Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It has over 2 million inhabitants, and over 90 different nations come together here. The best-known emirates are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sometimes, there is confusion about whether Dubai is a city or a country. The answer is quite simple: Dubai is a city and a country or emirate.
Dubai is very westernized. A wide variety of cultures and nations come together here. The city is one of the most international places in the world. Only 20% of the people are locals (Emirati). The remaining 80% come from worldwide to enjoy the National Casino.
In Dubai, the principle is higher, faster, and further. More and more superlatives are being built here. Among the most famous are The Palm, Burj Khalifa with the Dubai Mall, and The World. Dubai is particularly unmistakable from the air. When you see The Palm on your approach, you know where you are.
Dubai is not Saudi Arabia.
Although the United Arab Emirates borders Saudi Arabia, they are mistakenly associated with Saudi Arabia. The countries have their language, culture, and customs. Of course, there are still similarities. But you can’t necessarily compare Germany with Holland, France, Poland, or the Czech Republic, for example, just because the countries border each other.
Yes, women are allowed to drive in Dubai, and you will also come across many women who are not veiled. There are hotels and bars where alcohol is legally served, and you will see just as much naked skin on the beaches as in other countries. Dubai is a mixture of tradition and modernity.
Dubai is more than just a stopover destination.
You shouldn’t just think of Dubai as a stopover destination. There is a lot to see and experience while sightseeing in Dubai. Many people only associate Dubai with the desert and luxury or imagine expensive cars and rich sheikhs with a falcon on their arm.
Ok, of course, there is a lot of that. Dubai has everything you can imagine. After all, Dubai is filthy rich. But just spend a little more time in the city, and you’ll see what a great atmosphere it has and what great people live there.
We always enjoy traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The flight time of just under 6 hours (from Frankfurt) is easy to bear. We have friends there (we met while traveling around the world), and that’s how you get to know a city in a completely different way than if you visit it as a tourist.
That’s why we’ve put together a mix of Dubai sights and travel tips to make your stay unforgettable. By the way, the best time to visit is during the German winter.
ONE THING YOU SHOULD NOT MISS
1st Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world
At 828 m, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world and one of the most popular Dubai attractions. You will love and hate the building. Love it because the view from the viewing platform is simply phenomenal. Hate it because you’ll never get a good photo of this building.
Tip: Save yourself stress and money. Book your Burj Khalifa ticket online in advance.
No matter how hard you try, you’ll either miss the top or the composition won’t be what you want. I messed around a bit and used the panorama function on my iPhone.
THE TOUR
There are several ways to visit this top attraction, and I think you should enjoy this view once in your life. But you can’t just go to this attraction and take the elevator to the observation deck. The different options are confusing, so I’ll try to break it down. You can also take a look at our detailed article.
You need to book a ticket for a Burj Khalifa tour. And it’s best to buy this ticket well in advance. Especially in the high season or on New Year’s Eve, you need to plan with a little more lead time. Otherwise you may not get a free appointment.
The tour takes about 90 minutes. There are different queues at the entrance. A normal one (which can sometimes be very long) and a “fast lane” where you are faster, see below.
