Travel Dubai : Having a couple of hours or almost a day time in Dubai?

What to do and see during a Dubai layover/ stopover

Even if you just have a couple of hours / a layover in Dubai, you should use the time and make the most out of it. Here is a small guide about some of Dubais’ Highlights which are possible to see during a layover.

Dubai, I’m sure everybody heard about Dubai already. The city of luxury, shopping, tourism and Guinness World Record holder for a numerous of things. Bigger, better, faster,… Dubai.

But did you know that Dubai is actually only one of seven Emirates of the UAE ( United Arab Emirates ) ?
The other six emirates are : Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah, Ajman , Um Al Quwain , Fujairah.

Do I need a visa for Dubai for a Stopover/ Layover ?

Well, this really depends on your nationality / country of citizenship. However, most nationalities are eligible for a visa on arrival. Better check if you need to apply for a visa in advanced or not.

What is the climate in Dubai – UAE

Dubai has warm climate throughout the year. Yes, it gets over 40 C – but only in the summer month. Between May to September it can get extremely hot and humid. The best month to visit UAE, in my point of view, are from October to April. However, if you are coming during the summer months you probably will find a lot of good deals for accommodation and activities.

Getting Around

The easiest option would be Taxi or Uber. Compared to Europe or some other destinations , the prices are relatively inexpensive or reasonable. All the Taxis have a meter. However, the taxi drivers don’t know the street name, they ask for landmarks like certain tourist attractions , malls or hotels for example.
Another option is Dubai Metro. It connects most of the major tourist attractions and malls

What language do they speak in Dubai – United Arab Emirates?

Arabic is the official language in the UAE / Dubai, however since only 15-20 % of the population are actually locals ( UAE nationals ) and 80-85% expatriates , English is the most common language used .

What currency do the have / do they accept ?

United Arab Emirates Dirham/ Dirham ( AED ), there are a lot of exchange places at the airport . hotels and in the malls. Moreover, almost all of the places and taxis accept credit cards.
Conversions change so better check the current exchange rate, I usually have an conversion app like Xe on my phone so I can check quickly.
At the moment 1$ (USD) =3.67 AED // or 1 Euro = 3.9 AED

Ramadan

Over the last couple of years the restrictions during Ramadan got lifted a lot. Most of the hotels even serve alcohol now during the day. However, there are still some rules you should consider at least to show respect to their traditions .
I’m not talking about being on the hotel beach but when you are at at public place / area like malls, street, taxi, metro or in the city.
* Dress modesty
* Avoid public display of affection
* Don’t eat , drink, smoke in public areas ( the Malls have designated food courts during Ramadan)

Highlights of Dubai City

Just here for a layover ?
Here are some of the highlights you can enjoy in a short period of time .
Head to Dubai Downtown .

Dubai Mall

Metro station: Dubai Mall/ Burj Khalifa

I mentioned that Dubai is a Guinness World Record holder for a lot of things ? Here is the first : The Worlds Largest Shopping and Entertainment Mall. Dubai Mall.
You can easily get lost in here, the maall has a size of about 200 football fields. Can you imagine .? ! Even with an entire day you will not be able to see everything in this mall. Additionally to the retail shops, of almost every brand you can think of, you can find a lot of restaurants and entertainment areas.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Talking about entertainment areas in the mall, of of them are the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. The Dubai Aquarium is a 10 million liter tank, one of the largest in the world. Besides sharks and rays there are other 140 different species living in the tank. You can see a part of the Dubai Aqarium from the Ground and first level of the Mall. Just follow the signs. The walk through tunnel and the Underwater Zoo are chargeable. Additionally, they also offer other activities, like diving and feeding th sharks in the tank.

Burj Khalifa – Dubais TOP Attraction

The Tallest Building in the World

Exit the mall to see the Burj Khalifa and the Fountains. Burj by the way means tower.
Burj Khalifa is with its 828m, so far still the World Tallest Building and one of the Icons of Dubai. If you just want to see the Burj you can walk outside the mall at the Waterfront Promenade. You have an amazing view from here, it is the ideal place to see and it doesn’t cost you anything. Try to fit you and the whole Burj Khalifa in a picture. It can get a bit challenging.

Chargeable is the Observation Deck on 124/ 125 th floor an they even have now another option on the 48th floor. For the Observation Deck it is better to book a ticket in advanced as its used to get sold out quickly at least for some dates and specific timings like late afternoon/ sunset. Is it worth it? Oh well, yes the view is nice, but only if you have nice weather. Lets say it this way, it was on my bucketlist, I did it but I don’t need to do it again.

Dubai Fountain

As you are already at the Waterfront Promenade outside the Mall, you can enjoy another World Record. The World Largest Performing Water Fountains .
The shows are in the evening. They usually start at 18:00 ( 6pm) and than every 30 min. The best part if it is … its free to watch. Unless you want to take the boat tour on the lake, which is chargeable. Just keep in mind that it can get crowded. TIP: There are a lot of restaurants at the Promenade with a perfect view. To be honest, I just bought a coke in one of the restaurants and enjoyed the view and fountain show from the terrace.

Souk Al Bahar

From the Waterfront Promenade you just need to cross a bridge to get to Souk Al Bahar.
This souk or mall looks a bit more like a traditional marketplace. A twist between modern and traditional. You can definitely find more local / traditional souvenirs here. Furthermore, it also has a lot of restaurant options with a few to the fountains. You should definitely try to grab a bite at the Time Out Market Dubai, in the souk. They have a lot and very good food options.

Museum of the Future

Metro Station: Emirates Tower
You want to know what the future brings … have a look inside ..
The museum which opened on 22.02.2022 . It is close to the Dubai Mall. You can reach it by Metro ( 2 stations) or with a taxi (10 min) . Unfortunately, I only saw the building from outside and I haven’t been inside yet but I think the building itself is already an attraction.

Not enough for one day ?

Looking for some more adventures things to do in Dubai ? Check out Sky View Dubai
Its at the Address Sky View Hotel, Emaar Square. It is close to the Dubai Mall, just 7min drive.

Here you can enjoy 3 different attractions

1) Observatory – Glass walk
2) Glass slide – Slide more than 219 m above ground
3) Walk on the edge

I have not done this yet, however, if you did it or planning to do it, let me know your experience and if it was worth it.