A completely different world lies just five to six hours (by plane) from Zurich: Dubai. Once a small, insignificant desert emirate, it is now a dazzling, ever-growing mega-metropolis.
On my several trips to Dubai I have collected many experiences, those of which I am happy to share with you here.
Why Dubai?
For me there are ten good reasons why one should book a trip to the emirate of superlatives:
1) In the United Arab Emirates, you can always expect a mild to hot climate and therefore nothing, in terms of weather, will stand in the way of enjoying a wonderful pool holiday. However, due to the desert climate, only the winter months are recommended for a trip. From mid-May to October it can be extremely hot and humid. From January to May, the daily temperatures are between 23 and 37 degrees Celsius. Even the sea (the Persian Gulf) has a temperature of between 22 and 32 degrees.
This also makes it easier to choose clothes when packing. Thick sweaters and jackets can be left at home, as can rain gear and wellyboots. Depending on the travel time, light cardigans are recommended for the evenings or those air-con shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. Otherwise, bathing suits, shorts and T-shirts will do just fine. However, do keep in mind that the UAE is an Arab country and you should dress appropriately according to the culture. Beach and pool area aside, shoulders and knees should be covered!
2) From Central Europe, a flight takes around five to six hours and there are several direct flights daily. This period of time on the plane is very manageable, especially with children. Direct flights from Zurich to Dubai can be taken either with Emirates (twice a day) or with Swiss (once a day). We really appreciated flying during the night with Emirates; that way you get to arrive at your destination early in the morning and don't lose a day's holiday. In addition, the children were able to sleep well during the flight and time for them went by even faster.
I hope Emirates will continue to use its A380 for the route for a long time to come. In my opinion there is nothing better than a flight in this comfortable wide aircraft.
Equally practical is the relatively modest time difference of two (summer) or three (winter) hours.
3) You will hardly find such a large selection of hotels as in Dubai. The abundance of hotels is huge, in particular, the top-range. All well-known luxury hotel chains have at least one here. I have described our favourite hotels in more detail in another blog post.
4) In the United Arab Emirates, children are seen as very important. Emirati are extremely child-friendly and meet the little ones with joy and curiosity.
In hotels and shopping malls there are separate children areas and childcare facilities and the restaurants are always equipped with high chairs and children's entertainment. The local families also like to take their children to eat out. The top hotels usually offer rooms for two adults and two children under the age of 12. Of course, this has a positive impact on the price.
But there is also a lot of interesting things for children to see and experience in Dubai. Superlatives such as the largest aquariums, the world's tallest tower (Burj Khalifa), the largest fountain system (Dubai Fountain) and the most expensive police cars (Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bugattis, etc.) can be admired. One can have fun in several theme and water parks, in the indoor ski zone, in zoos and dinosaur exhibitions. Or you can treat yourself to a swim with real dolphins at the Hotel Atlantis, see below.
5) Shopping is of great importance in the desert metropolis and Dubai is home to some of the largest shopping centers in the world, e.g. ‘Dubai Mall’ and ‘The Mall of the Emirates’. All well-known brands are seen here, with often the flagship stores taking presidency too. The malls not only impress with their size, but are also extremely modern and luxuriously designed. They also offer a wealth of entertainment: from giant aquariums to cinema complexes, playgrounds, restaurants and indoor ski facilities - there is something for everyone.
6) The United Arab Emirates are considered one of the safest countries in the world. The crime rate is extremely low. Theft, robbery or mugging are rare due to harsh penalties.
7) Desert safari, camel rides, dune sandboarding, quad bike rides - a trip to the surrounding desert is a once in a lifetime experience. There are a number of companies offering desert tours, e.g "Get your Guide". Alternatively, you can make reservations at a desert resort restaurant and take a taxi to the dunes. Or you can even stay in a desert hotel, for example the ‘Bab al Shams’, see my blog entry "Our 10 Favorite Hotels in Dubai".
8) In terms of entertainment Dubai offers a lot. In addition to various sights such as the viewing platform of the Burj Khalifa, the Ain Dubai, Dubai fountain, Dubai Frame there are various theme parks, eg.IMG World of Adventure, Legoland Dubai, Wild Wadi Water Park, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Aquafun, Aventura Nature Adventure Park or Hysteria Haunted Attraction.
There are also various museums, galleries and exhibitions.
Our children especially enjoyed the Dinosaur Park at ‘DubaiGardenGlow’. This sprawling facility features life-size dinosaurs that move and make sounds
If you want to treat yourself to an exceptional animal experience, we recommend an exclusive swimming adventure with Dolphins at Hotel Atlantis the Palm. We did this with our then four-year old and it will always be remembered. You will be told lots of interesting facts about the marine mammals and you can swim with them, stroke them and play with them! See also my other blog entry.
9) The selection of excellent restaurants in Dubai is immense. It is a real paradise for gourmets. The food on offer is just as culturally diverse as the population. Whether traditional Arabic or international, you will find food from every corner of the globe. So far, there are said to be no fewer than 5000 restaurants and cafés in the city of superlatives. We rated the standard of hygiene and quality as very high during all our restaurant visits in Dubai. We also ate very well throughout our visit.
10) Swiss tourists, residing in Switzerland only need their passport (valid up to 6 months after arrival) to enter the United Arab Emirates. This was the case, at least before the pandemic, for stays under 90 days. For Covid restrictions, there are helpful hints on the Emirates website.
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