With all that is going on in the world, you may be forgiven in thinking that you might not get to try other cultures or see iconic landmarks for some time.
Whilst we can’t travel right now, we can dream. Once travel is on the agenda again, you might be surprised at some of the destinations that will be available, some you may not have considered as a holiday destination – like Abu Dhabi & Dubai.
One of those might very well be the amazing sister cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Most people just see them as stopover points en-route to Europe, but in reality, they are much more than that in their own right. To be fair, until we visited them, our knowledge was really limited to the image of the Burj Khalifa, desert safaris and Arab sheikhs.
Let’s sort out some of the myths that may have stopped you considering Abu Dhabi or Dubai..
It’s just a desert, nothing much to do there
Absolutely not! This may have been the case but now, they are both incredible cities, skyscrapers, full of bustling restaurants, and there is so much culture there to see and experience. Both have so much to do, there are many excursions and fun tours (we LOVED the Desert Safari) Dubai is now acknowledged as a global hub for shopping and entertainment and the ultimate holiday destination.
We have to cover up at all times
This misconception is pretty common, but Abu Dhabi and Dubai are a lot more relaxed than other parts of the UAE etc. There is a certain common courtesy involved with what might be considered appropriate in public, but women anywhere in UAE are not required to cover themselves from head to toe. If you are visiting a mosque you will be asked to wear acceptable clothing, men should wear long sleeved pants and a sleeved shirt, women should wear a skirt that covers the knees or pants and a shirt that covers your shoulders. You will be provided with an “abaya” anyway and if you do not have your own head scarf, they will also provide you with that. But aside from that, and recognising courtesies, you have no other requirements at all!
They are really expensive
Sure, popular opinion is that it is full of billionaires, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to being an expensive destination. Shopping is a major pastime there, travel back in time to the bustling souks, from perfumes to textiles to dig through swathes of brightly coloured silks and embroidered fabrics. Dubai also offers a modern take on the Arabian market. Souk Madinat Jumeirah in Madinat Jumeirah and Souk Al Bahar overlooking the Dubai Fountain both make great souvenir stops.
What will I eat? What if I am vegetarian?
There are multiple food options, whatever you are in the mood for, you can find it. Snack on Arabic mezze or dim sum, explore the dazzling variety of street eats or wear your glamorous best to dine at a Michelin-worthy restaurant.
There is definitely lots of choice. While Emirati cuisine is generally meat heavy, there are plenty of vegetarian joints that serve Indian traditional vegetarian food. With the emerging trend of veganism taking the world by storm, Dubai is all set to welcome the world’s biggest vegan friendly restaurant – Veganity.
It is so hot
Yes, if you travel in the summer (our winter) we would have to agree, with temperatures rising up to even 50 degrees. All the buildings have air-conditioning, and with some of the world’s best indoor theme parks and water parks, there are plenty of places to cool off. May to August is definitely the worst time, the ideal months to visit Dubai would be from December to March.
Alcohol is prohibited there:
Something very close to the hearts of the Viva team! We can tell you that you can definitely drink there in restaurants or some of the best nightclubs and pubs. Though carrying alcohol or being intoxicated in public is against the law, there are no legal rulings against the purchase of liquor from licensed shops.
Want to talk to one of our team members for more information? Click below!
