Abroad in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Middle East? Do you think searing hot temperatures, camels, sand dunes or even men in a Kandura or women completely covered? Well, you will definitely see all of that. What may surprise you is the sense of safety and the warm welcome I received not once but both times I ever visited Dubai. It was the exact same when I ventured to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

There was so many things to see and do and I was welcomed every step of the way. My suggestion is to grab a copy of the Time Out DXB at the airport. It is a great resource, especially if you only have a few days.

If you have read my previous blogs, you know that I try to go to the top of buildings with a view of the city. That being said, my first stop would be the Dubai Frame. The Frame is a really cool structure. It has a clear glass bridge (reminds me of the London Tower Bridge glass floor) and it is exactly like a massive picture frame. Walking across the floor was like walking into thin air. The frame gives you two different perspectives. One view shows you old Dubai with surrounding souks. The opposite view gives you a picture of the splendor of new Dubai and the massive skyscrapers, well lit marinas and the amazing feats of modern engineering with the tallest building in the world. I got there at a great time. I was able to see the frame before the sunset with the sun shining against the frame as well as when the sun went all the way down and say the frame lit up with changing colors of pink, orange and blue. It was definitely a must see. Although when you get up there they say 15 minutes, it is not highly enforced. After a quick bite, I was off to the hotel to get some sleep. I was excited for my next day of exploring.

The next morning came and I popped up with even more excitement. I was going to ride over to see the Burj Al Arab. Many refer to it as the sailboat building. It is actually a hotel (a very expensive one) but if you want to go in, I would suggest having brunch. It is pretty pricey as well but a way to experience the hotel and not have to have a room. Tip- make a reservation and don’t be late. After a quick pic of the Burj Al Arab, I was off to take a desert tour. I was going to go sand dune bashing in a 4x4. Then we would would have a good meal, see native dancing and of course a camel ride.

The sand dune bashing was really fun. The SUV was sliding all over the place and it felt like we were on a roller coaster. Afterwards we were treated to a chance to ride a camel and take the obligatory selfie. The camels were cool. It was interesting to get on in a dress, but even more interesting as to how they get up to take us off on a stroll. After all of that I was starving. It was time to eat and enjoy the dancers. It was really a cool experience and I highly recommend. It was a little bit of a hike to get back to the hotel but again totally worth it.

The next day, I was planning a pretty light day. I was going to shop a bit, eat and drink a bit and just relax. It is also going to be the site of the Ain Dubai. The world’s ferris wheel and it is on the Bluewaters. It will hold up to 1, 400 passengers at a time and have 360-degree views of Dubai when it is finally completed. I was going to walk back over to my hotel to take a midday nap, one of the best things on vacation.  Later that day I wanted to spend it exploring the tallest building in the entire world. The Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa is a modern feat of engineering. It is 154 stories high WITH an outdoor deck. AMAZEBALLS! I highly suggest the At the Top tour. It takes like a minute to get to live the 124th floor. As you go up, the video shows you other tall building you are passing at that height. As the sun was setting I saw the skies turn colors and was able to enjoy a glass of bubbly and a few fancy canapes. I stayed and watched the water show from the top and it was also pretty cool. I would head back to the Marriott Marina and head to the Observatory restaurant and have a cocktail. The next day I would be heading out to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is only about an hour outside of Dubai. It gives you a moment to see outside the city limits. The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest mosque. The mosque has an open door policy an allows you to walk around and see the beauty of the mosque. I can not put into the words the beauty and detail how to really describe how magnificent it is. They have the world’s largest , of course, single carpet and biggest chandeliers. You definitely have to see it for yourself, no matter your religion. I spent a few hours at the mosque. I was able to see it in the sun, as the sun set and when the sky turned dark as the colors against the mosque changed to a beautiful blue.

As I enter my ride back home, I take a moment to reflect. It was an amazing opportunity that I encountered to experience hundreds of people from different religions and walks of life, yet we are were able to enjoy the beauty of the architecture of the building. It was a great experience.

The next day, I would enjoy my last  breakfast in Dubai and head to airport. I have to start planning my next adventure.