Hi there!
It’s been two weeks since I’ve last posted, and it’s been a hectic, busy time for me. But I’m glad to be back and writing again! I hope you missed reading my blogs as much as I missed writing them!
Anyways, my last post took a much more serious look at the UAE, you can read it here, Dubai : Decoding The Dream.
While I feel it was necessary to show you that not everything in the UAE is a dream, I’d also like to take you along some of the cool places that I’ve explored during my time living in the UAE.
After all, the UAE is one of the coolest places for any traveler to visit!
One day weekend escapades
For those of you who don’t know, Friday’s are a holiday all over the UAE. Saturday and Sunday are working days. So that means a UAE weekend consists of just one day, Friday.
So I’d make the most of my one day weekends and try to explore new places as much as I could given the time I had. Now Fridays aren’t exactly the best days to be out and about because everything gets so crowded and everybody is off enjoying their weekend, but when you have the chance to adventure out, you take it!
TGIF, right?
So with this blog post I’ll be showing you some of the places I’ve explored during my weekends in some of the emirates!
Dubai
Of course I’ll be starting with Dubai because it’s the most famous and visited emirate in the UAE. Dubai is also the most crowded when it comes to tourists, but even more so on Fridays for the workin’ folk who want to enjoy their day off in the big city of lights.
Dubai Mall
If you’ve read my previous blogs carefully, you’d know by now that malls aren’t on the top of my list of places to go to. However, Dubai Mall is an exception.
Dubai Mall is more than just a mall, it’s a melting pot of people from all over the world under one roof, kind off like an airport. I’d go there and feel like I was in a giant international airport, passing by travelers and people from all corners of the globe, with each one heading towards their own destination. This is why I love Dubai Mall.
I’d just go there sometimes when my travel bug would kick in and I’d crave that feeling of being surrounded by people from different parts of the world, and I’d just walk and observe everyone around me and walk some more. Walking is something you can expect to do quite a lot of in Dubai mall because it’s the largest mall in the world by area. I remember not being able to cover its entirety the first, second, and third time I went there because it’s just way too much to cover in a day. And afterwards you’d actually feel your leg muscles aching cause of all the walking around!
At the top – Burj Khalifa
Right outside the Dubai Mall is the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. No picture of Dubai is complete without the Burj Khalifa standing tall in the distance.
Outside of Dubai Mall is everyones favorite place for getting their Burj Khalifa pictures, and after they’re done with their pictures then they head back inside the mall.
While many admire the outside of the Burj, the real wonder is inside, up at the top. A lot of people prefer to just see the Burj from the outside, because tickets to go up the Burj are pricy at 500AED ( that’s about 140 USD), but I think to myself that people spend the same amount of money on food and shopping , that you may as well just spend a few more bucks and experience going up the Burj Khalifa at least once in your life.
I purchase the ticket inside the mall, then I’m escorted to a waiting room alongside other groups of people. Then we are met with a guide who takes us along the structure and into the elevator. The fastest elevator in the world.
The elevator takes us up to the 148th floor, and it’s a very rapid ascend. Your ears pop as you go up and you can feel the altitude, it was like being in an airplane or a spaceship.
Then we make it up to the deck, where everyone is given not more than 30 minutes to move around and explore, then you are escorted down and you’re done with the At The Top experience. It’s definitely worth doing once!
Dubai Miracle Garden
Flowers in the desert. Lots and lots of flowers.
When entering Dubai Miracle Garden, you feel like you’re in some fairytale land. It’s worlds away from all the top notch buildings and hi-tech fanciness of Dubai, giving Dubai a much more softer, romantic touch.
Inaugurated in Valentines Day 2013, Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest natural flower garden with a collection of over 45 million flower species.
If you’re a flower child, then this is your haven!
Mall of the Emirates
Aah back to malls! Dubai and shopping are synonymous with each other, they go hand in hand. Infact, most visitors who go to Dubai come solely for shopping. And the locals love it too. Everyone loves malls in Dubai because inside one you can escape the sweltering heat in the always Air conditioned malls.
Mall of the Emirates is second to Dubai Mall in my opinion. Its grande, and upscale and its a buzz of activity. It houses Ski Dubai, the worlds largest indoor ski park where you can ski indoors and then head out and shop or dine. I skied on the artificial snow once, and it was ironic how you can have an indoor ski park in Dubai of all places, but you won’t get an indoor desert Safari in the UAE or any other country!
