include parasailing, aerostat flying, helicopter rides over the city, hydroplane flying, parachuting, ski slalom in the sand dunes, swimming with sharks, shooting with firearms, go-kart racing, kiting, surfing, polo polo camels. Horse races, camel races, Formula 1 races on the water, air races, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments and many other interesting entertainments are held annually.
Magnificent water parks will be able to diversify leisure and offer a wide selection of entertainment for every taste and budget. The world-famous WildWadi, the big and cheerful Wonderland, the most distant and democratic Dreamland, the respectable and ambitious Aquaventure and the new conceptual "ice" Ice Land Water Park will not leave indifferent either an adult or a child. The cost of visiting water parks varies from 100 to 225 dirhams (US $ 27-61) for an adult.
You can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in numerous parks, which, like oases, are scattered everywhere. Parks are usually adapted for family vacations and picnics. For children, there are necessarily specially equipped playgrounds and attractions.
One of the most popular areas among foreigners is considered to be Dubai Marina. You can get from the airport to it by taxi or metro. The cost of taxi services will be approximately 80 dirhams (about US $ 22).
The fare in the Dubai Metro depends on the distance of the trip, as well as on the class of the car. The price of a regular class trip varies from AED 1.80 (about US $ 0.5) to AED 5.80 (about US $ 1.6). A smart card is used as a ticket in the metro, the account on which can always be replenished in prepaid machines, or through specially equipped ticket offices. Tickets are checked at the entrance and exit of the metro through turnstiles.
The coastal complex "Dubai Marina" is a unique "city in the city" where life is in full swing. Along the entire length of the majestic promenade are chic boutiques, coastal restaurants and cafes. Magnificent scenery is complemented by lush green courtyards and private gardens with bike paths and alleys.
Dubai Marina is a luxury apartment designed by author with a wide selection of exclusive amenities for relaxation, shopping and entertainment. Dubai Marina is one of the few man-made structures on the planet that can be seen from space with the naked eye. Walking along the evening "promenade" you can meet representatives of almost all nationalities, cultures and religions. It is so magical and pleasant to look into one of the coastal cafes, meet friends, enjoy a fresh drink and enjoy the sounds of instruments played by street musicians.
Dubai's equally active entertainment includes shopping. Shopping in Dubai is a cult phenomenon, combining a pleasant pastime with useful acquisitions. In Dubai shopping centers, everything is thought out to the smallest detail - from car parks to entertainment centers. Moving through the mazes of the malls and catching the smells of oriental aromas, you are immersed in a relaxed atmosphere that turns every purchase into a pleasure. In modern Dubai, there are more than forty large shopping centers, led by the flagship giant Dubai Mall, where 450 stores are located under one roof on an area of 1.2 million square meters. You can buy absolutely everything in Dubai - from cheap consumer goods to luxury goods represented by the best world brands. The variety of goods is striking and it is not surprising that in this sea of plenty you can get lost. The best and most famous shopping centers in Dubai include the above-mentioned Dubai Mall, as well as the Mall of the Emirats, Mercato Mall, Festival City Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Outlet Mall, Burjuman Center. Children shopping is not a hindrance.
You can always spot your child on the playground. They are at any shopping center. Here, the kids will be looked after and will not let them get bored. For this, labyrinths, a railway, mini-golf fields, waterfalls, swing-carousels were built.
In Deira, on the back of the Old Market, there is Sikkat al-Hale ("horse trail"). To the right of it begins the famous Golden Market, whose sparkling display cases will impress anyone.
The market brings together more than 300 shops. Here you can buy any jewelry (18-21 carat gold), 24 carat ingots (pure gold) of various shapes and weights, as well as gold coins. Pearls and precious stones are also sold, the choice of which is wide due to the absence of restrictions on export and import. Gold prices vary with world prices. The cost of the product depends mainly on the weight, but, as a rule, a small allowance is made for design and work.
Individual orders are completed in 5-7 days. Endless chains wound on reels can be sold either by weight or by length. In such cases, the price does not include the cost of the lock and its installation. If you buy expensive jewelry or a few things, bargaining is not only possible, but also necessary. The new Gold Market is part of the traditional Gold Market and continues on to Al Khor Street. In neighboring streets, they sell hookahs and traditional long-nosed Arab coffee pots dalla; here are bakeries with tandoor ovens, in which Arabian cakes are baked.
On the east coast, at the beginning of Dubai Creek, is the picturesque Fish Market, which operates from 6.30 to 14.00 and from 19.00 to 00.00. In the early morning and late evening you can see fishermen unloading mountains of fresh fish, shellfish, the famous blue spiny lobsters, huge shrimp found on the Iranian coast.
This is a true Gulf Fish Museum. Small fish are sold in minimum quantities of 2 kg. Large clean right there - in the "cutting shop", to observe the work in which it is a pleasure.
"Pleasure" is the key word! It is important for everyone who has visited or is going to visit this extraordinary city! This feeling does not leave the guests throughout the trip, and they certainly want to share after returning to their homeland.
