Living in Dubai

We have included a little video here to get your taste buds excited about all there is to offer in the Emirates. There really is something for everybody – however don’t feel you have to do it all in the first few months! The best time to get out into the desert for example is between October and April when the weather is absolutely beautiful! There are 7 emirates to discover and each and every one is worth the visit and very different from each other! From diving on the East Coast, to Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, make the most of your down time and explore all that the UAE and Dubai has to offer. It’s not all brunches and shopping!

There are many different activities to suit anyone who either visits or lives in Dubai. Dubai can be easily enjoyed with popular places to entertain everyone!

Go to the Waterparks
The two most popular waterparks in Dubai are Wild Wadi and Atlantis. However, we found Dreamland to be extremely good for our young children!

Go to Ski Dubai
Located in Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is a well-known indoor ski resort that can be enjoyed all year round. With Ski Dubai having the largest indoor snow park in the world; it is easy to see why it would keep you entertained for hours with activities that include skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding or even watching the penguins!

Go on a Desert Safari
Whether you are visiting or living in Dubai the experience is not completed until you have had a day out on a desert safari. A desert safari in Dubai is a day full of exciting activities such as dune bashing, camel riding and henna followed by the most popular activity: sand boarding down deep and daring sand dunes. The desert safari is then completed with an evening of entertainment as well as a BBQ dinner.

Go to the Observation Deck
Dubai is home to the tallest building in the world otherwise known as the Burj Khalifa. Going to the observation deck is a once in a life time experience that you will always remember!

Go to the Mall
For something simpler, going to the mall is also a way to keep busy on the weekend or in the summer months. Dubai is well known for its malls with the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates being the most popular.

Go to the Beach
Dubai has some of the most attractive beaches and visiting them is very popular with teenagers if they are looking to do something with friends. The Dubai beaches are best to visit in the winter. Check out the many attractions and cafes at the recently developed Kite Beach.

Buy an Entertainer
The Entertainer books (and apps) are a must buy – full of hundreds of buy 1 get 1 free vouchers for meals, cafes, days out and experiences. They cost £60 equivalent each but will save you £100s.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Brunch! Saturday brunch is a must. Explore them – there are so many on offer with huge variations in price and tastes
If eating and drinking all you want in the day doesn’t take your fancy, find an evening brunch
Find a happy hour or two – Dubai doesn’t have to be expensive. Almost every bar will have one offering discounts, half price, buy 1 get 1 free etc
Ladies nights (sorry men!) – different nights dependent on location offering either free or discounted drinks for ladies, some also include snacks
Try to catch a passing show. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi host a wide variety of performers and shows and there are regular gigs at Sandance at Atlantis

Sights

Dubai Creek and Souqs – sights, sounds and smells. Spend a whole 2 dirhams and travel the Creek on an abra too
Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque is a coach ride (or car) away. Stay overnight and explore the capital of the UAE
JBR has a nice ‘European’ style promenade with lots of chain style restaurants
Lots of new restaurants are opening up around the Marina and worth a walk around
The Madinat has some nice shops and restaurants at tourist prices, but still worth a look

Sport

Abu Dhabi F1 takes place at the end of the year and is only an hour away at Yas Island
Rugby Sevens is a must, but not always for the rugby, held at the Sevens Stadium
Cricket 20/20 has a strong following and matches are played throughout the year in Sports City
Surprisingly Dubai has quite a lot of running clubs, these cater for both the casual and serious runner.
There are a number of amateur and social sports leagues with games taking place throughout the week.
Gaelic Football is continually growing throughout the Middle East with Dubai being resident to Dubai Celts http://www.dubaicelts.com/ The league takes the format of 6 separate competitions involving traveling to other Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain.
Gyms in Dubai – whilst you may have access to a gym in your building, group exercise classes and boot camps are all over the city. Expect to pay 50 dirhams and up for a class or get discounts for signing up for a membership (monthly or annually)

Go to the Parks
Dubai’s largest parks, such as the Creek Park and Al Safa Park, are popular parks to walk around in. There are different activities available for families to take part in such as boat rides, cycling, and various other sports.