Why Mall of the Emirates is a favorite of mines is also because of its architecture. There’s a great galleria that is lit up by this huge dome where natural light pores in. It gives off an interesting atmosphere inside, where I feel like I’m in someplace in Europe in the Middle East.
Jumeirah
Jumeirah is one of Dubai’s most affluent areas, housing expatriates and wealthy locals. It’s also a major touristic hub. It’s the Beverly Hills, the Miami Beach and the Copacabana of Dubai.
Burj Al Arab
Before there was the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab was Dubai’s most recognizable landmark. It’s a luxury hotel, and its the third tallest hotel in the world. I’ve always wanted to go inside, but I never did. I’m not sure why, but I’ll save it for my next trip!
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates, and it’s also the capital of the UAE. It’s quite far getting to, at more than 120km from Dubai. It can be an hour’s drive away or more, depending on which Emirates you’re coming from.
I’ve only been to Abu Dhabi once and these are some of the places I got to see.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
One of the most beautiful places in the entire UAE has to be Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Beautiful and serene, it’s a magical place. Walking through the white marbled walls makes you feel calm and at peace.
It’s open to everyone, muslims and non-muslims, and it’s now a major tourist hub.
It’s the largest mosque in the UAE, holding up to 41 000 people or more.
Isn’t it just magical?
Emirates Palace
These are some of the places I managed to cover in Abu Dhabi. I need to go back and visit the recently opened Louvre museum!
Sharjah
Sharjah is the third most populous city in the UAE after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s about 10 minutes away from Dubai without traffic. It goes by unexplored by most tourists, but theres quite a few good places to see in Sharjah.
Buheira Corniche
Corniches are classic additions to any middle eastern city wherever water is around. I used to make frequent walks along Sharjah’s Buheira Corniche, mostly because its really great for walks and theres a lot surrounding the corniche which is very interesting to see.
There is Al Noor Mosque, which is beautiful, especially at night where its all lit up.
Al Qasba
Known as ‘The Heart of Sharjah’, Al Qasba is a bustling place with lots to do. There’s the Eye of the Emirates, a giant Ferris wheel and there’s restaurants and shops around and theres the a lot of walking around, where it connects to the corniche.
Al Noor Island
One of the most surprising places I visited in Sharjah was Al Noor Island. It’s an articial island tucked away in the middle of Khalid Lagoon. I found myself walking along the corniche and noticed this giant golden pavilion over in the distance.
I made my way closer to it and got myself a ticket and I was surprised by this discovery. Al Noor Island is a large garden space, housing different art installations and most famously a butterfly pavilion with hundreds of butterfly species.
Its a unique place. Here you are, surrounded by the lagoon, with skyscrapers at the distance and butterflies and greenery around you as you overlook Sharjah.
Ajman
Ajman is another of emirates and the last I managed to explore. Ajman is very similar to Sharjah, and I didn’t find much to do there except go to the beach. The beaches in Ajman tends to be less crowded so that makes it ideal for peaceful swims and strolls, away from huge crowds of people.
Getting Around
I cannot conclude this post without talking about the Dubai Metro. Everyone who visits Dubai and uses the metro remembers the experience.
Not only do you get to see Dubai through the Metro, you integrate yourself with all the colorful characters who you encounter on the move. It’s where all the tourists can move easily around in, the expats, the students, the laborers and everyone in between. Oddly enough, you won’t see any local emirati sitting in the metro. No chance.
In the metro, you also hear and learn some of the Arabic through the announcements.
“Al Mahatta Al Qadeema Hiya”. – The next station is..
“Al ‘ Abwab Taftah” – Door’s opening.
“Al ‘ Abwab Tughliq” – Door’s closing,
This is as much as I’ve learnt of Arabic, aside from a few other words.
Thinking about the Arabic announcements and metro makes me very nostalgic!
So here I conclude my adventures in the Emirates! I hope you enjoyed coming along with me on this journey.
Which of these places would you like to visit? Let me know down below!
Thanks for reading!
Fahim Was Here
June 22nd, 2018
Follow me on :
fahimwashere.wordpress.com 
Loved it! ❤️
I’ve visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi and I loved both of them, or maybe Dubai a little more because I’ve been there more than Abu Dhabi. And I’ve pretty much seen all the places that you mentioned. They’re truly beautiful! ❤️
If I get to go there once again, I’ll make sure I’ll cover the remaining ones.
Thanks for giving me some ideas. 😁
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Hey Rasika! Glad you liked it!
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👌👌
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